Meet Laurie Velett, Your New Rules Director

During my stint as tournament director for the MWGA State Amateur Four-Ball in 2005, rules consultant Bill Homeyer patiently answered my questions about the Rules of Golf. I think he could see that I was unusually interested and he suggested that if I ever wanted to pursue that interest, there was a place for me on the rules committee. Two years later, I attended my first MGA Rules Workshop and have never looked back.

Hi! I'm Laurie Velett, the Rules Director for the MWGA. I have met many of you over the past three years while serving on the Rules Committee, and look forward to meeting many more of you at tournaments, championships and events this summer. I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about myself.

Thirty-one years ago, I married Kirk, a golfer, and eventually took up the game myself, in a very limited way. Finally, I decided to really learn the game, started taking lessons and playing in leagues. Now I enjoy spending my Minnesota summers and most of my vacations playing golf. Kirk and I celebrated our 25^th wedding anniversary playing Pebble Beach, and have taken several golf trips to Scotland.

When I'm not on the golf course, either playing or officiating, I enjoy gardening, reading, traveling, and doing genealogy. I also volunteer each week at Bridging, Inc., which provides furniture and household goods to people in transition. I am happily retired from a career in public relations.

About the same time that I worked on the Four-Ball, I volunteered to be the MWGA newsletter editor. I served as an at-large board member that first year, which gave me a good look inside the organization. What impressed me most was the totally non-political nature of the group. I have never known another organization that was so completely focused on its mission, and never let pettiness or personal agendas intrude. It has been a real joy to continue my involvement with this great group of women!

There are several take-aways from my story. First, if you have an interest in volunteering with the MWGA, you will be welcomed with open arms. Second, you don't need to be a rules expert to work with the rules committee -- just have a willingness to learn, both in workshops and on the job. Third, if you have a passion, what better way to share it than to volunteer with an organization devoted to that passion?

See you on the golf course!