Don Willingham Creating life-long golfers

ByEllenMiller-Goins

IT’S A GORGEOUS SPRING DAY, COOL BUT WITH A CRISP BLUE SKY AGAINST THE STARK WHITE OF WHEELER PEAK, WHICH CAN BE SEEN RIGHT OUT THE GOLF SHOP DOOR. INSIDE, STAFF ARE BUSY UNPACKING BOXES, PRICING MERCHANDISE AND GETTING READY FOR THEIR BUSY SUMMER SEASON. DON WILLINGHAM, A PGA PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS WORKED AS DIRECTOR OF GOLF AT ANGEL FIRE RESORT AND COUNTRY CLUB SINCE 2012, OFFERS A WARM GREETING BEFORE SITTING DOWN TO CHAT IN THE PAR & GRILL, A CASUAL-DINING SPOT OFFERING PLAYERS BREAKFAST AND LUNCH IN THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE COUNTRY CLUB.

Willingham is tall and lanky with the confident athleticism one would expect from a dedicated professional. Spend time visiting with Don and it quickly becomes clear this is his avocation, not his vocation. He loves golf, and he loves sharing golf. Unlike some who come to the game as soon as they’re old enough to swing, Willingham says, “I started when I was 13, which is late in life for pro golfers. I didn’t get real serious until I was 15. I started working for a golf professional at a local golf course.”

It didn’t take long for Willingham to pursue golf as a profession.

“I think most golf pros start out wanting to play, but the competition’s pretty tough out there.”

While pursuing that goal, Willingham was an associate in Dallas. His first full-pro position was at a club in San Angelo, Texas. He worked at a few Texas clubs before chance led him to Angel Fire. A friend who knew the Angel Fire golf pro invited him to help with a clinic at the mountain resort.

“Coming from Texas, I thought 100-degree weather was pretty good for playing golf,” he says with a smile. “It’s quite the perfect climate we have up here.” made a lot of changes. We’re constantly trying to evolve and make the golf course better.”

Recently, they have expanded the putting green to over 5,000 square feet. “We had room to make it three times as big.”

Here, Willingham explains to a golf neophyte how professional players and club professionals differ. PGA Members begin as registered associates, then work to complete the PGA Professional Golf Management (PGA PGM) Program.

“To become a PGA Class-A member it’s like going through college,” Willingham explains. “It takes a minimum of 3 ½ years with business courses, teaching, tournaments, golf pro shop management and merchandising, managing a fleet of carts, some food and beverage. They touch on every piece in the golf industry.”

“Graduation” involves a “written test and a playing-ability test.”

As Angel Fire’s golf pro, Willingham supervises staff that includes mentoring associate pros, assistant golf professionals Ally Weber and Greg Ward. The duo teach and help in many ways, but Willingham notes, “I still teach on a regular basis. Most golf pros enjoy that part, helping people play better and then see the light at the end of the tunnel. That’s pretty satisfying for me, whether they’re just starting in the game or whether they’re hoping to break par.”

In his “down time,” Willingham loves fly fishing, hiking and, along with wife Judy, socializing with friends. “I love golf, obviously. Golf is my profession and my hobby.”

He loves playing, and he loves finding ways to make his home course better. “We’ve

One of his proudest accomplishments is adding Junior Camps that have segued into competition for many of their young charges. The resort hosts a Junior League Golf Team; and Moreno Valley High School’s Golf Team practices at the course.

“The future of the game is helping kids learn to enjoy golf,” Willingham says.

“We’re not trying to make PGA tour players; we’re trying to make golfers for life. Golf is something you can play into your 90s. It’s the greatest sport. It’s like life. You get bad breaks you have to overcome. You have different obstacles, and you have to overcome them. Golf teaches you how to deal with adversity.”