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Senior tour's Northern Division gets off to a successful start GOLF Sports Writer DEERWOOD - With fields ranging from 80 to 40 players, the inaugural season of the MGA Senior Tour Northern Division was a success.
That doesn't mean there isn't room to grow. A lot of room.
Northern Division tournament director Guy Green would like to see the Northern Division draw similar numbers to the three more established metro divisions, which see 120-player fields.
Green believes more exposure will help generate larger fields.
"We're satisfied with the numbers," he said. "We knew it was going to be shaky at the beginning because that's the way it is when you try to start something up. But the guys have enjoyed it and the courses have enjoyed it. I would think in a couple of years we'll be right where the other (divisions) are."
And, why wouldn't it with a course listing featuring Eagles Landing, Madden's, Minnesota National in McGregor, The Preserve, The Pines, Whitefish, Pokegama and Eagle Ridge and Ruttger's, site of the regular-season finale Tuesday.
Green said another draw was the different formats, from straight draw and gross to stableford and team best balls.
"A large percentage of these players are new to the tour and that's good because that was the idea of the senior tour in the first place," he said. "The MGA did a lot for players like John Harris and the other guys who play in the regular MGA events, where you had to have a four handicap to play. The MGA tournaments are geared toward players. The idea behind the senior tour was we have to do something for everybody."
Amateurs who are current associate members of the MGA and whose club is a member of the MGA and will be 55 or older before the first event are eligible for the tour. Each tour is split into two groups - Seniors for players 55 to 64 and a Masters Division for those 65 and older. The annual fee is $55 which covers all administration costs.
Event fees range from $30 to $65 and includes green fees and prizes.
There are 16 events and a player may play in all or just a few.
That worked in Clyde Anderson's favor. The metro area resident, who poses as a Vintage at Staples member on weekends, missed the first part of the season because of injury.
"I was out the beginning of year so I played from July on, but no event has let me down," said Anderson. "My golf game has let me down, but that's everyone.
"No, this is my first year playing on the tour. I'll just turn 56 next month so last year I wasn't old enough. A lot of these guys just like to come out here and compete. I think we all like to do that. It gets tough to compete against the 21-year-olds so I gave this a whirl and it's been a lot of fun."
The Northern Tour hosted three two-day events, one in Alexandria, one at Madden's and the finale at Grand Rapids-Coleraine. These events are team events and according to Green are a big draw.
"As I've been doing this for 10 years the guys seem to like the team events," he said. "When you play partner golf there is just something about it. When you're in your 50s and 60s your partners are even more important.
"The pressure is off and you're overnight staying at a nice resort or a nice hotel and you're playing nice courses like Madden's or Pokegama and Eagle Ridge. It's just a great camaraderie thing. We do two or three of those every year and they're always at nice places. I think the players like those the best."
One complaint for the first year was early morning tee times. Unlike the metro area, where everything is located in a small area, many players faced an hour to three-hour drive to events. Green said there will be few if any early morning tee times next season.
The goal of most players is to advance to the season final, which will be played at the Wayzata Country Club. The top eight gross and top eight net from each division converge to determine a season champion. Last year's net champion was Les Ernster while the gross winner was R.J. Smiley.
For more information about the tour visit the MGA Web site at www.mngolf.org.
Jeremy Millsop, may be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5856
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