The Professional - Volume VII, Issue I

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DEALER I N F O R M AT I O N

TABLE

OF

Volume VII, Issue I

CONTENTS

08 10 16 21

Col. (Ret.) Merle Snyder Named Honorary Member of the MAPGA MAPGA Hall of Fame Class of 2023

2022 PGA Professional Championship Preview

MAPGA Super Meeting & Onlinie Education Series

Billy Dillon Earns PGA Master Professional Status PGA Volunteers Needed for KPMG Women’s PGA Championship 2022 Drive, Chip, & Putt Schedule

23 24 25

Fazio Foothills - Host of 2022 PGA Professional Championship

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The Professional

Letter

From The

President

Andy Weissinger, PGA Section President

The Professional

Volume VII, Issue I

Editor: Ben Smith

Dear MAPGA Members and Associates, Wow, 2022 is off to a racing start! Spring seems to be pointing to another busy golf season for all of us in every area of our business. While this is a blessing, it certainly brings its fair share of challenges. We are all short-staffed which makes the increased amount of business even more demanding than normal. This is an opportunity for us to shine and prove why we are truly the experts in the game and business of golf. It was great to see so many of you at the first ever Middle Atlantic PGA Super Meeting this past February. We had the opportunity to network and celebrate over the three days that included the Hall of Fame Banquet, the Spring Section Meeting and the Teaching & Coaching Summit. Please take a few moments to fill out the survey about the Super Meeting concept. No matter if you attended the meeting or not, we want to hear your thoughts about the concept and get your ideas of how we can make it better.

I have been encouraged by the amount of discussion and sharing of ideas, relating to hardships and telling of best practices that has taken place over this past offseason. These discussions are a key way that we can get better at what we do. We learn from others, while also helping even more professionals along the way. No matter what area of the golf business you are in, every day we share many of the same challenges and the solutions are not simple. Together we all get stronger.

Together we can all become the MVP at our individual facilities as we help more people enjoy the game we love so dearly.

I will end this letter the same way I ended the last one, because the ideas have not changed…in fact our resolve has gotten stronger. Your entire board of directors has a deep desire to help you achieve all of your career goals. If there is anything we can do to help you, please do not hesitate to reach out to any one of us and let us know. We all can get better while establishing or maintaining and protecting a healthy work-life balance. Our overall health, both physically and mentally, is of the utmost importance for all of us for long-term success, both in and out of your jobs. The impact you will make on your family, your facility, your chapter, our Section and our Association will directly reflect what you put into it…invest in yourself and do great things!

Serving Proudly,

Contributing Writers: Ben Smith Jon Guhl PGA of America

Andy Weissinger, PGA President, Middle Atlantic PGA andy.weissinger@pga.com

EXPERTS IN THE GAME AND BUSINESS OF GOLF

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The Professional Dear MAPGA Professionals, I am really looking forward to 2022, and I hope you are as well! It feels great to see many of you again, as we have come back in person for Section and Chapter Meetings. I almost feel like it is my first year again (instead of 28th) as we come out of this isolation and gather again. I hope you were able to attend the MAPGA Super Meeting at the end of February. It is our attempt to reduce your travel time by putting a bunch of events together (HOF/Awards, Section meeting, Teaching Summit). We are looking to add a merchandise show in the future years as well. Regardless of whether you attended or not, we would like to get your input on the meeting (or why you didn’t attend). Please CLICK HERE for the survey.

Letter

From The

ED

Another reason I’m excited for this year is our first ever PGA REACH Pro-Am at Baltimore CC! This is our first attempt at a big-time pro-am event to raise needed monies for our Foundation. You can’t find a better site than Baltimore CC. We want you, our PGA professionals, to bring three amateurs who love golf and want to support the cause. They will get plenty of tee gifts and food. It will be a 10 am shotgun. CLICK HERE to register.

Jon Guhl Our other “NEW” thing this year will be serving as the Section Host for the KPMG Executive Director Women’s PGA Championship the week of June 21-26. Mostly, we will be responsible for staffing the driving range and the “Go Like a Pro” lesson stations. All PGA volunteers will receive uniform shirts and meals on duty. PLEASE consider helping us staff this important PGA Championship!

CLICK HERE to sign up as a volunteer.

As you can tell, there is plenty of positives going into this new season. I imagine there are many positives at your facilities, with rounds and memberships being up across the board. We have had several discussions this winter about how taxing those increased rounds have been on our PGA professionals. NOW is the time for you to have those discussions at your facilities! The workforce has changed, possibly permanently. Just because we used to work sunup to sundown 6 days a week, doesn’t mean that it is the correct way to do it now. If you ask your leaders at the club how they are treating their employees at their businesses, I guarantee it is much different than it used to be, and in the employees’ favor. We need to ensure that same thought process is applied to our golf facility employees. Weekend days off should not be a nonstarter. Quality of life is important. Now, not every facility can snap their fingers and make changes overnight. But those conversations need to happen at your facilities. It is our intent to keep having those discussions at Section and Chapter meetings. If we can’t ask for more help and more resources now, when the golf industry is flush, when will we ever be able to ask for them?

I hope you have a wonderful season and that you make more time to play golf! I would love to see you at our tournaments, but even just playing more recreational golf with your members/patrons will fill your cups and help you remember why you love this game!

Warm regards, Jon Guhl Executive Director jguhl@pgahq.com

EXPERTS IN THE GAME AND BUSINESS OF GOLF

Page 7

The Professional

Col. (Ret.) Merle Snyder Named Honorary Member of the MAPGA these traits for 19 years as a rules volunteer. He works professional and junior events and is one of the most knowledgeable rules officials in our section.

Colonel Snyder is also an American hero. He served in Vietnam as a medical evacuation pilot with the 45th medical company, 44th medical brigade. They were called Merle with his wife, Diane “dustoff ” pilots. While stationed Honorary membership is reserved in Vietnam, he evacuated more for those who have distinguished than 3000 patients and flew 1387 themselves through extraordinary combat missions in the course of contributions and services toward his 1-year tour of duty. He received the advancement of the section the Silver Star for gallantry in action and the game of golf in the Middle during an evacuation on May 11, Atlantic region.

1969, in Vietnam. This is the 3rd highest medal of valor within the Col. Merle Snyder has exuded military services. After a long

and distinguished career with the Army medical department, Colonel Snyder retired in August 1997, after 30 years of service.

After a few years as a consultant, a second retirement gave us Merle as essentially a full-time volunteer in 2002. And he has been serving the Section ever since. We can’t thank Colonel Snyder enough for his contributions to our section.

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The Middle Atlantic PGA is proud to announce its newest selectees for the MAPGA Hall of Fame as Glenn Brown and Bob Dolan! Both men showcase the ideals of sportsmanship, ethical behavior, and the mission of the MAPGA. They both exhibited long-time service to the MAPGA and their clubs. They will become the 57th and 58th members of the MAPGA Hall of Fame in February of 2023.

Montgomery Village Golf Club and Chevy Chase Club as an assistant professional. Bob served as the Head Professional at South Seas Plantation on Captiva Island, Columbia Country Club Fla., Hidden Valley Resort in Somerset, Pa. (1987-1992) and Lakewood Country Club in Rockville, Md. (1992ob was born August 27, 1961 and grew up in Long 1994). He then succeeded the legendary “Coach” Bill Island, New York as part of a large family. His parents, Strausbaugh at Columbia Country Club in 1995 and Bob and MaryAnn Dolan, were very supportive of their will move to Professional Emeritus at the end of 2022 children, offering encouragement at every opportunity. after a 27-years as Head PGA Professional.

His father taught him to play golf when he was ten Bob received numerous awards at both the Section and years old while living in Rhode Island. As a young man, National level. Middle Atlantic Section accomplishments Bob participated in several team sports, but he was include the 1996 President’s Award, 1997 PGA particularly drawn to golf because he realized that his Professional of the Year, 1998 Junior Golf Leader, 1999 success was dependent solely upon himself. and 2010 Bill Strausbaugh Award, 2004 Professional Bob got his first golf-related job when he was 16 years Development Award and 2011 Merchandiser of the old working at Fernway Driving Range under the Year (Private). He was recognized by the National PGA tutelage of PGA Professional Luther Showaker. Bob with the 2000 Youth Player Development Award and the turned professional and entered the PGA apprentice 2011 Bill Strausbaugh Award. He is one of the very few program in 1983 and was elected to membership PGA professionals to win two or more National Awards in 1987. He worked at Leisure World Golf Club, (believed to be only 68 in PGA history).

BOB DOLAN, PGA

B

EXPERTS IN THE GAME AND BUSINESS OF GOLF

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The Professional Strausbaugh, Bob has spent the past 27 years being the goto person for professionals throughout the Middle Atlantic on issues of employment, professional growth, and career development.

Bob recognizes Luther Showaker, Jack Doser, Jerry Heard, Bill Strausbaugh, Jim Fitzgerald, Jim Folks, Dennis Satyshur, Bob Ford, and Ward Burgess as his PGA mentors and tries to “pay it forward” to young professionals in our industry. In addition to the countless hours, he has spent coaching and mentoring fellow professionals, Bob also found time to create and launch the MAPGA Employment Summit to benefits professionals throughout our Section. The original Summit was such a success that the Section has institutionalized it as an annual event hosted in recognition of Bob at his home club. In fact, PGAHQ plans to duplicate the idea at the national level, and plans to host the first event at Columbia CC. It is no wonder that the PGA of America awarded Bob the National Bill Bob has held all of the offices in Middle Atlantic Section, Strausbaugh, Jr. Award in 2011. including his service as Section President in 2002- Bob’s leadership role also extends to the community.

2003. He has served on the Employment, Government Whether it be Board service or simply leading specific Relations and Special Awards Committees of the PGA initiatives, organizations such as The First Tee and Folds of America and is a regular attendee at PGA Annual of Honor rely on Bob in so many ways. His work ethic, Meetings. He also chaired the Presidential Advisory professional demeanor, style, and approach inspires Board for TaylorMade Golf from 2004-2011. people to support the causes he champions. This work Bob is the consummate PGA Professional.

He not only understands - but embraces - all aspects of what it means to be a PGA Member. He personally works to “wear all the hats” of a PGA member. At his core, he is about service: service to his members, to his fellow professionals, to his students, to the community and above all to the game of golf. He works every day to both grow the game and further everyone’s love for the game. He is deeply committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the game and growing and developing the golf industry’s workforce. He respects the history and traditions of the game and believes that golf is a vehicle through which he and others can bring people together and teach valuable life lessons. He is and always has been a wonderful ambassador for the game and an outstanding representative of the Middle Atlantic Section. Bob simply loves the game of golf and those that play it!

Two of his primary career passions are junior golf and has resulted in not only significant financial support to these organizations but increased awareness, education career development among PGA members. and understanding of their important work.

Bob has led many initiatives in junior golf. For example, he was instrumental in creating the MAPGA Junior The First Tee-DC hosted a “Bob Dolan Roast and Tour in 1998. Today, the Tour has over 60 events and Toast,” hosted by Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, with approximately 750 annual participants. Bob is also to raise over $100,000 for First Tee programs. In 2020, incredibly active in junior golf throughout the area. His Bob and his team developed a program believed to be work with The First Tee of Greater Washington DC “first of its kind” which allowed for First Tee of DC kids included not only serving on the Executive Committee to earn honorary guest privileges at Columbia CC. Bob as chair of the Program Committee but also actively has hosted a bi-annual Folds of Honor event in 2017 and teaching golf and life skills. In addition, he works closely 2019, with amateurs playing with members of Congress with other organizations such as The Neediest Kids and PGA professionals, and raised over $350,000 for Charity and Golf in Schools. It is certainly appropriate FOH, easily a top fund-raiser for that charity. Lastly, he that the PGA of America awarded Bob the National was asked and proudly serves on the PGA Leadership Junior Golf Leader Award in 2000 (it has since been group with PGA Magazine. renamed the Youth Player Development Award).

Bob’s commitment to his profession is surpassed only Following in the footsteps of his predecessor and by his commitment to his family. He and his wife, mentor, PGA of America Hall of Famer Bill “Coach” Dawn, have been married since 1985 and have two adult children, Bobby and Shannon.

EXPERTS IN THE GAME AND BUSINESS OF GOLF

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GLENN BROWN, PGA Westwood Country Club

U

nlike many golf professionals, Glenn’s interest in golf didn’t come at a very early age. He enjoyed sports as a teenager, but baseball was his preferred game. The only child of Allen and June Brown, Glenn was born and raised in Alexandria, VA. He was 16 when his father introduced him to the game of golf at East Potomac Park. His father’s enthusiasm was contagious, and Glenn soon became “hooked.” After a short stint in the Air Force, Glenn looked to golf as a career. In 1971, he declared his professional status and went to work as a shop assistant at Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria, VA. Glenn earned his PGA membership in 1977, and in 1978 he left Belle Haven to accept a position as Assistant Professional at Westwood Country Club. In 1982, he was promoted to Head Professional of Westwood Country Club, where he remained until his retirement in 2018.

Glenn was well-known throughout the Section for the countless hours of service he gave to the Section, serving as a member or chair of numerous Section committees throughout the years, including Special Awards, Tournament and Long-Range Planning.

Most significantly, he served on and chaired the Employment/Club Relations Committee for almost 20 years and continually went above and beyond the call of duty in promoting the PGA professional to employers and the public. He was involved with many seminars in this arena and increased the number of business topics offered by the Section’s education program in order to enhance members’ professional status and value to their employers. Glenn was instrumental in the development of a Non-PGA Facilities Seminar which brought together representatives from facilities who were not currently employing PGA professionals with Section professionalsin a relaxed setting to forge stronger relationships and inform them of the benefits of hiring PGA professionals.

Glenn also initiated the revival of a section employment database. His section compensation

EXPERTS IN THE GAME AND BUSINESS OF GOLF

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The Professional survey and subsequent mentors, the gentlemen who publicity campaign resulted hired him at Belle Haven in a 60% response rate. The and Westwood. He notes statistics gleaned from these that they provided him a surveys wasinvaluable in wonderful opportunity to assisting members with job learn the golf business. He searches, and eventually also closely observed Bill led to the PGA of America Strausbaugh’s ability to likewise instituting an annual communicate with people at survey. The MAPGA now Glenn Brown (right) with Peter Kessler all levels and tried to emulate annually leads the response that. Lastly, he often utilized rate among other Sections, with 80-85% return rate, all Bill Wallace, a longtime PGA member, as a sounding due to the habits formed when Glenn was Employment board and relied on for his advice and knowledge in the Chair. golf business for many years.

He personally met with hundreds of club officials, owners, management companies and public officials to educate them about the PGA. Glenn helped develop and improve compensation packages by designing them to meet a specific golf operation. He received dozens of calls weekly from fellow golf professionals seeking his advice and guidance. In recognition for his dedication and commitment in this area, he was awarded the Section’s Bill Strausbaugh Award on three occasions, 1994, 1996 and 1998; and has been a national finalist three times, 1996, 1997 and 1999, and was selected as the National Bill Strausbaugh Award winner in 2000.

Additionally, in 1992 Glenn was recognized for his superb merchandising skills and awarded the section’s Merchandiser of the Year (Private Category) award.

Glenn’s distinguished record of service also includes serving on the Central Chapter Board of Directors from 1991 - 1994, Chapter Vice President 1994 - 1995, and Chapter President 1995 - 1996. He served on the section Board of Directors from 1993- 2003 as a chapter officer and then several terms as the Section’s Directorat-Large.

Glenn was a great mentor, and his personal hiring philosophy was to hire good staff, help them establish direction, and then allow them the freedom to execute.

This ideology helped seven of his former assistant professionals become head professionals and some win section-level awards. Three former assistants have won the MAPGA Assistant of the Year and the MAPGA Merchandiser of the Year awards, with one winning Professional of the Year (John Madden, PGA).

Glenn lists Charles Muck and Ernie Garlem as his own

Glenn had tremendous respect for the rich history and tradition of golf and its many rules and boundaries. He believed it was every PGA professional’s responsibility to promote not only the game of golf, but also the most important principle of the game — integrity.

Glenn always relied on a few tenets for his success. He felt you should know your strengths and weaknesses, be honest, work hard, and remain dedicated. Always hire the very best people available, with a commitment to helping create a working relationship where they understand and learn the golf business and move forward in the industry. And lastly, to treat your employment not as a job, but as a career.

Glenn currently resides in Vienna, VA and still enjoys playing golf, traveling, and seeing his adult children, Kate (Moore) and Allen and grandson Jasper.

Westwood Country Club Vienna, VA

EXPERTS IN THE GAME AND BUSINESS OF GOLF

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COMPENSATION SURVEY The Compensation Survey has to be completed to play in any MAPGA tournament this season. Please log in right now to enter your current information. It will take less than 5 minutes.

Our Section has historically been #1 in survey completion percentage. Please keep the tradition alive by filling out the quick survey for the benefit of your peers!

EXPERTS IN THE GAME AND BUSINESS OF GOLF

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55 PGA PROFESSIONAL th

April 17-20 Omni Barton Creek Austin, TX

CHAMPIONSHIP

Coore Crenshaw Cliffside Course

The PGA Professional Championship is headed to Texas for the first time in its 55 year history.

Omni Barton Creek in Austin will host the event on April 17-20 at the Coore Crenshaw Cliffside and Fazio Foothills Courses. The Middle Atlantic PGA will have 12 representatives. They qualified by finishing in the top-10 of our Section Championship.

Four of the twelve will be making their debut at the National event and five will be making just their second appearance. Experience may be lacking for the MAPGA contingent, but experience isn’t all that matters as Larkin Gross finished 4th last year in his debut!

Those making their debuts are looking forward to competing in the most prestigious event for PGA Professionals. Bill Fedder of Glenmore Country Club said, “it’s the biggest event I’ve competed in so I’m looking forward to taking in the experience and seeing how my game measures up.”

EXPERTS IN THE GAME AND BUSINESS OF GOLF

Page 16

The Professional Kyle Fuller, an Assistant at The Country Club of Virginia, echoed those statements saying “I am looking forward to competing against some really good players. It will be my first time playing golf in Texas, so looking forward to that experience and challenge as well.”

There won’t be much experience on the courses either. Only Ashley Grier (Yinglings Golf Center) has been to Omni Barton Creek, when she played in the PGA Cup at Fazio Foothills in 2019. She says, “there are a lot of risk-reward holes with a reachable par 4 and a few reachable par 5’s but the greens are really well protected if you miss.”

Fazio Foothills will play 7,125 yards for the men as a par 72 while Coore Crenshaw Cliffside is 6,630 yards and a par 71. The courses will play like a typical Texas course, firm and fast with the wind being its main defense.

Larkin Gross Vying to Follow Up Strong 2021 Performance Larkin Gross had a memorable debut in the 2021 PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club. The Assistant PGA Professional at Springfield Golf & Country Club finished 4th with rounds of 71-72-64-76. His 64 in the third round was the low round of the tournament. Gross will use that experience this year to calm his nerves knowing that he’s been successful among the best PGA Professionals in the country. “It’s hard to forget how much is at stake. This year I get to go into it knowing I’ve been there; and I’ve been successful, which takes some of the sting out of nerves.”

Competing for a $550,000 purse and 20 spots in the PGA Championship can create an atmosphere unlike anything these professionals have competed in. “I think being able to come back and compete in that atmosphere is what I’m looking forward

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The Professional to most. I love golf and I love to compete, so getting to put all my energy into two things that I love for a week is all I can ask for,” says Gross.

PGA Championship Spots Up for Grabs There is a lot more to play for than just winning this event. The Top-20 of the 312-person field will advance to the 2022 PGA Championship being held at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Middle Atlantic Section has had a representative in the PGA Championship for the last three years (2021 – Larkin Gross, 2020 – John O’Leary, 2019 – John O’Leary).

Good luck to all those participating!

Page 19

The Professional Our first Super Meeting was a huge success with over 400 total attendees! Thank you to our sponsors an Lansdowne Resort for hosting.

Hall of Fame & Awards Banquet

The Hall of Fame & Awards Banquet had 170 people celebrate our 2021 Award winners and 2020 and 2021 Hall of Fall Inductees.

Click here to see our awards class. Click on the images below to watch videos about our newest Hall of Fame inductees.

Spring Section Membership Meeting

140 MAPGA Professionals heard what is going on in the section. From Merle Snyder becoming an Honorary Member to a discussion on employment and hiring assistants in this environment.

Teaching Summit

98 MAPGA Professionals learned from some of the best teachers in the country at the Teaching Summit.

so John Dunigan (left) uses Mark Rus (right)to help demonstrate

Lance Gill speaks about the fundamentals of the golf swing

Merle Snyder addresses Spring Section for Honorary Membership

Bernie Najar talks abou t his teaching systems

The 2022 MAPGA Online Education Series had five seminars ranging from personal wellness to practicing like you play. There were 276 profesionals that advanced their careers! A big thank you goes out to Mark Russo and Sean English for setting these sessions up as well as our guest speakers for giving their time. We look forward to our next series!

If you missed any of the Education Series, you can watch them on our Youtube page.

ONLINE EDUCATION SERIES CONTINUES TO GROW

EXPERTS IN THE GAME AND BUSINESS OF GOLF

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The Professional Article from PGA of America

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (March 29, 2022) – The PGA of America has announced that Billy Dillon, PGA, Director of the PGA Golf Management Program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) and men’s and women’s head golf coach, has earned PGA Master Professional status — the highest educational designation a PGA Member can obtain.

Dillon, a member of the Middle Atlantic PGA Section, joins a special group of more than 400 PGA Members who have earned PGA Master Professional status. He achieved his designation in Executive Management.

The PGA Master Professional Program is available to any PGA Professional who has achieved advanced certification through the PGA Certified Professional Program. The curriculum includes an extensive project based on the specific certification previously acquired by the PGA Professional. Upon approval of the project and successful completion of a presentation, a PGA Member will earn the prestigious PGA Master Professional status. To be eligible, the PGA Master Professional Program requires a minimum of 10 years of PGA Membership.

“Achieving the Master Professional designation reinforces that everything I have learned and applied over my career has been validated by my peers, colleagues and PGA leadership,” said Dillon. “It also means that I now serve as a role model to the PGA Golf Management students at UMES and the entire next generation of PGA Members.

I want my students to realize that if I can do it, they certainly can do it. This is an achievement that makes me extremely proud.”

Dillon, a PGA Member for 27 years, currently serves on the Middle Atlantic PGA Section Education Committee and previously achieved PGA Certified Professional status in General Management.

As the PGA Golf Management Program Director at UMES, Dillon oversees the curriculum and guides the next generation of PGA Members. In 2020, Dillion became both the school’s head men’s and women’s golf coach, after coaching the women only in 2019.

In his first year coaching at UMES, he was recognized by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association with the Mark Laesch Award for D1 Women’s Golf, given to the coach/team that showed the biggest improvement in adjusted stroke average from one year to the next. The team improved its 2019-2020 adjusted stroke average by 49.5 strokes compared to the previous season.

The PGA Master Professional Program was established in 1969 to recognize PGA Members who have made a significant effort to improve as golf professionals and maintain the highest degree of excellence for themselves and their operations. As part of its Member education curriculum, the PGA Master Professional Program was designed to ensure PGA Professionals are prepared to meet the growing demands of the marketplace.

EXPERTS IN THE GAME AND BUSINESS OF GOLF

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PGA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Event Details:

- June 21-26 - Congressional Country Club - Bethesda, MD

Volunteer Details:

- Minimum of 2 shifts - Free uniform shirt & shorts - Shift lengths vary between 5-7 hours

Congressional Country Club

With the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship coming to our area, we need your help staffing the event! This is a great way to experience the best women in the game play at the highest level. We are responsible for the practice range, putting green/short game, and lesson zones for each event.

Click the logo of the event above to sign up to be a volunteer!

EXPERTS IN THE GAME AND BUSINESS OF GOLF

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PGA REACH PRO-AM WHERE: Baltimore CC - East Course WHEN: May 23, 2022 TIME: 10:00 a.m. Shotgun PRICE: $3,000/foursome before March 31st $3,500/foursome after April 1st

Scan or click the QR Code to visit our Tournament Page!

MAPGA Staff Executive Director

Jon Guhl

Assistant Executive Director/ Tournament Director

Bob Heintz, PGA

Kristine Alonso

Collin Elphic

Director of Business Affairs

Claire Jansa, PGA

Player Development Coordinator

Talton Cherry

Ben Smith

Erica Giuliano

Ana Olaya

Communications Manager

Competitions Coordinator

Membership Director

Junior Golf Director

PGA WORKS Fellow