New Preakness Hills Form is Posted. Click Here to Access it.
ALL PLAYERS MUST RECONFIRM OR WITHDRAW FOR THE NEW SEPTEMBER 17th DATE
BY COMPLETING THE NEW FORM
A new Preakness Hills form has been posted due to our postponement from the original August 27th date due to inclement weather.
Those who were originally entered for Preakness Hills are asked to reconfirm their attendance on September 17th, or to withdraw regarding the new date and request a refund.
The new registration form also asks if anyone who was not previously signed up, wishes now to attend our gathering on September 17th.
PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND DIRECTLY VIA PHONE, TEXT OR EMAIL TO CHUCK STOGEL OR ROBIN SAUERHAFT IN THE MGWA OFFICE TO EITHER RECONFIRM ATTENDANCE ON SEPTEMBER 17th OR WITHDRAW AND REQUEST A REFUND.
The deadline to RSVP using the new form for Preakness Hills is 1:00 pm Thursday, September 10th.
SPECIAL NOTES
We understand that teams that were intact and full with four golfers may have lost one or more golfers. If you can fill the team void, please do so and let us know via email at: chstogel@aol.com.
If a team ends up with three golfers for September 17th, our established MGWA formula is to add a fourth score via blind draw to facilitate a best two balls of foursome scorecard. The score from a fourth person is only a score, hole-by-hole, with handicap strokes. That person remains unknown and does not share in a prize as a blind draw. The Activities Committee will handle the mathematical logistics of adding up scorecards that have a blind draw.
We have the capacity to register and field wholly new four-person teams for our 36th annual MGWA Team Shootout. If you wish to signup an all-new four-person team, please contact Chuck Stogel, chstogel@aol.com.
If you wish to combine members from previously registered four-person teams, please contact Chuck Stogel, chstogel@aol.com.
Because this is a four-person team event, non-team pairing preferences cannot be guaranteed. Please DO NOT wait until the 1:00 pm Thursday, September 10th deadline to respond to this new form. No refunds after the deadline.
Here are the names of the 11 four-person teams that were registered for August 27th at Preakness Hills:
Berger Kings, Choking Dogs, Dynamic Duffers, Freedom Four, Our Gang, Paul Bearers, Pictures & Words, Radio Boomers & Babies, Scarlett Knights, The Panel, WMGA Wonders.
The schedule for the new date at Preakness Hills remains as noted below.
____________________________________________________
To: All Metropolitan Golf Writers Association Members
From: MGWA Activities Committee
Date: July 31, 2026
Re: MGWA meeting & outing, MGWA Team Shootout, THURSDAY, AUGUST 27TH, 2026 at Preakness Hills Country Club, 1050 Ratzer Road, Wayne NJ 07470. Main: 973-694-2200. www.preaknesshills.org. Golf shop: 973-694-2910. Kyle Nestor, Head Golf Professional, kyle@preaknesshills.org. Corey Heyer, General Manager; Tony Espe, Course Superintendent.
8:15 – 9:15 am: Arrival, bag drop, locker room, continental breakfast
8:30 – 10:15 am: Warmup at range, putting green
10:30 – 11:30 am: Indoor presentations include: Preakness Hills club officials . . . Chuck Stogel, MGWA, Rules of the Day
11:30 – 12:30 pm: Buffet luncheon
12:45 pm: Assemble at carts, instructions, proceed to starting holes
1:00 pm: Shotgun golf start
6:00 – 7:00 pm: After-golf refreshments, awards, prizes
About the Club & Course: Founded in 1926, Preakness Hills is proudly celebrating its Centennial this season. The original golf course was designed by Willie Tucker and opened in 1929. It has undergone several renovations over the years, including craftings by Brian Silva in the 1980s and Ron Forse in the early 2000s, and most recently a modernization by Nagle Design Works that produced new and expanded tee boxes, and tree removal. The terrain is moderately hilly, with mostly large greens and water in play on seven holes. There are six sets of tees with par varied at 70 or 72, and the course stretching 5,403 to 6,836 yards. In addition to the putting green, there is a short game practice area, driving range and chipping green. Among renovations, the expansive clubhouse was recently upgraded.
Shotgun Golf: As always, MGWA members are invited to attend and play golf. It is not required to partake in the day’s competition unless you wish.
Competition: The 36th annual MGWA Team Shootout, a two best balls of foursome (50% handicap) event utilizing a Modified Texas Shamble format (the Rules of the Day will elaborate), will take place. We encourage everyone to form four-person teams — whether from the same company or just a mix of MGWA members – again, note that participating in the competition is not required for attending and playing golf.
For those planning teams in advance, select and verify your partners’ attendance before registering your entry. Players must have verifiable GHIN handicaps, or may play at scratch. We encourage everyone to form teams in advance. If you really need assistance in forming or joining a team, please indicate such on the registration form or contact Chuck Stogel (914-428-6111; chstogel@aol.com).
Note: All members are encouraged to form teams, with a unique team name (Holy Rollers, Flat Lies, Choking Dogs, Great Expectations, Berger Kings, Pictures and Words, etc.) or your company name (Today Media, Post-Times, CBS, NBC, MGA, WMGA, USGA, etc.). Media entities (newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, etc.), golf associations (MGA, USGA, WMGA, etc.) and other groups are encouraged to form a team representative of your organization.
Prizes: We will have Nearest to the Pin contests on two par-3s (Holes No. 8 and 18). Everyone playing golf is eligible in the Nearest to the Pin events. There will be multiple prizes on Nearest to the Pin holes.
Tee Boxes: Men in the competition will play White tees (6,266 yards, 71.6, 132). Men in the competition who are 69 or older, and who indicate on the entry form, may play a special MGWA White/Gold combo (5,991 yards, 70.1, 129). Women play the Red tees (5,403 yards, 73.2, 136). Tournament scorecards will be marked and handed out in advance of play. Anyone not in the competition may play the appropriate tee box of their choosing. Since the competition format is a Modified Texas Shamble, tournament players do not enter golf scores in GHIN.
Rules: USGA Rules apply unless otherwise stated. Telescopic devices measuring yardage, slope and wind are OK. The one-ball rule will NOT be in effect. Stroke and distance is NOT in effect; rather we utilize the “Blind Brook Rule” whereby out of bounds is considered a lateral. Please drop within two club lengths of where a ball was deemed to go out of bounds and assess a one stroke penalty. This is not optional. Do not re-hit from the same original spot.
Gimmes: To assist with pace of play, we allow those in the competitions Gimmes of 18 inches or less. We trust in your integrity. We ask you to respect 18 inches, which does not mean two feet. If you are not in the competitions, we don’t care how massive your Gimmes are. If not in the competition, please consider Double Par as Maximum.
Caddies: Each group will be accompanied by a Forecaddie. The MGWA fee for the Forecaddie is $80 per golfer, which includes a modest gratuity.
Dress Code: Tucked in golf shirts, Bermuda length shorts or slacks for gentlemen. Appropriate golf shirts, skirts, split-skirts, Bermuda length shorts, capri pants or slacks for women. On the golf course, the brim of visors and hats must face forward at all times. No wearing hats in the Clubhouse or on the porches (except locker rooms and golf shop). Please don’t forget to tip the Locker Room attendant.
Cell Phone Policy: Talking on cell phones is prohibited in dining and meeting areas. Cell phones must be set on vibrate mode so as not to ring while on Club property. Texting and emailing is allowed.
Directions: Please use any online GPS service for directions.
Entries: Enter online via metgolfwriters.org. Click on Meetings & Outings. Fee for the day is $125 per player, which includes golf, cart, food & beverage, MGWA charitable donation. Address questions to Chuck Stogel, Activities Coordinator, chstogel@aol.com. Entry deadline is 1:00 pm, Thursday, September 10th.
Because this is a four-person team event, non-team pairing preferences cannot be guaranteed. Please DO NOT wait until deadline to sign up. No refunds after deadline.
Cancellation Policy: Please read the “MGWA Meeting/Outing Cancellation Policy” found under “Meeting and Outing Announcements” on our website (metgolfwriters.org).
Upcoming MGWA schedule:
Tuesday, October 6th — Mountain Ridge Country Club, West Caldwell, NJ. 73rd MGWA National Awards Dinner. Honorees include Judy Rankin, Gold Tee Award; Mike Whan, Paul Dillon Distinguished Service Award; Damon Hack, Lincoln Werden Golf Journalism Award; Ted Heins, Mary Bea Porter Award; Joe LaCava and family, Family of the Year; Siwanoy Country Club, Club of the Year; others to be announced.
Tuesday, October 13th — Bethpage State Park, Black Course, Farmingdale, NY. Golf holes will feature final day pin locations from Singles matches in the 2025 Ryder Cup.