About
The Middle School Golf League is organized with parents registering their Middle School players through the South Gwinnett Athletic Association. Players are assigned teams generally based on middle school attendance and receive golf shirts with their middle school or feeder high school colors. If there are not enough players form a middle school to form a team, registered players are assigned as needed to round out team rosters.
After the instructional golf clinic for all players beginning golfers are encouraged to take that knowledge onto the golf course. In addition, all players and especially beginning golfers are encouraged to practice ball striking skills between team play. The format for play is team competition best ball play including during one week “High School Day” where high school team golfers are invited to play along with their cluster middle school teams, a week of individual stroke play, where the most advanced players are invited to play in an invitational individual stroke 9-hole tournament. The season culminates for everyone with a Drive, Chip and Putt competition and the MSGL Awards Presentations.
Players play from forward or junior tees based on ability. League play and/or clinics will be held mostly on Sundays, normally at 4 pm. The season officially begins with a clinic for everyone conducted by our golf course professionals, and for new golfers or players new to MSGL and orientation on team play, golf rules and golf etiquette. beginner orientation and Each team has a volunteer team “Marshall” who is responsible for team lineups and supervises the play on the course. Parents are welcome to walk or purchase carts as available. All spectators’ carts must remain on the cart paths.
Our five main host golf courses for regular play re Chimney’s Golf Club, Country Club of Gwinnett, Collins Hill Golf Course, Cedar Lake Golf Course and Bear Creek. Providence Golf Course, Trophy Club of Apalachee and Monroe Golf Courses may host us as needed. Teams rotate and play on a different course each week.
Registration Information
At the close of on-line registration, we will hold our parent orientation. The orientation will provide more detailed information about the season, uniform sizing, information about golf equipment and clubs and a Q&A session with League Director Les Witmer, and SGAA ‘s Tim Gaines and Tanya McDaniel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are special Spring FAQ’s:
Q: How do I register my Middle School son or daughter for the Spring Middle School Golf
League?
A: You can register on line at: www.middleschoolgolfleague.com
. However, in the spring we will only take retuning players form the previous fall season. You must have the code
that was sent to fall registrants to register this spring.
Q: Who may register? Only players from the previous fall?
A: Yes, except it is a middle school league. We will only take Middle School players in grades
6, 7 and 8 who played in the 2023 Fall Season (no 9th graders).
Q: What is the deadline for registration?
A: Our on-line registration for the spring 2024 season opens February 1 and will close when we
reach 48 registrations. If we do not reach that by February 24 on-line registration will close that
day at 5 p.m. Note: We will limit it to the first 48 players from the 2023 Fall Season who
register.
Q: What has changed for the spring season?
A; There will be a more focused clinic to begin the season—with smaller groups of 24 that rotate
between instruction at the driving range, short game area and putting green and then will actually
go on the course for supervised instructional play. Then we would have three weeks, each of a
nine-hole individual stroke tournament play. There would be no best ball team play. They would
go off in 4 foursomes from a designated tee time—between 4 and 5 p.m. on Sundays each of
those weeks at each of our three courses. And then again culminate the spring season with a
drive, chip and putt contest and awards party.
Q: What will play consist of?
A: We will have three weeks, each of a nine-hole individual stroke tournament play. This will
not be best ball team play but formatted more like high school matches. Each player will be
playing their own ball and keeping their individual score. We will be playing at only three
courses and your player will play each course. They will be Chimneys, Cedar Lake and Monroe
A: Mass emails as in the fall are sent out on weekly schedules, standings, and other information
relating to the MSGL season. It is imperative that correct email addresses—both primary and
alternate –are listed on the registration form. It is recommended that each parent’s email be
listed and in the case of custodial parents, that both parents are listed so that everyone receives
the same information in a timely fashion. (However, unless you want two emails coming to you
with information, DO NOT list the same email address as primary and alternate when registering
on line!).
Q: Do players walk the course? Can parents caddy for their player?
A: Players may walk the nine holes and carry their clubs or have a push cart. If player walks,
players only then may choose to have a parent or another adult caddie for them and walk the
course, carry the bag or push the cart. Caddies must observe golf rules and etiquette and may
advise players on shots, club selections and distances. However, detailed coaching slows down
pace of play and is for practice sessions and not on course play! If players choose to walk,
players need to maintain pace of play and keep up with their team. Parents may rent a cart if
available and players may ride with them and have their bag of clubs in the cart but again if
players ride in a cart, they need to practice ready golf and get out of the cart and get their clubs to
be ready to play. There is usually a line to get carts so it is important that parents and players
arrive well in advance of the start time. Depending on prior member or guest play that day at the
course, there may be a shortage of available carts due to cleaning and recharging carts.
Not everyone is insured of having a cart available and players and parents may need to be prepared to
walk the course. Players are not allowed to drive a cart (must be 16 years old and have a driver’s
license.) Other spectators are welcome to watch play either by walking along or they may rent a
cart if available at the cost as charged by the course
but must stay on the cart path at all times
.
Q: So, if there are only two players from my middle school, they will not be placed on a team?
A: Players scores will be recorded for their Middle School team if there are at least three of
them. If more, only the top three scores will count for team scores. If less, they are playing as
individual medalist.
Q: Is there a maximum number for a team.?
A; No. In the past we had a maximum of 8 players for a team, and even then, had multiple teams,
listed as A, B or even C for several Middle Schools. We will be listing players on the rosters by
Middle School and for team competition, only will take the top three scores.
Q: Besides Sunday play are their other times play is scheduled?
A: Our regular play is scheduled for Sundays starting at 4 p.m. Only if there would be extreme
conflicts would we schedule a make up for any other time.
Q: Is there organized practice at other times?
A:We do not schedule organized MSGL practice. Middle School practice is not scheduled nor
required. Depending on how golf is organized at your Middle School, teams may do this on their
own and players may practice on their own. Players and parents may individually use golf course
range facilities at local costs by checking with the pro shop at the courses. (Local range fees
apply).
Q: After the season are their other golf experiences available for Middle School players?
A: We promote other junior programs, lessons and opportunities for development that are
available at all of our participating golf courses. For more information, contact the local golf
professional at any of our courses for lessons or clinic opportunities.
Q: Are players provided team golf shirts again? Are there any other requirements involving
what they wear or need?
A: We want players to wear their team shirts from the Fall Season. We will not be ordering new
shirts and that has helped reduce the registration fee. We want our players to learn what proper
golf attire is. We ask them not to wear jeans and tee shirts. Depending on the weather shorts,
skirts, skorts or long pants are fine. Again, depending on the weather, light jackets, wind shirts,
raingear may be worn. Sneakers or athletic shoes are recommended. Players may wear their
own hats or visors. Golf gloves may be purchased and worn. Players provide their own golf
balls and tees. And depending on the weather parents are advised to dress appropriately and if
necessary, bring rain gear and umbrellas.
Q: How long does play last?
A: We practice ready golf and marshals are asked to keep play moving. With only four tee times
per course stating at 4 p.m. we should finish easily before dark, hopefully by 7:30 p.m. or earlier.
We will set a maximum score to help with pace of play. Parents are asked to have their players
arrive at least 30 minutes before their start time, report to their starting hole 10 minutes before
their designated tee time. Foursome will not wait a on a player and once the fairway is open and
it is their tee time they need to begin play.
Q: What happens when there is inclement weather? If it rains before or during play?
A: If there is wide spread inclement weather before our scheduled time to play, the MSGL
Director will coordinate with our golf courses and notify thru email if play is cancelled. The
local golf courses determine whether we can or continue play or not and also when we have to
stop play (danger, i.e., storms, lightning, etc.). On the golf course, most courses have a loud horn
that signals lighting or bad weather and that we must evacuate the course. As in professional and
even recreational golf, play may continue during light rain. Rain gear may be worn and golf
umbrellas are certainly allowed on the courses. Play may stop and resume as weather permits.
Marshals are advised to monitor the weather situation. If a regularly scheduled week is canceled
during the season, we use the rain make-up date.
Q: If I still have a question or need additional information, who should I contact?
A: You may contact Les Witmer, the MSGL Director at lawitmer@comcast.net
Contact
MSGL Director Les Witmer
lawitmer@comcast.net