Bunker Buzz - December 2020 |
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- President’s Message
- Looking Back on 2020
- Moving Forward in 2021
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President’s Message
Dear Friends,
I hope that everyone had a wonderful Holiday season and that you will have a very Happy New Year!!!
What a year this has been! I am sure that we are all certainly looking forward to putting 2020 behind us and welcoming in the new year!! The year of 2020 was certainly not what any of us envisioned when it started. But we learned to navigate our lives through the year while staying safe and healthy. We had to find our new normal and to be able to PIVOT!!! And pivot we did- Your Board worked tirelessly to find ways to provide golf experiences for you in this unusual climate. Despite the challenges, I think we were able to provide you some fun on the golf course with your golf mates.
I am so proud to be able to lead this organization and am looking forward to a great 2021. We are cautiously optimistic that we will be able to hold a lot more golf events and activities in the coming year. We have learned how to pivot!! We will be building upon the events that we held this year. So watch for information on an expanded educational program, competition program, new courses and off-season virtual offerings. As well as plans for a golf travel event.
The official kick off to our 2021 Golf Season is our annual Tee Off Luncheon and fashion show. So put Sunday, March 14th at Brooklake Country Club on your calendars... you will not want to miss it!!!
Our chapter is only as strong as it’s volunteers. We had over 60 volunteers involved in bringing activities to you this past year. These individuals were celebrated at the Season Closer golf outing. The Board is always looking for individuals to help out in many different ways. It could be as simple as helping at an event or as involved as taking on a Marketing, Communications or Membership coordinator position or serving on a planning committee. Please reach out to a Board member so we can discuss with you how you might be able to get involved to help out.
You, a member of the LPGA Amateurs of Northern New Jersey, are important to our Chapter!!!! I want to personally thank you for sticking with us or by choosing to join us for the first time during this unusual year. We are so thankful for your involvement.
So as I wrap up- I will leave you with an ask- 1) please renew your membership for 2021 now; and 2) spread the word about our great organization. The more members we have, the more fun we can have. And after all- it’s all about having fun around this game we love…Golf !
Regards,
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Jane A. Egan
President
LPGA Amateur Golf Association- Northern New Jersey
973-907-4290
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LOOKING BACK...
It was a year like no other in recent memory. Somehow, through the efforts of our Leadership Team, the hard work of our volunteers, and the flexibility of our members, our LPGA Amateurs- Northern New Jersey Chapter faced the challenges and a golf season emerged!
We have had so many examples of our members stepping up to take on the challenges of 2020. Let’s take a few moments to look back at the special times we’ve shared this year.
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Even with a late start, by summer our leagues were in “full swing”, with twelve 9-hole and four 18-hole leagues taking to various courses throughout the area. Because of the uncertainty of course and tee time availability coordinators had to be persistent and creative, to ensure our members were able to play on a regular basis.
We recognize what a monumental feat this was; a huge special thank you goes out to the league coordinators and to chapter leadership, who all volunteer their time to “keep the ball rolling”!
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Season Opener – On June 28th, adorned in patriotic masks generously provided by Fern Chan, participants teed it up at Ballyowen Golf Course in Hamburg, NJ, our first golf event of the year! Even the pouring rain on the final holes couldn’t dampen our spirits. Congratulations to prize winners J. Tomasiewicz for closest to the line and G. DiTaranto for closest to the pin.
Inter-chapter Play –
- Central NJ hosted Northern NJ on Saturday, August 22nd at Fox Hollow Golf Club for a non-competitive fun event
- Northern NJ hosted Westchester in Match Play at Black Bear GC on Saturday, August 15th where Westchester took home the bragging rights.
Season Closer/Volunteer Outing –held at Farmstead Golf & Country Club on September 26th. Fifty-two golfers registered for the event, it was a beautiful day, and awards were presented outdoors on the veranda:
- Closet to Pin (#9 Club): Tammy Case winner (6'5"), LuAnn Wojcik runner-up
- Closet to the Pin 2nd Shot - (#6 Club): Jan Tomasiewicz winner (29.5"), Janine O'Conner runner-up
- Longest Drive (#8 Club): Jule Frolish winner, Susan Nostrame runner-up
- Closest to the Line (#8 Lake): Ann Mackey winner (6"), Janet Solberg runner-up
Play for P.I.N.K – was held at Wild Turkey Golf Club on Wednesday September 14th. Forty-four golfers pre-registered for the event and over $3,700 was raised.
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Virtual Scramble - Over 170 teams from across the nation participated in the First Annual LPGA Amateurs Virtual Scramble raising $56,185 for the LPGA Foundation! Three teams participated from our Northern NJ chapter - Cardshark Scramblers (Karen Stepsus, Jane Egan, Mindy Oosten, Annette Owens), The Birdie Bunch (Cathy Brennan, Fran Lapinski, Patty Elwood and Dona O'Connell) and Strokes of Luck (Fern Chan, Janet Solberg, Jan Tomasiewicz, Robyn Lindsay). $600 was donated to the LPGA Foundation by our three teams.
Virtual Holiday Party – Our Virtual Holiday Party on December 15 was jammed pack full of fun, camaraderie, competition and laughs!! Participants were decked out in all sorts of cheery holiday garb, including festive headwear and twinkling lights! There may not have been a dance floor or a bartender, but there was plenty of virtual mingling, jingling and toasts. Congratulations to Holiday Bingo winners Marge Zietchick and Cece Peabody, Mary LeBlanc took home the crown for Ugly Sweater, and the Eagle team edged out the Birdies in our challenging trivia contest.
In conjunction with our 2020 Annual Holiday party, our members contributed over $1000 to the three local charities below!
- $420 - JBWS
- $465 - Toni’s Kitchen
- $260 - St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center
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In late August, the nominating committee began their reach out to membership to recruit for positions being vacated in 2020. We’d like to thank outgoing board members Janine O’Connor, Tammy Case, and Traci Sachs for their contribution to the organization over the past several years. Their hard work, dedication, and flexibility while helping our chapter maneuver through uncharted waters are deeply appreciated!
Please join us in welcoming the 2021 Northern NJ Chapter Board of Directors:
Recently elected:
President: Jane Egan
Vice-President: Karen Stepsus
Golf & Programs Director: Susan Olinger
Finance & Records Director: Cece Peabody
Communication Director: Jan Tomasiewicz
Members serving the second year of their term:
Events & Activities Director: Annette Owens
Membership Director: Mindy Oosten
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It is the dedication and support of our members that keeps our chapter thriving. Thank you for promoting our organization and helping to recruit new members to our Chapter. We welcome the twenty-three new members who became part of our Northern New Jersey family:
Name/Referred By
- Ariella Adler / Lisa Lifer
- Suzanne Bauman / Stacey Belhumer
- Patricia Bringewatt
- Ann Brodow / Pat Bringewatt
- Cynthia Ciancimino
- Barbara Crocker
- Kyra Faison-Gardner / Janine O'Connor
- Phyllis Florek / Linda Root
- Julie Frolish
- Marjorie Goldstein / Julie Bondarenko
- Frieda Goodrich / Lorraine Hara
- Nancy Hanrahan / Allison Ponturo
- Sharon Harrington
- Meg Holda / Megan Morfogen
- Elaine Hua
- Lisa Koblinski
- Pat MacIsaac / Jan Tomasiewicz
- Karen Mannarelli
- Candace Pryor / Ann Mackey
- Colleen Rafter
- Melissa Raimundo
- Joann Stuhl / Nanc Diccini
- Gale Tedeschi / Irene Stolarz
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Congratulations are in order for Jane Egan, Marge Zietchick and Madlyn Granieri.
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On July 9th Jane recorded her second Hole-in-One, a 139-yard drive on the second hole of Bella Vista Country Club, using her 5 hybrid.
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Playing at Ash Brook Golf Course on August 12th, Marge shot a 67 to take home the 1st place, low net trophy at the August 12th USGA Public Links Championship.
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On September 19thMadlyn recorded her first Hole-in-One, a 119-yard drive on the fifth hole of Royce Brook West, using her 5 hybrid.
Great job gals!
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Instruction and Education: |
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- To help us finalize the Chapter’s Education plan we will be sending all members a survey in January. Our goal is to provide COVID compliant clinics, workshops and Golf School in the Spring, with additional live instruction as the weather continues to warm. We need your input to tell us when and how you want to participate.
- February will be Rules Month, with a first session to reintroduce all golfers to the big changes from the 2019 Revised Rules of Golf. Later in the month a second session will focuses on Rules for the Competitive Golfer – stroke and match. Knowing the rules (and penalties) can provide a winning advantage!
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Sunday, March 14th at Brooklake Country Club. |
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Check our Chapter website Events Page for future event announcements.
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LPGA Amateurs Webinars and Facebook Live Events
Available OnDemand Now
Are you ready to start binge watching something other than Netflix? Mindset of a Champion, Grip It and Rip It, Rules 101, Nancy Lopez and more await you in the Member Clubhouse -> Webinar/Facebook Live -> On Demand section. Take advantage of down time during the holidays and get ready for the new year by watching a few of these entertaining and educational sessions!
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2021 LPGA Amateurs National Events
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Scramble Tournaments (4 person teams)- open to all handicaps. At Pinehurst, NC and/or Geneva National, WI.
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CUP Qualifiers (8 person teams)- Match play format open to all handicaps. Choose from 8 locations including Crystal Springs Resort, NJ.
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Stableford Tournament (2 person teams) – better ball Net Stableford format open to all handicaps.
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Championship Tournament- (1 person team)- stroke play tournament with gross and net winners (flighted by handicap). Walt Disney World, FL.
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Solheim Cup- trip to Ohio to watch the USA take on the European team.
Check out the schedule here. Get your teams together. Registration will be announced in early 2021.
Additional information and registration details will be available in the Member Clubhouse>Golf Events in 2021.
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We value your membership and look forward to seeing you on the golf course in 2021!
Just a reminder that all memberships expire on December 31. Renew NOW… it’s easy! Just follow the steps below so you can take full advantage of all the opportunities lined up for 2021.
To renew your 2021 LPGA Amateurs dues online:
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Go to LPGAAmateurs.com
- Press “Sign In” on the top right to log in to your account
- Go to “My Profile” from left menu and press the “Renew” button
- Review the accuracy of the information for the Chapter(s) selected
- Make sure your date of birth is correct and you have selected your ethnicity and press “Next”
- Add the choice(s) to the cart and press “Next”
- Complete the credit card payment process
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to
Mindy Oosten, Member Services Director
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New Jersey's first women's active wear boutique or golf, tennis and fitness is now open in Denville.
Check out Golf4Her 54 Diamond Spring Road, Denville, NJ
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LPGA Amateur Golf Association
Northern New Jersey Chapter
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