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Great Lakes

This region includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin

A former assistant golf course superintendent, Shane joined the GCSAA staff in 2015. He resides in Ferndale, Mich.
Tel: 800-472-7878, ext. 3635; sconroy@gcsaa.org

Regional snapshot

GCSAA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS PRESENTED BY TORO

Jan 17, 2023
The GCSAA Golf Championships presented by Toro, is the pinnacle golf event of the year for our profession. The GCSAA Golf Championships presented by Toro feature first-class golf, networking, camaraderie and the opportunity to play in four different golfing events over four courses.


The GCSAA Conference and Tradeshow (CTS) is about three weeks away — which I highlighted back in August. With the event coming up quickly, the next few posts will naturally focus on items related to CTS.

First up, the GCSAA Golf Championships presented by Toro, is #26 on our list. 

The pinnacle golf event of the year for our profession, the GCSAA Golf Championships presented by Toro feature first-class golf, networking, camaraderie and the opportunity to play in four different golfing events over four courses.

The four courses hosting this year include:

  • ChampionsGate - International
  • ChampionsGate - National
  • Orange County National - Crooked Cat
  • Orange County National - Panther Lake

The official host hotel this year is the Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate. An ideal location right on the Championsgate courses.

If you’re unfamiliar with the events which take place at the Championships, let’s take a look:

Four-Ball

You and your partner each play your own ball (you are encouraged to choose your own partner or request to be assigned one from the pool of players).

  • Lower score will be score for the hole.
  • No penalty if one player does not complete the hole.
  • Up to four divisions, however, you or your partner cannot exceed a combined handicap of 45.
  • Only one golfer with professional status may play on a team.

Scramble

One-day fun event. Perfect for those that cannot make it for the entire tournament.

  • Stand-alone event open to all members.
  • Great opportunity to network with industry experts, enjoy a day of golf and unwind at the 19th Hole Reception with your peers.
  • Choose your own foursome or request to be paired randomly from the pool of players.

Golf Classic

The longest-running and most popular of the tournament events.

  • Two-day flighted tournament open to all skill levels.
  • Golf Classic uses the point quota scoring system.
  • A point quota for each round is established by subtracting your verified handicap index from 36.
  • Maximum allowable handicap index for point scoring is 30.
  • Handicap index over 30 assigned minimum of 6 points per day.

Quota scoring systems point values:

  • 0 Double Bogey or worse
  • 1 Bogey
  • 2 Par
  • 3 Birdie
  • 4 Eagle
  • 5 Double Eagle

Taking your point total for the round and subtracting it from the quota for the round will calculate the net score.

National Championship

  • 36-hole stroke-play
  • Open to first 72 entrants with a verified handicap index of 5.0 and below.
  • Overall champion and a low senior champion (age 50 and over) will be crowned.

Chapter Competition

If you are competing in the National Championship or Golf Classic, you can also opt into the Chapter Team Competition. Gross and net winner will be crowned with 75% of the entry fees paid back to the winning chapter.

Entry fee: $20 per player.

Registration of the chapter teams begins in December and continues until 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.

Each chapter team may have five competitors with the best four scores counting towards the total. All team members must belong to the chapter they are representing. Only one team member can be a golfer with professional status and only one team member may be a GCSAA affiliate member. A chapter may have more than one team in the competition, but competitors cannot participate on more than one chapter team.

This year’s event is sold out, which is a testament to the popularity and success of the GCSAA Golf Championships. I don’t bring up this fact to give you FOMO or make you feel left out. On the contrary. I bring it up to give you a jump on next year’s Championships in Phoenix in late January.

See you all in Orlando in just a few weeks’ time. As always, if you’ve missed a previous post, please check them out below.

Looking ahead

Upcoming events in the region. This is not necessarily a comprehensive list.