January 2021 – AGW Newsletter | Association of Golf Writers

Wishing all members of the AGW very best wishes for 2021 and in this year of the ox.

Here’s also hoping also we can put the sadness of 2020 behind us and enjoy a year of some normality including celebrating our annual dinner in July at Royal St. George’s, join our fellow colleagues in a round of AGW-arranged golf and really just get back to enjoying those simple activities such as meeting-up at tournaments without having to identify who’s that behind the mask.

So, here is the first bulletin of the new year and hoping many of the members can get behind and support two of the ‘member-involvement’ activities outlined in the pages hereunder.

AGW Diaries & Member handbooks

Members will have received 2021 diaries and 2021 AGW member handbooks.

A huge THANKS to Robin Barwick for his efforts.

If you have any change to contact details please contact the Secretary.

AGW GOLFER OF THE YEAR – Lee Westwood

Lee Westwood winner of 2020 AGW Golfer of the Year

England’s Lee Westwood has won a record fourth AGW Golfer of the Year award.

Westwood secured 53% of the members vote for the 2020 AGW Golfer of the Year honours from Germany’s Sophia Popov, and brilliant winner of the AIG Women’s Open, who was second choice among the members with 20% of votes.

The 47-year-old Westwood first won the prestigious AGW award in 1998 again in 2000 before a third time in 2009. He then then voted tops for a fourth some two weeks after winning the European Tour ‘Race to Dubai’ title for a third occasion in his career.

Full details of Lee’s award and social media reaction to his win click on: https://www.agwgolf.org/lee-westwood-wins-agw-golf-writers-trophy-record-fourth-time/

2021 PICK YOUR PRO

The big question heading into the 2021 Pick Your Pro competition is can anyone stop tearaway Elliott Platts (son of Mitchell) from winning three straight PYP competitions.

Young Elliott has been unstoppable the past two seasons and easily outshining those who report on golf for a living.

Once again, Mark Garrod has kindly agreed to take charge of proceedings.

Entry is just £10.

Members will find full entry details and an entry form attached to this email and for those intending to pay by cheque be sure to note Mark’s address as:

Mark Garrod

52 Sunnybank Road

Potters Bar, Herts EN6 2NL

Here’s the chance to have some fun over the season testing yourself against your fellow members and the chance also to win a nice pot of cash at the end-of-year – just ask Elliott!

And what would be pleasing is to see our newest members get involved and also some of our retired colleagues give it shot with the more that enter the bigger the prize pool.

All PYP enquiries to Mark at email: email hidden; JavaScript is required">email hidden; JavaScript is required

CHANGE OF CONTACT DETAILS

In speaking of address chances please note also Paul Trow’s address as:

Paul Trow

8 Vine Lodge

15 Hutton Grove

London N12 8DW

As well, inaugural Renton Laidlaw Quaich winner Dave Edwards has a new email address just in case members want to send off a belated Kingsbarns Links victory congratulatory note.

Dave’s new email address is: email hidden; JavaScript is required

The PGA Tour also advises they will continue to operate with limited media on site through the 2021 Florida Swing.

PGA Tour media centres still have work stations for about nine to 10 writers that includes national, international and local media. It means some continuing restrictions on those intending to travel from Europe.

The Tour indicated they will be able accommodate a little more members of the media at the Players in March, but it will a significant reduction from previous years.

It is suggested that if you are planning to attend TPC Sawgrass you apply for accreditation sooner rather than later.

And the advice from the Tour is that they will not be opening any new media accounts at this time, so if you’ve not covered the PGA previously or it’s been some time years since you last attended a PGA Tour event then you’re unlikely to obtain accreditation in the present environment.

More details contact Tracey Veal at the Tour: email hidden; JavaScript is required

2021 RYDER CUP – Official Accommodation.

The European Tour advised members of the AGW at a meeting held just prior to Christmas that new 2021 Ryder Cup official hotel accommodation for the media should be released by the PGA of America early in February. The Milwaukee hotel set to host the media in September last year is now unavailable and with a new official hotel still the same one hour or so drive but now north of Whistling Straits at Green Bay.

And what a great way to get you away from the ‘box’ during these continuing ‘lockdown’ times.

There will be five rounds of 10 questions a round.

No cost to enter while the AGW will arrange some prizes and all you need to do show your support by emailing Tony who will take names before then advising the time and date, all entry details plus the Zoom connection link.

Drop Tony an email at email hidden; JavaScript is required

AGW CHRISTMAS HAMPERS

The AGW proudly despatched a record 57 Christmas hampers to our ‘older’ members and also the spouses/partners of our deceased members.

As well, hampers were sent to a handful of ‘needy’ members along with European Tour media officers Clare Bodel, Briony Carlyon, Neil Ahearn and Tom Carlisle given their enormous and also unprecedented ‘direct’ support to members since the lifting of the European Tour lockdown.

A hamper was also sent to the parents of Kate Wright and also to AGW good friend, John Bowles. Many will know John with his involvement in providing all the trophies and engraving requirements for the AGW. Sadly, John had been in hospital for some eight weeks and leaving just prior to Christmas with doctors having to remove the lower half of his left leg and also now fears of the same with his right leg.

I am sure there is members who may wish to get in contact with John and, if so, here is his email address: email hidden; JavaScript is required

Our Treasurer, Peter Higgs is again to be congratulated for his enormous efforts in arranging the hampers and despatched this year to eight countries.

Please read the ‘thank you and 2021 best wishes to members’ messages on the AGW website and you’ll quickly get the sense how much joy the hampers bring particularly to our senior members.

Here is the link: https://www.agwgolf.org/agw-2020-christmas-hampers-thank-you-best-wishes-notes/