Southern California PGA PROgram Magazine - Summer Issue 2020

PROGRAM VOLUME 47

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ISSUE 21

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SUMMER ISSUE

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA

2020 SCPGA SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP

Ironwood Country Club & Indian Wells Golf Resort

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PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SUMMER ISSUE

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PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SUMMER ISSUE

CONTENTS

06

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT TONY LETENDRE, PGA

MEMBERSHIP 08

SCPGA MEMBER UPDATES

09

PGA.COACH BENEFITS OF SIGNING UP FOR PGA.COACH

10

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PROVING OUR RESPONSIBILITY DURING THESE UNPRECIDENTED TIMES

16 ..16

PG PG

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GOVERNMENT RELATIONS HOW WE DOIN? BY CRAIG KESSLER

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SCPGA CHAPTER CORNER UPDATES FROM YOUR CHAPTER

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PG

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PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PGA FAMILY CUP BRINGS THE FUN

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SCPGA JUNIOR TOUR A MESSAGE FROM THE JUNIOR TOUR DIRECTOR, KEVIN SMITH

SCPGA PARTNERS 2020 PARTNER CONTACT LISTING

. 20

BACK2GOLF

GUIDELINES DURING COVID-19

SCGA/SCPGA CAMPAIGN 13

DO YOUR PART, PLAY SAFE

SCPGA FOUNDATION SPOTLIGHT

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THE SCPGA FOUNDATION GIVES BACK IN A BIG WAY NEXT ON THE TEE...

SCPGA ALUMNI SAHITH THEEGALA

SCPGA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 18

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KATHY CHO, PGA , LPGA

DESERT SHOWDOWN 2020 SCPGA SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP

PG

. 26

SCPGA.COM

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PROGRAM THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA VOLUME 47, ISSUE 2 | SUMMER ISSUE 2020 THE PROGRAM IS PRODUCED BY THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PUBLISHER & EDITOR: BRYCE SEIVER & TYLER MILLER PROOFREAD: VERONICA CHEN

SCPGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS

PRESIDENT | TONY LETENDRE, PGA DOVE CANYON GOLF CLUB VICE PRESIDENT | ROBIN SHELTON, PGA SEACLIFF COUNTRY CLUB SECRETARY | ERIC LOHMAN, PGA MONARCH BEACH GOLF LINKS HONORARY PRESIDENT | TODD KEEFER, PGA LAS POSAS COUNTRY CLUB

DIRECTORS

RANDY CHANG, PGA JOURNEY AT PECHANGA & TALEGA GOLF CLUB DR. ALISON CURDT, PGA WOOD RANCH GOLF CLUB JOE GROHMAN, PGA EL DORADO PARK GOLF COURSE SCOTT HEYN, PGA THE FARMS GOLF CLUB ROB OOSTERHUIS, PGA SHERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB JOHN KULOW, PGA MONTEREY COUNTRY CLUB

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS KIM FALCONE, PGA LA JOLLA COUNTRY CLUB ED HOLMES SCGA PAST PRESIDENT

CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES

DESERT | MICHAEL HOLYK, PGA MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTRY CLUB

INLAND EMPIRE | STEVE ADAMIAK, PGA THE LEGENDS GOLF CLUB METROPOLITAN | ERIC MITCHELL, PGA ANAHEIM HILLS GOLF COURSE NORTHERN | GARRETT GOODRICH, PGA STOCKDALE COUNTRY CLUB SAN DIEGO | GRANT STROBEL, PGA MCAS/MINIMAR MEMORIAL GOLF COURSE

PGA OF AMERICA EXECUTIVES DISTRICT 11 DIRECTOR BILL TROYANOSKI, PGA NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SECTION

NATIONAL OFFICERS & CEO PRESIDENT | SUZY WHALEY, PGA THE COUNTRY CLUB AT MIRASOL PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL VICE PRESIDENT | JIM RICHERSON, PGA TROON SCOTTSDALE, AZ SECRETARY | JOHN LINDERT, PGA LANSING, MI

SCPGA SECTION STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | TOM ADDIS III, PGA TADDIS@PGAHQ.COM ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | NIKKI GATCH, PGA | NGATCH@PGAHQ.COM

MEMBERSHIP CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/ CHIEF MEMBERSHIP OFFICER | JEFF JOHNSON, PGA | JJOHNSON@PGAHQ.COM

COMMUNICATIONS

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER | BRYCE SEIVER BSEIVER@PGAHQ.COM COMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATOR | TYLER MILLER TAMILLER@PGAHQ.COM

FOUNDATION

FOUNDATION DIRECTOR | MATT GILSON | MGILSON@PGAHQ.COM PLAYER DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR | ANTHONY LEONE ALEONE@PGAHQ.COM

TOURNAMENTS

DIRECTOR OF COMPETITIONS | MAX DESPAIN MDESPAIN@PGAHQ.COM TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS MANAGER | STEPHEN MONDAY SMONDAY@PGAHQ.COM

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/MARKETING

PARTNER RELATIONS & MARKETING DIRECTOR | DAVE KUHN DKUHN@PGAHQ.COM

JUNIOR GOLF

JUNIOR GOLF DIRECTOR | KEVIN SMITH KSMITH@PGAHQ.COM SENIOR MANAGER, JUNIOR GOLF | TRAVIS CUTLER TCUTLER@PGAHQ.COM JUNIOR GOLF MANAGER | AMBERLYNN DORSEY ADORSEY@PGAHQ.COM JUNIOR GOLF MANAGER / OUTREACH & INCLUSION MANAGER | EDDIE RODARTE, PGA ERODARTE@PGAHQ.COM JUNIOR GOLF COORDINATOR | TYLER SEE TSEE@PGAHQ.COM JUNIOR GOLF COORDINATOR | HANNAH FACCHINI HFACCHINI@PGAHQ.COM

FINANCE & HR

FINANCE MANAGER | KRISTY WATTIMENA KWATTIMENA@PGAHQ.COM HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER | TAYLOR VERMILLION TVERMILLION@PGAHQ.COM RECEPTION & ADMINISTRATION | BROOKLYN ADDIS BADDIS@PGAHQ.COM

PGA OF AMERICA STAFF REGIONAL LEAGUE MANAGER - PGA JUNIOR LEAGUE JUNKO SUZUKI, PGA | JSUZUKI@PGAHQ.COM CAREER CONSULTANT KEN FERRELL, PGA | 951.894.5024 | KFERRELL@PGAHQ.COM

CEO | SETH WAUGH PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA 3333 CONCOURS | BUILDING 2, SUITE 2100 ONTARIO, CA 91764 PHONE 951.845.4653 | FAX 951.769.6733 SCPGA.COM | SCPGAJRTOUR.COM

THE PROGRAM IS DISTRIBUTED FREE TO MEMBERS AND AFFILIATES OF THE SCPGA THREE TIMES A YEAR. THE ARTICLES AND OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS PUBLICATION ARE INFORMATIONAL AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OR OPINIONS OF THE SCPGA. THE SCPGA ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR CLAIMS MADE FOR OR BY ANY PRODUCT IN THIS PUBLICATION WHETHER REPORTED OR ADVERTISED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE SCPGA IS PROHIBITED.

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PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SUMMER ISSUE

PRESIDENT

MESSAGE FROM THE

Tony Letendre, PGA

SCPGA President & Dove Canyon Golf Club Assistant General Manager

At the risk of sounding clichÊ, we are living history right now. Like the Challenger explosion and 9/11, we will all remember where we were in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will tell our grandkids how we survived the stay-at-home orders put in place and how wearing a mask to go outside was mandatory, then optional, then mandatory again‌ you get the picture. But I hope there was at least some sort of silver lining either personally or professionally 6

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SUMMER ISSUE

for you. Maybe you were able to reconnect with your family at home. Perhaps there was an opportunity to show your employer they had the right person in times of crisis. No matter, we are all better having dealt with these challenges.

I am proud to say the Section is better too. Remember when I took office as your President and I wanted to re-connect us through social media? The hashtag #morethanamember evolved into #wearesocalpga and gained traction, allowing you to share your life outside of golf. We got closer. Now, being faced with restrictions on gathering and the need for us to connect, we have taken to digital forms of meeting – with a lot of success I might add.

The ability to connect over the internet has enabled us to have section and chapter meetings, as well as educational seminars with great participation. In times of crisis, good leaders rise to the top and we are fortunate to have many great leaders within our Section – starting with our team at SCPGA HQ. We should all be very proud.

Nothing will ever replace the personal touch of our business, but I cannot help but wonder if we cannot learn and benefit from how we have been forced to change? As the proverbial “work-life balance” becomes harder with additional responsibilities, we still need that professional interaction.

I hope we can find an hour or two to connect with our fellow professionals, knowing we will not have to fight the SoCal traffic.

And even though it is “technology” and not as personal per se, I certainly appreciate being able to see those I am meeting with rather than only hearing them on a conference call.

Just something to think about as we proceed into the unknown…

Please reach out if I can be of assistance. Thank you for doing your part in keeping golf open!

TONY LETENDRE, PGA PGAPRO1198@GMAIL.COM

SCPGA.COM

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DISTRICT 11 DIRECTOR ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to John McNair, PGA, for being elected as the next District 11 Director where he will serve on the PGA of America Board of Directors.

John will shadow current District 11 Director, Bill Troyanoski, PGA, for one year, beginning at the PGA of America Annual Meeting. He will assume his full position in fall of 2021.

NEXT SECTION SECRETARY

ROB OOSTERHUIS, PGA Sherwood Country Club Mr. Oosterhuis will shadow the current SCPGA Secretary, Eric Lohman, PGA, for the remainder of 2020 until he assumes full responsibility at the SCPGA Annual Meeting later this year.

WELCOME TO THE NEW NORTHERN CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVE GARRETT GOODRICH, PGA Stockdale Country Club

SCPGA MEMBERSHIP UPDATES FROM JEFF JOHNSON,PGA CHIEF MEMBERSHIP OFFICER/CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Our membership remains the third largest of the 41 sections with 1,334 Members and 278 Associates. 94% of our membership is male and 6% female.

Our section continues to expand its reach with 159 qualified Coaches and 160 Junior League Captains. Contact Junko Suzuki, PGA, at jsuzuki@pgahq.com to get involved!

Our MSR period has been extended until June 15, 2022 and currently 51% of section members have met the requirement.Associate PGM levels and acceptable progress have also been extended by one year for all three levels.

WELCOME WAGON! Please welcome to our Southern California family newly elected PGA Members and Associates: Julia Puscheck, PGA Jason Dudley, PGA Lance Peterson, PGA Brian Suk, Associate Kaitlyn Ellis, Associate Chad Weitzman, Associate

HALF CENTURY MEMBERS We celebrate our most recent Half Century Members Ken Cherry and Andrew Huss.

QUARTER CENTURY MEMBERS Randy Chang, Nicholas DeKock, David Ruvolo, John Rathbun, and Barry Clayton.

PGA LAS VEGAS EXPO EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

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PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SUMMER ISSUE

PGA SPECIALIZATION Steven Ayala: Teaching & Coaching Brian Schippel: Teaching & Coaching Eddie Rodarte: Teaching & Coaching Antonio Chavez : Teaching & Coaching Jennifer Bermingham: Teaching & Coaching, Executive Managment

BENEFITS OF

1. Your Coach Profile strengthens

your brand by aligning with the highly trafficked and well-regarded digital properties of the PGA.

2.

Our digital properties attract millions of visitors, including golf fans, the media, influencers and, best of all, golfers looking for coaches.

3. Because of the PGA’s digital reach,

your Coach Profile can greatly improve search engine results around your brand and business.

4.

The platform has its own effective search function; whenever golfers search for coaches in your area, your profile hits their screen.

A SERIOUS BUSINESS TOOL THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO PASS UP. COMPLETE YOURS AND LET IT START WORKING FOR YOU. SCPGA.COM

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PROVING OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN

UNPRECEDENTED TIMES Text

MAS

KS O N

8FT

6FT

6FT

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO

TOM ADDIS III, PGA When our Spring Meeting and Four-Ball at El Niguel Country Club wrapped up on March 9th, who knew that we’d not see another activity, or each other until June 22nd at Monarch Beach Golf Links.

The SCPGA team started March 10th as a normal “day at the office” and by that Thursday, we all met and determined that all of our Section group activities, including our member events, and junior events should be shut down at for at least a month. The next Monday, we closed the office and followed the Stay at Home Order that was to envelop us for nearly three months.

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!

It was at this time the team made another tough decision and suspended all activities at least through Memorial Day. Due to the actions of our local government agencies and the safety of all, we then determined to wait until June 22nd for the reintroduction of our events. We also made decisions with our Board and our Committees to make staffing moves, shut down our events including the Junior Tour, Youth Golf Summit, Summer Meeting and golf, Partner Day, District 11 Meeting, and California Teaching & Coaching Summit in the fall to name a few.

In the meantime, as many of

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SPRING ISSUE

you experienced, the team worked remotely and worked diligently on ways to keep our PGA Professionals and the golf community engaged and up-todate on what was occuring in the New World “out there.”

We started with a Southern California PGA Chat, but then decided to join the Northern California Section and continue as the California-Nevada PGA Chats. We added the Youth Golf Summit on-line series, the Coach Chat, Back2Business webinars, and changed our Catalyst Series webinars to weekly. With that, the PGA approved MSR credits for all on-line programming with no quizzes required through this period of time. We also conducted our Summer Meeting virtually as well as our

five Chapter Summer Meetings.

The California-Nevada PGA Chats and the Catalyst Series continue on a weekly or biweekly basis.

Section staff worked with other golf organizations and local agencies to figure out how to bring back and prioritize golf as a safe and healthy activity. Through the efforts of many, including the California PGA Sections, the PGA, the CGCSAA, the CGCOA, and the SCGA, golf and golfers were given the opportunity to use golf courses again as an “outdoor activity,” as defined by the State of California.

Important universal guidelines such as the PGA of America “Back2Golf” and the SCGA and SCPGA’s “Play Safe” campaign.

County by county, golf was reintroduced and step-by-step, the various pieces of our game such as golf cars, golf rental equipment, and golf instruction were given the approval for reintroduction. Currently, for the most part, golf is moving ahead and providing the

recreational activity we so missed and so need. Let’s do our best to keep it there.

We encourage you to visit scpga.com, scga.org, and PGA.org to find and use, the resources necessary. To find and use the resources,

Now, we can look forward to the rest of our PGA member schedule and our Junior Tour schedule with confidence as all three of our Junior Tours open up this month. Our Section member events and Section Championships are on the horizon.

“... at the highest priority, bring back golf as a safe and healthy activity .” guidelines, policies or the materials necessary for keeping our game out there.

As a follow-up, we had two very successful activities at Monarch Beach G.L. then Valencia C.C. and all participants took responsibility by donning their face coverings and maintaining the proper distancing throughout the day at each event. Thanks to our SCPGA staff and the staff at Monarch Beach, and Valencia for their diligence to ensure safe and healthy activities.

After posting that report, we must continue to be diligent and pay attention to what’s going on around us. Golf is one of the easiest activities to implement and to follow local government guidelines during these times. As leaders, we must be responsible and do what is necessary to keep golf out there, manage the sport, and to keep our events, whether professional or junior, open and on the course.

Please keep doing our safe distancing, wear your face coverings, sanitize, and follow the guidelines available to you and encourage everyone to do the same.

Let’s ensure that all of us and our golfers follow the guidelines and are visibly acting as such. We must show all, even the person driving by a golf course, that we are doing our part to keep us healthy and our game available on the course.

CONTACT TOM ADDIS, PGA

taddis@pgahq.com

SCPGA.COM

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Do your part to get As communities begin to re-open, golf can offer an outdoor recreational experience that provides many health and wellness benefits. The Allied Golf Organizations, in alignment with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), have developed a comprehensive plan that allows golf to be played responsibly while observing recommended social distancing guidelines.

wearegolf.org/back2golf

SOCIAL DISTANCING 6 feet GUIDELINES

1. ALWAYS

stay six feet apart from others.

6 feet

large gatherings on the first tee, driving range or after the round.

5. ALWAYS

4. If in doubt...

DON’T TOUCH mark your ball clearly.

6. WEAR

a facial covering when taking a lesson.

wearegolf.org/back2golf

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PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SUMMER ISSUE

2. STAY HOME if you have a fever or feel sick.

4. If in doubt...

DON’T TOUCH IT.

3. AVOID Do your part to get

Continue to encourage responsible golf and print out these Back2Golf Social Distancing Guidelines posters for your facility.

These can be displayed in the golf shop, locker room, first tee, clubhouse, on golf carts or wherever appropriate.

7. AVOID

handshakes and high-fives.

8. RESPECT the game and all involved.

9. REMEMBER to wash your hands after playing.

The Southern California Golf The Southern California Association (SCGA) and the Golf Association (SCGA) Southern California PGAand the Southern California (SCPGA) today unveiledPGA a (SCPGA) has unveiled the new “Do Your Part, Play Safe” “Do Your Part, PlaytoSafe” educational campaign encourage educational campaign to to the Southland golf community encourage Southland strictly adherethe to social distancing golf community to strictly and other public health guidelines adhere social required to by local anddistancing state health and other public health officials. guidelines required by local and stateSafe” health officials.

The “Play campaign advises local golfers to fully embrace golf ’s The “Play Safe” new normal, on thecampaign course and advises local golfers to fully around a facility. The centerpiece embrace golf’s new normal, of the campaign is a public service on the course(PSA) and video around announcement atargeting facility.allThe centerpiece Southland golfers. of the campaign is areiterates public The “Play Safe” message service that golf isannouncement a privilege, not a (PSA) video targeting necessity, and warns golfers all that Southland golfers.

The new “Play a lack of obedience to these Safe” message reiterates guidelines will result in another that golf is a privilege, not a golf shutdown. necessity, and warns golfers that a lack ofSCPGA obedience The SCGA and will to these support thenew “Playguidelines Safe” campaign will in another with result a prominent presencegolf on each shutdown. of our respective websites where

specific safety guidelines. Both collateral associationsfor willon-site continually share placement at messages your facilities. these campaign through Visit SCPGA.com/covid-19 digital and print communications, to view and our including with download the SCGA’s 175,000 offerings. individual members.

Please andcampaign post at We haveprint developed any high-traffic marketing collaterallocations for onsite to further spread our mutually placement at your facilities.

Click beneficial message.

We will here to view and download our also send a similar message offerings. to all SCGA club officials.

of your most loyal and frequent patrons. updates, operational guidelines, event and Please print and post at any highAs always, we and are here to support. tournament updates, please As always, we are here traffic locations to further spread For more information on legislative visit ouroperational respective COVID-19 to support.

For more our mutually beneficial message. updates, guidelines, hubs on either scga.org or information on legislative We will also send a similar message and event and tournament updates, scpga.com. to all SCGA club officials, who please visit our respective COVID-19 administer member clubs, some hubs on either scga.org or scpga.com.

VIDEO

we will encourage golfers to check We developed with have facilities directly regarding campaign marketing

SCPGA.COM

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THE SCPGA FOUNDATION GIVES BACK IN A BIG WAY

The Southern California PGA Foundation (SCPGA Foundation) provided $10,000 to Feeding America branches within Southern California. The financial contribution comes during a challenging time when the region will rely heavily on food banks during the COVID-19 situation.

The SCPGA Foundation made an initial $5,000 contribution to Feeding American Riverside/ San Bernardino and later announced an additional $5,000 donation to support

four more Feeding America branches within Southern California. The second donation saw $1,250 go to Feeding America branches in San Diego, Indio, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara to encompass the entire geographic reach of the Section.

The game of golf and charitable contributions go hand in hand. The SCPGA Foundation is committed to supporting the youth of Southern California. To be able to assist in this great time of need within our community is something we are proud to be in the position to do.

“On behalf of the SCPGA Foundation’s Board of Directors, it is our pleasure

to assist and support Feeding America branches throughout Southern California. This pandemic has caused great harm throughout our community and we want to ensure those in-need receive ample opportunity for meals and groceries going forward,” SCPGA Foundation Director Matt Gilson said.

It is estimated that with every $1 donated, Feeding America will be able to serve up to nine meals to those who desperately need it. The SCPGA Foundation’s donation will provide 90,000 meals to youth living in the Southern California.

This equates to two meals per day during the school week.

SCPGA FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE! 14

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SUMMER ISSUE

VISIT SCPGAJRTOUR.COM/SCHOLARSHIPS TO APPLY

PRO-AM Hosted by

THE INVITATIONAL STAY. PLAY. SUPPORT

NOVEmber 8-9, 2020 Rams Hill Golf CLub | Borrego Springs, CA

STAY.

PLAY.

SUPPORT.

TO REGISTER YOUR TEAM, EMAIL SCPGA FOUNDATION DIRECTOR MATT GILSON | mgilson@pgahq.com

PHOTO: Theegala (center) accepting the Ben Hogan Award from (left) Eddie Merrins, PGA, (right) Sal Cimbolo, of The Friends of Golf.

NEXT ON THE TEE……

BY: STEPHEN MONDAY, SCPGA TOURNAMENT MANAGER

Southern California has had it’s fair share of successful collegiate and PGA TOUR Professionals born within the region. There are Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Charley Hoffman to name a few, but now there is a new name to be on the lookout for: Sahith Theegala.

Theegala, born and raised in Chino Hills, spent his Junior Tour days playing (and winning) in the various junior programs of the Southern California PGA. The competitive fields and challenging golf courses that the SCPGA Junior programs provided are things that he credits to his past and current success on the golf course. Playing against players like Collin Morikawa and Matthew Wolff (both who won on the 16

PGA Tour in 2019) during his junior golf days helped to springboard him to his many accomplishments.

During his junior golf and high school days, Theegala began working with PGA Professional, Rick Hunter (El Prado Golf Course), who helped to hone his

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SUMMER ISSUE

phenomenal talents. Being what Theegala describes himself as a “super feel player,” he credits Hunter as someone who understood his swing and didn’t try to change it too much. From a young age, and even now, Hunter saw that massive potential that Theegala possessed and recently

mentioned that his greatest strengths are “his love to compete with the best and being a great ambassador for the game.”

Being a highly recruited player out of high school, Theegala was given many options on where he was going to take his talents.

Due to the proximity to his hometown and family, the many great home golf courses, and the vision of his head coach, it was a fairly easy decision to choose Pepperdine University in Malibu.

In his first three seasons playing for The Waves,

“NOT ONLY HAS RICK HELPED ELEVATE MY GOLF GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL, HE HAS BEEN A GREAT FRIEND AND PERSON TO HELP ME MENTALLY AS WELL.” Theegala on his relationship with PGA Professional Rick Hunter

Theegala was a solid player for the team until a wrist injury began to take a toll on him. What he thought was tendinitis turned out to be a combination of a stress fracture, a tear of the tendon, and build up in his joints of the left wrist.

After much thought about the future of his career, Theegala decided to have surgery, forcing him to redshirt for a year and not play golf for six months. This time away from the game fueled the tank for Theegala, and he went on a tear during his senior season individually, winning many tournaments and helping to lead his team to being ranked #1 in the Nation. Unfortunately,

due to COVID-19, his (and his team’s) season ended abruptly, but his spectacular individual play led him to being the fifth golfer in history to earn all three (Fred Haskins, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus) individual collegiate player of the year awards.

Since turning professional a few months ago, Theegala has already made two starts on the PGA TOUR and hopes to make many more in the future. With the talent that he has and the internal motivation to succeed, the name Sahith Theegala has the possibility to be said in the same breath as some of the great SoCal players!

Sahith and his family.

Sahith competing in the PGA TOUR’s Rocket Mortgage S C P G A . CClassic.

OM 17

Adversity is inevitable. It’s a natural part of life, yet can be one of the most challenging things a person goes through. It’s how you choose to react to adversity that defines who you are. Dual PGA and LPGA professional Kathy Cho has had to overcome adversity countless times throughout her life; however, her resilient attitude has enabled her to turn negative experiences into prosperous opportunities.

Born in Seoul, Korea, Cho had grown-up hearing about the American Dream and strived to one day live in the United States. In 1979, she packed up her belongings and decided to move to the United States at just 23-years-old, knowing little English. It was while in the United States that Cho was first introduced to the game of golf.

She was inspired by legendary golfers like Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Lee Trevino who she would watch regularly on

television. She turned this initial attraction for golf into a hobby and began to take lessons and play at par3 golf courses to improve her game.

It was also during this time that Cho began taking college courses at Los Angeles City College and picking up part-time work at a fashion store to pay for her necessities. Due to Cho’s knack for fashion trends and being able to handle the businessside of the industry, her owner offered to go into a partnership with the store. With business booming, Cho dropped out of school to devote all her energy and resources into the business.

In 1992, 12 years into operating the fashion store, Cho’s store was tragically destroyed in a fire during the 1992 Los Angeles protests.

Her primary source of income that helped pay for

KATHY CHO

WITHOUT ADVERSITY, THERE IS NO GROWTH

WRITTEN BY TYLER MILLER, SCPGA COmmunications & MARKETING COORDINATOR

KATHY’S FASHION STORE FULL OF SHOPPERS

KATHY’S FASHION STORE AFTER THE 1992 FIRE

her first house and raise to excel in this position. her kids was gone in an John Wells, owner of the instant. The devasting news Pro Shop, encouraged left her feeling numb and Cho to pursue her PGA empty. Despite insurance membership and explained not covering enough of that there could be a the damages and having promising career in golf for little money to assist in her. rebuilding, she was still determined Many of to reopen the people “If I can do it, her in Cho’s business. All then anyone can do life didn’t of the hard it. Hardship makes support her work paid new career you stronger, you off when path, but have to persevere.” she was she wasn’t successful discouraged -Kathy Cho in and decided reopening to obtain her business in 1994, but her PGA membership.

Cho quickly realized that Being a female instructor, things were never going to Cho noticing her teaching be the same and decided clientele consisted of 60 to to close permanently.

70 percent female golfers, and wanting to join the In order to divert her attention away from the stresses of rebuilding, Cho looked to golf as an outlet to relax. After closing her fashion store, she was encouraged to apply for a merchandiser position at the Brookside Golf Club. With a background in fashion, Cho was able

camaraderie between LPGA instructors ultimately led her to the decision to pursue her LPGA certification as well.

Cho’s life has been full of obstacles with the odds stacked against her, but she never gave up. Instead, she dove headfirst into her passions, leading to a fulfilling career in the golf industry. She now teaches golfers of all skill levels at Brookside Golf Course and has become a leader in junior golf. Her inspiring story resonates especially today because without adversity, there can be no growth and available opportunities.

SCPGA.COM

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# S O C A LC H A M P

DESERT SHOWDOWN IN A YEAR FILLED WITH U N C E R TA I N T Y. T H E R E C E R TA I N LY I S A L O T O N T H E L I N E AT T H E 2020 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP

BY: MAX DESPAIN , SCPGA DIRECTOR OF COMPETITIONS

The Southern California PGA (SCPGA) Professional Championship makes a return to the Coachella Valley on September 14th-16th for the 97th playing of this major event.

In a year of precariousness, it is more rewarding than ever to have the Section Championship circled on the calendar. PGA Class A members from all corners of Southern California will flock to the desert to compete in the premier tournament of the year at the esteemed Ironwood Country Club – South Course & Indian Wells Golf Resort – Players Course.

The 54-hole Championship will see the first two rounds split over the two courses – Ironwood Country Club and Indian Wells Golf Resort. Following the 36hole cut to the low 50 player & ties, the final round will conclude at Ironwood C.C. – South Course.

This year’s home course, Ironwood Country Club, located in Palm Desert, has seen its share of championship golf. Originally designed by Desmond Muirhead and Ted Robinson, in consultation with Arnold Palmer, Ironwood’s South Course has been enhanced by the strategic redesign of several holes by renowned golf course architect and former PGA Tour winner, John Fought. Since 1974, the South is P R E S E N T E D BY:

Defending Champion Jeff Hart, PGA 20

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around or above 11’.

Indian Wells Golf Resort, which is currently ranked #16 in Golf Magazine’s “Best Courses You Can Play California,” will host the first and second rounds on the Players Course. Golf course architect John Fought also had his influence on the Players Course, designing and opening in 2007. The classic modern American design with sculpted bunkers has awing views of the local mountain ranges and top-notch facilities.

Once the site of the PGA’s Skins Game and Golf Channel’s Big Break, the facility looks to host the Section Championship for the first time.

The two host golf courses, who are located just five miles from each other, stretch out to 7,200 yards.

consistently rated as one of the Coachella Valley’s best courses and annually plays host to U.S. Open local qualifying.

The summer of 2019 saw the club replace all the greens on the South with MiniVerde Ultradwarf Bermuda. The new MiniVerde greens have been a fantastic change and will provide a challenging test for the SCPGA Section Championship with green speeds expected to be

The SCPGA Section Championship serves as a National Qualifier into the PGA Professional Championship (PPC), where the top 11 finishers will represent the SCPGA and advance to PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL on April 25-28, 2021 and compete in the PPC with 312 PGA Professionals.

The SCPGA is anxious for the Section PGA Professional Championship and looks forward to conducting a safe and healthy tournament.

SCPGA.COM

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A MESSAGE FROM THE SCPGA JUNIOR TOUR DIRECTOR KEVIN SMITH During the three month tournament hiatus, the Southern California PGA Junior Tour (SCPGA Junior Tour) made every effort to save as much of the 2020 season as possible. It certainly hasn’t been an easy task with certain county and facility restrictions not allowing tournament play through the month of July, but we have managed to save nearly half of our events this summer. We are hoping and planning for our full schedule to resume as we get closer to the fall season, which is set to begin at the start of September.

demonstration of the way in which our program will be conducting junior golf tournaments for the foreseeable future. We will continue to make the necessary adjustments to our program as it relates to this ongoing pandemic, and we look forward to seeing some great tournament golf for the duration of our 2020 calendar season.

Our season officially restarted on June 25th at the Players Tour 2-Day series at Redhawk Golf Club. All the appropriate COVID-19 policies and best practices were administered throughout the event to ensure a safe and responsible tournament environment for our players and their families. For more information on our policies and best practices, please visit our website, scpgajrtour.com, and click on the news tab to view our COVID-19 page. In addition to the policies and best practices document on our website, you will also find our best practices video, which provides a 22

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SUMMER ISSUE

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THANK YOU TO PARTNER PEPSICO FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA CONTACTS: Orange County. Buena Park/ Laguna Jack Burns (949) 505-4332 Jack.Burns@pepsico.com

San Diego County Britney McWaid Brittany.McWaid@pepsico.com (619) 921-2222

San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County/ Ventura County Mike Garcia (805) 249-8068 mike.garcia@pepsico.com

Greater Los Angeles/ Inland Empire William Cody French william.french@pepsico.com (657) 235-7198

Greater Los Angeles Jeffrey Liu Jeffrey.liu@pepsico.com (310) 347-7359

Riverside County/San Bernardino country Dylan Buik Dylan.buik@pepsico.com (951) 232-9258

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KNOW YOUR PGA RESOURCES

The PGA of America continues to strategically increase resources to its Members with new and updated programs. To ensure you keep up to speed with many of the resources and benefits available to you, here are some that we’d like to remind you of:

PGA JOB BOARD

• Complete your Profile on PGA.org to get jobs that match your preferences • The Job Board provides a listing of All Available Jobs - Management / NonManagement • The Job Board is easy to use, whether you are job searching or job posting

PGA.COM

Reimaged to connect consumers with PGA 24

Professionals. An important emphasis of PGA. com will be on the opportunities enabled by enhancing the coachconsumer relationship.

Consumers will be able to easily search for PGA Professionals who have completed both their American Development Model for Golf (ADM) training on PGA.Coach and a detailed PGA.com Coach Profile. There is not cost- just go to www.PGA. Coach and sign up.

PGA LIFE LEARNING STRATEGY

Approximately 110 SCPGA members signed up at no-cost

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SUMMER ISSUE

through June 30th for the Specialized Program in three areas: Teaching and Coaching, Golf Operations, and Executive Management. The new PGA Learning Strategy established a lifelong learning concept that focuses on an individual member’s career interests.

Completing the Specialized Program and meeting additional criteria also

continue education towards Certification.

MY PGA JOURNEY

PGA Professionals, students, and recruits can register for the program which is an interactive mentorship experience that allows users to explore the career journeys of PGA men and women leaders in the three career fieldsTeaching and Coaching, Executive Management, and Golf Operations.

Register at MyPGAJourney.com.

the categories that are most relevant to them.

Receive substantial savings from some of the finest companies through the PerkSpot platform on PGA. org.

QUESTIONS? Please contact Ken Ferrell, PGA PGA Career Consultant 951-324-3665 kferrell@pgahq.com

PGA Career Services

For assistance on Career Planning, Job Search or Posting Jobs, and more, your Career Consultant can assist you in many ways.

MEMBER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The SupportLinc member Assistant Program (MAP) is s a company-sponsored resource that helps deal with life’s challenges.

SupportLinc provides confidential professional counseling for a wide array of personal and workrelated concerns. You can call SupportLinc toll-free at 866-4PGAMAP

GOLF RETIREMENT PLUS

Don’t forget to update your Golf Retirement Plus account which should be done on an annual basis.

You may be owed money if not updated. You can connect to Golf Retirement Plus at 1-833-PGA-PLUS

PGA PERKSPOT

PGA users visit hundreds of PerkSpot merchants per month, which allows Members to customize and choose

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE SCPGA.COM

25

PGA FAMILY CUP

BRINGING THE FUN Times have been strange the last few months. We were all ordered to stay home and to social distance ourselves.

Golf courses closed, golf professionals were out of work (some still are unfortunately), events and trips being cancelled, school and sports were cancelled - the list goes on! Golf was one of the first recreational activities allowed to re-open in the last few months and we have seen a tremendous spike in regular play. Golf courses are seeing record high numbers of rounds. It sounds like we are attracting brand new golfers as well

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because people just want to get out of the house!

We believe there are a lot of opportunities for our Golf Professionals and golf courses to take advantage of as restrictions slowly get lifted at your facility and/or by local health authorities.

Take advantage of the remainder of this year by creating a welcoming space for families at your facility!

PGA Jr. League – You have total flexibility to host a PGA Jr. League program at your facility through the end of 2020. Juniors 17 and

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under have had many things ‘taken away’ from them this year - why not give them something to look forward to and bring them out to the golf course to participate in a fun team golf experience?

PGA Family Cup - Golf has the opportunity to be the family sport, as it’s one of the few that people of all ages can learn, play, and enjoy together. Golf events are typically either for adults or for juniors, and while there are some parent-child tournaments, rarely is the ENTIRE family encouraged to team up together.

PGA Family Cup brings your families together in a way that strengthens relationships, creates lifelong golfers, and builds vibrant communities around you, the PGA Professional.

Both opportunities allow golf professionals to offer great experiences for players of all ages and skill levels. Additionally, both programs can be held in a healthy and responsible manner. PGA Jr. League and PGA Family Cup encourage people to go play golf. As regular play is in such high demand right now, golf professionals and facilities can integrate these programs into the tee times on the scheduled dates following proper social distancing guidelines. Even if it is late in the day, an opportunity can be provided for everyone to fall in love with the game and become life-long golfers.

QUESTIONS? Please reach out to Junko Suzuki, PGA (PGA Regional League Manager) or Anthony Leone (SCPGA Director of Player Development) for more information and details. jsuzuki@pgahq.com aleone@pgahq.com SCPGA.COM

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HOW WE DOIN? BY: SCGA Government Relations Director Craig Kessler When New York Mayor Ed Koch (1977-1989) made “how am I doin” the centerpiece of his political brand, the question was a novelty. Today, it has become standard fare for politicians and corporate marketers alike. It has become standard fare for organizations too.

So, how are we doin during COVID-19? Notice I didn’t write, how did we do? Anyone who thinks this won’t be over until it’s over, otherwise known as the development of an effective vaccine or herd immunity, just hasn’t been paying attention. Well, not paying attention to those who actually understand epidemiology. Unless the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 is different from all other viruses in human history, there will be a second wave.

That much is knowable. What is not knowable is how severe or how prolonged that second wave will be. What is also not knowable is when or even if we’ll have an effective vaccine.

The practitioners of the dismal science known as economics call that uncertainty. They tell us that uncertainty is the great spoiler of economic recoveries.

Consumers don’t buy, investors 28

don’t invest, businesses don’t hire, and entrepreneurs don’t venture when they’re uncertain about where things are headed. And anyone who tells you that he or she knows where we’re headed is likely among that class of persons who are often in error but never in doubt. Never buy a bridge from such a person or invest in one of their schemes.

We may not know where we’re going, but we know where we’ve just been – Act I of the COVID-19 pandemic. And we can assess how we did in that opening act. My opinion: About as well as we could have hoped; far better than I would have predicted when the curtain rose in mid-March!

Unlike so many of golf’s fellow outdoor recreational activities, our game landed on an effective strategy early in the proceedings.

“Effective strategy” and “early” are the key words here. Golf persuaded Southern California’s cities and counties from day one that the purely “recreational” form of the game was perfectly consistent with Governor Newsom’s state orders as well as the various city and county orders that were

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in almost all cases considerably stricter. That’s why those cities and counties opened the golf courses they owned for play in the days following the issuance of their orders.

That didn’t maintain as visions of New York’s woes danced in their heads, and they responded by shutting everything down. But that didn’t vitiate golf’s case, and because golf practiced great patience in not pressing its hard-won case while panic reigned, it did get restored before all other “non-essential” services, including all other outdoor recreational activities.

I would call it a disciplined

if they demonstrated great restraint and forbearance. Golf facilities get nervous when they’re shuttered. Golfers get cranky when they can’t golf.

Trust me; I heard from both.

I would be remiss if I didn’t heap great praise on all those golfers and golf facilities that recognized their role in making golf’s quick reintroduction a success. The whole world was watching when golf was alone among restored activities.

If the world, particularly the media world, didn’t like what it saw, golf’s show would have quickly closed. That didn’t happen. Golf followed the

thought that the courses would be packed from dawn to dusk under the restricted conditions that characterized play during the first 60 days of golf’s reintroduction? Who This performance has put golf in good stead moving forward. would have thought that those numbers would maintain Unless the second wave is more severe than most predict, past the reintroduction’s “honeymoon” period? I didn’t, some form of “recreational” golf should survive the duration and I was never so happy to be proven wrong. of COVID-19, unless, of course, we backslide in our Whether these numbers performance. presage continued success is anybody’s guess, but it does However, that’s not going remind us that there may be to be the game’s primary solid reasons behind golf’s problem moving forward; it’s enduring popularity these last the economic fallout. When 500 years. It could cause us consumers don’t consume, to stop focusing on exigent businesses don’t hire, problems to the exclusion of vacationers don’t vacation, undeniable strengths, and it investors don’t invest, and could persuade us to desist entrepreneurs don’t venture, from a pattern of tearing those activities like golf that depend upon discretionary income and strengths down, thinking somehow that we need to do the inclination to spend it so in order to “modernize” a can suffer. game whose enduring appeal is its timelessness.

But there is cause rules. There were no negative media stories. Public Health Officers everywhere gained confidence in us.

for optimism.

Who would have

Dare I say that if we do those things and approach the coming Phases of COVID-19 by building on proven strengths, golf’s “how we doin” report card for Acts II and III of the COVID-19 drama might earn the same “A” grade I just gave Act I.

CONTACT ckessler@scga.org scga.org

SCPGA.COM

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CHAPTER CORNER UPDATES FROM THE SCPGA CHAPTERS!

NORTHERN

SUMMER MEETING RECAP: The Northern Chapter conducted their annual Summer Meeting via GoToWebinar on Monday, June 1st with special guests from the Section: Tony Letendre, Tom Addis III, Nikki Gatch, Jeff Johnson, and Ken Ferrell.

Three main goals for the Chapter Board: 1) Enhance communication with the members and associates; 2) Tournaments and education opportunities; 3) Becoming reengaging with our members and associates. Professionals shared their “Best Practices” during the pandemic, discussing their procedures on how they keep their customers and members safe while in operations.

CHAPTER ANNOUNCMENTS: Dan Martin (Rustic Canyon GC, Moorpark, CA) became an “Annual Sponsor” of the Northern Chapter as of June 2020. Special Awards nominations for the Northern Chapter will be accepted through July 6th. Northern Chapter Vice President, Garrett Goodrich of Stockdale CC (Bakersfield, CA), became our new Chapter Representative of the Section as of June 2020.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Pro-Junior @ Rustic Canyon GC (Moorpark, CA) on Monday, July 13th with 8:00 a.m. Tee Times; Pro can bring up to three juniors. Chapter Championship @ Birnam Wood GC (Santa Barbara, CA; 36-hole Stroke Play) on Monday, August 10th with 7:00 a.m. tee times (Round 1) and 12:00 p.m. tee times (Round 2).

SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow the Northern Chapter on Instagram: northernchapter; Facebook: @northernchapterpga; Twitter: @no_chapterpga 30

METRO

SUMMER MEETING RECAP: Our new president, Eric Mitchell, made an announcement that Board Member Thomas Chu had moved on to a new role in the San Diego Chapter and will no longer be able to serve on the board. With Thomas’ departure, that will leave a total of three vacant board positions for the upcoming election in December.

Our other two newest Officers, Hide Yoshinaga and Rick Stegal, gave their first Financial and Secretary’s reports followed by our committee reports.

The 2019 Special Award winners were officially announced with Vic Placeres named as our Golf Professional of the Year. Section President, Tony Letendre, stopped by to say a few words and our SCPGA Section Staff provided us with some important updates and information. PGA Employment Consultant Ken Ferrell updated us on the exit of CareerLinks and walked us through how to update our profiles on pga.org. No new or old business to discuss. There were a total of 85 participants for this web meeting.

CHAPTER SPECIAL AWARDS: Merchandiser of the Year, Private – Jeff Brockman, Mountain Gate CC, Public – Tim Terwilliger, Brookside GC, Youth Player Development - Brian Schippel, Arroyo Trabuco Teacher of the Year - Logan Scott, Oakmont CC, PGA Professional Development - Eric Lohman, Monarch Beach GL, Bill Strausbaugh – Cameron Carr, City of Anaheim Golf Assistant of the Year – Jackie Riegle, Monarch Beach GL, Players of the Year, Women – Heidi Wright-Tennyson Senior – Mike Fergin, Player of the Year – Michael Block, Golf Professional of the Year, Vic Placeres, Old Ranch CC. UPCOMING EVENTS: Chapter Championship will be on August 10th at South Hills CC SOCIAL MEIDA Facebook @ scpgsmetrochapter , Instagram @ metro_chapter_scpga

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INLAND EMPIRE SUMMER MEETING RECAP: President Ryan Prior ran a good virtual meeting that included guest speakers Tom Addis, Nikki Gatch, and Jeff Johnson from the Section staff giving information on the state of the SCPGA during these unique times. Ken Ferrell and Junko Suzuki from the PGA of America gave information on employment and PGA Junior League. Rich Lesniak from Big Game Golf App gave a presentation on how to make it easy to track rounds, find groups to play with, and different formats to have more fun. Our Inland Empire Board of Director Chairs Vinnie Bertagna, Ian Ott, and Randy Chang gave insight into our tournament, communication, and associate intentions for the rest of 2020. Our chapter is financially in good standing. We look forward to our chapter professionals playing our first event since before the pandemic on July 13th at Victoria Club followed by our Chapter Championship at Goose Creek on August 10th and 11th.

CHAPTER ANNOUNCMENTS: Long standing Inland Empire Chapter member Michael Marcum has left for a teaching position in the Pacific Northwest. He will be missed for his years of dedication and commitment to the chapter and we wish him all the best!

UPCOMING EVENTS: Player Series event at Victoria Club on July 13th and Chapter Championship at Goose Creek on August 10th and 11th.

NEW BOARD MEMBERS: President Ryan Prior, Vice President Vinnie Bertagna, Secretary Ian Ott, Associate Chair Randy Chang, Henry Liaw, and Chapter Representative Steve Adamiak

THANK YOU SAN DIEGO

SUMMER MEETING RECAP: On June 1st, the San Diego Chapter hosted its first Summer Meeting on a virtual webinar platform.

Approximately 100 Members and Associates attended the meeting.

Ross Marcano, SD Chapter President, hosted and led this extraordinary meeting. Without the help from SCPGA Section Staff, Bryce Seiver, Communications Manager, and Nikki Gatch, Assistant Executive Director, this virtual meeting would not have been as great as it was… thank you!

We had three special guest speakers that discussed subjects such as the state of the Section, current governmental policies and mandates, employment issues, best practices for golf facilities and instructors, just to name a few.

Special thanks to our panelists, who included: • Tom Addis, III SCPGA CEO/ Executive Director • Ken Ferrell, PGA District 11 Employment Consultant • Craig Kessler, SCGA Director of Government Affairs Other topics that our Chapter Board of Directors reported on included: • Virtual Educational Opportunities (Heidi Richardson, PGA) • SD Chapter PGA Associates Mentorship Program (Tom Son, PGA) • Upcoming SD Chapter Tournament Schedule and Policies (Blake Dodson, PGA) • Approval of the 2019 Annual Meeting minutes SPECIAL AWARDS: The Giovanni Vilanni Award is a prestigious award that is given to an outstanding SD Chapter Junior Golfer that demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship, academics, leadership, and growth of the game. Congratulations

to this year’s recipient, Andre Nacional from Oceanside! An award acceptance video included short speeches by Andre’s family, friends, coaches, and teachers who spoke about why Andre is so deserving of this award. Thanks to Heidi Richardson, PGA, and Holly Kennedy, PGA, for producing this gem!

UPCOMING EVENTS: The SD Chapter Match Play field has been set and individual matches began on June 15th. The semi-final and final matches will take place on September 8th at Del Mar CC. SOCIAL MEIDA: Instagram: @scpga_sdchapter Facebook: sandiegopga

DESERT

SUMMER MEETING RECAP: On June 30th, the Desert Chapter hosted the first ever online summer meeting for its memebrship. An opportunity to hear from the Chapter Board along with updated from the Section Leaders. Be sure to visit the SCPGA YouTube channel to watch the presenation if you missed it!

The Southern California PGA Section would like to extend it’s grateful appreciation to Toyota for their long-term support of the SCPGA Section.

Toyota has assumed the role of exclusive presenting partner for the SCPGA Junior Tour and we cannot thank them enough for their dedication to supporting the game of golf, our Section, and the many junior golfers and their families across Southern California!

UPCOMING EVENTS: Educational meeting and seminars are postponed for now due to COVID-19. However, be on the lookout for educational opportunities (Webimars, etc.) from the Section. These are great ways to continue earning MSR’s.

Chapter Championship just announced! This year’s Desert Chapter Championship will be held at The Hideaway on September 8th-9th. Sign up today!

NEW BOARD MEMEBRS: Welcome Josh Garber!

SOCIAL MEDIA: @scpga_desertchapter on Instagram SCPGA.COM

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PARTNER DIRECTORY Interested in partnering with the Southern California PGA or SCPGA Junior Tour?

Please contact Dave Kuhn at dkuhn@pgahq.com or 904-334-0011

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B

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AFTERSHOKZ Ron Castillo, Sales Rep ron_castillo@hotmail.com Kerry Walker, Sales Rep kw.pro2@outlook.com AHEAD Ed Budz, Sales Rep ed.budz@cuttersales.com AM & E

Ed Budz, Sales Rep ed.budz@cuttersales.com ANDERSON ORD Daniel Hegney, Sales Rep dhegney@andersonord.com ANTIGUA Chris Alcocer, Sales Rep chrisagolf@yahoo.com BELYN KEY Betsy Rittenhouse Besty@BelynKey.com BIG GAME GOLF Richard Lesniak rlesniak@biggamegolf.com BLAST MOTION Brian Judd, Golf Channel Manager bjudd@blastmotion.com Megan Miller, Sports Activation Manager mmiller@blastmotion.com BRIDGESTONE GOLF John McFarland, Sales Rep jmcfarland@bridgestonegolf.com

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CALIFORNIA CANOPY Matt Sulli, President and Founder msulli@californiacanopy.com CA GOLF CENTER Alvaro Perez, Club Fitting & Club Building Specialist alvaro@cagolfcenter.com CALLAWAY Rob Chase, Director, Regional Sales rob.chase@callawaygolf.com CART STAR MOTORS Logan Fondren, District Sales Manager – SoCal logan_fondren@cartstarmotors.com CIG/GIS Greg Twiggs gtwiggs@gpins.com CLEVELAND/SRIXON/XXIO Matt Elms, Regional Team Leader MattElmes@clevelandgolf.com David Myrdahl, IND Sales Rep (Desert & SD) davidmyrdahl@clevelandgolf.com Gerald Wong, IND Sales Rep (OC & LA) geraldwong@clevelandgolf.com CLUB CAR Adam Burke, Golf Club Sales Leader-West adam_burke@irco.com Kevin Kalner, Golf Club Sales Rep- San Diego kevin.kalner@clubcar.com Buck Morrow, Golf Club Sales Rep- Desert and LA Buck.Morrow@clubcar.com COBRA PUMA Michael Hall, Director of Sales - Western michael.hall@cobrapuma.com COLLO APPAREL Tom Hurst thurst@colloapparel.com COUNTRY CLUB KICKS Alvin Chan countryclubkicks@gmail.com CRYSTALPLUS Anh Nguyen anh@crystalplus.com CUTTER&BUCK Ed Budz, Sales Rep ed.budz@cuttersales.com

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DONALD ROSS Steve Hurtig, Territory Rep stevehgolfsales@gmail.com DOGLEG BREWING CO. Christina Lumsden Co-Owner and Marketing Manager christina@doglegbrewingco.com DRIFT DISTILLERY Michael Speakman speakman@cox.net

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ENAGIC Neil Finch, PGA Neil.Finch@icloud.com EPEC GOLF Chris Reh, Vice President - Sales creh@epecgolf.com EVOLVE GOLF Daniel Fountain, Sales Rep daniel@evolvegolf.com E-Z-GO Joe Martin, Sales Rep jmartin2@textron.com Peter Restino, Regional Sales Director prestino@Textron.com E-Z-UP Eric Hernandez, President erichernandez@ezup.com Brittany Clark, Account Support Rep BrittanyClark@ezup.com FLAGD Troy Parish, Owner tparish@flagdgolf.com FLUIDLYTIX Rob Langley, Owner robert.langley@voltecommunications.com FOOTJOY Shane Voelker, Sales Rep Shane_voelker@Acushnetgolf.com FOREFITNESS GOLF PERFORMANCE Ken Mengel, Owner/Certified Trainer ken@forefitnessgolf.com Mark Spinelli, Owner/Certified Trainer mark@forefitnessgolf.com

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GARMANY GOLF & TRAVEL Bud Garmany, Owner bud@garmanygolf.com Lauren Moy, VP of Operations Lauren@garmanygolf.com GLOBAL TOUR GOLF Ben Malamitsas, Sales Rep ben@ggolf.com Patrick Coughlin, Regional Manager patrick@ggolf.com Garrett Smith, Sales Rep garrett@ggolf.com GOLF BUDDY Doug Campbell, National Sales Director doug.campbell@golfbuddyglobal.com Ron Castillo, PGA ron_castillo@hotmail.com Kerry Walker, Sales Rep. kw.pro2@outlook.com GOLFCRITIQUE.com ASHLEY HUIZING ashley.huizing@golfcritique.com GOLF GENIUS Nick Wolfe, Vice President of Sales nick.wolfe@golfgenius.com Bobby Trunzo, Director of Sales - West bobby@golfgenius.com GOLF PRIDE Deedee Lasker, Sales Rep DeedeeLasker@Eaton.com GOLF SCORECARDS Mike Suckling, Sales Rep mike@golfscorecards.com Renee Mangus, General Manager renee@golfscorecards.com GOLF VANCOUVER ISLAND Chris Elder, Owner chris@golfvancouverisland.ca Patrick Meagher, Sales Rep patrick@golfvancouverisland.ca GOLF 24/7 Contact: Andrew Kramer, PGA, akramer47@pga.com Vinnie Bertagna, PGA, mr.vinniebeez@yahoo.com

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HOLE IN ONE USA Andrew Workman, Marketing Director andrew.workman@nfp.com HJ GLOVE Bo Lee, VP of Sales bo@hjglove.com HYPERICE Paige Pflaster, Sales Rep ppflaster@hyperice.com

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IFGFIT Seiji Liu, COO seiji@ifgfit.com Brittany Angiuli, Mrktg, Comm, Sales Man. brittany@ifgcure.com IKONIK GOLF Tim Campbell tim@ikonikgolf.com IMPACT Ronnie Henderson, Business Dev. Manager RonnieH@ImpactCanopy.com IMPERIAL David Shaffer, Sales Rep dshaffer@paifashion.com

SHADE ATHLETICS Emily Loughran shadeathletics@gmail.com SI MEXICO Jason Taylor, Owner jtpga@pga.com SKYGOLF Paul Calabrase, National Sales Manager pcalabrase@skyhawke.com SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLEGE GOLF EXP. Josh Jacobs, CEO joshua@playtga.com SPIT FIRE PETITIE INC Amy Lipton, President and CEO amy@spitfirepetite.com STERLING CUT GLASS John Suveges, Sales Rep johnsuveges@cox.net STORYI GOLF Sam Yi, Owner sam.lw.inc@icloud.com SURFSIDE INNOVATIONS Henry Elloso info@surfsideinnovations.net SUPERSPEED GOLF Kyle Shay, CEO and Founder kyle@superspeedgolf.com SWINGTHOUGHT Mary Ann Baber maryann@swingthough.com

JANI KING Ian Anderson, Regional Director ianderson@janiking.com JUNIOR GOLF HUB Danny Ddan, Business Development Executive danny@juniorgolfhub.com KBS SHAFTS Rhett Taylor, Marketing Manager Rhetttaylor@fstshafts.com Caitlin Minville, Sales Man.,US & Int Dist. caitlinminville@fstshafts.com LINKSOUL Mary Seymour, Sales Rep. mary@linksoul.com LIQUID IV Glenn Rich, Marketing Manager glenn.rich@liquid-iv.com Alaina Bergsma, Partnership Coordinator alaina@liquid-iv.com

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MAUI JIM Keith Achman, Western Reg. Man. - Golf & Tennis kachman@mauijim.com Giovanna Ascolani, Account Executive gascolani@mauijim.com MEDTERRA CBD Taylor Massey, Director of Golf taylor@medterracbd.com Kyle John - National Account Manager kyle.john@medterracbd.com NIKE Jordan Kennedy, Sales Rep - San Diego jordan.kennedy@nike.com NIKE GOLF SCHOOLS/CAMPS Jason West jwest@ussportscamps.com PACIFIC PALMS RESORT Dave Youpa dyoupa@pacificpalmsresort.com PEPSI Dylan Buik, Food Service Sales Rep dylan.buik@pepsico.com Sarah Blesse, Foodservice Sales Manager Sarah.Blesse@pepsico.com PRECISE YARDAGE BOOKS Scott Brady, Owner preciseyardagebooks@gmail.com PRO TAG Schenk Gordon, Owner Gordon@protag.com RAPSODO Geoff Hodgkins, Manager - Golf Sales geoff@rapsodo.com RK FITNESS Roy Khoury, Owner rkhoury@rfktraining.com SCNS SPORTS FOODS Bill Stewart, Chief Operating Officer bill@golfenergybar.com Samantha Masciarelli, West Territory Manager samantha@golfenergybar.com

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TAG MARSHAL Tom Cox, Vice President of Sales Tom.cox@tagmarshal.com Jim Ireland, Sales Rep jirelandua@gmail.com TAYLORMADE Greg Cesario, Regional PGA Staff Manager greg.cesario@tmag.com TITLEIST Troy Denslow, Titleist Sales Director Troy_Denslow@AcushnetGolf.com TPC DANZANTE BAY Rich Taylor, Director of Golf Development rich.taylor@vgloreto.com TRAVIS MATHEW Leif Sunderland, Marketing Director lsunderland@travismathew.com Justin Murphy, Brand Marketing Manager JMurphy@travismathew.com TRUE TEMPER David Walker, Sr. Director of Sales & Tour Operations david.walker@truetemper.com TRUE SPEC Holly Marksbury, Marketing Manager holly.marksbury@truespecgolf.com Ziff Steve, Lead Master Fitter steven@truespecgolf.com UNDER ARMOUR Jim Ireland, Sales Rep jirelandua@gmail.com UNDERPAR.COM Greg Knuth, US Director greg@underpar.com US FOODS Mark Mejia, District Sales Manager – SoCal mark.mejia@usfoods.com Blake Ghavami, New Business Manager blake.ghavami@usfoods.com US KIDS John Bryan, Vice President, Coaches Institute jbryan@uskidsgolf.com US SPORTS CAMPS Jason West, Senior VP - Golf, Rugby JWest@ussportscamps.com WILSON SPORTING GOODS Joakim Rising joakim.rising@wilson.com YOUNG POWER WATER Iris Shum info@youngpowerfood.com

To help golf industry workers who are struggling through COVID-19 and to support the Golf Emergency Relief Fund, Vie, Inc. and PGA of America President Suzy Whaley are inviting PGA Professionals and others to participate in the “Chip Shot Challenge.” You can participate in four easy steps.

Donate and learn more at giveforgolf.com.

Create your chip shot (creativity encouraged) and challenge three friends to do the same.

Share your post to social media using the hashtag #ChipShotChallenge and tagging giveforgolf.com.

Share and support the Golf Emergency Relief Fund at www.giveforgolf.com.

“On behalf of our 29,000 PGA professionals,

and those individuals and families suffering physically and financially from COVID-19, we express our heartfelt thanks to Vie for powering the ‘Chip Shot Challenge,’” Whaley said.

apparel. The Grand Prize includes a private dinner and a round of golf for two with 2018 Ryder Cup Captain and PGA Legend Jim Furyk at TPC Sawgrass in Florida.

Participants will automatically be entered to win prizes including Titleist golf equipment and

SCPGA.COM

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