March 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 Media Specialist—Brett Renner
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PGA of America Governance Update March 2020—Tom Brawley & Scott Wellington Out of an abundance of caution, as well as our desire to play an active role in helping mitigate the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) across the U.S., the Officers Committee and Board has made the following determinations: MSR Cycle - Extend the MSR cycle deadline from June 15, 2021 to June 15, 2022, for all Members. This is due to a number of MSR activity opportunities; meetings, education, tournaments, player development, which could be affected by postponement or cancellations. Additionally, this relieves pressure on Sections and Members to conduct or take part in these activities during this unprecedented time of uncertainty. Acceptable Progress - Extend the Acceptable Progress deadlines of all PGA Associates by one year. As travel to the PGA Education Center is currently curtailed, PGA Education staff is exploring online opportunities and there is uncertainty of testing sites remaining open, this provides flexibility to Associates regarding meeting their deadlines. PGA Golf Management University Students - PGA Education Staff will work with the Universities directly regarding any needed accommodations within the Criteria and Standards. PGA Staff will begin working on making modifications to Members and Associate records, and a communication plan to all and we will continue to monitor closely and evaluate circumstances as they evolve. Championship & Events - At this time, we are working closely with state and local public health and government officials in Texas, California and Michigan regarding the playing of our three upcoming events: The PPC, PGA Championship and KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. With the PGA Tour canceling The Players Championship and its next three events; the LPGA cancelling four events; and Augusta National postponing the Masters, we will be asked many questions about the status of our events. We will continue to evaluate the status of each event every two weeks and provide further updates when available. Our hope is that the situation will improve, and once cleared by public health authorities, our
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events could be a welcome "return to normal." That said, the health and well-being of all involved is our first priority and mandates from public health authorities will guide our decisions. PGA Member Assistance Program - People are understandably concerned about their health, jobs and future. During these unprecedented times, the PGA Member Assistance Program provides confidential, professional counseling and online services for a wide array of personal and well-being concerns. We encourage you to remind your fellow Members they can seek help at resources.pga.org. In addition, online guidance on preventive health and safety measures we can all take are available from the CDC. This situation is evolving in real-time and we all as leaders need to help be a part of the solution and then a big part of the recovery. Our sport is incredibly well positioned to do that as we have in our society in many other times of need. Let's keep very open lines of communication as this situation continues to evolve.
For additional resources and information regarding COVID-19, the PGA of America is continually updating their site at pga.org. Please use this link as your main source of information regarding Best Practices at your facility.
PGA.ORG
Coronavirus Resources Update
Helpful COVID-19 Links: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
World Health Organization
As you continue to navigate the information and resources available to you surrounding COVID-19, learn about the latest developments from Washington and how legislation might impact you and your everyday golf operations.
National Club Association COVID-19 Legislation Family Medical Leave March 18th National Disaster Relief Facebook Page
Many of these resources as well as the Employee Rights Poster is available on our website at:
Nebraskapga.com
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1. Pool noodles—Sandy Jamieson posted this particular innovation to Twitter: a cut-up section of a pool noodle used to reduce the depth of the hole. Why? In short, the noodle section makes it easy for golfers to hole their ball but still fetch it out without touching the sides of the cup — or anything, really, besides the ball itself. Now that is using your noodle. 2. PVC pipe—Same idea, different medium. Pinehurst posted photos Friday morning announcing it was incorporating this strategy on all its courses: a 2” diameter PVC pipe cut to 2.5” in length, then popped into the hole. Ta-da! No more germ transfer by the hole. (Keep washing those hands anyway, though.)
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By Dylan Dethier Golf.com
As we all hunker down best we can, the golf world seeks to provide some respite from the grim news of the day. When played under specific new sets of guidelines, golf can still serve as healthy recreation (but only when played carefully and creatively — read more about precautions to take HERE). Here are the 10 course innovations we’re most impressed with. You’d be surprised just how well things can work out if you just play to the middle of every single green. 3. Cash box—Nine Springs Golf Course in Fitchburg, Wisc. has two delightful innovations, per WKOW. The first is a $10 greens fee. The second is a cash box in which to drop your 10 bucks. No handoff necessary, saving both golfer and cashier! 4. Raised cups—This is especially good news for mediocre putters. It’s literally impossible to lip out when the cups are raised above ground, making good every putt that hits the edge. The only question that remains is whether a hole-inone under coronavirus rules would count or not… 5. Rake by foot—We know, some of you non-raking rascals already do this. But many courses have taken away bunker rakes, which seem like particularly prime candidates for passing along germs. Use your foot to smooth it out a little. Some people have argued bunkers should always be this way — if you want a good lie, keep it in the grass! But in this time of uncertainty we’d hardly begrudge you moving your ball out of a deep footprint. 6. One man at a time—Plenty of golfers have dreamed of having their favorite pro shop to themselves, shopping possibilities galore. In your dream you’d be roaming under different circumstances, for sure. But Beverly Golf & Tennis in Beverly, Mass. has instituted a one-at-a-time policy for its pro shop. Bravo. 7. No pins, period—I lived in Florida for a couple winters and found that private courses were often closed on Mondays, but with the right determination you could sneak on and play — provided you didn’t care about having flagsticks in the holes.
Anyway, that’s the setup this week at Sweetens Cove in South Pittsburg, Tenn., where two holes are cut in each green, but no flagsticks. That’s one surefire way to make sure nobody touches the pin. 8. You can warm up — just not here—As someone who typically pulls into the parking lot five minutes before I’m expected to tee off, I’m well aware that courses typically prefer you’d arrive well in advance. But Salem News reports that Wenham Country Club is flipping the script this week, encouraging people to arrive directly in advance of their tee times. Crowd control! 9. Spaced-out tee times—Y’know those courses that jam groups out every eight minutes to maximize rounds? This approach is the delightful opposite. Arkansas Online reports that The Greens at North Hills is facilitating lower golfer density by spreading out tee times. Times every 20 minutes is a golfer’s dream — you’re less likely to wait for the group in front and less likely to feel the pressure of the crew behind you. Subscribe. 10. Outside check-in—Frequent fliers will agree that outdoor baggage check is a fantastic innovation. The Bend Bulletin reports that Bend Golf Club in central Oregon is taking a page from that book with check-in taking place outside. Fresh air equals lower transmissions rates, the experts say. Who are we to argue with them? Oh, and the best news of all? In Myrtle Beach, they’ve done away with those pesky starters tickets. That’s one policy we can all agree is a winwin.
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Prepare for 2020 Dues Billing Dues invoices will be available beginning May 1. Please make sure your personal data - email, mailing address, Section affiliation, classification and employment - is correct. Changes can be made through your PGA Record on PGA.org.
Keeping Maintenance Going If your facility is closed, basic property maintenance must still be conducted. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) has provided tips on communicating to lawmakers the necessity of golf course maintenance and security when closed to the public.
Access the Member Assistance Program (MAP) Through SupportLinc, the PGA Member Assistance Program offers confidential, professional counseling and online services for various personal and work-related concerns. If needed, please seek help and access SupportLinc's Coronavirus toolkit.
Changes to CareerLinks Coming; Complete Your Job Preferences Today Exciting changes are coming to both the way you view information about open positions and how you submit a resume. Click here for more details and to prepare yourself for the transition.
MSR Cycle The MSR cycle deadline has been extended from June 15, 2021 to June 15, 2022, for all Members. This is due to a number of MSR activity opportunities; meetings, education, tournaments, player development, which could be affected by postponement or cancellations.
Iowa Small Business Relief Program The Iowa Small Business Relief Program was announced by Governor Reynolds to provide financial assistance and tax deferral to eligible small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Click here for more details.
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As we try to navigate this unusual period in time there are still a few facilities that are looking to employ some talented individuals for their facility. We are currently still without a person filling the role as PGA Career Consultant for District 8. In the interim period, I want to assure you that we are still here to assist you with any of your career needs that you might have. If you are looking to fill a position at your facility, find a new job/career for yourself, or need advice on career planning, we are here to help. I would also encourage anyone that has not filled out a change form, to please do so. You may do this online or request a copy of the form from Renee Tyson at rtyson@pgahq.com. If you need assistance in these areas, we invite you to reach out to either myself, or Seth Scollard at the Section office at 402-489-7760. Our employment committee chairs, Mike Antonio, PGA & Devon Kastler as also willing to assist if needed. David Honnens, PGA Exec. Director/CEO
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Hole-in-One Club Current Members - 36 Current Pot - $720.00 Mike Antonio
Brad Bailey
Tony Baranowski
Jonathan Beaver
Mike Coatman
Mike Cornell
Chris Cover
Kevin Drew
Ross Eickhoff
Josh Enholm
Pete Hagen
Troy Harder
Scott Harmelink
Tom Hearn
Justin Herron
Scott Holly
Bill Jacobsen
Rusty Jensen
Sam Jonell
James Kinney
Tyler Lane
Dominick Mitchum
Bobby O’Keefe
Justin Onken
Jon Petersen
Seth Ray
Kyle Schellpeper
Matt Shaner
Andrew Smeal
Joe Sutter
Ryan Vermeer
Denis Vontz
Mike VunCannon
Jim White
Chris Wiemers
Shane Zywiec
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NJG Membership is open for registration HERE Register for Drive, Chip & Putt HERE PAGE 12 Nebraska PGA News March 2020
I am very honored and excited to introduce you to the Nebraska PGA Player Development Committee. We have an incredibly talented group of professionals that have created a targeted, focused strategic plan dedicated to providing our PGA members with the tools and resources to grow the game of golf. NE PGA Player Development Committee Members: Seth Scollard, PGA – Staff Liaison Jonathan Mielke, PGA – Committee Chair Chris Thomson, PGA Steve Friesen, PGA Matt Shaner, PGA Owen Schuette, PGA The committee has created a social media presence with a twitter account and PGA private Facebook page to inspire and encourage members with ideas and best practices to grow the game at their facility. Both accounts are constantly being updated with new content, so I encourage you to view and post to both accounts. The twitter account is @NEBPGAPlayerDev
NEW for 2020! The Nebraska PGA section has been selected as one of twelve sections to host a pilot program called “Doubles Golf”- Co-founded by Jack Nicklaus and the originators of Junior League Golf. Doubles Golf is a trademarked rebranding of a two player 9-hole scramble and the first format, in the history of golf, created in the USA. We are excited to bring this opportunity to Nebraska PGA section facilities to bring more juniors, women and millennials into the game while providing an opportunity for seniors to continue playing. We encourage everyone to be involved with this great opportunity! Due to the current circumstances with the CORVID-19 virus, we will be cancelling the Youth Development Workshop on May 11th. We hope to reschedule at a later date. The PD Committee is dedicated to supporting PGA members with their goals in player development. Please feel free to contact any committee member with any questions or comments. I look forward to working with you to grow the game. - Jonathan Mielke, PGA Click for BIO Director of Instruction at Oak Hills Country Club
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It is with heavy hearts that the family of Richard Gilliland, PGA announce his passing onto greener fairways on Friday, March 13, 2020 at the age of 75. Gilliland was a tremendous athlete and attended Hastings College where he was a standout basketball player. Upon graduating from college one of his best friends in life, Jerry Fisher, PGA encouraged Gilliland to get into the golf business and he did so for Jack Hoskins, PGA at Riverside Golf Club. Gilliland’s professional stops included stints at Kearney Country Club, Country Club of Lincoln, Sterling Country Club and North Forty for Jim White, PGA MP. Gilliland’s PGA Professional career spanned over 40 years and it was later in life his family said that his golf game took off. At the age of 70, he played one month never shooting over his age. In retirement, Gilliland loved spending time in Arizona with his wife Maggie. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Maggie and the entire Gilliland family.
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Leadership – We all need to be leaders now!!!!! The reality of today’s uncertainty weighs heavy on everyone and those in leadership positions throughout the world are being put through the ultimate test. My role as leader at Happy Hollow Club and as your District 8 Director during a crisis is not much different from a normal day where perhaps the pool doesn’t open on time, or our carnival and fireworks event gets rained out, or we have to make a controversial quick decision in the PGA board room. Any number of things can, and have, occurred. This isn’t to say that the current level of crisis is being downplayed… because it’s not. What it does say is that with every uncomfortable and tough situation comes a level of calm priorities that I’ve relied on to get me through the good, the bad, and even the REALLY BAD days. 1. Faith 2. Family 3. Facility (Happy Hollow) 4. PGA District 8 and 5. National PGA
These priorities are my guiding light and each day must be tackled knowing that God will ultimately bring us through any crisis that life puts before us. Many of my key tasks include communication, motivation and encouragement, in addition to making urgent, timely decisions, as well as to set the emotional tone in the workplace and for the PGA members in the District. Encouragement and inspiring our members are absolutely critical while also taking the time to truly listen and genuinely care about those who are experiencing fear or anxiety. Each PGA member and associate in the Nebraska PGA is a leader with all of us having different styles. I challenge each of you that the time IS NOW for you to show your leadership. We need all PGA professionals to be the “GO TO SOURCE” when it comes to information, direction, and making recommendations. Also, don’t forget that LISTENING is one of the great traits of all great leaders. We will get through this together. Prayers to all!
David Schneider, PGA, CCM District 8 Director 515-419-5653 Cell daves@happyhollowclub.om PAGE 17 Nebraska PGA News March 2020
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Terrance Riordan, PGA Nick Wanderscheid, PGA Bob Walker, PGA Mike Schuchart, PGA Todd Boeve, PGA Chad Manes, PGA Tyler Hadden, PGA Scott Allacher, PGA
1 2 2 6 7 7 8 8
Robert Thomason, PGA Bill Scarborough, PGA Steven Friesen, PGA Scott Martin, PGA Nick St. Onge, PGA Greg Gilg, PGA
8 11 12 12 12 13
Ky Molholm, PGA Tom Nelson, PGA Gerald Fitzpatrick, PGA Jim White, PGA Sean O'Neill, PGA Jonathan Beaver, PGA Don Kruse, PGA Britton Ward, PGA Jon Petersen, PGA Mitch Merrill, PGA David James, PGA Matt Nelson Mike Cornell, PGA Jennifer Smith, PGA
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