2025 STATE DAY REGISTRATIONS TO OPEN IN APRIL
Can you believe we will be golfing in VT within a month? Here are a few upcoming registration dates:
4/11: Registration opens for Tri-States
4/18: Registration opens for the 4/29 Burlington CC State Day
4/25: Registration opens for the 5/6 Williston GC and Brattleboro CC State Day
We will also be sending out reminder text messages about registrations and important dates. If you don’t want these messages, simply reply STOP to the first message and you will no longer receive reminder texts.
TIME TO SADDLE UP!
Have you renewed your 2025 VSWGA membership? Season opening is just around the corner and we are busy mailing out handbooks and updating the website with new information. Visit VSWGA.org or Golf Genius to renew. Please ensure your mailing address for the handbook is filled out correctly (and you have chosen Paper, PDF, or both).
2025 LOTTERIES
- In 2025 VSWGA will be using a lottery system for the events that had waitlists in 2024. Our 2025 lottery events are Manchester, Dorset, Woodstock and Vermont National State Day
- Singles, Two-somes, AND FOURSOMES will be able to preregister for lotteries. Players will be placed in two tiers:
- Tier 1 (first selected) – Players that were waitlisted at that course in 2024 or registered for the 2024 Lottery event and did not get into that course.
- Tier 2 – everyone else.
- After an initial pre-registration period for the lottery, registration will close, the lottery will be run, pairings will be created, and players will be notified.
- All lotteries will be run before any other event registrations are opened in the same week.
Please note: - Lottery numbers are assigned by team, not by individual. For instance, a single, a twosome, or a team of four is assigned one number in the lottery; they all have the same odds of winning.
- Teams with multiple people will be placed into Tier 2 unless everyone on the team is a Tier 1.
Here’s an example of the lottery process using the 5/27 Dorset State Day as an example
- Friday, May 9, 7:00 a.m.: Lottery Opens
- May 9-15: Players enter the lottery
- Teams of 1, 2, or 4 can register.
- Everyone is put into pending registration.
- Thursday, May 15, 7:00 am: Lottery Closes. Admin manually runs each lottery on a course by course basis.
- Tier 1(first selected) – Players that were waitlisted at the course in 2024 or registered for that course in the 2024 Lottery event and did not get in.
- Tier 2 – everyone else.
- Thursday, May 15 pm: Winners are moved from pending to registered. All others will be put on a wait list. Tee times will be assigned by admin.
- Friday, May 16: Montague State Day event registration opens (it’s the same day as Dorset)
- May 26: Dorset and Montague Registration closes
- Tuesday, May 27: Dorset and Montague State Day Events Held
HAVE A FEW MINUTES TO SPARE?
We are ALWAYS looking for fellow golfers to volunteer to help with any and all VSWGA projects throughout the year. With your help we become stronger every day! Please consider the following options and let us know where you would feel comfortable volunteering your expertise:
- Tri States
- Pace of Play
- State Days
- Rules
- Major Tournaments
- Communications
- Course Rating
- Junior Golf
More information on the tasks involved with each of these sections can be found on our web site, here. Contact Jen Farrington (vswgaquestions@gmail.com) or Dixie Mercier (dmerc1079@yahoo.com) if you need further clarification.
At this time we have an immediate need for someone with social media background to work with the Communications Committee. Please contact Jill Appel (jill.appel@comcast.net) if you have questions or are interested in this role.
VGA SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Are you or do you know someone who is a resident of Vermont, graduating from high school in 2025, has an affiliation with golf, and will be attending an institute of higher learning?
The VGA Scholarship Fund application submission process is underway and applications must be submitted no later than April 15, 2025. Visit the Scholarship Fund Website to submit an application. Once you’ve entered the site, all that is needed is to click on Scholarship, hit “Apply” and fill out all of the information. All supporting documentation can be uploaded online and once you hit submit you will be contacted that your application has been received.
The VGA Scholarship Fund was established in 1964 with the mission of helping Vermonters further their education through awarding annual scholarships. Award amounts are up to $1,000 per year for four years. Since its inception over 540 students have received $1,700,000 to help them follow their dreams. The Scholarship Fund is administered by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees.
All High Schools in the state receive the Scholarship Information, so you can also visit your Guidance Department. If you have any further questions, email pj3murray@gmail.com.
2025 SARAH HUNTER SPRING CLASSIC AT HAYSTACK
On Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31, Haystack Golf Course in Wilmington will host the Sarah Hunter Spring Classic for the third time. The tournament honors the memory of Sarah Hunter, who served as head golf professional at Manchester Country Club. More information on the tournament will follow when it is available.
“Sarah Hunter was a pioneer in junior golf and created a thriving youth golf program while at Manchester,” said Michelle Dougherty, General Manager of Manchester Country Club. “She grew up playing golf at a country club and learned to love and respect the game. She believed golf courses were places to teach children about life, how to behave around adults and how to learn to enjoy competition.
Tragically, Sarah was murdered in September 1986 and the case remains unsolved to this day. A video by Carl Tone films, “Overtaken by Darkness” sets forth the facts of the case, details evidence, and reveals the prime suspect, a person long known to law enforcement but never convicted of the crime.
Sarah Hunter served as Head Golf Professional at Manchester Country Club
2025 TRI-STATES
Our 2025 Tri-State Championship will be held at Mt Washington Resort Golf Club (Carroll, NH) on Thursday-Friday, June 12-13, 2025. Registration will open on April 18.
Everyone is encouraged to apply for a place on the Vermont Tri-State Team. The Vermont Team will be made up of 30 players in three handicap divisions plus two alternate players with a handicap of 15 or higher. The first day format will be modified alternate shot match play. Strokes will be determined by comparing the lowest handicap player of each team at 90%. Second day format will be individual match play among the states at 100% handicap. The selection process is based on data collected over the past three years on each applicant. Please refer to your handbook for specifics.
Entry is open to amateur golfers who have an active VT GHIN. Handicap Index may not exceed 30.0 as of May 23, 2025. Five scores must have been posted to GHIN between January 1, 2025 and June 1, 2025 in order to be considered for selection.
Vermont will be defending their title and hope to retain the trophy in 2025. Please apply!
