1921 epub: Volume 9, No. 1

Contents

1921 E-Pub

Volume 9, No. 1

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National Winners, Local Legends Jim Smith Jr., PGA and Dean Kandle, PGA receive National PGA of America Awards

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An Honor Most High

This year’s Section Award Winners are announced, headlined by Dustin McCormick as the PGA Professional of the Year

Drive Chip & Putt Media Night

Our four finalists for the National Drive Chip & Putt showcased their skills at a Media Night

New Web Series: Playing Through

Jamie Komancheck answers 18 questions about his life as a PGA Golf Professional

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Giving HOPE Back to Veterans

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Getting To Know You

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The Future of the PGA: Jennings Family Scholarship

A review of the PGA HOPE Trainings for PGA Members The Section hosted an Assoicate Networking Event

The Jennings Family awards a scholarship to aspiring PGA of America Golf Professionals

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Lifelong Learning

Leila Mackie, PGA shares her experience working in Player Development

Tony Pancake,Golf Professional of the Year; Winners, Joe Hallet, TeacherNational & Coach of the Year; Kelly Williams, Golf Executive ofLocal the Year; Jim Smith Legends Bill Strausbaugh Award; Dean Kandle, Professio Development Award; Mark Egly, Deacon Palme Award; Jon DePriest, Patriot Award; Crystal Mor Player Development Award; Connie DeMattia, Youth Player Development Award; Iowa PGA Section, Herb Graffis Award; Robert Koontz, Merchandiser of the Year-Resort; Morgan Jewel Merchandiser of the Year-Private, Jason Loomi

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GA of America Golf Professionals Jim Smith Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club, and Dean Kandle, St. Davids Golf Club, have been honored as members of the Class of 2024 PGA of America National Awards honorees. Smith Jr., is the recipient of the Bill Strausbaugh Award for his outstanding leadership and mentoring skills. Kandle is the recipient of the PGA of America Professional Development Award due to his passion for growing education.To read more about their outstanding accomplishments, click here.

Tony Pancake,Golf Professional of the Year; Winners, Joe Hallet, TeacherNational & Coach of the Year; Kelly Williams, Golf Executive ofLocal the Year; Jim Smith Legends Bill Strausbaugh Award; Dean Kandle, Professio Development Award; Mark Egly, Deacon Palme Award; Jon DePriest, Patriot Award; Crystal Mor Player Development Award; Connie DeMattia, Youth Player Development Award; Iowa PGA Section, Herb Graffis Award; Robert Koontz, Merchandiser of the Year-Resort; Morgan Jewel Merchandiser of the Year-Private, Jason Loomi

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GA of America Golf Professionals Jim Smith Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club, and Dean Kandle, St. Davids Golf Club, have been honored as members of the Class of 2024 PGA of America National Awards honorees. Smith Jr., is the recipient of the Bill Strausbaugh Award for his outstanding leadership and mentoring skills. Kandle is the recipient of the PGA of America Professional Development Award due to his passion for growing education.To read more about their outstanding accomplishments, click here.

An Honor Most High

The section is proud to recognize thirteen PGA of America Members, headlined by Dustin McCormick as the PGA Golf Professional of the year, who are making a lasting impact in the industry, as our 2024 Awards Class.

Dustin McCormick, PGA PGA Golf Professional of the Year

Nick Iacono, PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year

Eric Kennedy,PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award

Becky Dengler,PGA Sam Ambrose, PGA Youth Player Development Merchandiser of the Award Year - Private Category

Dr. Brian Soule, PGA Professional Development Award

Mike Wood, PGA Patriot Award

Robert Munkittrick, PGA Player Development Award

Bridget McLaughlin, PGA Brian Short, PGA Fred Heller, PGA Merchandiser of the Deacon Palmer Award Justin Riegel PGA Assistant Golf Professional fo the year Year - Public Category

Kevin McClellan Salesperson of the Year

An Honor Most High

The section is proud to recognize thirteen PGA of America Members, headlined by Dustin McCormick as the PGA Golf Professional of the year, who are making a lasting impact in the industry, as our 2024 Awards Class.

Dustin McCormick, PGA PGA Golf Professional of the Year

Nick Iacono, PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year

Eric Kennedy,PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award

Becky Dengler,PGA Sam Ambrose, PGA Youth Player Development Merchandiser of the Award Year - Private Category

Dr. Brian Soule, PGA Professional Development Award

Mike Wood, PGA Patriot Award

Robert Munkittrick, PGA Player Development Award

Bridget McLaughlin, PGA Brian Short, PGA Fred Heller, PGA Merchandiser of the Deacon Palmer Award Justin Riegel PGA Assistant Golf Professional fo the year Year - Public Category

Kevin McClellan Salesperson of the Year

Drive, Chip & Putt Media Night

On March 19, we hosted a Media Night to celebrate the four finalists who went to compete at the National Drive, Chip & Putt Finals. It was a special night for the players to showcase their skills and their personalities! Click below to watch a recap video.

Drive, Chip & Putt Media Night

On March 19, we hosted a Media Night to celebrate the four finalists who went to compete at the National Drive, Chip & Putt Finals. It was a special night for the players to showcase their skills and their personalities! Click below to watch a recap video.

New Web Series: Playing Through

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he Philadelphia PGA Section is excited to announce a new web series, “Playing Through,” where PGA of America Golf Professionals, Section staff, Section partners, and other industry professionals are asked 18 questions about their lives and careers.

Our debut episode features RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve Head Golf Professional Jamie Komancheck. To watch his episode, click below.

New Web Series: Playing Through

T

he Philadelphia PGA Section is excited to announce a new web series, “Playing Through,” where PGA of America Golf Professionals, Section staff, Section partners, and other industry professionals are asked 18 questions about their lives and careers.

Our debut episode features RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve Head Golf Professional Jamie Komancheck. To watch his episode, click below.

Giving HOPE Back to Veterans

O

ver the winter, PGA REACH Philadelphia hosted two PGA HOPE trainings for PGA of America Golf Professionals to learn how to adapt their teaching practices to better suit veterans. Led by National Hope Trainer, Nick Iacono, PGA, they learned the various branches of the military, common terms and adaptive golf practices. All PGA Members who wish to volunteer at the foundation’s HOPE Clinics must be trained.

To learn more about how PGA Reach gives back to veterans, or to sign up to help at a clinic, click here.

Giving HOPE Back to Veterans

O

ver the winter, PGA REACH Philadelphia hosted two PGA HOPE trainings for PGA of America Golf Professionals to learn how to adapt their teaching practices to better suit veterans. Led by National Hope Trainer, Nick Iacono, PGA, they learned the various branches of the military, common terms and adaptive golf practices. All PGA Members who wish to volunteer at the foundation’s HOPE Clinics must be trained.

To learn more about how PGA Reach gives back to veterans, or to sign up to help at a clinic, click here.

Getting to Know You

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n February, the Section’s Membership Committee hosted dozens of PGA of America Associates for a networking event at Sunnybrook Golf Club in their new swing studio.

The event was designed to help engage all of the Section’s PGA of America Golf Professionals, build relationships among the younger ranks, and to boost Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) membership. In addition to networking with peers, PGA of America representatives Joe Doughty, PGA, and Leila Mackie, PGA, were in attendance to answer questions about the Association, employment and compensation. The Section is planning more events in the future; stay tuned!

Getting to Know You

I

n February, the Section’s Membership Committee hosted dozens of PGA of America Associates for a networking event at Sunnybrook Golf Club in their new swing studio.

The event was designed to help engage all of the Section’s PGA of America Golf Professionals, build relationships among the younger ranks, and to boost Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) membership. In addition to networking with peers, PGA of America representatives Joe Doughty, PGA, and Leila Mackie, PGA, were in attendance to answer questions about the Association, employment and compensation. The Section is planning more events in the future; stay tuned!

The Future of the PGA: Jennings Family Scholarship

T

he Jennings Family is pleased to award two associates a scholarship to assist them on their journey to becoming PGA of America Members. The scholarship is in honor of Bud Jennings, a Chester Valley Golf Club Member, who always believed in giving back to others. The 2023 recipients were Greg Rhodes, an assistant at Rolling Green Golf Club, and Victoria Petrosky, the Director of Instruction at Fox Hill Country Club.

“Kathryn and I are thrilled to announce the inaugural winners of the Bud Jennings PGM Scholarship to Victoria Petrosky and Gregory Rhoads,” said Chris Jennings. “Both are deserving

candidates and we are very happy to be honoring my father’s memory while also giving back to the golf community in Philadelphia.”

The application for this year is already open and the deadline to apply is July 1. Candidates must demonstrate strong leadership qualities, a substantial record of service to the Philadelphia PGA Section , PGA of America and the game of golf, and be a wellregarded model associate. Interested associates can apply here.

The Future of the PGA: Jennings Family Scholarship

T

he Jennings Family is pleased to award two associates a scholarship to assist them on their journey to becoming PGA of America Members. The scholarship is in honor of Bud Jennings, a Chester Valley Golf Club Member, who always believed in giving back to others. The 2023 recipients were Greg Rhodes, an assistant at Rolling Green Golf Club, and Victoria Petrosky, the Director of Instruction at Fox Hill Country Club.

“Kathryn and I are thrilled to announce the inaugural winners of the Bud Jennings PGM Scholarship to Victoria Petrosky and Gregory Rhoads,” said Chris Jennings. “Both are deserving

candidates and we are very happy to be honoring my father’s memory while also giving back to the golf community in Philadelphia.”

The application for this year is already open and the deadline to apply is July 1. Candidates must demonstrate strong leadership qualities, a substantial record of service to the Philadelphia PGA Section , PGA of America and the game of golf, and be a wellregarded model associate. Interested associates can apply here.

Lifelong Learning Click below to watch a testimonial from PGA Member Leila Mackie on her experiences working in the field of Player Development.

Lifelong Learning Click below to watch a testimonial from PGA Member Leila Mackie on her experiences working in the field of Player Development.