A Message from KWGA President
Hi Ladies,
Happy New Year!
We are off and running with our new software application Live Tourney, and once we finalize the details for our 2026 events and open registrations on March 1st, our website will have a link to sign up for our events. Features of Live Tourney (LT) include a listing of all the players who have signed up in real time. This is not an application that you need to download to your phone, each scorecard will have a QR code that will take you to the live scoring. Please note that our previous software application is no longer in use.
New this year, KWGA is now a USGA GAM (Golf Assn of Michigan) Provider. KWGA requires a GHIN handicap for our events, and for those members without a GHIN, you will be required to sign up on our membership form (a $45 value that is only $30 with KWGA). After you register your membership with KWGA, our APP Master will add you and you will receive an email with instructions for the GHIN/GAM registration. Members new to GHIN will need to add some scores from 2025 to establish your handicap (minimum of either three-18 hole scores or six-9 hole scores). KWGA members with a current GHIN just add your member number to the KWGA registration form. An additional benefit of this GAM membership is your ability to sign up for GAM events in Michigan. There are a number of GAM golf days that are held at courses you might otherwise not be able to play. When the 2026 GAM event schedule is available you can find it at https://gam.org.
The board has made some changes to the West Michigan Cup registration and participant eligibility. West Michigan Cup registration will now open on May 1st. All KWGA members can register on that date and those who register after the first 52 will continue to be added to the waiting list as before. Participant eligibility will require that you have played in two KWGA events prior to July 27th. If you registered on May 1st, but you fail to play in two KWGA events by July 27th, you will forfeit your spot to the next player on the waiting list. Remember early Cup signup is extended to tournament and one day event directors, so consider volunteering to help run an event.
The KWGA board voted to make a change to the Medal Play tournament format for 2026. The new format is a Medal Play Eraser. The format is two days of individual medal play, but you combine your best hole total from each round for a final 18 hole score.
KWGA will be participating in the South West Michigan Golf Show at the Next Level Sports Center Dome down in Schoolcraft on January 31st from 10 am to 4 pm (see flyer below). We will have raffles for a KWGA membership for 2026 including the GHIN. We will also offer a $10 discount to new members who join that day so mark this on your calendars and spread the word..
Please note that the date for the Trifecta has been changed to July 22, 2026.
Looking forward to an early spring!
Jayme Heimonen
KWGA President