Nebraska Newsletter - November 2015 by David Honnens

Junior Golf - Don’t Give It Away

By Joe Canny, PGA Junior Golf Director/Player Development Coordinator, Nebraska Section PGA

As golf professionals we are stewards of the game of golf. We feel a responsibility to protect it today while training our youth to keep it viable for the future. This is fantastic and the reason the Nebraska PGA hosts Golf N Schools, YMCA PGA Sports Academy and various Neighborhood Golf Events. You also do this at your own club through golfer orientation programs, family fun days and more. While it is important to grow the game of golf with our youth we must be very careful in what we “give away.” We often feel we must donate junior golf and design our youth golf programs to be very inexpensive with the goal to break even. I would strongly encourage you to reconsider this as it devalues your brand and has a massive impact on the perceived value of your service and expertise. Price is relative to value in the consumer’s eye. Buyers often judge quality by price, especially in an environment where decisions are complex. If you focus on selling the value the kids will receive (the why) the price is irrelevant. PGA Professionals nationwide are making owners and families happy through well designed programs appropriately priced. A great example is Dennis Johnsen, PGA who is at a public course in Illinois and generated nearly $40,000 through their golf team program alone.

Above: A 2015 NJGT TEAM Golf team prepares for an exciting match.

For those with kids, consider the programs where you have placed your children. Parents are not looking for free and cheap…they want great things for their kids and will not discount their kid’s experience. As long as your junior golf program has the deliverables the cost is a non-factor. The biggest deliverable is YOU. We all grew up playing a variety of sports which were coached by our friend’s parents, community members and strangers. My football coach was the school’s Culligan deliverer and my baseball coach was a local surgeon. 85% of coaches in America are dads coaching their own kids. In your junior programs these kids are being taught by the experts in the game of golf…PGA Professionals. There are many other benefits of golf in the eyes of parents today including: -No concussions in golf (85% of parents with youth in sports consider themselves very concerned with injury) -Can be played for your entire life and is played outside -Can be played alone or in groups (65% of kids in America register for sports to be with friends) -Lessons and skills that can benefit youth as they grow up The youth sports industry is growing rapidly and it is time we ride that wave. The U.S. nonprofit sports groups alone have over $5 billion move through their leagues. This is only the nonprofit side (AAU & Parent Leagues). Another $7 billion is spent on travel for these sports and we all know there is much more. The entire industry is so big a dollar figure cannot be placed on it. Now let’s look at a few other local sports programs. All fees below are just registration costs and do not include equipment, travel or the like:

Lincoln Youth Baseball $675 w/o equipment & travel fees

Omaha 1st – 2nd grade Basketball $565 w/o travel

Omaha Youth Hockey $1005 w/o equipment ($2,000) & travel fees

Lincoln Youth Volleyball $1,250 w/o travel fees

Using the above information you can see that all your TEAM GOLF Programs are the cheapest games in town. The above also shows what parents are willing to spend to give their kids the best experience in youth athletics. Please note that when I share the above I am not trying to make golf exclusionary. We have discount and scholarship programs in place for TEAM GOLF through the YMCA. You can also consider scholar-shipping kids of need at your clubs. The landscape of youth sports is changing and if we want to keep up we must evolve. The old model of a one-off junior clinic and hoping they return is no more. As you develop your youth golf programming and TEAM GOLF for the 2016 season I hope you look at these programs as potential revenue generators for your club and selves.

Golf Professional of the Year - The highest award our Section presents. This award is based on overall performance as a PGA golf professional, including leadership, service and promotion of the game. Nominees: Joe Finnegan, PGA; Sonya Freese, PGA; David Honnens, PGA; Tony Pesavento, PGA; James Rolls, PGA. Teacher of the Year - Awarded for excellence in golf instruction along with overall performance as a golf professional. Nominees: Mike Cornell, PGA; Cory Fletcher, PGA; Greg Johannesen, PGA; James Kinney, PGA; Jonathan Mielke, PGA; Bobby O'Keefe, PGA; Jon Petersen, PGA; James Sieckmann, PGA; Chris Thomson, PGA; Chris Wiemers, PGA. Horton Smith Award - Bestows special recognition for outstanding service and contributions to developing and improving educational opportunities for the PGA golf professional. Nominees: Nathan Kalin, PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award - Awarded to an individual who by their day-to-day efforts have distinguished themselves in the areas that truly reflect the characteristics and qualities that Bill Strausbaugh possessed during his lifetime – service to his Association, service to his fellow PGA professionals in helping them improve their employment situations and service to the community. Nominees: Greg Neujahr, PGA; Matt Shaner, PGA. Youth Player Development - Awarded to the PGA golf professional who is a leader in junior golf, reflects the image and qualities that juniors can emulate, and provides opportunities for juniors to learn and play golf. Nominees: Bob Baber, PGA; Tim Fox, PGA; Kyle Huse, PGA; Hank McFarland, PGA; Ryan Norman, PGA; Mike Schuchart, PGA; Chris Thomson, PGA; Karrie Van Ravensway, PGA; Chris Wiemers, PGA. Merchandiser of the Year/Private Facility - Recognizes the PGA golf professional that has demonstrated superior skills as a merchandiser in the promotion of golf. Nominees: Don Germer, PGA; Nathan Kalin, PGA; Mitch Merrill, PGA; Nick Muller, PGA. Merchandiser of the Year/Public Facility - Recognizes the PGA golf professional that has demonstrated superior skills as a merchandiser in the promotion of golf. Nominees: Scott Harmelink, PGA; Joe Sutter, PGA. Facility of the Year - Recognizes the golf facility that has played an important role in Section activities, as well as promotion of the game of the golf for men, ladies and juniors. Nominees: Kearney CC, Kearney, NE; Players Club at Deer Creek, Omaha, NE; Riverside GC, Grand Island, NE; Scottsbluff CC, Scottsbluff, NE; Shadow Ridge CC, Omaha, NE. Sales Representative of the Year- Based on overall performance as a sales representative including product knowledge, service, professionalism, and involvement in Section activities. Nominees: Mark Crowther, Titlelist; Thad Franklin, Nike; Charley Kiel, Sun Mountain; Stan Sheffield, FootJoy; Brad Wuhs, PGA, Ouray/Bettinardi/Fennec/Martin/Sport Haley/PRG. Assistant Professional of the Year - This award is based on overall performance as an assistant professional, including leadership, service and promotion of the game. Nominees: Anthony Baranowski, PGA; Kyle Huse, PGA; Alex Janssen, PGA; Tom Johnson, PGA; Dominick Mitchum, PGA; Jacob Pribnow, PGA. Player Development – Based on the PGA golf professional’s growth of the game leadership commitment at the Section and National levels and the impact made at the facility. Nominees: Bob Baber, PGA; Joe Canny, PGA; Wade Foreman, PGA; Chris Thomson, PGA. Patriot Award - Recognizes the PGA Professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America. Nominees: Jim White, PGA, MP.

Mike Schuchart, PGA Tournaments fschuchart@neb.rr.com

Matt Shaner, PGA Membership mshaner@kearneycountryclub.com

James Kinney, PGA Player Development jamesk@pga.com

Wade Foreman, PGA Education wforeman@lincoln.ne.gov

Nick Muller, PGA Junior Golf nick@ccl.cc

Mike Antonio, PGA Special Awards mikea@happyhollowclub.com

Jeff Porter, PGA Employment - Co-Chair jporter@arborlinks.com

Don Germer, PGA Employment - Co-Chair enterlinegermer@aol.com

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 Quarter Century Championship - January 6-7, 2016 Senior Stroke Play Championship - January 12-14, 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. 8

25th Annual

Vegas Classic February 22-24, 2016 Click below to view the entry form!

Looking for a keepsake that celebrates the history of the golf professional, past and present? In recognition of your Association's Centennial anniversary, this special-edition coffee table book is for anyone who loves the game of golf as well as those who love it enough to make it their legacy. Get your copy of the PGA's Official Centennial Commemorative Book today!

PGA PROFESSIONALS: BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE For a limited time only, buy one book and receive a second one for free.

GET YOURS TODAY

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. Itâ€™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

This is the time of the year when the leaves are turning colors and falling from the trees. The purpose of this month's quiz is to review what you may or may not do when you encounter leaves on the golf course. Each of the following scenarios ends with the question, "Leave me alone?" Answer "Yes" if you may or should leave the leaf or leaves where they are; answer "No" if you feel that the Rules permit you to move the leaf or leaves out of the way. 1.

Your round is briefly interrupted by a sudden shower. Your next drive rolls into the rough and collects a wet leaf that ends up clinging to the back of your ball where it may prevent clean contact between your club and the ball for your next stroke. Leave me alone?

Your ball rolls into a bunker and ends up completely hidden under a pile of leaves. Leave me alone?

Your ball ends up in a bunker just ahead and a few inches to the right of another player's ball. There is a large leaf covering his ball and nearly touching your ball. The other player determines that your ball interferes with his play, so he asks you to lift your ball. When the other player plays, he causes the leaf to fly out of the bunker. Leave me alone (when replacing your ball)?

In taking relief from a cart path, you notice that the area through the green where you must drop your ball is covered with leaves. Leave me alone?

As you are about to enter a bunker to play your next stroke, you accidentally kick a leaf into the bunker. Leave me alone?

Your ball ends up in a bunker. A leaf falls from a nearby tree and comes to rest on your ball. Leave me alone?

Answers: 1.

Yes

The Definition of “Loose Impediments” points out that natural objects that are adhering to the ball are no longer loose impediments. This is confirmed in Decision 21/2 [Removing Grass Adhering to Ball] which points out that, if you remove the leaf adhering to your ball through the green, you will incur a penalty per Rule 21 [Cleaning Ball] for the unauthorized cleaning of your ball.

But you need to be very careful when removing these leaves! Rule 12-1b [Searching for or Identifying Ball Covered by Loose Impediments in Hazard] permits the removal of leaves in order to find or identify the ball. However, if you accidentally move your ball while in the process of removing the leaves, you will incur a penalty for moving your ball in play under Rule 18-2a [Ball at Rest Moved by Player….].

Yes

Decision 20-3b/8 [Loose Impediment Affecting Lie of Ball Moved] advises that loose impediments are not part of the lie of the ball as contemplated by Rule 20-3b [Placing and Replacing – Lie of Ball to be Placed or Replaced Altered]. Thus, you are not required to replace the leaf when you replace your ball!

Decision 23-1/6 [Removal of Loose Impediments from Area in Which Ball to Be Dropped] indicates that it is permissible for you to remove loose impediments from the area through the green in which you are preparing to drop your ball.

Yes

Decision 13-4/14 [Player Accidentally Kicks Pine Cone into Bunker and Picks It Up] points out that you may not remove a loose impediment, such as a leaf, when both the loose impediment and your ball lie in the same hazard. See Rule 13-4 [Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions]

Yes

As noted in various Decisions (e.g., see Decision 13-4/18 [Partner’s, Opponent’s or Fellow-Competitor’s Divot Comes to Rest Near Player’s Ball in Bunker]), there is a Rules principle which says that a player is entitled to the lie which his stroke gave him. When the lie of your ball has been altered as a result of an act by another player or caddie, or by a spectator or other animate outside agency, you are permitted to restore the lie of your ball. However, Decision 13-4/18.5 [Pine Cone Falls from Tree and Comes to Rest Behind Ball Lying in Bunker] points out that this principle is not applicable when the lie of your ball has been altered through natural causes.

Rusty Jensen, PGA Larry Wheeler, PGA Cody Herald, PGA Lee Maiden, PGA Chad Lydiatt, PGA Dave Malone, PGA Sherman Adkins, PGA Alex Carper Mike Fiddelke, PGA Kalan Fread, PGA Jared Frost, PGA Rick Reynoldson, PGA Jason Shock, PGA Jerry Fisher, PGA Mel Baker, PGA Paul Swirzinski, PGA Brett Morgan, PGA Dawn Neujahr, PGA

David Honnens, PGA Executive Director dhonnens@pgahq.com

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

1-Dec 1-Dec 2-Dec 3-Dec 5-Dec 5-Dec 9-Dec 9-Dec 10-Dec 11-Dec 13-Dec 15-Dec 17-Dec 22-Dec 23-Dec 28-Dec 29-Dec 30-Dec

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

Renee Tyson Operations Manager rtyson@pgahq.com