Brrrr

Hard to believe that the season is winding down, but if you were outside this morning, there was a definite fall chill in the air. Luckily the season isn't quite over yet and we have some pretty big events yet to come.

From now through Wednesday we are at Blue Hill Country Club for the 31st playing of the MGA Mid-Amateur Championship. We have a really strong field playing this championship layout - who do you think will win? We do have 9-time champion (and defending champion) Frank Vana, Jr. in the field...but there are a handful of guys poised to take the Ted Bishop Cup this week. Stay tuned! Keep up with live scoring here.

Speaking of Ted Bishop, we will be back at Blue Hill in just a month for the first ever Massachusetts Golf Hall of Fame Gala. Things are really coming together for what is going to be a fantastic night celebrating the rich history of golf in Massachusetts. If you haven't purchased your ticket yet, there is still time! Mike Dowling, who has been a great friend of the MGA and supporter of golf in Massachusetts, will serve as our master of ceremonies. Click here to learn more!

And next week, we get to go down the Cape for the MGA Senior Amateur Championship at the incredible and historic Oyster Harbors Club. Fall down the Cape is great, and add in a beautiful course - what could be better? Franklin CC's Keith Smith hopes to defend his title, but will have a strong field of golfers to contend with.

And we really must be gluttons for punishment because we have also teamed up with the GCSANE and USGA to present a unique on-course educational seminar at the end of September! The half-day event will take place at Dedham Country & Polo Club and is the perfect opportunity for green committees and superintendents to get out on the course and build their knowledge base on the issues that affect them every day throughout the course of the season. It's only $50 to attend and will provide a wealth of information. Check it out!

Additionally, the Course Rating season is heating up. Our Course Rating team, led by fearless leader Scott Whitcomb, is hard at work getting a LOT of courses rated this fall. Course Rating is a crucial, albeit behind the scenes, part of the golfer experience. Without effective course rating, the Handicap System would be a mess! Ok, that's a little dramatic. But you get the point - it's a hugely important part of what we do!! Click here to check out a little video primer we put together to better explain the rating process.

The end of season push is on! We hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather and getting as many holes in as possible before...I don't even want to say it...SNOW.