Why the IHSA golf state finals are one week later than usual

Posted by Admin October 3, 2024 Golf

The Illinois High School Association boys and girls golf state meets are pushed back a week to accommodate the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

The IHSA board of directors in August approved moving the state finals from Oct. 11-12 to Oct. 18-19. Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism, begins sundown on Friday and ends at nightfall Saturday.

Because the original state finals dates coincided with the holiday, this change “will allow us to provide the most inclusive state series tournament possible,” IHSA executive director Craig Anderson said in a release.

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“We recognize that these changes were not easy to facilitate from a staffing and planning perspective for our state final courses and communities,” Anderson said, “so we greatly appreciate their partnership in helping provide the best experience possible for high school golfers in the state.”

The boys state tournament is spread across the Bloomington-Normal area. The Class 1A meet is at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington, while the Weibring Golf Club in Normal is the host of Class 2A. The Class 3A meet will be held at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington.

On the girls side, the state tournament sites are in Decatur at the Red Tail Run Golf Course (Class 1A) and Hickory Point Golf Course (Class 2A).

Yom Kippur translates from Hebrew to English as the “Day of Atonement.” Jewish people may spend the day fasting or attending synagogues, where congregations pray and meditate.