April 2021
PGA HOPE can shape lives, change lives, and possibly save lives.
OFFICERS/BOARD
NEBRASKA PGA STAFF
President—Gil Russell, PGA
Executive Director/CEO—David Honnens, PGA
Vice President—Dawn Neujahr, PGA
Managing Director—Seth Scollard, PGA
Secretary—Mike Schuchart, PGA
Tournament Director—Vincent Bachteler, PGA
Honorary President—Nathan Kalin, PGA
Nebraska Junior Golf Director/PGA REACH Programming Assistant—Kurt Karcher, PGA
Board Member—Nick Wanderscheid, PGA
Operations Manager—Renee Tyson
Board Member—Joe Sutter, PGA
Development Officer—Bob Danenhauer Digital Media Specialist—Brett Renner
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Check out our NE PGA Golf Pass Website
Learn more about our affiliate program HERE PAGE 5 Nebraska PGA News April 2021
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· June 9-10—Junior PGA Championship—Stone Creek, Omaha · August 9-10—Section Championship—Champions Run, Omaha · September 1-3—Pre Qual—Highlands, Lincoln **overflow event, will be notified 3 weeks out if we will host · September 10-12—Nebraska Open—Elks CC, Columbus · September 28-October 2—Stage 1 Q School—Wilderness Ridge, Lincoln
JUNIOR EVENTS Drive, Chip & Putt Local Qualifiers - June 5th - Eagle Hills in Papillion, NE - start around 2pm - June 25th - Riverside GC in GI, NE - start around 2pm - July 24th - Hillcrest CC in Lincoln, NE - start around 2pm Premier Events - June 2 - Bent Tree GC - starting at either 8 or 9am - June 14 -York CC - starting at 8am - June 21 - Norfolk CC - starting at either 8 or 9am - June 30 - Wild Horse GC in Gothenburg - starting at either 8 or 9am - July 6 - Jackrabbit Run GC in GI - starting at 9am - July 9 - Table Creek in Nebraska City - starting at 8am - July 16 - Oakland GC - starting at 8 or 9am - July 20 - Ashland GC - starting at 8am Two Day Events - June 7-8 - Kearney Junior Classic (KCC & Meadowlark Hills) - starting at 8am both days - June 24-25 - Central Nebraska Junior Am (Lochland CC & Riverside GC) - starting at 7:30am both days - July 12-13 - Capital City Championship (Highlands & Mahoney) - starting at 7:30am both days NJG Tour Championships - June 28 - 18-Hole Tour Champ - The Pines CC in Valley - August 2 - 9-Hole Tour Champ - Field Club of Omaha Fall Series Events - September 19 - Norfolk CC - shotgun start at 1pm - September 26 - River Wilds in Blair, NE - shotgun start at 1pm - October 3 - Awarii Dunes in Axtell, NE - shotgun start at 1pm If you are interested in volunteering for any of these events, please contact Renee Tyson at rtyson@pgahq.com or 402-489-7760. All PGA Professionals will receive 1 MSR for each hour of volunteering. PAGE 7 Nebraska PGA News April 2021
We are proud that PGA HOPE and Folds of Honor are joining forces again this year to conduct a joint fundraising campaign throughout “Patriot Golf Days”-- which will move next month to Memorial Day Weekend for the first time ever! This is a natural partnership, as PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Meanwhile, since PGA Member Lt. Col. Dan Rooney first announced his vision for Patriot Golf Day at the 2007 PGA Championship as a way to provide educational scholarships to the spouses and children of wounded or killed military service members, it has grown into the largest grassroots golf fundraiser in America. With the pandemic, your support is needed now more than ever, as proceeds from Patriot Golf Days will benefit both PGA HOPE and Folds of Honor, while we stand together as one in support of our nation’s heroes. I invite you to register today to host Patriot Golf Day events at your facility. Each participating PGA Member whose facility donates to Patriot Golf Day will receive two (2) MSR credits for your efforts to make a difference for PGA HOPE and Folds of Honor. To register, visit PatriotGolfDays.com. Together, we can honor the sacrifice of America’s heroes by shaping, changing and saving lives through golf. All the best,
Jim Richerson, PGA President PGA of America
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Nebraska PGA is excited to announce a new partnership with Gregg Young Automotive Group for the 2021 tournament season. Through the partnership, Gregg Young Automotive Group will be a supporting sponsor for the following NEPGA Section tournaments: Platteview Pro/Pro; Oak Hills CC Pro-3Am; Firethorn GC Pro-3Am; Hillcrest CC Pro-3Am; Indian Creek Pro-3Am. In addition to showing their support for the PGA Members and Associates through sponsoring Section tournaments, Gregg Young Automotive is also partnering with the PGA REACH Nebraska for their annual Pro-Am fundraiser. PGA REACH Nebraska is the charitable arm of the Nebraska Section PGA and its mission is to positively impact lives in the community through the game of golf. The PGA REACH Nebraska Pro-Am is the main fundraiser for the Foundation and these funds go towards the following programs: Golf N Schools, PGA HOPE, Clubs FORE Youth, Omaha Outreach and PGA Jr. League. Learn more about the programs and their initiatives here: https://nebraskapga.com/foundation/. “The Nebraska PGA thrives on building relationships with businesses that support the growth of the game and Gregg Young Automotive Group is the perfect example,” said Nebraska PGA CEO, David Honnens, PGA. “We’re excited to work with Gregg Young Automotive and their brand in creating awareness for both sides of our business while working together to make a positive impact in our communities.” “The mission of positively impacting lives through the game of golf is one that is close to my heart. I’m proud to have our company affiliated with a partner whose mission is so closely aligned with our own of going the extra mile,” said President and Owner Gregg Young. The first Nebraska PGA event in the new partnership is set for May 3rd at Platteview Golf Club.
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Building a PGA Jr. League Legacy in South Dakota Two Rivers Golf Club PGA Head Professional Rodd Slater on recruiting over 100 players to his in-house league By Hayley Wilson
Where the corners of South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa meet sits Two Rivers Golf Club and its PGA Head Professional Rodd Slater. While the words “extreme southeast corner of South Dakota” may conjure images of extreme winters and scarcely populated landscapes in the Dakota Dunes community, it’s quite the contrary: Slater crested 100 players on his in-house PGA Jr. League program this year. Slater credits fellow PGA Head Professional Karrie Van Ravenswaay of The Ridge Golf Club, located 50 miles northeast of Two Rivers Golf Club in Sioux Center, Iowa, for spearheading efforts to bring nearby courses together through PGA Jr. League. Like Slater, Van Ravenswaay leads a bustling junior program at The Ridge, coaching 83 players––the largest number in the Nebraska PGA Section––in 2020. Thanks in large part to Slater’s role as high school golf coach and his close relationship with the local school district, it was easier to promote the program. Because of that success, his PGA Jr. League teams outgrew the ability for everyone to travel to local courses for games. PAGE 10 Nebraska PGA News April 2021
“We determined we had enough kids to run an inhouse league, but we did something a little creative,” Slater said. “We started a training program for kids ages 9 and under that would orientate them to the game and get them used to playing, which created a feeder program into our PGA Jr. League for kids ages 10-13.” Retention is high in Slater’s PGA Jr. League program, he says, because the focus stays on fun. “The kids love it because they have the opportunity to get out on the course, play with their friends and have fun,” Slater said. “Some kids are competitive, and some are social. They’re all able to love the game for what it means for them.” In terms of setup, over 100 juniors out on the course sounds nearly impossible for a busy course like Two Rivers. But Slater simply sets up and runs his in-house league just like he would set up any other league, and he’s found clever ways to work around schedules to keep all of his customer groups happy. For example, because the large senior men’s league plays on Tuesday mornings, that means the practice facility is deserted. So, he uses this time to run his 9and-under program, as they haven’t graduated to oncourse play with the 10-to-13-year-olds. In fact, one of Slater’s favorite moments is watching the senior men’s league come off the course as his 9-and-under kids are finishing up their session at the practice facility. Slater describes it fittingly as “watching opposite ends of the generation interact.” As for the PGA Jr. League games for the 10-13 age group, Slater blocks off a couple hours of tee times on Wednesdays and runs it just like he would for adults. “It was open, we had availability and it made more sense to bring in 60 kids and their families to enjoy the course, rent carts and visit the snack bar. Basically, it gave us an opportunity to fill some empty tee times. “If nothing else, the bottom line is that it’s beneficial for the facility to have this many families here, and many of them are new to the game,” Slater continued “We have a very committed ownership group who wants to make a positive impact on golf in the area, and they’ve encouraged me to reduce our family pass rates for PGA Jr. League families. It’s an incentive that encourages the whole family to join. We’ve sold 20 or more half-price passes already.”
Because many families are new to golf, practicing and playing at the same facility helps them feel at ease. “It’s just like Little League Baseball,” Slater said. “We all went to the same park for our practices and games. They’re glad to stay in one place. They know the routine, and they know how to get in and out. It’s less intimidating.” With that many families participating, communication is key. Slater leverages the SportsEngine App for its easy RSVP and messaging features, and he recommends other PGA Professionals coaching teams do the same.
Slater has two children involved in his PGA Jr. League program, and he attributes his participation as a parent in other sports, like Little League Baseball, to his success at scheduling his program in a way that works for such a large number of families. “I structure the program based on how it would benefit my family,” he said. “Our first practices start the end of May, with games shortly following, and it’s over by the end of June. Parents wouldn’t participate if it overlapped with other things they have planned, and everyone has July to vacation without missing out on PGA Jr. League.” That success didn’t come overnight, however. “It’s taken a few years to learn all of these things! Trying to fight baseball schedules, we moved our programming to the mornings. I thought people would hate it, but I’m shocked at how much more accessible it is for families and it hasn’t been a problem at all. “Families with active kids are very calendarconscious,” he added. “If you can communicate well, and make scheduling fit within their routine, it just works.”
There are two things Slater never underestimates in his success: the word of mouth, and the sheer fact that, as he puts it, “Kids dig golf.”
Rodd Slater, PGA Head Golf Professional Two Rivers Golf Club
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2021 Compensation Profile Survey PGA Career Services announced the release of the updated Compensation and Benefits Profile Survey. Participants will earn 1 MSR per year for completing or updating your profile. Click here to access the survey and call your PGA Career Consultant with questions.
Annual Dues Deadline Extension The PGA Board of Directors has extended the dues deadline for the 2021 dues billing process from June 30th to August 31st, with no late fee or suspension. These revamped procedures that take into account the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for more information.
PGA Championship Complimentary Access Form PGA Members, Associates and PGM University Students may gain complimentary admittance into the 2021 Championship on a daily basis along with one (1) guest. Tickets MUST be booked by submission of this form, so fill yours out here today.
PGA Coaches will be Featured at the PGA Championship During the 2021 PGA Championship, golf fans will get a special inside look at the way PGA Coaches drive success on and off the course through “PGA Coaching Live presented by Cadillac,” streaming on PGA.com and ESPN+. Learn more here. PAGE 16 Nebraska PGA News April 2021
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Job Opportunity
Facility
Location
Application Deadline **some deadlines may be extended
Director of Golf
Hillside GC
Sidney, NE
Seasonal Golf Professional
The Ridge
Sioux Center, IA
4/30
Certified Personal Coach
GolfTEC
Omaha, NE
6/11
Assistant Professional
Council Bluffs CC
Council Bluffs, IA
4/30
Jacqueline Madison, PGA Career Consultant PGA Career Services Proudly serving the IA, MN, & NE jmadison@pgahq.com Office: 612-852-4910 Mobile: 785-341-6047
5/16 or until filled
Check out our PGA Career Services Website and LinkedIn Page Click HERE to update your Job Preferences on pga.org Click HERE to start your personal career plan Click HERE to schedule a virtual appointment with Jacque
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Dear Nebraska Section Members and Associates, Welcome to Spring! I hope you have had a great start at your facility. It seems like golf is still booming and courses are busy so it is important to communicate with your staff and stay one step ahead of your customer. Getting time to provide instruction and finding product seem to be the challenges as the 2021 season gets started. Please make time for yourself and get out to play some golf! I had a chance to visit our new headquarters down in Frisco, Texas and wanted to share some thoughts about my experience. This property is truly amazing, and I feel it will be the “Modern home of Golf” in the United States. Meeting the staff at the property you can feel the enthusiasm and pride as they show off the facility. -The new headquarters building should be open in January of 2022 and is coming out of the ground. Not only will the staff be in this building, but a majority of the space will be used for first class education of our associate’s programs. A four-level facility with viewing of the entire property and an area set aside for the PGA Hall of Fame. -The golf consists of a 36-hole facility (East and West courses) that are spread out over 660 acres. The championship course (East) designed by Gil Hanse can be played anywhere from 4,000 to 8,000 yards. This course will host our championship events and is truly spectacular. The West course is a little shorter lay out but uses some elevation of the terrain to give it a totally different look than the East course. The courses have both been seeded and are almost playable. The plan is to open the courses in August of 2022. -The practice area has multiple teeing and short game areas. The main teeing area is located right behind the headquarters building but you will be able to hit from multiple directions. There will be a 7 bay indoor/outdoor learning center located on the back of the range that will be fully staffed by PGA Professionals who will be teaching and club fitting. -The clubhouse will be located right next to the 75,000 square foot putting green which will have two lighted 18 hole putting courses laid out. There will also be a 10-hole lighted short course. -Omni Hotels will be building a 500 room resort and spa on property with guests having access to the golf course. The resort is planning to open in May of 2023. This $500,000,000 project is a partnership with Omni Resorts, the city of Frisco and the PGA of America. The golf courses are owned by the city of Frisco and the PGA of America will be managing the courses for them under the supervision of PGA Professionals. The housing area around the course is booming and prices have increased 25% in the past year! This will be a must visit when things get open and with non-stop flights to Dallas from Nebraska you will be on the course in no time the same day. Sincerely, Greg Neujahr, PGA District 8 Director – National PGA PAGE 19 Nebraska PGA News April 2021
Over the past 4 years my family and I have been very blessed for the opportunity to work for the Nebraska PGA. Under the leadership of our CEO, David Honnens, and the support of our amazing team, I have learned so much and have I have grown as a PGA Professional and a person. The reason I got into this business is because I love people and I love creating positive experiences for everyone. Whether it was the members at my club, the 8-year-old junior golfer playing golf for the first time, or my fellow teammates, my goal every day is to make a difference in people’s lives. PGA REACH Nebraska and specifically PGA HOPE has given me the chance to create these experiences every day and I will be forever grateful for that. On the following page I highlight some of our outstanding achievements with the PGA HOPE program, but I want to quickly share how this program has affected my life personally. Growing up, I was raised to always give respect to our nation’s Veterans. PGA HOPE has given me the opportunity to give back to our local heroes in a unique way. I strive every day to make the Veterans experience with PGA HOPE more than just a golf lesson. Sure, the golf lessons are nice and improving anyone’s game is fun, but this program means so much more to me and to them. Knowing that many of the Veterans we impact through this program are suffering from PTSD or dealing with a life altering injury, I have learned that the golf component is almost secondary for them. The real impact is creating the safe and fun environment for these people to be a part of. Having that cup of coffee 30 minutes before the program starts, and listening to their stories, introducing them to new people, exposing them to a healthy outdoor environment, creating challenges for them to overcome, creating the comradery they once had in the military, shaking the hand of every Veteran that shows up, that is what I enjoy the most about bringing to this program. I am forever grateful for the friendships I have created with our PGA HOPE Graduates and I look forward to the impact we will make together across the state with this program. I have learned many life lessons from PGA HOPE and this group of Veterans. I’ve learned that being a good listener can change lives and possibly save lives. I’ve learned the meaning of being truly grateful. When told the stories about the defeats and challenges our Veterans faced in the military, it really makes me stop in life and be truly grateful for the opportunities and blessings I have in my life. They have taught me how to triumph over adversity. Some of our Graduates had a tragedy strike early in their life. When that happens, these people spend years trying to pick up the pieces. They have taught me to overcome adversity in life by embracing adversity as a chance for opportunity, refusing to give up, having a purpose, and finding a sense of humor. I am very humbled to receive the 2020 Nebraska PGA Patriot Award and am honored to join the list of our past Patriot award winners and the future award winners. At the end of the day, I am truly blessed to be a part of this amazing Section, Staff, and program, and I will continue to strive every day to create a positive impact with people’s lives.
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KEARNEY, NE – Hitting a golf ball with your eyes closed, one-armed, off one foot, or in a wheelchair is no easy task. Twelve Nebraska PGA Professionals and Associates came together at Meadowlark Hills Golf Course to go through PGA HOPE’s adaptive training session to learn how to teach Veterans with disabilities. Led by PGA Professional and National PGA HOPE Instructor Joe Grohman, the PGA Professionals and Associates spent the day learning a new way of teaching the game of golf. The session included an in-person adaptive training session that outlines best practices on teaching individuals with disabilities, adaptive equipment, and accommodations for common disabilities within the Veteran population. Continue Reading…..
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Every year, since the inception of our foundation, the Nebraska PGA hosts a fundraising Pro-Am for PGA REACH Nebraska. PGA REACH Nebraska continues to be passionate about changing lives through the game of golf and we are striving to improve our efforts every year. In order to continue doing this, we need your support. As part of the Pro-Am, we incorporate a silent auction to help raise additional funds. We cannot do this without the help of our generous members and partners. We are looking for as many items as possible to put on our silent auction, so we are reaching out to you for help. Would you have anything you would like to contribute? It could be anything from golf equipment, rounds of golf, lessons, etc. Feel free to be creative! If you have anything to donate, please contact Renee Tyson at rtyson@pgahq.com or 402-489-7760 by Friday, May 14th. We will need these items in-hand by June 18th.
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Women's Golf 4/7/2021 NU Athletic Communications
Nebraska's Noor Ahmed and Vanessa Bouvet will represent the Husker women's golf program at the 2021 PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., May 3-5. Ahmed, a senior from Folsom, Calif., and Bouvet, a junior from Bretagne, France, will compete as individuals at the week-long event in Florida, which includes three days of championship golf, along with multiple practice days. The championship atmosphere also includes the PGA WORKS Career Exploration & Leadership Series Event at the PGA TOUR Global Home on Sunday, May 2. Ahmed has competed in 60 collegiate rounds as a Husker during her career, most recently traveling to the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate in New Orleans, where Nebraska captured a team title. Ahmed finished 40th as an individual at the 2018 Big Ten Championships and is believed to be the first NCAA Division I golfer to compete while observing the hijab. Bouvet has competed in 30 career rounds at Nebraska and owns a pair of top-10 finishes in her career. Bouvet was born in Damas, Syria, and has lived in several countries around the world, including graduating from the Jerudong International School in Brunei. She represented Nebraska at the 2019 Big Ten Championships and was the co-runner-up at the 2018 Rainbow Wahine Invitational. "This is a tremendous opportunity for Noor and Vanessa to play on the world stage at such a renowned course," Nebraska Head Coach Lisa Johnson said. "One of my roles as a PGA member is to inspire and positively impact the lives of youth in golf. The PGA WORKS program is part of that mission. I applaud the PGA for creating this opportunity for golfers from diverse backgrounds. It is extremely important for us to have a breadth of diverse representation in all areas of this great game." Continue Reading….. PAGE 25 Nebraska PGA News April 2021
Registration for the 2021 Drive, Chip and Putt is now open. Register your child HERE for your local DCP qualifying event.
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Cody A. Troudt
5/2
Seth R. Scollard, PGA
5/19
Joseph J. Finnegan, PGA
5/2
Kyle E. Bullerman, PGA
5/19
Thomas R. Everett, PGA
5/3
Scott W. Harmelink, PGA
5/7
Joshua J. Enholm, PGA
5/9
Jason B. Palmer, PGA Thomas R. Potvin, PGA Robert W. Eaks, PGA
5/20 5/21 5/22
Tyler S Lane
5/11
Kirk L. Hogen, PGA
5/22
Timothy T. Kruse, PGA
5/16
Thomas M. Jeffers, PGA
5/25
Jared L. DeMers
5/16
Clay D. Stevens, PGA
5/17
Drew L. Seubert, PGA Loudan T. Steffes, PGA
5/27 5/27
Mark Mooberry, PGA
5/18
Brian M. Steventon, PGA
5/18
John P. Farrell, PGA Jacob M. Burling, PGA William K. Keane, PGA
5/28 5/29 5/31
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