The Alabama Golf Association (AGA) is the governing body of amateur golf in the State of Alabama. Read further to learn about membership in the AGA, benefits of membership, AGA championships and leadership.

AGA Staff

Buford McCarty, Executive Director
Fred Stephens, Manager - Championships & Course Rating
Donna Stephens, Manager - Office Facilities & GHIN
Rusty Harder, Assistant Manager - Championships & Course Rating
Crista Newsome, Manager - Championship Entries
Breanna Bolton, P.J. Boatwright Intern

Membership

The AGA includes two types of members: Member Clubs and Individual Members.

A   Member Club is a "golf club," incorporated or not, that is made up of residents of Alabama. The club must be an organization of at least 10 individual members that operates under by-laws, with committees appointed to supervise golf activities and to maintain the integrity of the USGA Handicap System. The club's members must have a reasonable and regular opportunity to play golf with each other and be able to return scores or scorecards for posting. An organization of amateur golfers at a public golf course is considered a "golf club," provided that it satisfies these same conditions. A Member Club must also provide to its individual members the handicap service offered by the AGA.

Individual Members consist of all members of Member Clubs who are active on the roster of the handicap service provided by the Member Club.

Member Benefits

By working directly with the United States Golf Association, the AGA provides its member clubs with the latest in technological equipment, including the GHIN handicapping system and tournament pairing program and instructs the clubs on how to use the programs.

AGA members have the opportunity to compete in national amateur tournaments, as the AGA conducts local qualifiers for national USGA amateur championships. AGA members are also eligible to serve as volunteers on national USGA committees.

The AGA also provides its member clubs with USGA course ratings. It serves as an educational resource for resolving questions regarding the Rules of Golf, USGA handicapping and amateur status. It holds educational seminars on the handicap service, Rules of Golf, and USGA Procedures and Handicapping. The AGA also serves as a tournament advisor, assisting its member clubs with the process of conducting golf tournaments and serving as a clearinghouse for member tournaments to help avoid scheduling conflicts. Additionally, the AGA also manages the affairs of the Southern Golf Association (SGA) and conducts SGA events.

Championships

Conducting Tournaments is one of the most visible activities of the association. The AGA conducts eight state championships annually:

• State Amateur
• State Four-Ball
• State Junior
• State Senior
• State Mid-Amateur
• State Club Team
• State Match Play
• State Senior Four-Ball

In addition, the AGA conducts national qualifiers for USGA events and the state boys' and girls' high school championships for both the Alabama Independent School Association and Alabama High School Athletic Association. The AGA is also involved in conducting intercollegiate events such as the Jerry Pate Intercollegiate hosted by the University of Alabama, the Billy Hitchcock Intercollegiate hosted by Auburn University, the Shoal Creek Intercollegiate Invitational hosted by UAB, and the Southeastern Conference Men's Golf Championship.

Since 1980, the AGA has managed the affairs of the Southern Golf Association. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, conducting the Southern Amateur Championship, Southern Junior Championship and Southern International Four-Ball Championship, in conjunction with the Board of Directors of the Southern Golf Association.

 Leadership

The AGA is governed by a Board of Directors elected at the annual meeting, at which time a president, vice president, and secretary/treasurer are also elected. Associate Directors are, from time to time, appointed by the president. By majority vote of the Board, a retired director, who has met specific criteria, may be granted the designation of "Director Emeritus." Both Associate Directors and Directors Emeriti can attend all meetings of the AGA and have voice, but cannot vote.

At times when the full Board of Directors is not meeting, the AGA is governed by an Executive Committee consisting of the President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, and not less than two, nor more than five, other members of the Board.