Jeff Ranf, AGA President
It has been an incredibly busy few months for the Alaska Golf Association. We decided that, due to the City of Palmer pulling the contract for running Palmer Golf Course (PGC), we needed to move our three events from PGC to other venues.
The city hasn’t awarded a contract to anyone yet to run PGC, and we wanted to ensure our events were on solid ground before committing to a venue. The AGA found the city’s approach to be very problematic since the preparation processes for the spring haven’t even begun. Hence, the AGA felt it necessary to be proactive.
According to KTUU News, Palmer Mayor Jim Cooper said that “during renegotiation talks between Eagle Golf and the city there were issues of legality in the initial contracts. We found out there were some things we were doing that were inappropriate or illegal, if you want to call it that, in the contract.”
According to Collum, the city council added terms that he did not agree with. He said some of the language in the contract was a little bit too controlling. It was clearly noted in several council meetings that Collum had run the golf course successfully for 18 years, generating, it was reported, $300,000-$400,000 per year in revenue to the city.
And because it was felt PGC would not be ready to host the USGA’s U.S. Open Local Qualifying, which had been scheduled for May 18, the AGA decided it had to move it to another venue. That venue is being considered moving to a Washington Golf location.
In other news, the AGA is about to embark upon a new and improved website which should be ready in the coming weeks. It will include a much more navigable format illustrating our 2026 events and beyond.
For the first time in years, the AGA has applied and received a P. J. Boatwright Internship grant from the USGA. This grant identifies a college-aged individual that is enthusiastic and passionate about golf in Alaska. The internship provides real hands-on experience in golf administration, tournament operations and community engagement. It’s a terrific opportunity for college students and recent graduates looking to break into the golf industry. Our site will direct interested applicants how and where to apply.
Also on the horizon is a virtual AGA store for our members to take advantage of some great discounts on golf products through our new connections.
The one thing we’re really excited about is the new approach we have with junior golf and women’s golf. These are two areas we want to grow statewide. So, watch for new developments in the coming months.