Based on my experiences over the last two years on this site, I thought I would use the opportunity to urge everyone to not only participate on this site, but also to take action in a meaningful way to improve the game.
Some personal experiences:
1. Green Committees
Tom Paul urged that GCA'ers get active with their respective green committees to help promote firm and fast maintenence practices. I have done so, am learning a lot about club politics and respect for the superintendant's position and hope to become a more effective advocate as I continue to serve in that role.
2. Mentoring a teenager who loves golf
Due in part to urgings from GCA'ers I have made an effort to connect with a teenage golfer who has been bitten by the bug. I have really had fun this last year playing ocassionally and talking golf frequently with a 14 year old brother of one of my daughter's friends.
It is really enjoyable on several levels. First, his game is really developing and it looks like he will be a very solid high school and maybe even a college player. More enjoyable, however, is watching his interpersonal awkwardness, as the clash between pride and reality wage a daily war on the course. Regardless of how golf turns out, providing him with a respite from everyday teenage life and a safe place to figure out how to deal with the frustrations of the game will serve him well. Competing against him has been some of the most enjoyable golf of the year.
3. Playing with GCA'ers
I've never regretted doing it and I have probably now played with 25-30 people either in events or in informal get togethers.
4. Writing a My Home Course
It gives one great appreciation for people who write for a living, take great photographs, and design golf courses. It also gave me a strong feeling of being naked - as people from this site and people from my club comment on my article. I can only imagine what it must be like as a real author.
I have gotten more out of these projects than any contribution they have provided to others. I urge others to consider how they can make additional effort to improve the game in some way.