PROgram Magazine - 2018 Section Championship Preview

PRO VOLUME 45

|

ISSUE 3

|

SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Tournament Preview

La Quinta Country Club RANCHO La Quinta Country Club

BRING THE POWER OF SKYTRAK TO YOUR BUSINESS TODAY

SPECIAL PRICING FOR PGA PROFESSIONALS

AN AFFORDABLE & ACCURATE LAUNCH MONITOR WITH EXCITING AND ENTERTAINING GOLF SIMULATION OPTIONS SkyTrak is a revolutionary system that will make a huge difference in your lessons, fittings and how your members practice and play. It provides the accuracy and reliability of commercial launch monitors at only a fraction of the price. SkyTrak gives you real time data, engaging challenges and game improvement tools so you know your member’s game and help them play better.

LAUNCH DATA PARAMETERS

WWW.SKYTRAKGOLF.COM 2

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Business and personal financing options available. For more info contact us at: 800.800.0512 | Email: sales@skygolf.com

CONTENTS

PARTNERS SCPGA PARTNER LISTING

05

06

PRESIDENT’S REPORT TODD KEEFER, PGA

08

LEADERSHIP THE JOURNEY TO BECOMING A PGA PROFESSIONAL

10

CEO UPDATE: TOM ADDIS III, PGA

11

MEMBERSHIP

29

WHAT IS THE SCPGA?

SCPGA MEMBER’S NEWS

14

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

15

MATCH PLAY

JOE GROHMAN, PGA BLIND CLINICS

KENNY PIGMAN TAKES THE WIN

COVER STORY 20

SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP

PREVIEW

26

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP BLOCK AND SMOCK

30

EMPLOYEE CONNECTION BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

22

CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR GOLF ADOPTS A NEW PLAN

34

10 THINGS TO KNOW WITH SCPGA COO, JEFF JOHNSON, PGA

16 FOUNDATION 16

YOUTH PUTTING CHAMPIONSHIP

18

19

JUNIOR TOUR SPOTLIGHT ALEXA MELTON WINS THE SCGA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP RULES SEMINAR SIMPLIFYING AND SPEEDING UP THE GAME

36

38

CHAPTER CORNER UPDATES FROM THE SCPGA CHAPTERS

SCPGA.COM

3

PRO THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA VOLUME 45, ISSUE 3 | SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW THE PROGRAM IS PRODUCED BY THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PUBLISHERS & EDITORS: BRYCE SEIVER & DEMI DAILEY

SCPGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS

PRESIDENT | TODD KEEFER, PGA WILSHIRE COUNTRY CLUB VICE PRESIDENT | TONY LETENDRE, PGA GOLF ACADEMY OF AMERICA SECRETARY | ROBIN SHELTON, PGA AMERICAN GOLF HONORARY PRESIDENT | JOHN MCNAIR, PGA JC RESORTS

AT-LARGE DIRECTORS

RANDY CHANG, PGA JOURNEY AT PECHANGA & TALEGA GOLF CLUB

JOE GROHMAN, PGA SCOTT HEYN, PGA THE FARMS GOLF CLUB ERIC LOHMAN, PGA MONARCH BEACH GOLF LINKS ROB OOSTERHUIS, PGA SHERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB DEREK HARDY, PGA LIFE MEMBER

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS ALISON CURDT, PGA WOOD RANCH GOLF CLUB

KIM FALCONE, PGA LA JOLLA COUNTRY CLUB

CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES

DESERT | MICHAEL HOLYK, PGA MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTRY CLUB

INLAND EMPIRE | STEVE ADAMIAK, PGA THE LEGENDS GOLF CLUB METROPOLITAN | VIC PLACERES, PGA OLD RANCH COUNTRY CLUB NORTHERN | MIKE VALDEZ, PGA SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTRY CLUB SAN DIEGO | DAVID MOWERY, PGA GOLFTEC - ENCINITAS RANCH

PGA OF AMERICA EXECUTIVES DISTRICT 11 DIRECTOR SCOTT ASHWORTH, PGA ALOHA SECTION

OFFICERS & CEO PRESIDENT | PAUL LEVY, PGA INDIAN WELLS, CA VICE PRESIDENT | SUZY WHALEY, PGA SUZY WHALEY GOLF SECRETARY | JIM RICHERSON, PGA TROON

SCPGA SECTION STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO | TOM ADDIS III, PGA | TADDIS@PGAHQ.COM COO | JEFF JOHNSON, PGA | JJOHNSON@PGAHQ.COM

MEMBERSHIP

MEMBERSHIP MANAGER | SHARON CURFMAN SCURFMAN@PGAHQ.COM

COMMUNICATIONS

COMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATOR | BRYCE SEIVER BSEIVER@PGAHQ.COM COMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATOR | DEMI DAILEY DDAILEY@PGAHQ.COM

FOUNDATION

FOUNDATION DIRECTOR | MATT GILSON | MGILSON@PGAHQ.COM PLAYER DEVELOPMENT & GOLF IN SCHOOLS DIRECTOR | ANTHONY LEONE ALEONE@PGAHQ.COM PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR | MAX BERMAN MBERMAN@PGAHQ.COM

TOURNAMENTS

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

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & PARTNER RELATIONS MANAGER | DAVE KUHN DKUHN@PGAHQ.COM

MEETINGS & EVENTS

MEETINGS & EVENTS MANAGER | ARIANA GOMEZ AGOMEZ@PGAHQ.COM

JUNIOR GOLF

JUNIOR GOLF DIRECTOR | KEVIN SMITH KSMITH@PGAHQ.COM JUNIOR GOLF MANAGER | TRAVIS CUTLER TCUTLER@PGAHQ.COM JUNIOR GOLF MANAGER | EDDIE RODARTE, PGA ERODARTE@PGAHQ.COM JUNIOR GOLF MANAGER | BRENT JOHNSTON BJOHNSTON@PGAHQ.COM JUNIOR GOLF MANAGER | AMBERLYNN DORSEY ADORSEY@PGAHQ.COM JUNIOR GOLF ASSISTANT | TYLER MILLER TAMILLER@PGAHQ.COM

FINANCE & HR

FINANCE MANAGER | KRISTY WATTIMENA KCUSTER@PGAHQ.COM HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER | TAYLOR VERMILLION TVERMILLION@PGAHQ.COM

PGA OF AMERICA STAFF REGIONAL LEAGUE MANAGER - PGA JUNIOR LEAGUE NIKKI GATCH, PGA | 760.534.1370 | NGATCH@PGAHQ.COM CAREER CONSULTANT KEN FERRELL, PGA | 951.894.5024 | KFERRELL@PGAHQ.COM

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 FOUR 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.

4

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

SECTION | PRESENTING PARTNERS

SECTION | SUPPORTING PARTNERS

Official Radio of the Southern California PGA

NATIONAL | PARTNERS

JUNIOR GOLF | PRESENTING PARTNERS

JUNIOR GOLF | SUPPORTING PARTNERS

Morrisette:Morrisette

10/5/11

10:46 AM

Page 1

FOUNDATION | PARTNERS

Orange County Seniors Golf Association

SCPGA.COM

5

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

SCPGA PRIDE The Southern California Section has many reasons to be proud, and topping the list is our outstanding group of PGA Professionals.

SCPGA Members are topnotch on and off the golf course, as evidence by Erik Wilson (pictured) of The Grand Golf Club in San Diego being awarded the PGA Merchandiser of the Year award for resort facilities; our reigning SCPGA Golf Professional of the Year, Eric Lohman from Monarch Beach Golf Resort; and the tremendous play of Michael Block and Brian Smock in the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive CC in St. Louis in August.

In fact, Michael had the honor of hitting the opening tee shot in the first round of the centennial championship, which was held in his hometown. Awesome stuff!

This November, the PGA of 6

America Annual Meeting will be held in Indian Wells. This is a big deal, being that we’ll say goodbye and thank to outgoing President Paul Levy and witness history when Suzy Whaley becomes the first woman to be elected President of the PGA of America.

Furthermore, we’ll elect a new Secretary and acknowledge the PGA Professional of the Year and other national award winners, including Mr. Wilson. The PGA will also induct new members into the PGA Hall of Fame during the week. We encourage our PGA Members to attend the meeting November fifth to the nineth at the Renaissance Hotel at Indian Wells Resort.

I will be very proud to announce our own Section special award winners later this issue and then hand their awards at the President’s Dinner in December.

The Southern California PGA Professional Championship has

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

reached a new high this year, with our first $100,000 purse. We’re contesting the Championship at La Quinta Country Club and Rancho La Quinta Country Club, and we look forward to Michael Block returning to defend his title September tenth to the twelfth.

The Section Senior Championship had one of the largest fields in that event’s history at Oak Valley Golf Club, when Mike Fergin picked up the title and our Women’s Section Championship will be played at Seacliff Country Club September 19-20. Our member events continue to get better and better thanks to our Tournament Committee, Senior Committee, Women’s Committee and our Section tournament staff.

Our pride shows again with the success of the popular Drive, Chip & Putt program which is leading into the Regional Finals – the final stop before The Masters – at Torrey Pines again this year on Sept. 22. The Section has hosted 19 DCP events this year at

Southern California facilities – the Section thanks all those facilities, the staff and volunteers for making it possible.

PGA Junior League is at its height and for the first time there was two playoff events to get to the PGA JLG Section Championship at Industry Hills at the end of August. Where former national champ John Mason’s North San Diego County team picked up the title to move to Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego for the JL Regionals and hopefully the nationals in Arizona.

How about our SCPGA Junior Tour with 265 events throughout the year and a total membership of 2,600? We start with our Junior Development Tour with over 75 events and a dozen free clinics across the Section. The Players Tour has over 1,500 golfers with single- and multi-day tournaments. Then, our highly rated and recognized Toyota Tour Cup offered 36hole tournaments at 23 different sites this year. SCPGA Junior Tour alumni include PGA Tour winners Pat Perez, Aaron Wise, Brendan Steele, Patrick Cantlay and Michael Kim. Haley Moore and Matthew Wolff knocked in putts to clinch titles in Women’s and Men’s NCAA Team Championships, respectively.

Two Southern California juniors, Ricky Castillo and Rose Zhang, each qualified for the Junior Ryder Cup, which will be played in September in France. All in all, a impressive alumni record!

As you read, recognize that we have much to be proud of and to smile about.

I’m certainly proud of our Section, our members and our many successful programs.

TODD KEEFER, PGA PRESIDENT, Southern California PGA General Manager / COO, Wilshire Country Club TODD@WILSHIRECOUNTRYCLUB.COM

SCPGA.COM

7

LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP

EATING THE ELEPHANT And My Apprentice Journey…

Story By: Robin Shelton, MBA, PGA Master Professional General Manager/AG Regional Manager SeaCliff Country Club

8

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

I think my journey as an Apprentice, mirrors many other Apprentices (or Associates) today.

Nearly fifteen years ago, I signed up as an Apprentice with the PGA of America and had an immediate sense of pride. I had the greatest ambition to become a PGA Member. I was ready to advance my career, move through the levels, and put the PGA logo on my golf bag and business cards. I was ready for greater responsibility and influence. I was ready to ‘dive in’ to my career.

I received boxes of books and CDs and was overwhelmed (and yes, I walked uphill in the snow, both ways, and wrestled a grizzly bear on my way to school). What seemed like an exciting time soon turned into a sense of stress

I carved out one hour on Monday morning and Sunday morning. I got up one hour earlier on these days, and worked for one hour on my Work Experience Portfolio. I completed as much as I could in one hour – and worked through it one ‘bite’ at a time.

In thirteen months, I went from,

I kept telling myself I’ll get on my Work Experience Portfolio. Enough ‘next weeks’ later, and two years had passed.

and burden, and, who wants to work on something that creates stress and burden. Plus, I had my duties at the Club, lessons, and junior camps.

I kept telling myself, I’ll get on my Work Experience Portfolio. Enough ‘next weeks’ later and two years had passed.

Then, as an Apprentice, I was on suspension - I was stuck.

A few months later, I heard one piece of advice that got me moving. A mentor of mine said “How would you eat an elephant? One bite at a time…”

“

“

sitting, one giant bite, or one meal. I had to break it into smaller sections (or one bite) at a time.

suspension, to PGA Member.

Today, I continue to pursue education opportunities and career advancement at every opportunity, including certifications and a Master Professional designation. But, it all started from being on suspension.

My time on suspension didn’t define me (or anyone else), and it can be the time to dive into your career growth and become the beginning of many accomplishments.

I suddenly had my approach to tackling the Work Experience Portfolio and getting off suspension. I wouldn’t be able to finish the ‘elephant’ that was the Work Experience Portfolio in one

SCPGA.COM

9

C E O U P DAT E

the current president of the PGA of America. Four of our former SCPGA Presidents are in the PGA of America Golf Professional Hall of Fame, including Dutra, Rielly, Addis and Sargent. Section Members Paul Runyan, Ralph Guldahl, Billy Casper, Gene Littler, Jimmy DeVoe, Eddie Merrins and Jim Flick join them.

What is the SCPGA? In November of 1924, eight years after the PGA of America was formed, 31 Charter members founded the Southern California PGA Section. Since that time, Section has been an industry leader and set a prime example for the Association at large. Those 31 PGA Members paved the way for the many PGA Professionals who today enjoy the various aspects of SCPGA membership.

The founding professionals listed on the 1924 Charter represented the following golf clubs and facilities: Annandale Golf Club, Hacienda Golf Club, La Canada CC, Los Angeles CC, Wilshire CC, California CC, Brentwood CC, Virginia CC, San Gabriel CC, Hillcrest CC, La Cumbre CC, Palos Verdes CC, Montecito CC, Rancho Park GC, Griffith Park GC, Pasadena GC, Midwick GC, Oakmont CC, Long Beach Municipal, Chula Vista CC, Victoria CC, Coronado CC, Bellevue CC, Los Cerratos CC and Ojai CC. Many of these clubs and courses still exist today and comprise some of our most recognizable names. The Charter was signed by James Patterson, the designated 10

Secretary of the time, and the address noted on the 1924 Charter is 435 So. Spring Street in Los Angeles. A total of $150 was paid to the PGA of America to start the Chapter, and Jack Malley was selected as our Section’s first president.

SCPGA Presidents throughout the years are as follows: Malley, Willie Hunter, Lew Scott, Joe Novak, Olin Dutra, George Lake, Harry Bassler, Ellsworth Vines, Bud Oakley, Guy Bellitt, Dick Boggs, Howard Smith, A.J. Lazane, Pat Rielly, Frank Morey, Skip Whittet, Tom Addis III, Bob Lovejoy, Andy Thuney, Perry Dickey, Jr., Jerry Anderson, Tom Sargent, Scott Walter, Bill Hulbert, Greg Frederick, Dave Carollo, Patrick Casey, David Foster, Scott Stubbs, Jason Taylor, Jeff Johnson, John McNair and our current President, Todd Keefer.

Willie Hunter, Howard Smith and Patrick Casey and Jeff Johnson, served multiple terms, with Hunter serving a total of 13 years through three terms. Novak, Rielly and Addis each served as President of the PGA of America.

Section member, Paul Levy, is

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

The list of Section Champions is strong, beginning with Dick Linares of Long Beach Municipal GC in 1924. Other champions include six-time winner and major champion Olin Dutra, as well as five-time winner and PGA Tour voctor Eric Monti of Hillcrest CC – one of the original Charter clubs.

The list of high-profile names keep coming: major champions Jerry Barber and Paul Runyan; British Amateur champ Willie Hunter; Ellsworth Vines, winner of major tennis championships Wimbledon in 1932 and the U.S. Open (1931 & ’32); PGA Tour winners Johnny Bulla, Ron Reif, Jim Ferrier, Tommy Jacobs, Jerry Steelsmith, Bob McCallister, R.H. Sikes and Jimmy Powell; four-time winner Chris Starkjohann, a winner on the Web.com Tour; and Jeff Freeman and Michael Block, who both won the PGA Professional National Championship. This year our Women’s Section champion, Alison Curdt, was the first woman from the SCPGA to compete in the national PGA Professional Championship.

The Section also boasts a distinguished list of senior champions, beginning in 1960 with inagural winner Paul Runyan.

Then comes multi-time winners Smiley Quick, Howie Johnson, Powell, Dick McClean, Jerry Wisz, Jim Petralia, Carroll Sharp, Chuck Green, Jay Hyon and Starkjohann.

Starkjohann, by the way, has won the SCPGA and Senior SCPGA Player of the Year award a combined 11 times, in addition to

three National PGA Senior Player of the Year awards!

With special awards season upon us, we would also like to acknowledge the history of national award winners from our Section. The SCPGA is proud to be the home of nationally recognized PGA Professionals such as Addis, Rielly, Greg Abadie, Sargent, Tim Skogen, Jay Collaite, Gary Adams, Tim Moher, Jeff Freeman, Starkjohann, Derek Hardy, Susan Roll and Erik Wilson, this years National PGA Resort Merchandiser of the Year. Addis, Sargent and Starkjohann have won multiple awards.

Past and current SCPGA programming is among the strongest throughout the 41 Sections. Examples are our SCPGA Foundation’s ClubsForeYouth Program – has provided over 325 free sets to high school boys and girls golf teams at over 50 schools in Southern California in just one year. The SCPGA’s Junior Golf Tour continues to be one of the premier tours in the country, with 2,600 members and 265 tournaments in three divisions with over 22,000 rounds of golf throughout Southern California.

The Junior Development Tour host 78 events, the Players Tour has 165 events and the major tour, the Toyota Tour Cup, offers 22 events.

Golf and Drive, Chip & Putt (DCP) thanks to the involvement of our PGA Professionals. We’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to host one of the Regional DCP Championships each year, including this year, once again at Torrey Pines. For its leadership in player development, the SCPGA was awarded the 2014 Herb Graffis Award.

The SCPGA’s schedule of member tournaments remains successful with competitive offerings from women professionals, seniors, super seniors and Associate Professionals. The Section also hosts the California State Open Championship, one of the oldest state opens in the country, where Jim Barnes, the first PGA Champion, won in the early years; the Southern California Open Championship; the Women’s California State Open; and a major amateur event in the Inland Empire Amateur Championship.

There are 25 SCPGA Junior Tour alumni on the PGA Tour and Web. com Tour, along with eight on the LPGA Tour. This year alone we’ve had notable performances by alums Matt Wolff and Haley Moore in the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Championships, respectively, both holing the winning putts to seal their teams’ victory.

Team matches are plentiful within the Section, as well. In the biannual Honors Matches, Section Professional square off against top amateur teams from the Southern California Golf Association, and in the California Cup Matches, we compete against the Northern California PGA Section. The annual Women’s Cup Matches gives a platform for our female members to compete against SCGA amateurs, while the North & South Matches gives Associate Professionals from the SCPGA and NCPGA a chance to compete. SCPGA seniors enjoy an annual match with the NCPGA, called the Challenge Cup and the Annual Chapter Challenge kicks off the year in January with the top players from each of the five Chapters in the Section.

The Section has seen continued success with PGA Junior League

The history for the SCPGA also includes some groundbreaking

ventures that set the pace for where we are now. Led by Skip Whittet and Pat Rielly, perhaps most notable was the Section’s opening of the West Coast Golf Conference and Merchandise Show at Industry Hills in 1980.

The show started with humble beginnings. Rising from the parking garage at Industry Hills and prior to being purchased by the PGA of America, the show stopped in San Diego, Long Beach, Anaheim and ultimately, Las Vegas. It was the forerunner of the current PGA Fashion Expo held annually in Las Vegas.

The sale of the West Coast Golf Conference allowed the Section to construct and open the 36hole PGA of Southern California Golf Club in Beaumont. The Section subsequently sold the Golf Club in December of 2007 to an individual operator who renamed it East Valley GC. He, in turn, sold it to Morongo Casino and it is now known as Tukwet Canyon Golf Course. That sale, all told, allowed the Section to initiate the well-performing investment program we currently have and acquire the beautiful building in Ontario that houses our headquarters, as well as provide many of the programs we enjoy in the Section to this day.

As our Centennial year of 2024 approaches, we should be thankful to be able to enjoy the programs and activities we have as a Section. Thanks to each of you for being a part of a good thing.

TOM ADDIS III, PGA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / CEO, Southern California PGA TADDIS@PGAHQ.COM

SCPGA.COM

11

12

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Announcing...

SCPGA MEMBER UPDATES

MOVING UP

WELCOME WAGON

Kimberly Coleman, PGA | A-1 Vista Valley Country Club Denise Bondurant, PGA - Northern California Scott Cowan, PGA - Southwest Scott Cowan | A-9 Andrew Hardin, PGA - South Florida Rams Hill Golf Course Brad Jones, PGA - Southwest Section Steven Montalto, PGA - Southwest Ryan Darland, PGA | A-1 Logan Erickson, PGA - Carolinas Section Woods Valley Golf Club Tsutomu Kevin Terada, PGA - Colorado Ryan Dohrmann, PGA | A-4 Vista Valley Country Club

NEW ASSOCIATES

Peter Kenney Michael Flanagan, PGA | A-14 Mitchell Lewis MCAS/Miramar Memorial G.C. Brandon Molson Joseph Mulcahy III Joseph Grohman, PGA | A-1 Garrett Sapp El Dorado Park Golf Course Beom Cheol Shin Darrin Harn, PGA | A-13 PGA West Stadium Course Curtis Hayden, PGA | A-1 Tradition Golf Club

NEW PGA QUARTER CENTURY MEMBERS Mark Fowler, PGA Debra Franchio, PGA Craig Freeman, PGA Duane Gore, PGA Jim Hartnett, PGA David K. Lee, PGA

Brad Jones, PGA | A-1 The Golf Club at Glen Ivy Michael Kelly, PGA | A-1 Del Mar Country Club

Ryan Siffermann Casey Sullivan Cesar Valladares Gunner Wiebe Zachary Wilmovsky

John Mason, PGA Billy McKinney, PGA John McNair, PGA Richard Ruppert, PGA Gregory A. Smith, PGA

NEW MASTER PROFESSIONALS

Gregory Lake, PGA | A-1 Pico Rivera Municipal G.C. Frank Linquist, PGA | A-1 The Quarry at La Quinta

Charles Powell, PGA Golf Champions Magazine Master Professional, Teaching/ Coaching

Ryan Maring, PGA | A-1 Del Rio Country Club Bryan Miller, PGA | A-1 Palm Valley Country Club

NEWLY CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS

Kendall Palu, PGA | A-13 Cathedral Canyon Golf Club

Jerry Eye, PGA | A-13 The Citrus Club at La Quinta Certified in General Management

UPCOMING ORIENTATIONS

James Rocco, PGA | A-1 Wilshire Country Club Tim Suk, PGA | A-4 Navy Golf Course Brian Urban, PGA | A-13 Birch Hills Golf Course Kevin Wong, PGA | A-1 The Oaks Club at Valencia

HALF CENTURY Ray Echols, PGA Terry Lange, PGA

Awards to be presented at the Annual SCPGA President’s Dinner hosted at the Jonathan Club on December 9, 2018 GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

SHAWN COX

THE GRAND GOLF CLUB TEACHER OF THE YEAR

BILLY MCKINNEY

MARBELLA COUNTRY CLUB ASSISTANT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

THOMAS CHU

VALENCIA COUNTRY CLUB PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AWARD

HEIDI RICHARDSON ENCINITAS RANCH

YOUTH PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AWARD

JOSH ALPERT

THE LAKES AT EL SEGUNDO CLUBFITTER OF THE YEAR

ALISON CURDT

WOOD RANCH COUNTRY CLUB HORTON SMITH AWARD

JOHN KULOW

MONTEREY COUNTRY CLUB BILL STRAUSBAUGH AWARD

ROB OOSTERHUIS

SHERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR, PUBLIC

DUNCAN SIMMS

OAK CREEK GOLF CLUB

Associate Orientations: September 5, 2018 @ Section Office October 8, 2018 - Co-Orientation at Pechanga December 4, 2018 @ Section Office

MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR, PRIVATE

IN MEMORIAM

MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR, RESORT

Ken Bowman Jr. passed away April 26th, 2018 Steven Schaller passed away May 18th, 2018 Paul Frazier passed away May 21st, 2018 Phil Rodgers passed away June 26th, 2018

NEWLY ELECTED PGA MEMBERS Stewart Bower, PGA Trevor Cassidy, PGA David Curtis, PGA Logan Erickson, PGA Hamish Gardner, PGA Kristopher Hartman, PGA

THE 2018 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA AWARD WINNERS

Paul Kim, PGA Mark Lamb, PGA Kyle Lewis, PGA Matthew McArdle, PGA Michael Meisenzahl, PGA Robert Nickell, PGA

Andrew Price, PGA James Stout, PGA Tim Suk, PGA Robert Tovias, PGA Justin Turner, PGA Alexander Witt, PGA

GARRETT GOODRICH STOCKDALE COUNTRY CLUB

MARK GREENSLIT OJAI VALLEY INN

TO BE ANNOUNCED: WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR SUPER SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR WOMEN’S APA PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRESIDENT’S AWARD

HALL OF FAME PLAYER OF THE YEAR APA PLAYER HONORARY LIFE MEMBER

SCPGA.COM

13

COMMUNIT Y SPOTLIGHT

THE FUTURE OF REHABILITAVE GOLF HAS NEVER LOOK BRIGHTER The list of events supporting the disabled athletic community is astonishing. The 12th Annual Special Education Kids Clinic, the 19th Annual Golf Clinic for the Junior Blind, the 6th Annual At-risk Inner City Kids Clinic at Chester Washington GC in Los Angeles, and most recently, the 1st Annual HOPE showcase clinic during the PGA Expo at Top Golf in Las Vegas.

For most golfers, there are a million things running though your mind when lining up to take a shot. Alignment, grip, wind, slope, rotation, takeaway, ball position, cut, fade, punch, or knock down.

The list can go on forever, but try adding a disability to that equation. We all know the game is already tough enough right?

That’s where SCPGA Patriot’s Award winner, Joe Grohman, PGA comes into the picture.

and shows no signs of slowing.

Four clinics have been hosted this year for Disabled Veterans out of the Long Beach VA Hospital and four more will be held before years end.

“We are working closely with several organizations involved with Disabled Golf in an effort to unite our voices and raise awareness of the value of rehabilitative golf clinics for the disabled and less fortunate.”

Joe has been tirelessly at work with the SCPGA Disabled Golf Committee and his own Joe Grohman Foundation. Joe has hosted a monthly Wounded Warrior West Battalion Golf Clinic at Marine Memorial Golf Course Camp Pendleton Marine Base every month this year and will continue to do so to support our troops for the remainder of the year. In addition, 6th Annual Wounded Warrior West Battalion Golf Tournament at San Juan Hills on July 23rd was a huge success,

14

In addition to the growing list of events, Joe is providing assistance to David Kulla-Mader, PGA with his Disabled Veteran Clinics at Westchester G.C., as well as assisting Bob Kotowski, PGA with his annual Disabled Golf Tournament up in Solvang. Joe has also represented the SCPGA at the Disability Sports Expo in Los Angeles and at the VA Hospitals Disability Sports Fair earlier this year.

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Joe Grohman, PGA

M ATC H P L AY

MATCH PLAY C H A M P I O N S H I P

Kenny Pigman The Crosby Club in San Diego played host to the 2018 SCPGA Match Play Championship, where Kenny Pigman of Goose Creek Golf Club took home the title.

After a runner-up finish in 2017, Pigman came out with his sights set on claiming the only SCPGA Section major that eluded him.

SENIOR

Jon Fiedler

15

By winning the final match 3&2 over Brett Smith of Ivey Ranch Country Club, Pigman earned 300 Player of the Year points and moves into sole possession of first place with a total of 950.61. Sara Ovadia secured her second consecutive victory in the Women’s SCPGA Match Play

SUPER SENIOR

Paul Wise

Championship after a hard-fought two-up victory that lasted 18 holes.

The Section thanks partners Yamaha, Jani-King, FlagD, Pepsi, Sterling Cut Glass & the PGA Tour.

Lastly, the Section offers thanks to the Crosby Club and PGA General Manager Bryan Addis, PGA.

WOMEN’S

A.P.A.

Sara Ovadia

Steve T anis

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

S C P G A F O U N DAT I O N

PUTTING

OVER FIVE SUMMER QUALIFIERS, The SCPGA Foundation Raises Six-Thousand Dollars!

Last year the Foundation was approached by Henry Brunton Golf Academy, Blake Jirges, PGA with an new idea to support the SCPGA Foundation, promote his facility and grow youth involvement in the game. With those philosophies setting the bench mark for a fun and exciting event, the Youth Putting Championship was born. In that first year, the SCPGA Foundation raised $2,700 over six events.

In 2018, Youth Putting Championship participation doubled, with 300 golfers between the ages of 8-18 gathering from near and far for a unique tournament experience.

Competing across three age

divisions, the co-ed 18-hole event is targeted towards a wide array of skill levels. Players must make it though one of five qualifiers for a chance to claim the title in the finals. Entry fees are a modest $20, but thanks to the generous support of the Titleist, U.S. Kids, the Henry Bunton Golf Academy, and Under Armor, players advancing to the qualifiers complete for a Scotty Cameron putter/fitting experience in the 11-13 & 14-18 division, while the 8-10 division champ plays for an Under Armour prize package!

DIVISION CHAMPIONS 8-10 - Siham Ibrahim 11-13 - Adriel Luis Abaoag 14-18 - Jacob Fox

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT SCPGA FOUNDATION? The proceeds from this event directly benefit the SCPGA Foundation’s marquee ClubsForeYouth® program. With the $6,000 raised from these events, over 60 under served youth athletes will be provided brand new sets of Wilson Golf Clubs. In addition, PGA Professionals who get involved will see hundreds of new youth players and their parents touring your facility.

GET INVOLVED Contact SCPGA Foundation Director, Matt Gilson for more information. (951) 845-4653 or mgilson@pgahq.com

16

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

AD

SCPGA.COM

17

JUNIOR GOLF SPOTLIGHT

SCPGA JUNIOR TOUR MEMBER ALEXA MELTON, SCGA AMATEUR CHAMPION

Continuing her amazing play in the summer of 2018, Alexa Melton has once again made herself known with a victory at the Women’s SCGA Amateur Championship!

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE SCGA

THE STORY After recently posting a record-setting 63 at the Girls Junior PGA Championship in her first round, Melton finished that tournament with an astounding 19-under, only to be topped by Yealimi Noh who posted a 24-under total. Carrying her exception play into another marquee weekend at the SCGA Amateur, Melton was able to close out the victory by one-stroke over fellow SCPGA Junior Tour Alumin Zoe Campos, who finished in solo second place.

The SCGA Women’s Amateur Championship is open to female amateur golfers with a USGA Handicap Index of 9.4 and below at the time of registration.

18

Competitors undergo 18 holes of stroke play qualifying to reach the final field of 72 players. In the Championship, players compete over 54 holes of stroke play with the top 30 plus ties advancing after 36 holes to the final round.

Joining Melton at the top of the leaderboard were some additional Alumni including Lilia Vu, the UCLA superstar and second-ranked amateur in the world, who placed third, just three strokes behind the winner. Tied at 4-under and in a share of fifth place were two SCPGA Junior Tour Alumni, USC’s Alyaa Abdulghany and Arizona’s Haley Moore.

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

2019 Rules

Seminar

MOUNTAIN MEADOWS GOLF COURSE SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 As we turn the calendar and head into 2019, we will be turning the corner in the Rules of Golf. The game will see a major overhaul to the rules effective January 1, 2019 with refreshing changes that will simplify the game of golf. The Section will be offering a Rules Workshop on September 24th at Mountain Meadows Golf Course for all members and associates to attend. Come join Dave Podas, PGA and Jeff Ninneman with the SCGA who will be presenting on these changes that are expected to have the most impact on the game and to be of most interest to golfers.

NEW

RULES

MAX DESPAIN, DIRECTOR OF COMPETITIONS mdespain@pgahq.com

MIKE FERGIN 2018 Southern California Senior Mike Fergin, PGA from Mesa Verde Country Club took the victory at the Southern California Senior PGA Professional Championship in an exciting fashion, with a clutch birdie on the third playoff against Paul Dietsche, PGA hole to claim the title!

Fergin followed up his round one 69 with a second round of 66 to finish at 135 (-9) and in a tie with Paul Dietsche of Redlands Country Club who carded rounds of 65-70. The pair had to go to extra holes to determine the winner, and after both parred the first two holes, Fergin was able to convert an 18-footer on the 18th hole to secure the victory.

That wasn’t the only drama in this event at Oak Valley Golf Club, as this event also served as the National Qualifier for the 30th Senior PGA Professional Championship.

12 players will be representing the Southern California Section at the 30th Senior PGA Professional Championship!

October 25-28, 2018 | PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie, Florida

Mike Fergin Paul Dietsche Barry Mahlberg Mike Mitchell Dave Podas

Geoffrey Dean Alan Sorensen Kurt Donahoo Jon Fiedler Jeff Hart

Mickey Yokoi Chris Starkjohann

SCPGA.COM

19

COVER STORY

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

SEPTEMBER 10-13, 2018 LA QUINTA COUNTRY CLUB & RANCHO LA QUINTA COUNTRY CLUB

Desert Chapter President sMessage On behalf of Desert Chapter Board of Directors, I would like to welcome all participants and patrons that will be joining us in the Coachella Valley for the 94th Southern California PGA Section Championship. We look forward to playing on two of the valley’s great championship golf courses, La Quinta Country Club and Rancho La Quinta Country Club.

La Quinta Country Club is not your typical desert course. It’s 20

described as being a tighter course, well bunkered with mature trees. It requires strategic course management, which is why both pros and amateurs alike favor it. Their fairways have been a virtual walk of fame. The elite of Hollywood, Monarchs, Presidents and The King - Arnold Palmer - have matched their wits and talents with their famous 18 holes.

Walk the course and be in the presence of others who voted it the “Best Private Golf Course in the Coachella Valley”, awarded by Palm Springs Life magazine.

Rancho La Quinta features the Robert Trent Jones Course as it opens with a beautiful par four, where a good drive puts players in excellent position to hit their approach to a green, which is

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

protected by rough and moguls.

This theme continues throughout the rest of the course, where fairways and greens are protected by strategically placed moguls and the bunkers. There is water to be found on ten holes, providing beautiful accents and challenging hazards throughout the round.

Finish your day of golf with one of Robert Trent Jones’s signature holes, a par five that demands planning and execution, with the approach shot being hit to a peninsula green framed by a stunning waterfall.

We have had many great champions over the past 94 years with multiple wins such as Olin Dutra with six wins between 19301940; Eric Monte with five wins

wins between 1952-1963; Chris Starkjohann with four wins spanning between 1991 & 2012; Charlie Guest, Jimmy Powell, and Tommy Jacobs each hoisting the title three times. Two-time winners include Curtis Sifford, Dave Barber, Fay Coleman, Jeff Freeman, Mike Miles, Paul Wise, Stanly Kertes, and Willie Hunter.

success and spawned a decade of building courses and homes in the desert. Fabled names such as Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes, Eldorado and La Quinta country clubs were all built here. Hogan even became the head pro at one such course, Tamarisk. There were other desert courses before the Golden Age of development in

that followed that attracted the rich and famous of Hollywood and Corporate America to the desert. But just as the Coachella Valley has changed over the last six decades, so has the game of golf. Where once courses simply were laid out on the natural desert dunes, today bulldozers have sculpted and shaped the desert into dramatic golf holes.

(Larry Bohannan, The Short history of Golf in the Coachella Valley) As you join us for the Championship please remember to stay hydrated, embrace the weather and play well.

Good Luck!

We look forward to having many other past champions compete this year as well as the defending champion, Michael Block.

The short history of golf in the Coachella Valley goes something like this. Johnny Dawson, an accomplished and popular amateur golfer in the 1930s and 1940s, was going to help develop the Coachella Valley’s first 18-hole golf course at the Thunderbird Dude Ranch, some 10 miles from downtown Palm Springs. When told of his friend’s project, Ben Hogan, considered the game’s best player at the time, just laughed.

No one will travel that far into the middle of the desert to play golf, Hogan told Dawson.

Looking back, it was Dawson who had the last laugh on Hogan. Opened in 1951, Thunderbird Country Club was a huge

the 1950s, including nine-hole O’Donnell in Palm Springs, aviatrix Jackie Cochran’s nine-hole course in Indio and a course at what is now La Quinta Resort. But it was Thunderbird and the courses

MICHAEL HOLYK, PGA DESERT CHAPTER PRESIDENT, Southern California PGA Head Golf Professional, Mountain View Country Club mholyk@mountainview-cc.com

s g n i t Gree from

s g n i r p S Palm CALIFORNIA

SCPGA.COM

21

Players To Watch KENNY PIGMAN, PGA | GOOSE CREEK G.C. Current Player of the Year (PoY) points leader, Pigman has his sights set on a victory at the final event of the season to clinch the PoY title.

With a remarkable 2017 tournament season thus far, Kenny has first place finishes at both the Professional-Scratch Championship & Section Match Play Championship. Pigman won the Section Championship in 2016 and has the capability to notch another Major victory.

OMEGA PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS: 950.61

MICHAEL BLOCK, PGA | ARROYO TRABUCO G.C. As the 2017 SCPGA Section defending champion, Block is no stranger to victory. Thus far in 2018, he has won both the Club Car Aggregate Series - Farmers Insurance Open & Industry Influencer Tournament. Top10 finishes; Club Car Aggregate - Genisis Open, Professional-Scratch Championship, SCPGA Four-Ball Championship, & The Stroke Play Classic. In addition, Block competed in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and hit the opening tee shot at the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive in his hometown of St. Louis, MO. OMEGA PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS: 832.62

BRIAN SMOCK, PGA | CORONADO G.C. Winning the 2018 Stroke Play Classic in an exciting playoff, Smock has what it takes in high pressure situations. Currently holding the third position in the Player of the Year points standings, a win at the Section Championship could catapult him into contention for the PoY title. A T-9 finish in the 2018 PGA Professional Championship at Bayonett/Black Horse, earned him a spot in the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive.

Continuing his strong play this season, Smock will look to gain his first SCPGA Section Championship title.

OMEGA PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS: 693.09 PRESENTED BY :

22

SUPPORTED BY :

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Course Preview

LA QUINTA COUNTRY CLUB

RANCHO LA QUINTA COUNTRY CLUB

Opened 1959 74.3/136 Par 72, 7060 yards Head Golf Professional - Chris Gilley, PGA Superintendent - Tim Putnam

Jones Course - Opened 1993 Rating: 73.4 Slope: 131 Par 72, 7063 yards General Manager - John Cummings, PGA Head Golf Professional - Justin Stelzer, PGA Superintendent - Stu Rowland

The Player of the Year points battle boils down to a single event... the 2018 Southern California PGA Professional Championship. Contested across two courses in the Desert Chapter, the timeless La Quinta Country Club and the immacualte Rancho la Quinta Country Club will play host to 166 PGA Professionals sparring for the most coveted title of the year, Southern California PGA Professional Champion.

SCPGA.COM

23

NO COMPANY CAN AFFORD THE BACKLASH ASSOCIATED WITH A DATA BREACH

HOW CAN KYOCERA HELP? As a total document solution provider, KYOCERA offers a portfolio of services and solutions to streamline output management. Well beyond providing hardware solutions, KYOCERA empowers organizations with ongoing management, optimization, and lower document costs - all designed to reduce IT department workload and minimize environmental impact. Our solutions turn otherwise complex data and document work flows into simple, efficient processes.

CONTACT US TODAY FOR A HASSLE FREE ASSESSMENT! 24

ORANGE COUNTY • SAN DIEGO • LOS ANGELES • INLAND EMPIRE • PHOENIX • TUCSON 800.996.9591 • www.kdswest.com • kdswest.marketing@da.kyocera.com

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

PLAN YOUR STRATEGY AND BETTER YOUR BOTTOM LINE

BY: DESANE BLANEY, AGM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATION OF GOLF MERCHANDISE (AGM) desane@agmgolf.org

merchandise that differentiates The Spring 2019 buying season you from the masses thus, is underway and retailers will creating a boundary, a definition have an opportunity to view the for your shop and a destination. latest collections at the upcoming shows and regional markets. In A good start would be to an effort to better your bottom incorporate the three "R's" in your line, take time to review your data planning process. Review your and to make yourself aware of retail metrics, vendor performance national economic indicators as and merchandise assortment. If well as global events (think Brexit your sales and other rack could world talk, what events) “Remix your strategy with would it tell as you innovative ideas.� you? Renew plan your your retail strategy. space with updated styles, color and fabrics.

Consumerconfidence and the Perhaps a fresh coat of paint, new willingness of your customers to carpet or updated fixtures? Remix open their wallets has a direct your strategy with innovative effect on your bottom line. ideas - think promotions, events, customer service - all dedicated Successful and profitable results to enhancing the experience. just don't happen - they start Comprehensive assessment of with a strategic plan that is these elements will ultimately exceptionally well-executed. define your success in the As specialty retailers, you have coming year. a unique opportunity to carry

SCPGA.COM

25

SMOCK AND BLOCK

PGA

BLOCK & SMOC K

The 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive in St. Louis, Missouri brought together the best in the world to compete for the prestigous title. Michael Block and Brian Smock Smock finished within the top twenty at the 51st PGA Professional Championship, contested June 17-21, 2018, on the Bayonet/Black Horse Golf Courses in Seaside, CA, that qualified them for the PGA Championship.

Michael Block is the Head Professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, Calif., but returned to his hometown of St. Louis Missouri for the memorable championship, which included hitting the opening tee shot at Bellerive Country Club.

Brian Smock is Head Professional at Coronado Golf Course and this was his his second appearance in the PGA Championship, competing in 2017 at Quail Hollow.

“ It was a honor to play , I’m going to keep working on my game so I can get back next year! “ - Brian Smock

The most fun I’ve ever had playing in a golf tournament.

Hitting the first tee shot in the 100th PGA Championship, in my hometown as a PGA member was a surreal experience.” - Michael Block, PGA

PHOTOGRAPHY CURTOSY OF THE PGA OF AMERICA

SCPGA.COM

27

28

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

CALIFORNIA MEN’S

State Open

In its 119th year, the California State Open took place June 26th – 29th, at Maderas Golf Club in Poway, CA providing another vigorous test of golf for the players. The field of 150+ players consisted of PGA professionals, past champions, top performers in 2017 and players exempt based on performance and a number of open qualifiers, making this one of the strongest fields in recent memory. Andre De Decker stayed steady over the four rounds of play with back-to-back birdies in the first round. He was able to use that momentum into the fourth round by holing a 15-footer for par after airmailing the green in the back bunker. De Decker holed another set of crucial putts down the stretch, holing a 10-footer for par on 15 and a tricky downhill fivefooter on 16, which essentially sealed the deal. He rounded out his competition with 11-under 277 for the tournament and gave him a three-shot victory.

His wire-to-wire victory included a first round 63, which tied Charley Hoffman’s course record.

Low amateur honors were taken by local Poway resident and SCPGA Junior Tour Alumni, Franklin Huang. Huang had solid round of four-under 68, to put him in a tie for seventh place for the week at four-under 284.

SCPGA.

WOMEN’S

Marissa Chow of Honolulu, HI took the vicory at the 3rd Annual Women’s California State Open with a five-shot wire to wire victory at Maderas Golf Club.

The competitive field consisited of 57 players from all over the country. The 36-hole championship is held over two-days, with the field consisting of both professional and amateur women golfers.

Chow carried over the steady play from round one, where she built a four shot lead, and carded ten consecutive pars in the final round until birdieing the 11th. Megan Thothong of Dallas, TX and Hannah Kim of Sana Ana each kept firing to make a charge, but the error-free Chow never slipped heading down the stretch finding three birdies to only one bogey on the closing nine to finish with a twounder par 70. Chow joins past champions, Brianna Do (2017) and Alyaa Abdulghany (2016).

SCPGA Junior Tour alumni Haley Moore took low amateur honors. Moore finished with a two day total of 142 (-3) total and placing her in solo second place.

SCPGA .COM

29

EMPLOYEE CONNECTION

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS BY: KEN FERRELL, PGA

Are you building relationships to help reach your personal and professional goals? These relationships can lead to lifelong customers, as well as benefits to our golf businesses and personal lives.

Oftentimes, building relationships is the groundwork for future success. Perhaps a facility’s goals this year is to increase the number of outside tournament rounds. With this goal, you’ll need to plan how and when to get out into the community to build relationships. People become loyal to those they know and trust. When they then desire services or products that your facility has to offer, they will come to you if you have already established a rapport.

Think about the dream job you desire. Would it be helpful to have community leaders as a reference? Who knows, they may be fast friends with the facility owner or know a board member.

This type of networking can be very valuable.

If a business is thinking about upgrading facilities, it may pay to have a friend in the planning department, or you may get assistance from knowing city leaders and officials.

30

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Here are some ways to build postive relationships with others: GET INVOLVED WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS

Perhaps it is the Rotary, Lions Club or a different non-profit with which you would like to get involved. Most communities have several options and a key is to find the one that has a membership that may be most beneficial for your goals.

DONATE YOUR TIME TO LOCAL CAUSES

When you have the opportunity, volunteer to assist in a community fundraiser. Find those causes you would like to support and give them a call to get details on their fundraising efforts USE LOCAL VENDORS

Whenever possible, support local vendors. It can lead to reciprocation. Whether taking your family to dinner, looking for entertainment or buying products for your home, support the businesses around you.

GIVE BACK

This idea can be adjusted to fit your budget. Perhaps it is providing discounts for local businesses and community members.

It’s about connecting with your community to create meaningful and lasting relationships.

This offers a variety of benefits, most importantly increasing sales, networking and friendships with “Life Time Value.”

Ken Ferrell, PGA, is a Career Consultant serving the Southern California Section can be reached at (951) 324-3665 and kferrell@pgahq.com. A special thank you to Carol Pence, Northern California Career Consultant for the foundation of this article as read in PGA Magazine.

SCPGA.COM

31

Mapping Out the Futur e

CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR GOLF (CAG) ADOPTS SUSTAINABLE FUNDING PLAN IN LIEU OF A CALIFORNIA GOLF COMMISSION BY: CRAIG KESSLER, SCGA The California Alliance for Golf (CAG) appointed a task force at the beginning of 2017 to perform an assessment of the industry’s most pressing needs and then issued recommendations as to how to best address them on a statewide basis. The task force settled on three needs: • Advocacy; • public relations/positioning; • and research/education.

After taking a close look at the feasibility of creating a California Golf Commission under the state’s Agriculture Code, the task force determined that the industry was too divided on the subject to pursue a Commission and set about pursuing alternatives.

What emerged from the alternatives discussion was a voluntary contribution model that appealed to CAG’s disparate constituencies in a 32

way discussions about a formal governmental commission never could seem to accomplish.

The model is predicated upon a narrow path that accommodates many of the objections private clubs, certain organizations and others have issued regarding one of the central tenets of a commission (e.g., government involvement, a coerced assessment paradigm that strikes many as a “tax,” and the privacy implications of any institution that is sanctioned and overseen by government), while at the same time incorporating the one feature of a commission that caused many to flirt with the notion – a fundraising model predicated upon a very small assessment on a huge number of transactions.

The scheme imposes obligations upon all of the CAG constituencies while taking advantage of the reach of the two around the table with the greatest amount of it – SCGA and NCGA – not

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

by imposing a direct financial burden upon the associations qua associations, but rather by asking them to support an infrastructure that reaches out to all their clubs – private, public and affiliate – to voluntarily contribute to CAG either on a club or per capita basis. The response from public clubs is likely to be mixed, from affiliates scant and from private clubs very productive.

Of course, the PGA Sections and the major management groups are asked to support a parallel “counter” campaign to attract the many regular golfers who are not members of an SCGA or NCGA club, and ownership groups are asked to support a parallel outreach program to their various affinity groups, players clubs and/or customer data bases. The state’s GCSAA Sections are asked to continue the good work they and their national liaison, Jeff Jensen, have been doing and, to the degree to which a more effective CAG represents a much greater value proposition than it does now, perhaps kick in a few more dollars to the collective effort.

Interestingly, while this model reposes control of the program in the major constituent groups that form CAG as it is currently constituted, it is predicated upon the feature of a commission that many found attractive – it looks to golfers for the funding, not to overburdened golf organizations/ associations and businesses that fear that by joining CAG they will be assuming a disproportionate burden. Many have concluded that CAG cannot effectively attract major golf businesses until they are reassured that they are merely providing an appropriate level of support as

constituent organizations can get something credible and definite approved by this fall and excite everyone that the fledgling advocacy Alliance is on its way, it is likely that those organizations such as SCGA and GCSAA that have paid staffers currently working in the advocacy arena will be happy to continue dedicating those staffers to the statewide collective effort. They could be content knowing that with each passing day CAG would be moving closer and closer to assuming the burdens that really are statewide in nature and better handled by a robust statewide

"Fo lks li k e pa rti c i pati n g i n a pa rty PUT O N BY OTH ERS [...] b ut th ey d o nt m u c h ca r e fo r putti n g o n s o m eo n es els es pa rty" part of a funding coalition and not the base thereof. Folks like participating in a party put on by others, particularly when the “party” is something they deem in their interest, but they don’t much care for putting on someone else’s party.

The plan is not grandiose – i.e., not a commission that generates millions quickly. But it is a plan that can generate the base revenues required to get CAG out of its current hole. The plan can perhaps work on hiring an organizer or administrator akin to what many have been suggesting CAG needs to get out of the starting blocks and begin developing a value proposition it can sell to others in an effort to get more and more of the California golf community invested.

Every difficult journey begins with the first few steps. If CAG’s

alliance with the rest in vital, but appropriate, support roles.

Better a narrow path conducive of success than a broad one headed for failure. Building from the top down didn’t work for CAG, and truth be known top down construction is rarely part of the history of successful institutions. The organizations that constitute CAG didn’t begin their lives as they are today; they began them with a handful of dedicated founders working out of someone’s home. CAG is well ahead of that but not so far ahead that it can bypass the hard work of the institution and value proposition building requisite to turning the game’s statewide alliance into the advocacy vehicle we all want it to be and the California golf community so desperately needs in an environment that grows increasingly political with each passing day.

SCPGA.COM

33

10THINGS TO KNOW 7 BY: JEFF JOHNSON, PGA SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R JJOHNSON@PGAHQ.COM

1

There are 21 Century Life Members in our Section. This category is a combination of age and years as a PGA Member collectively, totaling 100.

2 3

Management companies in our Section employ over 100 PGA Members.

Your Section’s Foundation, led by Chairman Frank Talarico and Director Matt Gilson, will award 24 scholarships in 2018 totaling $35k.

4

Our Golf in Schools program and summer camps, led by Anthony Leone and Max Berman, have shared the game of golf with 1,200 children this year.

5

For many years it has been a goal to reach a certain milestone in our Section’s PGA Professional Championship.

We are thrilled to say that this year we will meet that goal with a purse of $100k.

6

Some will recall, but if you don’t you should know. The Ryder Cup was contested in 1955 at the Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage and in 1959 at Eldorado Country Club in Indian Wells. In the 1955 Cup Match, Jerry Barber, Tom Barber’s dad was a rookie. The U.S. Team won both years.

34

Norman Macbeth was raised at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, England. Though he was a founding member of the Brentwood Country, he will always be remembered for designing and building the Wilshire Country Club in 1919 - which celebrates a century of golf next year.

8

The wisdom of old architects is timeless. Dr. MacKenzie, George Thomas and George Crump all agreed that one of the reasons St. Andrews Old Course is infinitely superior is when it was constructed no one knew anything about the subject at all, and since then has been to sacred to be touched.

“I KNOW I AM GETTING BETTER AT GOLF BECAUSE I AM HITTING FEWER SPECTATORS” -GERALD R. FORD

9

In 1934 Paul Runyan was the leading money winner with earnings of $6,767. In 2017 our prize money winner was Justin Thomas with $5,858,980. He played in 17 events.

10

Jim Petralia, PGA has been working on his game and working with Paul Wise, PGA on his. They were in the finals of the Super Senior Section Match Play Championship and student Wise got the better of teacher Petralia, 4 & 3. Wise, by the way, was the Section PGA Professional Champion in 1983 and ‘84 and Jim was our Teacher of the Year in 1989 and ‘92.

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

SCPGA STAFF HIGHLIGHT Demi Dailey is joins the communications team as the Communications Administrator for the Southern California section.

Since starting this position in the beginning of July, Demi has interacted with every department and initiative. Most notably, she was able to attend the PGA Demo & Fashio Expo in Las Vegas.

“Seeing such a large event take place, it really began to sink what an honor is is to be a part of the PGA team.”

Before coming on board, Demi worked at Monarch Beach Golf llinks with Eric Lohman, PGA. Demi’s favorite memories in the golf industry come from from her time at the Toshiba Classic (now the Hoag Classic), working in maketing and event planning, specifically organizing their Street Team outreach and Student Day programs.

Demi graduated from California State University Fullerton in 2017 with her degree in Communications with an emphasis in Advertising. She joins fellow communications major and CSUF alumni Bryce Seiver to tag team all marketing and communications responsibilities for the Section, its partners and initiative like ClubsForeYouth®, Jr. League, and many more.

With so much going on at the Section from events to tournaments, Demi is excited to use her experience in golf, marketing and tournaments to help the section and its members grow.

Demi grew up playing golf with her parents but likes to leave the playing nowadays to the professionals. In her spare time you can find her going to Islands Burgers where she worked as a server for four years or watching “The Office” religiously on Netflix.

P R O A S S I S TA N T

COME ONE, COME ALL The Professional Assistant Championship is one of the signature events each year for our members to interact with our partners. Every September/ October 200 PGA professionals descend on Mission Hills Country Club for golf, food and fun. One added benefit in 2018 will be the opportunity for our members to meet and interact with OVER 20 partners this year on October 1st and 2nd. Every partner at the event is there to meet our members and help provide as many options as possible to enhance their own golf course or facility. We are excited to have a great mix of long time partners and brand new partners showcased this year for one of the biggest and best events our section will put on. Don’t forget to register your team before the tournament is filled!

MISSION HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

Ocotber 1-2, 2018 | SCPGA.com/ProAssist18

PRESENTING PARTNER

PRODUCT PARTNER

SUPPORTING PARTNER

SCPGA.COM

35

DR. ALISON CURDT Nothing will keep her down

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESYOF THE PGA OF AMERICA

The 36-year-old PGA Master Professional and licensed psychotherapist followed an opening-round 76 with an 88 to close her fifth consecutive appearance in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Curdt’s performance wasn’t what she was looking for but what golfer could handle a disappointing round in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship any better than Dr. Alison Curdt?

“Ten to 15 years ago, I would be way more upset,” said Curdt, a resident of Reseda, California. “I’m certainly upset and disappointed; nobody wants to shoot that. I know I’ve got work to go back to and I had family out here watching me and friends supporting me.”

Curdt was one of eight PGA/LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals in the 156-member field. She is the only player among the group to hold both PGA of America and LPGA membership.

For Alison, the KPMG Women’s PGA

Championship is a mere blip on Curdt’s golfing radar.

Curdt, who completed her doctoral degree in psychology last March, said she well understands the challenges for any club professional.

ARTICLE BY BOB DENNEY, PGA OF AMERICA

36

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

TAKE THE RIGHT APPROACH Available at pro shops and fine golf retailers.

ED BUDZ San Diego, The Desert & Orange County C: 951-595-0268 F: 951-972-4412 ed.budz@cuttersales.com LORI BRENDLE Central California & Los Angeles C: 562-225-9133 lori.brendle@cutterbuck.com

San Diego Chapter

San Diego Chapter

Metropolitan Chapter

S O U T H E R N

C A L I F O R N I A Metropolitan Chapter

C H A P T E R

Inland Empire Chapter

NORTHERN CHAPTER

U P D AT E S

DESERT CHAPTER

Desert Chapter

Inland Empire Chapter

Northern Chapter

Desert Chapter

The Summer Meeting and Professional Shamble was held at Las Posas Country Club on June 18th. The team of Nick Redmond & Tim Medina took honors with an impressive 7 under par 64.

Second place was secured by Alan Sorenson & Cody Rose with a 65 and there was a three way tie for third position all carding 5 under par totals.

The Desert Chapter has had a hot summer with lots of great golf events.

We’ve hosted 7 golf tournaments from May through August. Highlights were the Summer Stroke Play held at Mountain Northern Chapter Vista GC, The Pro-Associate held at Marrakesh CC, The Summer Stableford held at PGA WEST and the Match Play Championship held at Toscana CC.

The Pro-Junior was reintroduced to our Chapter and a huge thank you goes out to host PGA Professionals Dan Martin & Rodney Scott for hosting this Championship at Rustic Canyon on July 16th. Fittingly, Dan Martin and his partner Ethan Davidson were victorious posting an impressive 10 under par 62.

Even more impressive is Ethan shot a 63 on his own ball. Dan Martin and the California Junior Golf Tour certainly must know what they’re doing!

Brent Smith (Ivey Ranch Golf Club) and Geoff Dean (PGA WEST) tied for first in the Summer Stroke play. Kenneth Pineo and Charlie Peterson(Toscana CC) were victorious in the Pro Associate with 7 under par. Don Littrell (M2D2 Golf) was our champion for our Stableford Championship. Chris Gilley (La Quinta CC) beat out 31 professionals to take the title of Match play champion.

Congratulations to all of our winners.

The 36 hole stroke play Chapter Championship is scheduled for Monday, August 13th at Wood Ranch Golf Club.

This is a highlight on our tournament calendar and we look forward to crowning the best player in our Chapter for 2018. San Diego Chapter

INLAND EMPIRE CHAPTER

Coming up in our chapter are some exciting events: We have the Chapter Championship to be held on September 6 & 7 at Mountain View CC. On a section level, we are hosts of the Southern California Section Championship at Rancho La Quinta CC and La Quinta CC September 10-12. Lastly, we are excited to be hosts of the National PGA Annual Meeting in November.

Metropolitan Chapter

METROPOLITAN CHAPTER San Diego Chapter Inland Empire Chapter

The Inland Empire Chapter held its 2018 Summer Meeting and Pro Pro Triple Play Championships at Journey at.

Pechanga. We had our largest meeting Desert Chapter and tournament attendance this year!

Special thanks to our title sponsor Honma who added $2000 to our purse as well as a hole in one contest, where John Wallace had 2 swings at winning $100,000.Northern ThankChapter you to Greg Vincent from Oakley for donating glasses for pros driving the #10 green. Scott Mallory and Randy Chang used their home field advantage to come away as the 2018 Triple Play Champions at the beautiful and challenging Journey Golf Course.

Metropolitan Chapter

The summer season is just getting started for the Metropolitan Chapter.

We were thrilled to have our Summer Meeting hosted at the beautiful Navy Golf Course. The facility was in fantastic shape andInland theEmpire strong sea breeze Chapter proved to be no issue for our winning team. Blair Harkins, PGA and Logan Scott, PGA shot a blistering score of 61 and proved why they were the top team, great playing gentlemen.

Desert Chapter Coming up on the calendar is our Chapter Championship. It is being hosted at South Hills Country Club in

Northern Chapter

38

P G A

PROGRAM MAGAZINE - SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

West Covina on August 13. It will prove to be a grueling challenge, with our competitors battling the summer heat over a 36-hole test of golf. We hope to see all of the Metro’s talented stars come out to compete.

We are getting an early jump on the Special Awards conversations for the chapter. We want everyone to start thinking about those who work around your facility, as well as others you know who deserve to be recognized. It will be that time of year before you know it, so lets get going.

Finally, thank you as always to our proud partners that make our meetings possible.

SAN DIEGO CHAPTER

San Diego Chapter

The San Diego Chapter held our Annual Summer Meeting on July 16th at Rancho Bernardo Inn. Special thanks to General Manager, Jamie Lemon and PGA Head Professional, Peter Wininger for a great Chapter conditions, venue andMetropolitan perfect course and Mike Fox from Blast Motion for providing an outstanding presentation on their new swing analysis/metrics technology.

We had a busy tournament schedule Inland Empire Chapter this Summer that included special kudos to some of our most talented players in our Chapter. Congratulations to the following PGA Professionals: Bruce Nakamura (Aviara Golf Academy), qualified and played in the U.S. Senior.

Desert Chapter Open. Brian Smock (Coronado Golf Course), qualified and played in the PGA Championship. Cavin McCall, PGA Associate Champion. Bruce Nakamura, Senior Stroke Play Champion Chris Starkjohann, Super Senior Stroke Northern Chapter Play Champion We would also like to recognize Erik Wilson from The Grand Golf Club for winning the National PGA Merchandiser of the Year (resort) award. Looking forward to seeing the Southern California Section PGA Professionals and Associates well represented at the Annual Teaching and Coaching Summit at The Grand Golf Club October 22nd and 23rd. Featured golf instructors include: Derek Uyeda, Michael Adams, Dave Phillips, Greg Rose, Scott Hamilton, Hank Haney, and Stan Utley.

3

A PROVEN ELEMENT OF INNOVATION. Elite customers deserve an ELiTE™ golf car. More customers are choosing E-Z-GO® ELiTE vehicles powered

by Samsung SDI lithium technology - so many that the technology is in 40 perecent of the electric golf cars we sell, and for good reason. Golf courses with E-Z-GO ELiTE vehicles put battery worries behind them, and they’re saving over 35 percent on energy expenses. Join the movement, and see how the cost and labor savings of ELiTE lithium vehicles can transform the operations of your course.

EZGO.com/ELiTE

Learn more: Joe Martin Territory Sales Manager 949.233.1186 jmartin2@textron.com

Mike Cross Territory Sales Manager 760.936.7530 mcross@textron.com

* Externally endorsed testing. Results determined comparing the RXV vs. the Precedent and Drive AC models. Results vary according to course terrain and conditions. **Based on the RXV. © 2018 Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc.

3333 CONCOURS, BLDG 2, STE 2100 ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA 91764 scpga.com | scpgajrtour.com

ENGINEERED TO DOMINATE

“

T1100 White is the most stable driver shaft I have ever played. It gives you instant feedback so you always know right where it's going. ” Josh Kendall PGA Professional Lomas Santa Fe Country Club KO Golf Academy

Call 800-355-8783 to learn more about our special PGA Professional PUD and how you can earn MSR credits through our online True Certified training.

To complete our online webinar and become True Certified, visit

truetemper.com/shaft-education

TRUE

CERTIFIED

pxshaft.com