The Golf Association of Philadelphia

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About GAP

GAP Services

This summer marks the 117^th season the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP), the oldest local or regional golf association in the country, has conducted tournament competition.

GAP was founded in 1897 by Aronimink Golf Club (formerly Belmont Golf Association), Merion Golf Club (formerly Merion Cricket Club), Philadelphia Country Club and Philadelphia Cricket Club..

The Association's 145 member clubs are spread across parts of four states -- Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. GAP encompasses an area that roughly goes from Lancaster to Scranton to Bethlehem to Princeton to Cape May to North East, Md., and back to Lancaster.

The purpose of the Association is simple: to promote the game of golf. Every GAP activity is designed to do just that.

In terms of competitive golf, the Association has something for everyone, regardless of age or skill level. From the early season GAP Team Matches through the annual Mason-Dixon Matches in October, GAP offers a full schedule of competitions for youngsters, seniors and everyone in between. Included in GAP'S 2012 schedule of events is the 113^th Amateur Championship; the 109^th Open Championship; the 111th Joseph H. Patterson Memorial Cup and 30^th Middle-Amateur Championship

While GAP is charged with promoting the game and guarding its ancient and honorable traditions, it is also focused on keeping up with modern technology. With the introduction of its Web site and communications via e-mail and on-line entries, GAP is providing 21^st century service to golfers, clubs and the game in the Delaware Valley.

Championships - Of special importance are the championships GAP conducts to determine and recognize the top amateur in its service area, the best mid-amateur, the best junior and the best senior. Also, the Association conducts qualifying competitions for six United States Golf Association (USGA) championships, in addition to a number of handicap and team events.
Computer Assistance Programs - Member Clubs that fully support the USGA Handicap System and select the paperless option are eligible for the Computer Assistance Program (CAP). The CAP provides new computer hardware to all participating clubs and the latest GHIN Management Program and Tournament Pairing Program software. Providing a uniform platform allows the Association to provide prompt and efficient service to our members.
Course Ratings - The Association has six teams that rate every member course on a seven-year rotation and which also rate any other course requesting the service in our area. These teams of volunteers will rate about 25 courses each year, four or five courses per team, with each course requiring a full day’s commitment from the team rating it. Ratings compiled by these teams are reviewed by the GAP staff to make sure that criteria are being consistently applied. This allows any player with a valid GAP/GHIN Handicap Index to fairly compete against any other player with a GAP/GHIN Handicap.
*VIDEO: Course Rating Service
Golf Association of Philadelphia Magazine - The Golf Association of Philadelphia Magazine is the official publication of the Golf Association of Philadelphia. The Golf Association of Philadelphia Magazine provides extensive features and tournament coverage along with news and notes from the game of golf in the Philadelphia area. Published four times a year, Individual Members of the organization are eligible to receive a complimentary copy of the magazine by contacting the Golf Office. A digital-only edition is published annually in February
- Golf Digest – All Golf Association of Philadelphia Magazine subscribers are also eligible to receive a complimentary Golf Digest subscription.
GAP Team Matches - Nothing matches the scale of the GAP Team Matches. On three Sundays in April, more than 3,800 players representing a record 320 teams from 133 Member Clubs will engage in inter-club competition. The Interclub Matches, as they were originally called, served as the basis for the founding of the Association, and today, just like then, serves as a source of club pride. If you haven’t experienced it, you’ve missed some special moments.
Handicap Administration - The Association has provided handicaps for its members since the USGA created a centralized service in 1964. The GAP is affiliated with the USGA’s nationwide Golf Handicap and Information Network, known as GHIN. GAP’s Director of Handicap Services fully supports all functions of GHIN and is available at the Golf Office or will visit your club to address any concerns. More than 2.1 million players from approximately 13,000 clubs participate on GHIN. A player can go to any participating club, check his handicap and post his score. Players may obtain USGA Handicap Index information under the Handicap tab. GHIN offers all member clubs a Tournament Pairing Program (TPP), which is described under USGA Handicap Service. Call Mario Machi, the Association’s Director of Handicapping, at 610-687-2340, ext. 20, today to learn more about TPP. Also, clubs and members can gain access through their handicap computer to the National Course Rating and Slope database retrieval system.
Internet Web site - Upgraded in 2012 and more dynamic than ever before, the GAP Web site offers visitors access to tournament headlines, the ability to enter events on-line in the click of a few buttons, print out entry blanks, view tee times and see results of GAP championships. You can also post scores for handicap purposes, find your current GAP/USGA Handicap Index and through PJ, Jr. look up rule situations in Decisions on the Rules of Golf as published by the USGA. Also, captains can keep their GAP Team informed with weekly team match results and standings. If you need a course rating from another club or maybe you’re invited to play a member course and need directions ... it’s all there on GAP’s Web site. Come visit us today and see what’s new with your Association. Send us an e-mail at email@gapgolf.org and let us know what improvement you would like to see at www.gapgolf.org.
On-line Entries - In 2002, the GAP presented its membership with a faster and easier way to sign up for events: on-line entries. Today, that system is more refined and dynamic than it has ever been. In the click of a few buttons, you can enter events in a matter of moments. All tournaments are available. Credit cards are accepted for tournament fees. Streamlining the way in which we offer services to our membership is of key importance to your Association.
Platt Caddie Scholarship - The Association sponsors the Platt Caddie Scholarship, a charity that has provided more than $16 million in college tuition assistance to more than 3,275 caddies from member clubs. In 2012, $900,000 was provided in tuition assistance to 130 member club caddies.
PLAY Golf - The Golf Association of Philadelphia launched a new effort in 2000. Working with the USGA, GAP started a program known as PLAY Golf whose purpose is to assist community efforts to expand access to golf for urban youth. GAP has established contact with 22 youth programs and 4,200 youngsters across the region and provided many with balls, clubs and volunteers. Fundraising programs are being developed to make the program self-supporting and to provide additional support for community efforts to bring young people to golf.
Preserves, Protects the Game - The Association serves as the local voice of the USGA as it focuses its efforts on the preservation of the values of the only game that is still played pretty much the same way it was over a century ago. One way in which the GAP safeguards the game’s integrity is by monitoring rules on amateur status and by processing Amateur Reinstatement Applications of those who wish to regain their amateur status. The Association exists to help its members enjoy the greatest game of all. Each participant in a GAP event, each club member who has a GHIN handicap and each member club helps provide the support that sustains the Association. We thank you for your support in the past and solicit your continued involvement. Participate in your Association. And enjoy.
Rules - The Association administers the Rules of Golf as established by the USGA and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, by providing officials at its various competitions and rules advice to member clubs. The Association invites officials of its member clubs to attend any of the four day-long seminars on the Rules of Golf. Two of those seminars are an introductory to the rules and two are advanced. High School rules seminars are also offered and coaches should contact the Golf Office for details. Remember, this was a year for Rules changes, so stay up to speed. An electronic version of the Decisions on the Rules of Golf is available to member clubs and their members through the computer that runs the handicap program as well as on GAP’s Web site.
Surveys & Seminars - A popular GAP service is the Club Management Survey, a yearly compilation of statistics that illustrate the range of services, activities, staffing and expenditures at participating member clubs. Participating clubs are provided complimentary copies. The Association also provides seminars, surveys and communications to members from such national organizations as the USGA, National Golf Foundation, Golf Course Superintendents Association and the National Club Association.