June 2020
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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BY: LAZ VERSALLES
Ed. note: The following essay was written by Laz Versalles, a former club professional in Minneapolis who now works in the healthcare industry in California. Versalles addresses some uncomfortable realities about what it’s like to be a golfer of color in America but also offers thoughtful action points the game can and should consider as it strides to become more inclusive. **** “Can I help you” says the voice from behind the counter in the pro shop. It wasn’t a question, more of a warning that says, I see you, and you don’t look like you belong here. That’s how I am greeted one muggy morning at one of the top clubs in Florida. “I’m fine, thanks,” I reply. “Who are you here with.” Again, not a question, and the tone is unwelcoming to the point of being terse.
Sadly, this exchange is familiar, and at times, expected. The next step in this uncomfortable dance is the employees in the golf shop stays close to you, keeping an eye on your every move. They’ll find a stack of shirts to fold next to you, or a display to organize in whichever corner of the pro shop you visit. It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing a pair of $300 golf shoes or a $10,000 watch, all that matters is that your skin is dark and therefore you are black. And, to paraphrase Ta-Nehisi
Coates, being black in America means you are always on parole, whether you like it or not. In 2018, I was playing in the Southern California MidAmateur. As I was hitting balls just before my opening round, an employee of the club told me I had to get off the range since “caddies aren’t allowed to hit balls.” Imagine having to produce papers before a championship to an overzealous range attendant. Misunderstanding? Microaggression? Who’s to say. This treatment isn’t a product of the game of golf, it is a product of American society writ large. If the history of your people in the Americas involves being enslaved, oppressed, mistreated, devalued, denied and minimized based solely on your skin color, there will almost certainly be some friction in every corner of your life. I do not blame golf for the racially-fueled discomfort I occasionally experience at clubs. I blame slavery and the hangover it gave American society that we still suffer from to this day. And so here we find ourselves in 2020 in the throes of one of the most important moments of this American century. As a country we face profound questions about how we treat each other and what justice truly means in the land of the free and the home of the brave. In recent weeks, there has been discussion in the golf industry contemplating a different,
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but related, set of questions: How does our game approach equality? What do we make of golf’s exclusionary past and present? And finally, what can we do to bring more people of color to the game? To that last question, allow me to answer: We’ve been here. This game is ours, too. This may come as a surprise to Americans who think black golf started with Tiger Woods, but we’ve been here. The history of black golf is deeper than Calvin Peete, Charlie Sifford, Ted Rhodes and Lee Elder. It goes all the way back to the 1896 U.S. Open when John Shippen became the first black man to play in the national championship (he tied for fifth). The history continued with George Franklin Grant who invented the golf tee in 1899. So when I tell you we’ve been here, I mean, we’ve been here. I grew up in one of America’s great golf cities, Minneapolis. The city where a police officer took George Floyd’s life. The city that rose up and screamed Black Lives Matter so loudly that the rest of the world joined in solidarity. That’s my hometown. As the first-generation son of an Afro-Latino family from Cuba, I had to straddle the two worlds of being raised in a Spanish-speaking home in a largely white working-class suburban setting. My father was a fairly popular figure about town who played a little golf and liked a lot of action. If I was lucky he’d let me tag along to the golf course. Riding in the back of those gaspowered carts, choking on the fumes, was the greatest education of my life.
games, each with different languages and social mores. It’s like the difference between a pick up game at the Jewish Community Center on the Upper West Side and going to Harlem to play at Rucker. Same game, but different. The city games were loose, loud, filled with trash talk and so much action that the final scorecard looked like Egyptian hieroglyphics. The suburban games were a bit more calm, but lively, cursing was far more prevalent, and the bets were always settled in a much more hushed tone in the clubhouse. These are the worlds in which a 9-year-old boy learned to play golf and understand the nuances of the game. I share these memories to illuminate a simple fact that not many people know: Like Minneapolis, just about every major American city has a rich African-American golf history. Like I said, we’ve been here. Consider Langston Golf Club in Washington, D.C., where in 1939 a black man named Clyde Martin served as the club’s first golf professional. Washington D.C. is also the home of the first black women’s golf association, The Wake-Robin Club, led by Helen Webb Harris. In Minneapolis, Jimmy Slemmons was the godfather of black golf when in 1939 he started the Bronze Open, a showcase tournament for prominent Black golfers in the midwest. Continue Reading for ideas for a new approach…...
Caddies waiting for a loop at Pinehurst in 1954.
Just as my childhood had two worlds, so did the Minneapolis golf scene. If the game was at city courses like Hiawatha, Gross or Theodore Wirth I knew it was going to be with my dad’s Black friends. If we went to the suburban courses like Dwan and Rich Acres I knew it would be with his white friends. Once again I found myself navigating two worlds, the city games and the suburban PAGE 5 Nebraska PGA News May 2020
2020 Dues Invoices As of May 1, dues invoices are now available with an extended due date of October 31, 2020. PGA Professionals have two payment options to choose from. Please click here for more information on PGA dues procedures.
Rules of Golf Education The USGA released Virtual Rules School, a comprehensive video series covering the Rules of Golf. For a limited time (through July 31, 2020), it is available for $25 for 30 days of streaming access. To receive a promo code for this introductory price, complete registration here.
2020 PGA Championship to be Played Without Fans Announced June 22, the 2020 PGA Championship will be played without fans. Due to no fans at the PGA Championship this year, complimentary access policies for PGA Members will not be available.
A PGA Pro's Pandemic Challenge Behavioral scientist and executive coach Bruce J. Crowley digs deeper on what there is to gain in a time of loss amidst a global pandemic. Read his findings here on how PGA Professionals can be best equipped to lead in an uncertain time.
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THE PLAYERS CLUB RECAP VIDEO PRESS RELEASE
BENT TREE GC RECAP VIDEO PRESS RELEASE
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HAPPY HOLLOW CLUB RECAP VIDEO
TRANSITION TO NORMAL Nebraska PGA Tournament Program
PRESS RELEASE
More Information HERE
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THE NATIONAL 2020 JUNIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULED TO BE PLAYED AT PGA GOLF CLUB IN PORT ST. LUCIE, FL HAS BEEN CANCELED However, the Nebraska Section conducted the local event as scheduled.
1st Place: Christopher Atkinson 2nd Place: Jake Boor 3rd Place: Luke Gutschewski
1st Place: Thomas Bryson 2nd Place: Trevor Gutschewski 3rd Place: Jackson Benge
1st Place: Grady Thompson 2nd Place: Max Moss
1st Place: Walker Nannen 2nd Place: Leo Hong
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Nebraska Junior PGA Championship (13-18) Beatrice Country Club, Beatrice, NE Nebraska Junior PGA Championship (12 & Under) Jim Ager Memorial Golf Course, Lincoln, NE
1st Place: Danica Badura 2nd Place: Katie Ruge 3rd Place: Nicole Kolbas
1st Place: Eden Larson 2nd Place: Tatum Terwilliger 3rd Place: Izabella Pesicka
1st Place: Tasha Kolbas 2nd Place: Brooke Thiele 3rd Place: Martha Mullen
1st Place: Naryn Kim 2nd Place: Macy Jorgensen 3rd Place: Halle Rech
RECAP VIDEO:
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Letter from Suzy Whaley: I’m sending this letter to all PGA Members today to share my thoughts and feelings with you and to forward Seth’s powerful personal message to PGA staff.
My dream of 2020 is certainly much different than its current reality. It was filled with thoughts of membership achievements, exciting championships, deferred compensation, healthcare solutions, and PGA leaders working together to grow the game throughout the country. While the concept of a pandemic was something to fear, it was to be feared by others. As I watched the wave of illness work its way to our shores, however, it was obvious that none of us were safe. It became a wake-up call to shift our priorities to the immediate needs of our members and a resetting of our business model to ensure member wellness and a sustainable brand far into the future beyond COVID-19. But while we grappled with the loss of jobs, loss of our societal norms, loss of our workplace environments and loss of our human connections, we knew that we were working toward getting all to the other side. We believed strongly in our ability to help. After the events of last week, I realize COVID-19 is only one of the unrelenting challenges of 2020. Instead of fighting against an unseen enemy, we were awakened to another, equally unjust enemy that we all clearly see. Racism must be defeated in a fight we can no longer ignore. It is my belief that humanity stems from kindness, faith, and hope. But as I watch the continued injustice against African Americans in our communities, the mass destruction and hopelessness, the frustration and the call for action in cities nationwide to stand for what is just and humane, I understand the power we have as a game and as a group of individuals that will no longer tolerate the racism and bigotry that lives today and has lived in our past. Our spaces can be used for good, to invite and welcome people from all walks of life and to rise up and say no more. Enough is enough. PAGE 14 Nebraska PGA News May 2020
Together, each one of us has the power to effect change and build an industry that is accepting, compassionate, and proud to stand together. Stand with us in the possibility and the hope that we cannot ignore our lack of inclusion. Stand with us and let’s all take the necessary steps to change it. Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas through email at Inclusion@pgahq.com. Suzy
Letter from Seth Waugh: Dear PGA Team, Following up on our Team Connect from yesterday afternoon, this last week has been intensely disturbing on so many levels. We are now facing two awful diseases – one a pandemic that threatens lives and another that threatens the soul of our country. Staying silent on this existential question at this important moment is simply unacceptable and was never an option for us as an Association. The initial hideous act has been followed by a confusing and hugely troubling mix of totally warranted peaceful protest intermixed with disturbing images of violence. This has lit a flame of outrage that has been smoldering for generations. A feeling of division and anger and pain and sadly we have been shown that hate still lives on in our country. Our country was literally conceived for and built upon the concept of equality. Yet 250 years into the experiment, we have yet to achieve it. I have lived not a life of privilege, but a privileged life. My parents were both teachers. The privilege was that we were never denied anything truly essential: healthy food, a warm bed, safety, love or being made to feel worthwhile. Privilege was access to and emphasis on a great and welcoming education. Privilege was that my parents were open, thoughtful, decent people who truly believed and lived equality. No one was ever treated differently because of race or religion or gender. Ever. People were people. I didn’t have to learn that, it just was. I grew up “color blind,” which I later learned was sadly much more the exception than the rule. I used to think that was the answer, that eventually the world would get there and that was the right and final answer to our societal issues. I was wrong. Today I understand that it’s not enough or even okay to be blind. Rather we all need to see and embrace color, be totally aware of it, totally empathetic and totally willing to intentionally do something about racism. I honestly didn’t realize that my greatest privilege was simply to be born white and male. That single fact, that I had absolutely nothing to do with, was somehow my single biggest advantage in life. How wrong is that? While I can’t ever truly understand what it’s like to grow up and live as a person of color in our America, I can listen, and can understand that it’s hard, really hard, stupidly hard, unfairly hard. I’ve been told that as a white male my voice, while not built from relevant life experience, may perhaps resonate in this moment because it carries the weight of a platform and possible change. So, what are we going to do about it? I have learned in life that you sometimes have to hit rock bottom before you can rise off the floor. I am hopeful that this might be that moment. Of course, I was hopeful that the Rodney King riots might have been that moment, but it turned out to be a false hope. I thought it would happen organically, but it doesn’t always work that way. Continue Reading….. PAGE 15 Nebraska PGA News May 2020
When setting up future youth programs, start to think about training the athlete to improve performance. Off season training has started to become very popular for all youth sports, including golf. Starting to incorporate things like fitness and speed training will allow you as a teacher to start taking you students to a new level. During the winter months I am fortunate at Wilderness Ridge to be able to train in our Nebraska Golf Academy. We created an entire outline that focused on improving strength, core, swing speed and short game. Resistance bands were used for much of the training as they are a minimal expense and allow you to have a full body workout. Speed sticks from US Kids are used for younger kids while weighted Speed sticks are used for high school kids. We even created a fitness guide with pictures and explanations of how to do all the different resistance band and core training. Our program rotated weekly between fitness training and the short game training. Short game training consisted of kids being broken into smaller groups and focusing on drills for chipping, pitching and putting. All of my staff became certified through PGA.coach which I encourage everyone to do. We build most of training aids from scratch that are colorful, fun and effective such as the chipping/pitching tower. PGA.coach has an amazing amount of resources available to you as a coach and will help you take your programs to the next level; so if you haven't taken the time to do the certification I highly encourage you to do so. Your investment in the training will take about 3-4 hours and costs you nothing! This year, we even incorporated "speed and agility" into our summer camps. Kids have a ton of fun when there are things to do that focus on their athleticism. With a small investment and a little time, energy and imagination you can make all the drills necessary for a fun program. Take the time to make your program fun so that your students stay focused, interested and having fun! For anyone that would like supporting material such as our fitness guide or even how to make the drills and what they cost program please contact me. Chris Thomson, PGA Director of Golf Wilderness Ridge PAGE 16 ď ¨ Nebraska PGA News ď ¨ May 2020
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 Wednesday, August 12.
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Laps, Leaders, & Lessons “Leaders instill in their people a hope for success and a belief in themselves. Positive leaders empower people to accomplish their goals.” -Unknown What are the characteristics of a great leader? The quote above is a great start in developing a definition, but what if I told you that I can show you a “How-to” video highlighting four important traits of a great leader in action? Would you be surprised that it is less than 60 seconds long and the subject of the case study is running laps? Before reading on, take a minute to watch the end of the Women’s 5000 Meter Final from the 2019 Big Ten Championships. I know, I know… Big 10 rival…. But what can we learn from watching the video? I identified 4 lessons that Alicia Monson demonstrates in less than a minute: Leaders work from the front – Leaders both provide direction and set the pace. In the race, Alicia wasn’t pushing her teammate from behind…she was pulling from in front. Leaders never leave their team behind – Success can often be attained by yourself, but true leaders make sure everyone is along for the ride. Alicia was not only worried about winning but about ensuring success for her teammate. Leaders know when and how to inspire action – Successful communication relies on both the timing and tone of the message. Make the mistake of too soon, too late, too often, too loud, not loud enough or too confusing (among others) and the message is ineffective at best or demotivating at worst. Alicia knew both when and how to inspire action. Inspiration can be as simple and effective as Alicia was when she shouted; “GO NOW AMY!” Leaders praise and recognize others – Celebrating success is fun, but great leaders celebrate the success of others. Alicia just won a Big Ten Conference Title yet seemed happier for her teammate than herself at the finish line. If that wasn’t enough, check out what she had to say later about the race, continuing to deflect praise to her teammate. “The 5k at Big Tens last week is one of those races that I will remember for a long time. Going 1-2 is something Amy and I have always talked about, so I was happy to have the opportunity to help make that happen…I was proud of the way Amy raced and it was great for us to get a Big Ten title together." When Simon Sinek wrote Leaders Eat Last, he might as well have been writing the blueprint for Alicia’s form of leadership. Humble, Timely, Sacrificial, and Servant minded; these tenants of leadership can inspire those around you to dream, perform, and develop beyond expectations. Perhaps your leadership will inspire and create leaders from your own tribe; people who will be the catalyst for a tidal wave of positive change. At the end of the race, wouldn’t it be amazing to see those you have influenced achieve new heights? GO NOW!
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What can we expect for a “New Normal”? Who can remember what airline travel was like before September 11th, 2001? Almost 20 years ago it looked a little something like this:
You could bring as many loved ones as you desired right up to the jetway gate to give those long farewell hugs and kisses just like in the movies.
You could bring a variety of items onto the plane that would seem just ludicrous in today’s world. That list included some items like; blades up to 4 inches long, baseball bats, box cutters, darts, knitting needles, and scissors.
You could bring all different types of liquids including 6 pack of soda as an example. Also, you could bring aerosol cans of virtually any size if you desired.
The doors to the cockpit were rarely closed to where you could see right into where the pilots were operating the plane. (Often times, they would invite children or first-time flyers up there to see how pilots operated the plane). Does anyone remember the 1980 movie “Airplane!” with Leslie Nielsen and Kareem Abdul Jabbar?
And finally, your arrival time to the airport was about half as advanced as it currently is to be processed through security. The point of the above is …..we have all learned a “new normal” when it comes to airline travel. We have adjusted to the new policies, procedures, and socially accepted behavior that comes along with it. To relate this point to our current pandemic, what will our “New Accepted Normal” be in our society and when things begin to “relax further”? (hopefully soon). Assuming for a moment that doctors and scientists locate an acceptable and proven vaccine or some other “trigger” point that makes or allows us to feel “safer”, will we ever go back to shaking hands? Will hand sanitizer and cleaning products with at least 70% alcohol be as common in all our houses as Pledge or Windex? Will we all be wearing masks for international travel? It is tough to speculate on what items we will look back 20 years from now and say, “Before the 2020 pandemic, I remember when…….” The one “new normal” that I hope stays is this fantastic explosion of interest and play of golf by new golfers, lapse golfers, moms, young girls, families, etc. This is exactly what we have been trying to produce across the country since the Tiger Woods Boom back in the early 2000’s. Be well and Happy 4th of July to all!
David Schneider, PGA, CCM District 8 Director 515-419-5653 Cell daves@happyhollowclub.om
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At an early age my dad taught me an important lesson on the value of people. I remember playing little league baseball and mouthing off to an opposing player I didn’t really care for. Suddenly I felt something hit my helmet. It was my dad getting my attention followed by “we don’t treat people like that”. Lessons in life about caring about people regardless of who they were became common. Fast forward to 2020 and I still hear those words frequently in my mind. People matter, treat them all the same and with respect. It’s about friendships and relationships not merely about golf and filling the lesson book. Development requires investment. I was fortunate enough to have mentors, coaches and instructors who invested in my life growing up and I want to pass that on. In 2018 and 2019 I made it a point to invest more into the players I was coaching and working with. Not out of a desire to simply make them better golfers but as a desire to better the relationships that I had the opportunity to invest in. Since joining Landsmeer Golf Club in 2015 we have been working to grow interest in golf. With opportunities to work with kids from ages 6+ in junior rec, to our high school and college teams that have a desire for competition, and the weekend warriors struggling to hit a proper bunker shot we have seen that growth happen. 2019 proved Investing in people and relationships can make golf grow. I’m excited to see what the future holds for my role in player development, instruction, and the relationships that are formed. Jonathan Beaver PGA Certified Head Professional Landsmeer Golf Club
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Drew VunCannon Rachel Jacobson Payton Neunaber Taryn Giebler Kade Marsh Brogan Gunia Katherine Gunia Nathan Schneider
Freshman Freshman Freshman Freshman Freshman Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore
Michael VunCannon, PGA Christopher Jacobson, PGA Bradley Neunaber, PGA Dale Giebler, PGA Craig Marsh, PGA Ron Gunia, PGA Ron Gunia, PGA David Schneider, PGA
Parent Parent Parent Grandparent Parent Grandparent Grandparent Parent
Brian D. Fauss, PGA
1
Tyler M. Kingston, PGA
19
Gary Gabrielson, PGA
1
Scott A. Murphy
20
Michael L. Coatman
2
Gene Johnson, PGA
21
Joseph J. Canny, PGA
6
Ross A. Eickhoff, PGA
22
Brent A. McGrew, PGA
8
Shane M. McClure, PGA
24
Rich W. Skinner, PGA
9
Mark A. Ruhga, PGA
25
Michael D VunCannon, PGA
11
David S. Honnens, PGA
27
Derek J. Carlson, PGA
11
David N. Vannier
28
Robert S. Spomer, PGA
13
James K. Sieckmann, PGA
29
Mark E. Nygaard, PGA
16
Scott A. Bruha, PGA
29
Daniel A. Johnson, PGA
16
Thomas K. McAndrew, PGA
30
Maxwell A. Hadenfeldt, PGA
17
Phillip J. Palmer, PGA
30
Jay R. Cottam
17
Don Germer, PGA
31
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Contact Mark Morrissey, your local Mizzen + Main Representative 402-968-5845 morrisseym59@aol.com