If you Prefer Twosomes,

Cupid's new color may be green, at least for the members of the American Singles Golf Association, golf's version of a social club.  The ASGA is the brainchild of Tom Alsop, a Charlotte, N.C., divorcee who, in five years of church singles groups, was having trouble meeting women with compatible interests-namely golf.  While playing one day in September 1992, he and a friend came up with the idea of a golf club for singles.  "I didn't like the pressure of the other singles groups I had attended," says Alsop, "and I thought, how about putting people together who have the same interests?"  Alsop and his friend laughed about the idea throughout their round, but the more they thought about it, the less silly the idea sounded.  A week later they hung posters around several golf courses in the Charlotte area and held thier first meeting.

Just six golfers attended that first get-together, but the membership grew faster than a patch of U.S. Open rough; after three years, the ASGA boasted 175 golfers.  On February 14, 1996 - Valentine's Day, appropriately enough-Alsop had the group incorporated.  "I thought it would be the best day to do it," he says, "since that is what the organization is all about."  Alsop subsequently gave up his full-time job as a printing broker to devote his energies to expanding the association.  Today, the ASGA is a national organization with about 30 chapters and more than 2,000 members.  "Everyone likes the idea that they get to meet people wit the same interests," explains Alsop.  Women say they find this a much less intimidating way to meet men."

A typical ASGA event takes place on a Saturday, beginning with a golf outing in the afternoon at which members are paired by golfing ability (it is an internal ASGA joke that the person with the most power in the organization is the pairings official), followed by a social function in the evening, such as a dinner, barbecue or a dance.  The atmosphere is more relaxed than the typical dating scene because, as Alsop notes, "Most of our members are either divorced or widowed and range in age from 40-50.  We do have younger and older members, but that is where the core is."

Does the ASGA have any "success" stories?  Sure, and Alsop is one of them. He met his current girlfriend two years ago at an ASGA tournament, and they've been playing golf together eve since.  And, the first baby born to an Atlanta-ASGA couple is expected next spring.