June 2023 Newsletter

June 2023

OFFICERS/BOARD

President Dawn Neujahr, PGA

Vice President Mike Schuchart, PGA

Secretary Phil Palmer, PGA

Honorary President Gil Russell, PGA

Board Member Nick Wanderscheid, PGA

Board Member Chris Cover, PGA

District 8 Director Greg Neujahr, PGA

NEBRASKA PGA STAFF

Executive Director/CEO David Honnens, PGA

Managing Director Seth Scollard, PGA

Tournament Director Vincent Bachteler, PGA

Nebraska Junior Golf Director/PGA REACH

Programming Assistant—Kurt Karcher, PGA

Operations Manager Renee Tyson

Development Officer Bob Danenhauer

Digital Media Director Brett Renner

PGA REACH Prog. Coord. Nic Latcham, PGA

Dear Nebraska Section PGA Membership,

I am pleased to announce the hiring of our new Tournament Director, Daniel Palmer, PGA. Palmer is currently the Tournament Director for the Sun Country PGA where he has led a very diverse tournament program as part of the Sun Country Golf House. Palmer is originally from Minnetonka, MN and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he completed the PGA Golf Management Program in 2019. After graduating and earning his PGA Membership, Palmer worked at Omaha Country Club and Mahoney Golf Course before moving to the Sun Country PGA in the Fall of 2021.

Palmer’s passion for golf administration was born during an internship in 2019 with the Minnesota Section PGA under the tutelage of our very own, Vincent Bachteler, PGA. While at the Sun Country PGA, Palmer was responsible for all Section events, including one of the country’s premier state opens, the New Mexico Open. Palmer was instrumental in elevating the Sun Country PGA through securing significant sponsorship dollars, increasing participation, and hosting Second Stage of QSchool for the Korn Ferry Tour.

Palmer is currently engaged to Lexi Schommer, who works as a registered nurse. These two love birds are set to get married in April 2024 which is strategically before the heart of our tournament season.

Palmer will be joining the team on Wednesday, July 12th and immediately jumping right into the heart of our Championship Season. Palmer has a tremendous work ethic and will continue the tradition of outstanding Tournament Directors this Section has had for decades.

Please help me in congratulating and welcoming Daniel Palmer, PGA (dpalmer@pga.com)

David Honnens, PGA CEO Nebraska Section PGA

Gothenburg, NE – Limited to PGA Professionals and their amateur partners residing in Central & Western Nebraska, our second annual Nebraska PGA 308 Cup Pro-Am took place at Wild Horse Golf Club on a day that featured perfect scoring conditions. Presented by Chesterman Co. Coca Cola, 12 teams and 48 players competed for the rights of the 308 Cup trophies. The format for the event was two-net stableford which awards points depending on the score you make. For example, an eagle was worth seven points, birdies were worth four, pars were two and so on.

In the team event, Lance Juelfs of Hillside GC and his playing partners Lane Juelfs, Josh Watchorn and Richard Haupt came into the day as defending champions and left as back-to-back champions. In the stableford format, their team finished with an outstanding 125 points which was eight better than second place. On average throughout their 18 holes, they scored 6.9 points per hole. Between the four players, they made 14 birdies on the day and their worst overall score on a hole was 4 points. Finishing runner-up in the team division, Jay Cottam, PGA of Meadowlark Hills GC and his playing partners finished at 117 points.

In the Professional-only division, Cottam’s eight birdies propelled him to the top of the leaderboard after he collected 48 points on his own ball. Cottam shot 68 (-4) and he did most of his damage on the front nine at Wild Horse GC with five birdies on that side. Finishing runner-up in the Professional-only division was last year’s top Professional Juelfs. He shot 67 (-5) on his own ball while collecting 47 points in the format, missing out on a playoff with Cottam by just one point. Trevor Chesnut, PGA of Scottsbluff Country Club scored 44 points and shot 69 (-3) to finish in solo third. Matt Shaner, PGA of Golf Fit USA shot in red figures as well with his own 70 (-2) in route to 42 points for solo fourth.

We would like to thank Director of Golf Tony Collins, PGA, Head Golf Professional Justin Henry, PGA and the entire staff at Wild Horse Golf Club for hosting us. We would also like to thank our presenting sponsor Chesterman Co. Coca-Cola as well as our supporting sponsor Sterling Cut Glass for making this event possible. We look forward to next week’s Junior PGA Championships at The Pines Country Club in Valley, Nebraska.

2023 308 Cup Pro-Am Team Results

2023 308 Cup Pro-Am Professional Results

Council Bluffs, NE – 21 teams and 84 players competed at Bent Tree Golf Club in Nebraska Section PGA’s 2023 Harris Golf Cars ProAm. The team format for the event is known as ‘Royal Rumble’ which allowed the amateurs that competed to choose which holes they would use their handicap strokes. After the strokes were set, each team had to count two-net best-balls which could include the PGA Professionals score on that hole as well. As usual, the Professional-only format for the event was individual stroke play.

In the Professional-only event, six NEPGA Professionals shot in red figures led by Shane Zywiec, PGA of Highlands Golf Course. Zywiec fired one of his lowest rounds of the 2023 tournament season with an impressive 66 (six-under) that featured nine total birdies. He got off to a quick start with four birdies in his first five holes in route to an opening 32 (four-under). Finishing one stroke off of Zywiec was Ryan Vermeer, PGA of Happy Hollow Club with his own 67 (five-under). Jim White, PGA, MP of The Fairways at Lincoln and Lance Juelfs of Hillside GC finished tied for fourth with rounds of 69 (three-under). Rounding out our top Professional scores, Justin Herron, PGA of Oak Hills CC and Nick Shanahan, PGA of Shadow Ridge CC finished at 71 (one-under). CONTINUE READING…..

Dear Nebraska Section PGA,

We are nearing the halfway point of the season as we start to look at the other side of Summer and events at your facility. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable July 4th holiday and get to spend some time with your families. Wanted to send out a quick update regarding the latest news from the National Board:

The world of professional golf has changed dramatically in the past 30 days as the PGA Tour, LIV Tour and DP World tour join forces under one umbrella. There are still many unanswered questions regarding what the future looks like in 2024 but want to assure you that the board and our officers are monitoring the situation daily as news continues to develop. One of the biggest challenges has been to educate the media and the public that we are a different association from the PGA Tour. We appreciate our partnership with the PGA Tour in the past and their support of our sections. The media team staff at PGA headquarters have been working hard to educate the differences between us and the PGA Tour and will continue.

The associate numbers continue to grow as the membership team has registered 1,800 Associates this past cycle which will end June 30th. This is more than any membership year since 2009 and almost double the last five-year average of 931 per membership year. This is great news as the golf business continues to boom and we look for qualified and educated staffing. It is a great time to start your career in the golf business and we all need to do our part to promote attaining your PGA membership. A big thanks goes out to our national recruiting team, the education department and membership team!

My next meeting is a board call towards the end of July then committee meetings in late August in Chicago. Thank you for all you are doing to grow the game at your facility and support the section staff. We have a great team in Lincoln, and I know they think of you first when traveling our great state. Best of luck to Vincent as he moves on to a new challenge and thank him for his professionalism over the past number of years. Thank you for allowing me to serve.

Sincerely,

Greg Neujahr, PGA District 8 Director

8 Things Efficient Leaders Do Daily

This time of the year we all wish we had more time in a day to accomplish all we have piled on our plates. Becoming “efficient” is the key to adding minutes and hours to your day! Here are eight techniques to incorporate into your daily routine to help you become more efficient and less stressed.

- Very few people can focus on more than two tasks at a time and produce high-quality work. Poor work results in wasted time and the need to exert more energy and time to fix mistakes.

– Productivity is lost when you take on more than you can accomplish. Efficient leaders delegate tasks, empower staff, and hold them accountable. (This is also referred to as “good mentoring”).

– Poor or lack of communication is a huge waste of time. Many of us shoot quick emails with vague instructions, failing to state the objective and expected result. Take the time to construct a well thought out message with an objective, clear instructions for achievement, and the anticipated outcome.

– Set daily priorities, shut your door, and set aside the necessary time to accomplish important tasks. The more you control your calendar, the easier it is to make room for unexpected issues.

– Hours are wasted each day chasing down lost items: car keys, wallet, phone, papers. Take time to organize and identify a permanent location for each item at home and workplace.

– When taking phone calls or attending meetings, announce the amount of time you have allotted, and respect the time others have set aside as well. If you have not resolved an issue within the set time frame, schedule a follow-up meeting for the next day to include the duration of the meeting and expected outcome.

– Overworked and tired people do not perform well and become susceptible to health issues. Take time to relax, exercise and reenergize.

–“Those that fail to plan, are planning to fail.” - Benjamin Franklin. Every evening, take a ½ hour to plan your next day, setting priorities, and allotting time for each task. Each morning, meet with staff and set the expectation for the day.

Kevin Drew- Career Consultant Website

Kevin Drew, PGA

PGA Career Consultant Iowa & Nebraska

402-670-2973

kdrew@pgahq.com

BookaMeeting: KevinDrew'sMeetingCalendar

Explain facility performance like a pro with PGA Operations Benchmark

The free PGA Operations Benchmark is the only way to understand how your course compares to the market. It offers the first interactive picture of your overall facility performance and gives you the power to make informed decisions. Public and private courses can sign up for the PGA Operations Benchmark program today.

PGA of America Member App & Deferred Compensation

The new PGA Member app is live in the Apple and Google Play stores. Members can now track PDRs, pay dues and submit and track Deferred Compensation points all through an app. Learn more and download it today!

June 30, 2023 Annual Dues Due Date!!

Please make plans to pay your 2023-2024 annual dues by the June 30, 2023 due date. Dues can be paid on your PGA.org dashboard or by calling the automated payment line at (888) 263-5285 having your PGA ID number available.

Tips to Make your Facilities

More Welcoming

Is making your facility more inclusive this summer something on your team's radar? Want to understand areas that you are strong and others that can be improved? If so, check out the Inclusion Guidelines for Golf Facilities - where you and your team can engage in a self-assessment of how inclusive your space is.

The PGA and Golf's Governing Bodies

Want to better understand how the PGA of America interacts with golf's governing bodies? Click here to learn more and feel free to share with your network.

"Why I Love Golf"- A PGA Member Love Story

Help us celebrate PGA Members & encourage growth in the game by telling your unique love stories of PGA Membership and the game of golf. Click here to learn more or sign up today.

PGA Coach,

In the thick of the busy season and working your way through the endless days of summer? If you’re searching for something to make coaching just a little easier, then it’s time to step into the era of the Modern PGA Coach.

Here are a few key takeaways:

Inspired? Let's go!

Looking to utilize your Modern PGA Coach training? Click here to set up an on-course game assessment in four easy steps.

DONATE HERE

On behalf of the PGA REACH Nebraska Board of Directors, Ambassadors, and Staff, we want to thank you for your continued support as we positively impact people's lives through the game of golf. It's been a very busy month for PGA REACH Nebraska. Our programs and events are in full swing! Below are some recent highlights that we want to share with you in this month's email:

• PGA REACH Nebraska celebrates 10 years with a record number of participants in fundraising events

• Jim Ager GC receives 25 new sets of junior clubs from PGA REACH Nebraska

• Local PGA HOPE Veteran gets hole-in-one and is highlighted by the PGA of America

• 50 Veterans graduate from PGA HOPE spring programs

• Omaha Boys and Girls spend a day at Topgolf with PGA Professionals

Thank your support and for being a part of the PGA REACH Nebraska community! We will keep you updated on the Foundation's success as we continue to impact more people across the Nebraska PGA Section.

Seth Scollard, PGA Managing Director PGA REACH Nebraska

PGA REACH Nebraska hosted both their Kearney Impact Event & Omaha Pro-Am - Between the two events, 45 teams and more than 200 people from our golfing communities teed it up in an effort to raise funds for PGA REACH Nebraska's golf programs that continue to make a positive impact on people's lives.

Lincoln, NE – Jim Ager Golf Course produced more than 26,000 rounds in 2022 and the facility projects to beat that number in 2023. Many of those rounds come from junior golfers learning to love the game of golf and growing the game is part of Jim Ager’s identity. Many of the youngsters that come through the facility don’t have clubs of their own and Jim Ager had a need for new equipment, and that’s where PGA REACH Nebraska came in to help.

Every year, PGA REACH Nebraska opens a grant process that allows organizations and individuals that share a similar mission & vision to the Foundation to apply for a grant to make a difference through the game of golf. READ MORE HERE

2023 Nebraska PGA Jr. League Section Qualifier

Fremont GC on Tuesday, July 25th

**If there are too many teams for one qualifier, there will be two qualifiers. The second location is Jackrabbit Run GC in Grand Island on Wednesday, July 26th. Teams will be split as evenly as possible based on geographic location if this additional qualifier is needed.

2023 Nebraska PGA Jr. League Section Championship

The Club at Indian Creek (Red Feather Course) on Saturday, August 12th

IMPORTANT: The top two teams in both the 13U and 17U divisions at the Section Championship will qualify for the regional event, which will be held at The Ridge GC in Sioux Center, IA on Sept. 1-3, 2023.

The 2023 13U National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship will be held October 4th-8th, 2023 at Fields Ranch West at PGA Frisco.

The 17U post season goes all the way to a National Championship, as opposed to completing their season at the Regional Event in prior years. It is planned for Late November in Greater Dallas but exact details are yet to come.

If you haven't already, please fill out the SURVEY to allow the section staff to know if your league will be bringing an all-star team or teams to the PGA Jr. League post season. If you are planning on bringing one or more teams to the postseason, PLEASE create your championship season programs in your coaching dashboards ASAP. The link below explains how to do that.

Publish Your Championship Program

Good luck to all of the 2023 PGA Jr. League Teams! Let’s make it a great season!

108 Junior Golfers across the Nebraska Section PGA teed it up at The Pines Country Club for the 2023 Nebraska Junior PGA Championships. Boys 1315, Girls 13-15, Boys 16-18 and Girls 16-18 made up the four divisions of juniors that competed in the Section’s biggest junior event of the season.

The annual event sends two boys and two girls from the 16 -18 divisions to the National Junior PGA Championships. The national event will be held August 1-4th at Hot Springs Country Club in Arkansas.

Beginning with the Girls 16-18 division, the defending champion Nicole Kolbas of Lincoln went wire-to-wire to win once again. She began her two-day tournament run with a round of 70 (two-under) that paced the rest of the field. Her final round of 73 (one-over) kept her as the only girl in the division to shoot in red figures for the championship. See

Finishing runner-up in the Girls 16-18 division and qualifying alongside Kolbas was Karsen Morrison of North Platte with her two-day total of 147 (three-over). As she ages out next year, Morrison is more than estatic to qualify in 2023.

We witnessed a field wide shootout in the Boys 16-18 division over the course of the two days and it was all led by Ashland’s Coltrane Mittag. Like Kolbas, Mittag went wireto-wire to capture his first title in this event and he ended up with a blistering total of 133 (11-under).

Though Mittag was the only one to reach double digits, eight other competitors in the Boys 16-18 division shot under par for the week with one of them being runner-up Connor Steichen of Omaha. Coming in as the defending champion, Steichen made a birdie on the 18th hole to force a playoff for the last qualifying spot alongside Omaha’s Jacob Cosimano. After the two of them tied at 5-under for the championship, Steichen went on to win on the third playoff hole (No. 18) with a birdie.

Rounding out our 2023 Nebraska Junior PGA Championship, Omaha’s Knox Pocras fired a two-day total of 151 (seven-over) to win the Boys 13-15 division while Lincoln’s Naryn Kim shot 153 (nineover) to win the Girls 13-15 division.