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Country Club of Lincoln University Our goal for CCL in 2016 is simple, raise the service bar higher than it’s ever been! Great service companies such as Ritz Carlton, Disney, Chick-fil-A and others share the same key value in that quality service starts with proper staff education. They understand that service is a “living theme” that is ever changing and they must continually seek out ways to not only meet expectations on a daily basis but to exceed them. The best way to exceed expectations is to fully understand a company’s “Common Purpose” that spells out their vision for both the staff and their customers. Bob Baldassari put it best in his seminar to the Section a few weeks ago when he mentioned that we need to focus on the “Why” and not just the “How.” If we can educate our staff on “Why” we have service standards with “How” to execute them, our operation will only improve! We’ve taken many of these company’s best practices and have started to create our own education program, CCL University. Our University will be a mix of required literature, seminars, and on our own training goals (homework) with the primary focus of earning a Diploma. I was exposed to the idea by Jason Ballard of Oak Hill Country Club earlier this year. Why not create a training platform that not only sets the expectations for the entire staff, but shows them how to execute quality service by getting them exposure to service industry best practices. CCL University staff members will be given the tools to be better successful not only in their current roles, but in their roles ahead! I encourage every Club to think outside the box and how you can better serve your members or customers by raising the service bar through better staff education!

Nick Muller, PGA Director of Golf Country Club of Lincoln

Please encourage your high school golfers at the course to attend the NJGT College Golf Night!

2016 PGA/USGA Rules of Golf Workshop Online registration for a 2016 PGA/USGA Rules of Golf Workshop is now open. More information.

PGA Winter Championships PGA Golf Club – Port St. Lucie, FL January-February 2016 Senior-Junior Team Championship - January 19-22, 2016 Women's Stroke Play Championship - February 2-4, 2016 Stroke Play Championship - February 2-5, 2016 Match Play Qualifying/Seeding - February 8, 2016 Match Play Championship - February 9-12, 2016 Click here for more information.

PGA Get Insured Enrollment is available starting November 1st for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). As a PGA Professional, you have access to a unique individual insurance platform service at no additional cost. Click here to view the full flyer with more details. Click here to find a plan that’s right for you!

CareerLinks is the PGA of America’s complimentary award winning employment referral service that enables golf facility and golf industry employers to recruit qualified PGA Professionals for management opportunities including head golf professional, director of golf, general manager, director of instruction, quickly and without any cost to the employer. Create or Edit Your CareerLinks Profile.

PGA Show to Offer Comprehensive Education Conference Golf's top teachers and business strategy experts to deliver educational offerings at PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 26-29, in Orlando. Learn more.

Building the Women's Course Most golf courses are, on average, excessively long and place many women at a disadvantage. Read more in the "Setting Up Golf Courses for Success" Guidebook.

2016 Schedule of Events Check out the schedule of the PGA's Championships and events in 2016. View schedule

Milestones in Diversity Take a look at the diversity and inclusion milestones reached by the Association. Read more

Co-Branded Rules Books For the first time ever, the USGA and R&A have published “co-branded” Rules books, effective January 1, 2016 (i.e., Rules of golf booklets, Decisions books, Amateur Status Decisions book). The was done to promote that there is a single set of Rules that apply to golfers worldwide and to eliminate any perception that there are different sets of Rules (i.e., “USGA Rules” or “R&A Rules”).

Future References Whenever possible, references should be to the “Rules of Golf.” Avoiding references to “USGA Rules” or “R&A Rules” should be avoided, which is often done on scorecards, within Notice to Competitors, and elsewhere.

Click Here to Read the Final Decisions regarding Rule 14-1b: Anchoring the Club

Click Here to Read “Understanding Rule 14-1b”

When a more complete reference is desired, it should be “The Rules of Golf as approved by the USGA and R&A Rules Limited” or the “USGA/R&A Rules of Golf.”

Established in 1986, the program provides college scholarships for children and grandchildren of PGA members. Last year alone, this program awarded 128 scholarships totaling $301,000. The kinship of the PGA is truly exemplified in this initiative, with members contributing more than $150,000 in 2015. It’s a benefit you should not pass up. The application is located here: http://apps.pga.org/scholarship/. Deadline date for submitting a completed application: March 1, 2016 Deadline date for transcript and supporting documents to be in hand at the PGA: March 18, 2016 Nebraska Section PGA | 610 J Street, Ste 10 | Lincoln, NE 68508 | Ph: (402) 489-7760 | Fx: (402) 489-1785 | www.nebraskapga.com

As of January 1, 2016, the intentional anchoring of a club while making a stroke will be prohibited. New Rule 14-1b [Anchoring the Club] reads as follows: In making a stroke, the player must not anchor the club, either "directly" or by use of an "anchor point." Note 1: The club is anchored "directly" when the player intentionally holds the club or gripping hand in contact with any part of his body, except that the player may hold the club or a gripping hand against a hand or forearm. Note 2: An "anchor point" exists when the player intentionally holds a forearm in contact with any part of his body to establish a gripping hand as a stable point around which the other hand may swing the club. Please note that this is not an equipment Rule. This Rule does not ban the use of belly putters or long putters Decision 14-1b/1 [Intentionally Holding Forearm Against Body When Making Stroke] explains that a player is permitted to intentionally hold one or both forearms against his body in making a stroke, provided doing so does not create an anchor point. Decision 14-1b/2 [Meaning of "Anchor Point" in Note 2 to Rule 14-1b] explains: For an anchor point to exist, the following two criteria must be met: (1) the player must intentionally hold a forearm against the body; and (2) he must grip the club so that the hands are separated and work independently from one another (i.e., the top hand effectively secures the club in place as if attached to the body to establish a stable point, while the bottom hand is held down the shaft to swing the lower portion of the club around that point. Decision 14-1b/3 [Explanation of "Forearm" in Relation to Rule 14-1b] advises that, for the purpose of Rule 14-1b, "forearm" is the part of the arm below the elbow joint and includes the wrist. Decision 14-1b/6 [Club or Gripping Hand Inadvertently Touches Body During Stroke] explains that a player has not breached Rule 14-1b if his club or gripping hand inadvertently comes in contact with or brushes against his body. According to Decision 14-1b/7 [Club in Contact with Clothing During Stroke], clothing held against the body by a club or gripping hand is treated as if it is part of the player's body for the purpose of applying Rule 14-1b. Thus, if a player intentionally uses his club or gripping hand to press an article of clothing against his chest, he would be in breach of this Rule. However, merely touching an article of clothing with the club or gripping hand in making a stroke is not a breach. This might occur when a player is wearing loose fitting clothes or rain gear, or when the playerâ€™s physical size or build causes his arms to rest close to the body, or when the player holds the club extremely close to his body. Some final notes before reviewing photographs (adapted from those provided by the USGA at www.usga.org) on the following pages that illustrate several permitted, i.e., non-anchored, and prohibited, i.e., anchored, ways of holding a club while making a stroke: ď‚ˇ

Rule 14-1b applies to all types of strokes made anywhere on the golf course, i.e., not just to putting strokes made on a putting green. Thus, the player in the adjacent photograph would be in breach of Rule 14-1b for chipping with his fairway wood anchored to his body even though his ball is not on the putting green.

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The penalty for a single breach of Rule 14-1b is loss of hole in match play and two strokes in stroke play.

Justin Arlt, PGA Alex Janssen, PGA Ryan Norman, PGA Pete Balerud Ryan Vermeer Tony Pesavento, PGA Matthew Nice, PGA Dennis Fruchtl, PGA Scott Brunzell, PGA Steve Ritz-Woller, PGA Matthew Shaner, PGA Michael Stone Bill Thomas, PGA Scott Carlson, PGA Matthew JMeuret, PGA Terry Heskett, PGA Casey Wroot, PGA

David Honnens, PGA Executive Director dhonnens@pgahq.com

Sean Oâ€™Neill, PGA Tournament Director soneill@pgahq.com

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Joe Canny, PGA Junior Golf Director/ Player Development Coordinator jcanny@pgahq.com

Renee Tyson Operations Manager rtyson@pgahq.com