Dear members,

Please find the minutes from the 19 February Board Meeting.

v/r

Russell Barnes

Secretary

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Attachments:

EMGA_Board_Meeting_-_19_Feb_2026_-_Approved.pdf

Tomorrow is just two weeks from the official start of our EMGA season on March 19^th.

For our new members, and a refresher for our returning members, I have attached our 2026 Handbook with welcome letters from our officers and links to the 2026 schedule and Terms of Competition for the various events we conduct throughout the season. 

Also attached is a copy of our Expectations for how our members should conduct themselves as well as our Pace of Play policy.  Pace of Play continues to be one of the top complaints we hear from our members and potential members.  Links to both of these documents are also in the handbook.

Don Knight, EMGA Vice President

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Attachments:

EMGA_Expectations.pdf
EMGA_No_Show_Policy.pdf
2026_EMGA_Handbook.pdf

Dear Members,

Received the email below from the EGC General Manager.  Please plan accordingly.

v/r

Russell Barnes

Secretary 

U.S. Air Force Academy Adjusts Installation Access Procedures, Suspends Trusted Traveler Program

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The U.S. Air Force Academy has implemented updated installation access procedures, effective March 1, based on the current world situation. While there is no credible threat, these adjustments, in accordance with U.S. Northern Command directives for installations within the continental United States, enhance the safety and security of personnel, facilities, and the entire installation.

Key adjustments impacting public access include the suspension of the Trusted Traveler program, increased wait times for passes and inspections, and the closure of the Santa Fe Trail through the installation.

Specifically:

•              Trusted Traveler Program Suspended: The Trusted Traveler program has been suspended. All visitors without a DoD ID card must have a sponsored pass. Visitors can request a pass with the sponsorship of a DoW ID card holder at the Pass and Registration Office. Upon approval, visitors must present a REAL ID-compliant identification for entry along with their issued pass when entering the gate. 100% ID checks are in effect at all gates.

•              Increased Security and Delays: All visitors and employees should plan for increased security measures and significant delays. This includes extended wait times for vehicle inspections and at the Pass and Registration Office. The office, located at the South Gate, is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wait times of 1-2 hours can be expected during peak periods.

•              Santa Fe Trail Closure: The portion of the Santa Fe Trail that crosses the Academy installation is cloAlready have Marc sed until further notice.

Other important information includes:

•              Continued Operations: Athletics events, the 10th Medical Group, Exchange, and Commissary remain open to DoW ID card holders and those with an approved, sponsored base access pass. Base access passes (via QR codes) for special events are still authorized.

•              Long-Term Access: Individuals requiring long-term or recurring access (for work, school, or official business) should contact the Pass and Registration Office during business hours to facilitate a Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) card or an Entry Authorization List (EAL) for groups.

•              Background Checks: All individuals seeking access will undergo a mandatory criminal background check. Access may be denied for those with a history of felonies, outstanding warrants, or significant criminal activity.

The Academy is working with all official visitors to ensure operations continue as smoothly as possible. The safety and security of the Academy community are paramount, and these measures will remain in effect until they are no longer deemed necessary.

For more information, please contact the Pass and Registration Office at (719) 333-0441 or the Strategic Communications Office at (719) 333-7731.

//SIGNED//

Theo Gregory, PGA

General Manager

Eisenhower Golf Club

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Members,

As of today, here's the list of members that have signed up so far for the four different season-long tournaments.  If there are any errors, please let me know so we can sort it out.

As a reminder, here are the cutoff dates along with the costs, to sign up for the season-long tournaments.

Match Play ($10 fee) – 30 April 2026

Ike Cup ($5 fee) – 25 March 2026

Blue Ringers ($5 fee) – 25 March 2026

Silver Ringers ($5 fee) – 25 March 2026

If you have any questions, please let me know.  Thanks,

Larry Walker, President EMGA

Season-long Tournaments Chair

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FORE!

Sigh, but not quite like this one:  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pRPQPRMk5gY

Members responding to Q#5 achieved(?) a less than a 50% success rate. 

The other bad news is we’re not leaving the subject, taking Relief, just yet.

The good news is that you’re already familiar with the subject and the competition for the 2nd prize is still a close one.

So, Rule 14 Procedures for Ball:…Dropping in Relief Area... covers the procedures for dropping (Rule 14.3) and replacing a ball (Rule 14.2) in a Relief Area. Things can get ugly if you end up doing this wrong, ex: Rule 14.7 Playing from a Wrong Place, so let’s not go there and lock this down. Sometimes, the Relief Area isn’t pristine and causes some problems, cue Q#6.

Question #6

You’ve just hit a wicked slice/hook tee shot that bounces down the slope on Silver #7 into the Red Penalty Area. You choose the Lateral Penalty Relief Option.  You place your driver down to mark a two-club length relief area, no nearer the hole.  You drop once, the ball rolls back into the penalty area. You drop a second time, same thing happens. What do you do next?

1. You firmly place the ball down to keep it from rolling outside the relief area anywhere in the relief area 
2. You firmly place the ball down to keep it from rolling outside the relief area on the spot where the ball was dropped the second time 
3. You place the ball down anywhere in the relief area and if it rolls outside the relief area, you keep trying until it stays inside the relief area
4. You place the ball down on the spot where you dropped the ball the second time and if it rolls outside the relief area, you place it a second time, and if that fails, you find the nearest spot where the ball will come to rest even if it’s outside the relief area but still in the general area

****************

Question #5

In Stroke play, a player is in the process of taking relief from ground under repair in the general area.  Before the player drops the ball, they remove sand and loose soil from the relief area.  What is the ruling?

1. No penalty
2. One stroke
3. General penalty

And the answer is…”c. General Penalty”. The kicker here is that sand and loose soil are NOT defined as loose impediments.  Rule 14.3 Dropping Ball in Relief Area references Rule 8.1 and 8.1a that states you can’t take any actions if they improve the conditions affect the stroke which includes item (4) Remove or press down sand or loose soil.  Breach of Rule 8.1a is the General Penalty.

Tom McKernan

Rules & Handicaps

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Dear Members,

Chuck Ward Celebration of Life, Wednesday April 8th:

1100 – Pike Peak National Cemetery

1300 – Celebration of Life at EGC

 RSVP to Chuck and Linda Ward’s daughter Sharon Dunning – [email protected]

Chuck was a longtime member of the EMGA so I know there are a lot of guys that would love to pay their respects and celebrate his life!

Theo Gregory,

PGA General Manager Eisenhower Golf Club

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Members,

Welcome back for another EMGA season.  We are a month out from our first Open Play. The 2026 Calendar is attached.

Hopefully you've been able to keep the rust off of your swing, and you've been participating in Tom McKernan's Winter Rules Refreshers.  As in past years, we're offering many exciting tournaments and season-long events to keep up your interest.  If you have not already, please drop off your check in the mail or clubhouse by 1 March.  This helps the committees by giving an idea of what our budget will be for the year.

As I mentioned in my previous email on 9 Dec 2025 titled “2026 Key Updates,” we have some minor tweaks to how business ran in the past.  Here's a recap, plus additional information.

1. Cashless System:  All dues and fees will now be paid up front and deducted from your EMGA account as you play. Weekly account balances will be posted, and you can review the full details on this process in the 2026 Information posting in the Featured section on the EMGA website.  Checks are due by 1 March 2026. 
 

2. OPCs

A. The first flight will be Gross-only for stroke play and skins. Players wanting to be in the first flight must opt-in on the day of play, with flexibility to change week to week.

B. All other flights will be Net-only for stroke play, with both gross and net skins available within those flights. 

C.  All flights will have a 33% payout ratio.

D. We will be reminding everyone with our OPC emails on the process, rules, signups, etc.
 

3. Ike Cup:  Qualifying now requires 6 rounds (previously 4). The last day to signup is 25 March 2026.
 

4. Match Play:  Forfeits within flight play will no longer be awarded. Any forfeited match within flight play will be recorded as zero points for both players.  The last day to signup is 30 Apr 2026.
 

5.  Ringers:  No changes.  The last day to signup is 25 Mar 2026.
 

6. Tournaments:  We will be hosting 11 tournaments, covered by your annual dues, with a mix of individual, two-man, and four-man tournaments with different formats. Some tournaments will have optional $5 skin games. 
 

7. Home and Aways:  The Home and Away chair, Mark Dalzell, now has a schedule and will be following up with information on how it will all work for this season.
 

8.  Meals:  No changes, your dues cover three meals as highlighted on the calendar.

9.  EMGA Website:  We're excited about upcoming enhancements being made to the EMGA Website, emgacolorado.org.  These changes should make the site more interactive and beneficial for your use.  All the Terms of Competition are on the website.  We've also added a Forum section to the website where you can leave a comment, others can respond, and we hopefully create some meaningful dialog.  You can comment on any golf topic, rules, course conditions, tournament formats, etc.  Your username/ID is your GHIN number.

I highly recommend that you acquaint yourself to our two main sources of information.  Our EMGA website (emgacolorado.org) is where you can find out about our policies, different types of competitions, etc.  The EMGA Portal page (egc-2026emga.golfgenius.com) is where you'll find information about the ongoing season; signup for tournaments, Home and Away's, OPCs, meals, tournament results, calendar, and more.

We're glad that you have returned and are looking forward to another outstanding season.  Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks.

Larry Walker, President EMGA

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Attachments:

2026_EMGA_Calendar.pdf

FORE!

Now that we have thawed out a bit here at Eisenhower, there’s a 100% guarantee that we will encounter snow, fenced in bunkers, frozen greens, etc.  So, it’s appropriate to https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TrQadHVITAI our discussion to the relief procedures for these conditions.

Free Relief is covered by Rules 15 & 16 while Penalty Relief is addressed in Rules 17-19.  Relief options include Stroke-and-Distance, Back-on-the-Line, Lateral relief methods.  Know that the area of the course where a player’s ball lies affects the Rules that apply in taking relief. Those five areas (Ref Rule 2) are: 

1. The General Area (ex: fairways, rough and trees)
2. The Teeing Area
3. Penalty Areas
4. Bunkers
5. The Putting Green

Most of the time, you’ll take relief by dropping a ball into play.  Our next question tests you on how well you know the dos(?) and don’ts of dropping a ball.

Question #5

In Stroke play, a player is in the process of taking relief from ground under repair in the general area.  Before the player drops the ball, they remove sand and loose soil from the relief area.  What is the ruling?

1. No penalty
2. One stroke
3. General penalty

**************

Question #4 

Blue Hole #8, Red Flag, fast green.  Ball is about a foot above the hole, on the left, exactly 5 feet away. You’re an average putter with no sand in your bag. How many additional strokes do you add to your score?

a.     One

b.    Two

c.     Three

Drum roll please…..the Majority has spoken, the correct answer is “b. Two.”  The tally was FOURTEEN for one-putt, SEVENTEEN for two-putts and ONE for a three-putt. 

This question ruined some perfect scores.  Only a few remain 4/4 perfect.  Our second semi-final prize for questions 4-6 is a choice between these two:  a NCAA/NFL/NHL/MLB divot repair ball marker kit (team of your choosing) or a pet themed golf towel (pet photo required).  See attached pictures for examples.

Tom McKernan

Rules & Handicaps

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Attachments:

Divot_Ball_Marker_Kit.png
B72BCE43-F1CF-4B15-8EC3-4742F8457A5E_1_105_c.jpeg