OFFICERS/BOARD
President Mike Schuchart, PGA
Vice President Phil Palmer, PGA
Secretary— Bobby O’Keefe, PGA
Honorary President—Dawn Neujahr, PGA
Board Member Tony Baranowski, PGA
Board Member Joe Wiegand, PGA
DISTRICT 8 DIRECTOR
Phil Anderson, PGA
NEBRASKA PGA STAFF
Executive Director/CEO David Honnens, PGA
Assist. Executive Director Seth Scollard, PGA
Managing Director—Renee Tyson
Tournament Director—Derek Carlson, PGA
Junior Golf Director Kurt Karcher, PGA
Digital Media Director Brett Renner
Director of Foundation Programs—Amber Bogle
Administrative Assistant—Tiffany White
Development Officer Bob Danenhauer
Community Relations Coord. Margie Smith
INTRODUCING OUR NEW LOGOS HONORING OUR SECTION’S 100 YEAR HISTORY:
Written by Bob Denney | Historian Emeritus – PGA of America
Celebrating the Nebraska PGA Centennial isn’t complete unless one pays homage to a progressive coaching culture that flourishes across a variety of successful platforms to develop the next generation of players.
The Nebraska PGA spans unique cross-state boundaries, touching Western Iowa and a portion of South Dakota. Wherever you stop – whether it’s indoor training, surrounded by PGA Junior Leaguers, driving a van to a meet, or stationed on the range for junior or collegiate coaching – it’s a collage of motivated, dedicated PGA Professionals.
We tapped the shoulders of a cross section of Section members: University of Northern Iowa alum Ryan Norman is the Director of Player Development of the Iowa Western Community College men’s and women’s teams in Council Bluffs.
In April, while busy with his college teams’ schedule, he watched on television as Chloe Perfect, a student he coached for several years, finished runner-up in the age 14-15 girls’ division of the Drive, Chip & Putt national finals at August National Golf Club.
“It was pretty cool to watch Chloe perform so well, and I was cheering from far away,” said Norman.
Norman’s paternal grandfather got him into golf in Council Bluffs, and gave him his first set of clubs, among them a Wilson 2-iron.
“I remember how hard it was to hit that club,” said Norman, a graduate of Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln High School. “I kept it, because it was the one club that I was trying hard to make contact.”
Norman earned a bachelor’s degree in sports psychology in 2005, and five years later was elected to PGA membership.
Continue Reading about Ryan Norman, Jon Petersen, Karrie Van Ravenswaay, Judd Cornell, Jeanne Sutherland and Nick Wanderscheid.
Exploring Technology: How AI Can Enhance Your Job Search Experience
In today’s ever-evolving world, technology, and especially Artificial Intelligence (AI), is reshaping every aspect of our lives. As a PGA Career Consultant, I’ve had the privilege to help countless professionals in the Iowa and Nebraska Sections navigate their career paths, witnessing firsthand how AI can be a catalyst for growth, innovation, and success for both our members and facilities.
Crafting the Perfect Resume
For my fellow PGA members, starting a new career opportunity often begins with creating an outstanding resume how you present your professional story is crucial. AI tools can supercharge this process, offering personalized recommendations to highlight unique skills and experiences. AIdriven resume builders refine resumes to meet industry standards and align with job descriptions, significantly boosting the chances of capturing a recruiter's attention.
These advanced tools extract key phrases from job postings, spotlighting the skills recruiters prioritize. Mirror these elements in your resume to emphasize your fit for the role and pass AI-powered Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) efficiently, making you stand out in a competitive market.
Step-by-Step Guide to UsingAI for Crafting a Competitive Resume
1. Input Job Description: Start by entering the desired position's job description into an AI tool. Prompt the AI to "identify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the role based on the job description provided." This will help you understand the critical skills and competencies that the employer values.
2. Analyze and Enhance: Once the AI generates the KPIs, upload your cover letter, specific sections of your resume, or the entire resume into the AI tool. Instruct the AI to suggest enhancements or modifications that align your documents with the identified KPIs. This step helps tailor your resume to better match the employer's expectations and requirements.
3. Refine with Personal Touch: Review the AI's suggestions and incorporate your personal insights and experiences. While AI can provide valuable structural and content-related feedback, it's essential to infuse your personality and unique story into the resume. Ensure that the document authentically represents you, as nobody can tell your narrative better than you.
Mastering the Interview Prep
Preparation is key to interview success, and AI can play an instrumental role in this regard as well. Simulated interview platforms utilize AI to provide PGA members with realistic interview scenarios. By engaging with these AI simulations, candidates can practice responses to common industry-specific questions, receive realtime feedback, and hone their communication skills.
Innovating Job Postings for Facilities
For PGA facilities, AI offers innovative solutions to create more effective job postings. By analyzing successful past listings, AI can help craft postings that attract the right candidates. The technology can identify and suggest the perfect combination of keywords and phrasing to ensure the job description reaches its target audience, saving time and improving candidate quality.
AI can also assist in the interview preparation process for facilities by providing insights on potential candidates. By analyzing candidates' resumes and online presence, AI helps facilities to tailor interview questions that effectively evaluate a candidate’s fit for the team and culture.
Embracing the Future
AI’s integration within job searches and recruitment isn't just a brief trend; it's a promising pathway to future growth. Embracing AI means opening new doors and advancing your career with confidence, all while fostering team harmony.
However, it's vital to remember that AI is a powerful ally, not an autonomous solution. Whether you're a PGA professional or a facility manager, it's important to ensure that AI serves as a partner in your endeavors rather than overshadowing your personal insights and creativity. By embedding your unique perspective alongside AI's capabilities, you can achieve remarkable growth.
Together, we can harness AI's power to elevate our industry, achieving success when AI’s strengths are combined with thoughtful insights and clear direction. As we experienced firsthand in crafting this article, AI acts more like a collaborative ally a tool that complements our skills rather than replacing them, reminiscent of a trusty sidekick rather than a machine from the future with its own mission. It’s a gentle reminder that even the most intelligent systems, similar to our passion for golf, yield the best results when combined with personal touch and intentional guidance.
Kevin Drew, PGA is a PGA Career Consultant serving the Iowa and Nebraska PGA Sections. He can be reached at 402-670-2973 or kdrew@pgahq.com
The Nebraska Section PGA has announced Jon Crane, PGA the recipient of the Wilson Sporting Goods Monthly Game Ball recipient for the month of May
The Wilson Game Ball honors PGA Professionals who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to the game of golf. Director of Golf Jon Crane, PGA, of The Ridge Golf Club in Sioux Center, Iowa, embodies these qualities through his passionate service, visionary programming, and deep community impact.
“It’s very humbling,” Crane said. “Our Section has tremendous golf professionals doing great things, and to be recognized amongst my peers is a true honor.”
Crane’s passion for golf is rooted in the game’s unique challenges, personal growth, and the powerful connections it fosters. As a PGA Member, he’s channeled that passion into a career of mentorship and innovation.
“My passion for golf comes from the challenge, camaraderie, and constant drive for improvement,” said Crane. “Being a PGA Member has allowed me to share that with others, grow the game, and build lasting relationships through teaching and team leadership.”
One of Crane’s most significant achievements is the development of one of the top five PGA Jr. League programs in the country. With over 370 junior participants, the program thrives thanks to a blend of creative curriculum, facility support, and grassroots outreach.
Continuing Reading….
If you’re looking for something to make balancing your personal and work lives just a little easier – and a lot more impactful – it’s time to step into the era of the Modern PGA Coach.
With tools like video analysis, integrated scheduling, and easy-to-manage group programs, PGA Coach is designed to help you do more with less effort while delivering a better experience for every student.
New Video Analysis Course, powered by our partners at Onform
Level up your coaching with video Analysis
If you’ve been meaning to explore how Onform can enhance your coaching, we’ve made it easy. The PGA Coach integration and introductory course is now available in the PGA Coach Training Center, designed to help you get started with video analysis or sharpen your skills if you’ve already begun.
What to Expect:
This self-paced course includes:
-Approximately 50 minutes of video instruction
-Short interactive quizzes to reinforce key concepts
-Tips for recording, analyzing, and delivering effective feedback via video
-Step-by-step walkthroughs for using Onform with PGA Coach (need a quick refresher on linking your accounts or sharing videos? View the Onform + PGA Coach support guide)
-Best practices for using video to boost your learning and engagement
-Earn 1 PDR credit
Already using Onform? You might still pick up new ideas, and you’ll earn a credit for brushing up.
PRD Season is Around the Corner
As we approach the end of a PDR cycle, now is a great time to knock out a few credits. The PGA Coach Training Center offers up to 15 PDR credits – available upon first time completion of courses, all at your own pace.
Start Learning Today
Go to PGA Coach Training Center
The 2025 Union Bank & Trust Pro + Ladies Jamboree, held on May 5th at The Country Club of Lincoln, showcased exceptional talent and a steadfast commitment to promoting girls’ junior golf across Nebraska. This annual event, organized by the Nebraska PGA, Nebraska Golf Association, and the Nebraska Women’s Amateur Golf Association (NWAGA), brought together professionals and amateurs in a spirited competition supporting youth golf initiatives.
The highlight of this year’s event came from Seth Porter, PGA Associate of The Club at Indian Creek, who fired a 63 (-10) tying the course record at The Country Club of Lincoln. After starting 1-over through his first six holes, he played the final 12 holes at 11-under par showcasing a heater of a lifetime.
CCL’s very own Mark Foelbaek, PGA and Jim White, PGA MP of The Fairways at Lincoln tied for second place with impressive rounds of 68 (-5). A total of 10 Nebraska PGA Professionals fired rounds under par showcasing the talent in the Section.
In the team portion of the event, Nebraska PGA Professionals were paired with three NWAGA members from their home clubs to compete in a two net best-ball format across three separate flights.
NEW Hole-in-One Club. Entry into the club is only required one time until the next Hole-in-One is made. Entry fee is $20.00.
For those Nebraska Section PGA Professionals who are still in need of some PDRs, we have compiled a list of several opportunities that are available to you.
The deadline to have all PDR information submitted is June 15, 2025.
Be sure to check your status today!
