INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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WELCOME CAPSTONE INTERN WELCOME WORKS FELLOW CLOTHING DRIVE RECAP
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EDUCATION HUB MEMBER LINKS PDR CYCLE INFORMATION
PAGE 4 PAGE 8
SPRING MEETING INFO PGA SHOW RECAP
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PLAYER ENGAGEMENT WEBINAR JUNIOR TOUR SCHEDULE DROP MATT MORETTI COACHING WIN
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SCHOLARSHIP COMPENSATION SURVEY
STAFF CONTACTS
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
CONTRIBUTING CONTENT: FRAN PIRAINO
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDREW WOWELKO
Welcome Capstone Intern Ramón Sara
Ramón Sara has begun his work as the Spring 2026 Capstone intern for the Central New York PGA & PGA REACH CNY. Sara will support community outreach efforts, event
planning, and grant proposals for both the CNY PGA and PGA REACH CNY
He is currently a Syracuse University student in their Sport Management program and plans to graduate in the Spring of 2026
Prior to his capstone, Sara was a part of the USGA’s Pathways Program onsite at the 125th U S Open at Oakmont Country Club He brings tournament experience from his position as a Commissaire for the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship and from working the FanShop at THE PLAYERS Championship in 2025 as well
Sara is a Francis Ouimet Scholar and is a native of Watertown, Massachusetts.
Please join us in welcoming Ramón Sara to the team!
Welcome WORKS Fellow Dakota Holbrook
PGA REACH CNY has hired Dakota Holbrook, a 23-yearold native of Jordan, NY, as the 2026 WORKS Fellow Holbrook graduated in 2024 from SUNY Cortland with his bachelor’s degree,
where he also founded and captained the university’s club basketball team for three years In this leadership role, Holbrook oversaw all aspects of team operations, including scheduling, budgeting, fundraising, travel coordination, injury management, and communication with campus recreation and administration
This experience provided him with early exposure to organizational leadership, program development, and operational decision-making within a sport setting
MAKING AN IMPACT THROUGH CLOTHING DRIVE
Members of Bellevue Country Club once again demonstrated their generosity and commitment to community service by donating several hundred pounds of clothing to PGA REACH Central New York as part of a recent clothing drive This marks the second installment of the collaborative effort between Bellevue Country Club and PGA REACH CNY, further strengthening their shared mission of giving back to those in need.
The donated clothing was distributed to Syracuse PAL (Police Athletic League), who selected Encounter Christian Fellowship as the beneficiary organization. Encounter Christian Fellowship, led by Pastor Joe and his wife, has become a growing and vital resource within the community Pastor Joe expressed deep gratitude for the donations, noting that the church is “doing everything they can to be a blessing in the community ”
Since taking over the church six years ago, Pastor Joe and his wife have overseen remarkable growth and transformation. What began with just 14 parishioners has grown to a congregation of more than 75. During that time, the church has renovated its kitchen to better serve meals to the parish, added French- and Spanish-speaking ministers to better support a diverse community, and developed a fully equipped children’s area designed to serve children of all abilities, including those with special needs
Save the date for the Spring Meeting of the Membership
April 20th
9:00am
Turning Stone Resort Casino Shenendoah/Kaluhyat Clubhouse
Register Now
PGA SHOW RECAP
The Central New York PGA and PGA REACH CNY staff recently traveled to Orlando, Florida for a productive and energizing week at the annual SBO Conference and the PGA Show, held at the Orange County Convention Center
Section Schedule Release March
2nd
Be on the lookout for the Section schedule to release and registration to open on March 2nd!
The two-day SBO Conference provided valuable insight into what’s happening across the PGA of America, while creating space for open collaboration among the 41 sections of the PGA of America. Through shared conversations and best-practice exchanges, the CNY staff gained fresh ideas and practical strategies that will help elevate programming, operations, and member services setting the stage for our strongest season yet
Following the conference, the team attended the PGA Show, which was the most well-attended they’ve seen since before COVID
The show floor was buzzing with energy and innovation, offering opportunities to reconnect with long-standing partners, strengthen ongoing relationships, and establish new ones From emerging products to forward-thinking solutions, the experience reinforced the momentum and growth happening throughout the golf industry.
CNY PGA & PGA REACH CNY returned energized, inspired, and ready to put these ideas into action. The collaboration, learning, and connections made in Orlando will directly benefit our PGA Members, Associates, and the communities we serve as we head into an exciting season ahead Next continuing education for the CNY PGA staff is USGA Rules School!
Jr. Tour Coach’s Panel
College Golf Webinar on Tuesday, February 10 at 7pm Join college coaches from across the area where they will cover topics including: Performance and Skill Development Practice Habits and The Indoor Transition Mental Toughness and Intangibles The College Golf Recruiting Timeline What Coaches Look For in Prospective Student Athletes
Click here to log in on the evening of the program!
Player Engagement Webinar Feburary 26
Player Engagement Consultant Brian Bain will cover best practices to empower members and
associates to get the most out of PGA.Coach, PGA Jr. League Golf, and Deferred Compensation in 2026 The presentation will be followed by a Q&A 1 PDR Available
Register Now!
ADM Live Seminar
Register now!
MATT MORETTI HONORED AS CNY #GAMECHANGER
Matt Moretti Jr., PGA of America Associate and Coach at Corning Country Club, has been named a Central New York Player Engagement #GameChanger Award recipient for the third straight time, recognizing his continued commitment to growing the game and creating meaningful experiences for young golfers and their families
Save the Date - ADM Live Seminar - March 3 9:30-12:30pm Drumlins CC 6 PDR (All in person education is double PDR!)
Jr. Tour Schedule Released
The 2026 junior tour schedule is here!
Thank you to all of our Professionals and facilities that make putting together an elite schedule possible!
The Player Engagement #GameChanger Award celebrates PGA Jr. League Coaches who embrace inclusive, ageappropriate programming for kids of all skill levels, prioritize family involvement, and demonstrate a commitment to continued education and development
“The #GameChanger Awards are a meaningful way to recognize the PGA Jr League Coaches who consistently go above and beyond to enrich the lives of families in their communities,” said Steve Tanner, Senior Director of Player Engagement for the PGA of America. “Their passion, leadership and dedication play a vital role in creating positive experiences that extend beyond the course.”
His dedication was recently highlighted in a PGA Jr League Coach Newsletter, where he shared best practices that have contributed to strong participation and positive experiences for players and families alike
Central New York PGA Scholarship
Our Scholarship Program was created with the purpose to encourage higher education goals for the children and grandchildren of Central New York PGA Members who have demonstrated a high level of academic achievement during high school or college.
To apply, please click here
Please Update your Compensation Survey
2026 Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship
We're excited to announce that the PGA Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship application for the 2026-2027 academic year will be live starting Tuesday, December 9, 2025!
This scholarship is a wonderful way to support the educational journey of the children and grandchildren of our dedicated PGA Members
To apply, please click here.
Who Can Apply? (Undergraduate Students Only)
1. PGA Family Connection:
-Applicants must be a child* or grandchild* of a PGA of America member who is in good standing.
-The PGA member may be living or deceased.
-Please note: Children or grandchildren of Class "F" PGA members are not eligible
-A friendly reminder: The selection criteria is based solely on the student's merit, not the member's involvement or achievement
*Stepchildren and step-grandchildren are included.
MEMBER INFORMATION
OFFICE CLOSINGS
The office will be closed Monday February 16 in observation of President’s Day. We will re-open Tuesday February 17 at 9:00am. th th
PGA MEMBER LINKS
CNY PGA Membership Directory
Section & Foundation Partners
Workday Home Page
Workday Help Video Northeast Region Education Hub
NEW PDR CYCLE
The NEW PDR cycle period is 6/16/25 - 6/15/28. Click here to see the PGA Professional Development Requirements chart for ways to earn credits. Check out our new Northeast Region Education Hub for more PDR opportunities.
It’s a big weekend for sports! First up on the scheudle is ESPN’s 30 for 30 on the Philly Special. The Winter Olympic’s begin, and of course the Superbowl. Since the birds did not manage to find their way in the big game this year, it simply marks one week closer to the Masters I will still of course be hosting a party as not much can keep me away from a good themed day.
Items on the menu: pretzel bucket pizza logs chicken wing dip french dip sliders
The Olympics are a favorite event of mine, specifically the Winter Olympics, as I had big dreams as a kid to compete in the big air snowboarding competition.
The centennial year is here and I am so excited for the snow to melt so we can roll out all the fun celebrations we have planned! I am in the process of finishing up all the story lines and planning for the celebration so here is my final call for any input!
I can’t wait for the temperature to rise and to see everyone out of hibernation again!
“You have got to take the upper hand in all situations, or people, whether dead or alive, will walk all over you.”
-Catherine O’Hara, Beetlejuice