The Players Club - American Golf

The Player's Club Insider // Fall 2019 OUtINGS & EvENtS A potent pairing of two of Southern California's top players is shining a light on a fun way to enjoy the game before the sun goes down. The Southern California Golf Asso- ciation just completed its fourth sea- son of Twilight League play, an initiative that has been supported at courses managed by American Golf. "When we started our Twilight Leagues, we were looking for a way to get more recreational players en- gaged; a lot of people play golf, but they may not have a golf home," said Evan Belfi, Director of Membership Development for the SCGA. "We wanted to provide a setting where people have a social experience, some loyalty to a particular facility, and get involved in organized play." Debuted at four course sites, the growing leagues are now at nine lo- cales – and counting. American Golf has proven a key playing partner in the endeavor, with seven of the leagues held at its courses. "American Golf has been great," adds Belfi. "They realize that engage- ment of the golfer is both healthy and necessary." By actively engaging with golfers to discern popular playing formats, team sizes, courses and sites, the SCGA serves as spikes-on-the- ground, and has continued to fine tune the leagues. The Twilight Leagues feature an eight-week season with 9-hole matches in the late-afternoons. Teams compete against site-centric teams weekly and, depending on team size, scoring takes the best three or four scores per week, with net scoring counting toward aggregate team totals. Team points tabulate per week, and at season's end, the squad with the most league points advances to championship play against other course champs. Grabbing hardware in the Twilight League's championship on September 8, Team Mulligans (San Dimas Canyon GC) took home top honors, with the Blue Collar Duffers (Lake- side/Skylinks) earning runner-up sta- tus. Team Mulligans Not Needed (Los Robles Greens) and the Snake City squad (Twin Oaks GC) tied for third. The league's popularity and growth has seen an 80 percent player retention rate, coupled with the fact that while individual players may sign up as free agents for team as- signment, more and more teams have been fielding full squads. Cost benefits are also one of the ad- vantages as players have the option of paying on a weekly basis or saving on fees with a one-time payment for the eight weeks. The use of the USGA handicap system has proven a further boon, as net play opens up the league to all skills levels. "It's a bridge toward a better expe- rience," says Belfi. "We think golfers have a much better time once estab- lishing a handicap as it gives a base- line of skill level – and allows players to participate fully." BRIGHt SPOtS American Golf, SCGA light up the game with Twilight Leagues C L I C K H E R E TO L E A R N M O R E A B O U T H O W TO G E T I N V O LV E D W I T H T H E S CG A T W I L I G H T L E AG U E S

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