THANK YOU FOR A GREAT 2023 SEASON!
The 2023 season ended on September 11th with the final tournament at Morris Park C. C. in South Bend, IN.
It was not a nice day for golf. It rained all morning, but the weather report said that there was a 3–4-hour break in early afternoon. Play started in a light drizzle but rain ended soon and held off until after play was completed. Ninety-seven players entered the event but only 87 finished playing in six flights. The weather forecast convinced several not to play.
The final tournament turned out to be a nice ending to the season. For the season, all events were completed with nice weather except Morris Park.
Morris Park C. C. is an excellent golf course and was a good choice for the final tournament. The golf and banquet staff did a great job for the MSGA as Morris Park always does including a excellent dinner.
The final tournament is a popular event that includes lunch, dinner, extra awards, door prizes and raffles. MSGA 2023 Championship winners, Fred Hillis and Kevin Shidler were acknowledged although Kevin was unable to attend as had he tested positive for COVID. Their names will be engraved on the permanent John Pavlos Memorial Trophy as 2023 MSGA Champions and each will receive an engraved replica of the permanent trophy.
In the season long Brady Cup competition, Fred Hillis finished first followed by Larry Hackett and Roy Andrysiak. Fred will receive an engraved replica of the permanent Brady Cup trophy and have his name added to the permanent trophy.
At the Annual Membership Meeting, Bruce Ruge, Abe Ismail and Kevin Shidler were elected for 3-year terms and Mike Hoffman was elected for a 2-year term. All have made important contributions while serving their previous years on the Board of Directors.
The 2024 Season will be the twenty-sixth for the MSGA. Over the previous twenty-five years, the MSGA has played 231 tournaments on 53 different golf courses throughout the Michiana area.
Tournament entries for 2023 averaged 85 for the individual tournaments vs. 100 for 2022.
The current membership stands at 130, down from 168 last year. Although membership was down, the average entries were 65% of membership in 2023 as compared to 60% in 2022. Over the years, 896 players have held membership in the MSGA.
The Board of Directors is completing work on the 2024 tournament schedule and expects to post the finalized schedule on the website within the next few weeks. We hope that all current members will re-up for 2024 and invite their friends to join.
Membership renewal information for the 2024 season will be sent out in late January or February for the 2024 season. Membership renewals will again be online with annual dues payments and MSGA/BlueGolf handicap fees paid via credit cards. Members will be notified when renewals open.
Tournament registrations will begin in April with a $10 deposit due at time of registration for each event entered. We expect to allow one player to also enter as many as three others to form a foursome. Members will be notified when registrations open.
We will also be processing new member applications online for 2024.
The Board wants to thank all the members who participated in this year’s tournaments and made 2023 another successful year for the MSGA. We look forward to another great year in 2024.
Next Tournament: Opening Day - 2024 |
Welcome to the website of the Michiana Seniors Golf Association (MSGA). The organization is made up of amateur senior players (age 50+) who love and enjoy the game of golf and a little competition and fellowship on some great golf courses. The Michiana area includes Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan.
If you are a senior amateur player who enjoys playing golf on some of Michiana’s premium golf courses, the MSGA is the organization for you.
Tournaments are flighted by handicap, so players are competing against similarly skilled players. For the 2023 season, the MSGA is playing from three different tees to fit member preferences. Front tees (Green markers) are played at approximately 5100 yards, Middle tees (Blue markers) are at approximately 5600 yards and Back Tees (Black markers) are at approximately 6100 yards. To play the front tees, players must have an Age + Handicap Index number of 85+.
The MSGA posts all MSGA Tournament scores, so players are not required to post MSGA scores. Ratings and Slopes are adjusted for changes from the course scorecards per USGA guidelines.
Tournament Entry Fees include Golf with Cart, Lunch (unless noted) and Awards and Skin games. Awards are presented for low gross and multiple low net winners and Skins for each flight based on the number of entries.
Click on the links above to see more information about the MSGA.
If you have any questions or need more information about the MSGA, please contact Tom Spartz (219-363-2534) or any of the Board of Directors.
Walt Ailes, President (219-462-0663)
The 2023 season is the 25th year for the MSGA and includes ten tournaments played from May thru September. Of the 2023 tournaments, four will be played at private country clubs and six at public golf courses throughout the Michiana area.
The season opens at Woodlands Course at Whittaker in New Buffalo, MI on May 10th and closes at Morris Park C. C. in South Bend on September 11th.
The MSGA Championship will again be played at Swan Lake Golf Resort in Plymouth, IN on August 14th, and 15th.
There are no new courses for 2023, but we are returning to several challenging courses including Whittaker, Island Hills, Pottawattomie and Warren Course at Notre Dame. After playing ten events in 2023, the total number of tournaments played in the 25-year history of the MSGA will be 241 on 53 different golf courses.
The Board of Directors looks forward to another great year in 2023.
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Welcome New Members for 2023Season!
Dennis Rutherford |
Lebanon OH |
Scott Bowmar |
Goshen IN |
Jeff Hazel |
LaPorte IN |
Keith Bope |
North Liberty IN |
Mike McNear |
Plymouth IN |
Phil Krause |
Highland IN |
Paul Zehner |
South Bend IN |
Brian Mikel |
New Paris IN |
Mark LaBarbera |
Valparaiso IN |
Jack Kary |
Granger IN |
Tom Moser |
Michigan City IN |
Welcome Returning Members!
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2023 Champions Kevin Shidler & Fred Hillis (L) with Runnersup Dick Weiss & Bob Henrikson (R) & Swan Lake Golf Pro Ryan Steele (C)

2022 Brady Cup Winner – Bob Henrikson

Chad Hutsell (C) with 2022 Champions Tom Smith & Ed Meyer (L) & Runners-up Andy Dosmann & Mike Hoffman (R)

Chuck Zimmerman receiving congratulations from Michelle and Bill Murray on his Hole-in-One recorded on Hole #17 at South Bend C. C. on 09-14-21.

Bob Brady (left) receiving Recognition Award for his 16 years of Dedicated Service and Leadership to the MSGA
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