Vic Russelavage
MOGA Christmas Party and Dance
The annual MOGA Christmas Party and Dance will take place on Friday, Dec. 5, in the Oakwood ballroom. Doors and the bar will open at 5 p.m. Attendees can look forward to a choice between Beef Short Ribs or Vegetarian Stir Fry, accompanied by a holiday dessert, iced tea, coffee, and two kegs of beer (not per table, Dan). A cash bar will also be available for guests.
The cost for this festive occasion is $50 per person for MOGA members and their guests.
Members should check their email inboxes for links to sign up.
AGA Rules Presentation
On Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at 3 p.m., MOGA and IMGA will present the AGA Rules Presentation in the Oakwood ballroom. This free event was enthusiastically received last year, with the AGA providing valuable clarification on rules for both casual and tournament play without overwhelming the audience. This year, additional topics will be covered, including Course Care, the Chelsea system, Etiquette, Pace of Play, and Golf Genius. Special thanks to Jerry Behm for organizing this informative session.
Pace of Play: Don’t Dally in the Valley
Pace of Play is a recurring topic during both MOGA board meetings and weekly MOGA events. Just as rhythm is crucial to a good golf swing, maintaining rhythm on the course is essential for a pleasant round. Slow play can negatively impact your score, increase frustration, and occasionally lead to confrontations. Be mindful of your pace—if you are two holes behind, the rest of the field is likely affected as well. Ideal is to be less than one hole behind.
• The PGA allows three minutes to search for a lost ball.
• Two to a cart: The driver should drop their rider at their ball and then continue to their own ball. Avoid sitting and waiting; everyone should be prepared to hit as soon as the previous player plays their shot.
• Don’t dally: Fill out your scorecard at the next tee. When leaving the green, get in your cart and proceed to the next hole. You can clean and put away your clubs at the next tee box and carry them with you in the cart.
• Limit your practice swings to two.
• Play “Ready Golf.”
• Line up your putt while others are putting, when possible.
Course Care and Etiquette
Treat the golf course as your own—you live here and help pay for its upkeep. Take a moment to fill divots, repair ball marks on the greens, and show respect for the course. A little extra attention to these details can greatly improve playing conditions for everyone. For example, better care of Lakes 2 green could prevent it from resembling the surface of the moon after just a few weeks. Properly filling your fairway divots means that others won’t have to play their fairway approach shots from inside an unrepaired divots, and the course remains a smooth track.
Welcome to New Members
MOGA is pleased to welcome a host of first-year players for the 2026 season, as well as Todd Posey, webmaster co-chairman. New members can find the application for membership here: www.mogagolf.org/league-information.