New Jersey Golf Net

Appendix I

It would be impossible for me

to include contact information for all of the national and regional associations.

I have attempted to include those associations which represent most of

the participants of RSG. If you do not see your national/regional association

listed here please ask your club, course or practice facility for contact

information.

1. Associations

USGA

Joining the USGA, a non-profit organization,

costs $25 per year (may be tax deductible, lifetime memberships are available).

You will receive a current rule book, nine issues of Golf Journal, with

special issues for the US and Senior Open, as well as their catalog of

golf goodies and a bag tag. The money helps support the USGA, which sponsors

various amateur tournaments, administers the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment

tests, turf research and much more. The USGA”s website is http://www.usga.org/

. I urge all United States based participants in RSG to consider becoming

a member of the USGA. Please note that membership in a club or a regional

association does not include membership in the USGA.

R & A

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St.

Andrews has been the governing authority concerning the Rules of Golf since

1897 in every country of the world except Canada and the United States. 

Prior to 1951 the USGA and the R&A had some minor differences in their

respective versions of the Rules of Golf. In 1951 those differences were

eliminated and the USGA and R&A agreed to issue a common set of rules.

Because of this agreement, the Rules of Golf are the same everywhere in

the world. The R&A also conducts the Open Championship, AKA the British

Open. The R&A website is at http://www.randa.org/

.

Australian Golf Union

The AGU was established in 1898 and oversees

the course rating system, player handicapping, selection of Australian

golfers for international amateur competitions, including the Eisenhower

Trophy. The AGU also conducts the various Australian National Championships

tournaments such as the Australian Open, the Australian Amateur and the

Australian Senior Amateur. The AGU website is at  http://www.agu.org.au/

.

PGA of America

The Professional Golfers Association of

America (PGA) trains and certifies professional golf instructors. The PGA

also conducts the PGA Championship tournament, one of the 4 major tournaments

of men's professional golf and the Ryder Cup, the premier international

professional men's team event. The PGA”s website is http://www.pga.com/

.

PGA Tour

The PGA Tour is an association of touring

professional golf players. These are the guys you see on television every

week. The PGA Tour also runs the Senior PGA Tour and the Buy.Com Tour.

The PGA Tour is not a division of the PGA of America, it is a separate

and independent entity. The PGA Tour runs or sanctions all PGA Tour events.

If you want to become a touring pro, this is the organization you need

to join. The PGA Tour's website is http://www.pgatour.com/

.

LPGA

The Ladies Professional Golf Association

is the governing body for the vast majority of female professional golfers,

whether they work in a pro shop or play on the LPGA Tour. Like the PGA

of America, the LPGA trains and certifies LPGA teaching professionals and,

like the PGA Tour, the LPGA also runs the LPGA Tour.  The LPGA”s website

is at http://www.lpga.com/index.html

. Please note that some female golf professionals are members of the PGA,

not the LPGA.

Regional Associations

Contact your local pro shop or golf course

for information on contacting your state or regional association.

Original Equipment

Manufacturers (OEM's)

Shaft Manufacturers

3. Miscellaneous Contacts

This FAQ is Copyright 1999-2002 by Daniel J. Driscoll, all

rights reserved. Product and company names used in this document

may be trademarked or copyrighted by the respective owners. This

document may be replicated in whole or in part, without

alteration. All replications must include this copyright notice.