OVERVIEW
About our Organizations
The Northern Ohio PGA is a 501c(6) made up of 480+ PGA Professionals and Associates. It is one of 41 sections of the PGA of America. The mission of the NOPGA is to promote interest and enjoyment in the game of golf while enhancing the well-being of its members.
The Northern Ohio PGA Section Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to support the Northern Ohio community, with a focus on junior golf, education and scholarships, and charities in the area. It is the charitable arm of the Northern Ohio PGA.
480+ PGA Members & Associates
Growing the Game of Golf
Where We Are
The geographical location of the Northern Ohio PGA is bounded on the north by the northern boundary of the State of Ohio; the east by the eastern boundary of the State of Ohio; the south by an imaginary line drawn between the cities of Martins Ferry, Ohio and Union City, Indiana.
Our Team
David Griffith
Executive Director
Lynne Plaisance
Director of Operations
Matt Rutland, PGA
Director of Competitions
Danielle Monas
Foundation Director
Haleigh Ditto
Junior Golf Coordinator
Emily Jones
Competitions & Foundation Coordinator
Let’s Look at the 501c(6) First!
Below are a few of the many programs and events that the Northern Ohio PGA facilitates:
PGA Professionals & Associates
the Ohio Open, Ohio Senior Open, & Toledo Open
ticipating in over 3500 rounds on the NOPGA Junior Tour
ve, Chip & Putt for beginner juniors
bers including Spring & Fall Membership Meetings, Teaching & a Section Awards Night
Board of Directors
STEVE CARTER, PGA
PRESIDENT,PEPPERPIKECLUB
CHAD KITZMILLER, PGA
VICE-PRESIDENT,WESTFIELDCOUNTRYCLUB
CORY KUMPF, PGA
SECRETARY,BROOKSIDECOUNTRYCLUB
MATT CREECH, PGA
HONORARYPRESIDENT,THEGOLFDOME
STEVE PARKER, PGA
DISTRICT5DIRECTOR,PORTAGECOUNTRYCLUB
DAN SUTTON, PGA
MCDIVOTSDRIVINGRANGE
MEGHANN GLASS-STEM, PGA
GLENMOORCOUNTRYCLUB
ADAM LEWICKI, PGA
PORTAGECOUNTRYCLUB
STEVE BORDNER, PGA
THECOUNTRYCLUB
DALE DAVIS, PGA
FIRESTONECOUNTRYCLUB
DREW PIERSON, PGA
THECLUBHOUSECLE
MARK SIERAK, PGA
OPTIMUSGOLF
Toledo Chapter
The Toledo Chapter of the PGA of America is a division of the Northern Ohio PGA serving golf professionals in Northwest Ohio. All Northern Ohio PGA Members are welcome to join the Chapter.
Our reach is from the northwest corner of the state and stretches as far south as Minster. The Toledo Chapter’s mission is to “make golf a better game in Northwest Ohio.” The Toledo Chapter hosts some of its own tournaments including a series of Pro-Ams so that their chapter members do not have to travel as far to compete in events.
Ohio Open
105th Ohio Open Championship set to return to Firestone Country Club
280+ Amateurs and Professionals will compete
Former Champions include Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson, Denny Shute, and Billy Burke
Past Champions total:
198 PGA Tour Wins
29 Major Championships
14 PGA Tour Champions
6 Major Champions
First won by Grange Alves at Toledo Country Club in 1921
Championship played on fifty different courses across Northern and Southern Ohio until the Northern Ohio PGA began solely running the event in 1983
The Opens
41th Ohio Senior Open Championship set for May 27-28 at Firestone Country Club - Fazio Course
130+ Senior Amateurs and Professionals
Bob Sowards, PGA, has the most consecutive wins at 5
96th Toledo Open Championship set to return to Belmont Country Club
140+ Amateurs and Professionals from all over the country Section’s only true open event!
7 Stroke Play Events
The NOPGA Stroke Play Series features seven single-day tournaments held at some of Northern Ohio's most prestigious golf courses. Sponsors benefit from repeated exposure throughout the season, as the series provides a platform to connect with a dedicated audience of professionals, club leaders, and golf enthusiasts.
35+ Section Events
The Northern Ohio PGA (NOPGA) is proud to host a series of prestigious professional events each year. These events highlight the talent of Northern Ohio’s top golf professionals and provide premium opportunities for sponsor engagement. Below is an overview of a few key championships and competitions, along with their dates and venues.
NOPGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
THE PREMIER COMPETITION FOR NORTHERN OHIO PGA PROFESSIONALS, THIS CHAMPIONSHIP CROWNS THE BEST GOLFER IN THE REGION. IT OFFERS SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE FOR SPONSORS THROUGH EVENT BRANDING, SIGNAGE, AND MEDIA COVERAGE.
NOPGA WOMEN’S SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP
THIS CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATES THE NOPGA’S TOP WOMEN PROFESSIONALS AND PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT AND HIGHLIGHT THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOMEN IN GOLF.
NOPGA SENIOR PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
A PRESTIGIOUS EVENT FOR SENIOR PROFESSIONALS, THIS CHAMPIONSHIP TARGETS A SEASONED AND INFLUENTIAL AUDIENCE OF PLAYERS AND FANS, OFFERING SPONSORS VALUABLE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
NOPGA ASSISTANTS CHAMPIONSHIP
THIS CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWCASES THE FUTURE STARS OF THE PGA SECTION, PROVIDING SPONSORS THE CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH THE NEXT GENERATION OF GOLF PROFESSIONALS AND BUILD LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS.
MITCHELL-HASKELL TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
THE SEASON FINALE FEATURES THE BEST-PERFORMING PROFESSIONALS COMPETING FOR TOP HONORS. THIS ELITE EVENT IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR SPONSORS TO ASSOCIATE WITH A PRESTIGIOUS AND HIGH-STAKES COMPETITION.
DENNY SHUTE MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
THIS EXCITING MATCH PLAY EVENT PITS TOP NOPGA PROFESSIONALS IN HEAD-TO-HEAD BATTLES, OFFERING SPONSORS THE CHANCE TO ENGAGE WITH AN AUDIENCE CAPTIVATED BY INTENSE COMPETITION.
Las Vegas Pro-Am
Annual Pro-Am with 1 professional and 3 amateurs
Limited to 36 Teams of 144 individuals
Fees include 3 rounds of golf, 4 nights at Resorts World, 3 lunches, transportation to the golf course, a $30,000 purse, and access to a complimentary hospitality suite after each round 25+ Years of History!
Ohio Cup Matches
Annual Matches between Northern and Southern Ohio PGA Sections with sections alternating who hosts Top 10 Section Members and Top 6 Senior Section Members from both sections
3 Rounds: Four-Ball, Foursomes, and Singles
14 points for the defending section to retain and 14.5 points for the other section to win the cup!
Membership Meetings
NOPGA hosts a Spring and Fall Membership Meeting for professionals and associates Meetings include section awards, officer reports, committee updates, education and breakout sessions, as well as presentations from section partners Typically 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Class A Professionals receive PDR (continuing education credits) for attendance at meetings
Teaching& Coaching Summit
The Teaching & Coaching Summit includes presentations from top instructors and golf minds as well as some of the section’s own professionals
Class A Professionals receive PDR (continuing education credits) for attendance at Teaching & Coaching Summit
Held in conjunction with the section’s Fall Meeting
Traditionally held at Westfield Country Club with 150+ professionals in attendance
Section Awards Night
The NOPGA hosts a stand-alone evening to honor the Section Award winners and Junior Tour Players of the Year prior to the Fall Meeting Awards include Teacher & Coach of the Year, Golf Professional of the Year, Sales Representatives of the Year, Merchandisers of the Year, Assistant of the Year, Hall of Fame inductees and more The event is moderated by TV personality and PGA Member, Jimmy Hanlin, with interviews with all section award winners
Social Media
4,400+ FOLLOWERS ON TWITTER
5,300+ FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM
2,600+ FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK
The Northern Ohio PGA's three social media channels have a total of over 12,000 followers!
700+ Junior Tour members
9-hole Futures Tour events
Ages 8-16 with a Caddie
18-hole events
Ages 11-18; next step after Futures Tour
36-hole events
Ages 11-18 for higher skilled juniors
Collegiate events
Ages 18-22 to prepare for college golf
Junior Golf Summit
The Junior Golf Summit, held annually in January, is a free event open to all junior golfers, high school and middle school golfers, and PGA Professionals
The day includes: College Coaches Panel
Teaching & Coaching Panel including practice tips Golf Fitness
The Mental Game
Junior Development 101 Panel for Parents Careers in Golf
PGA Jr. League is bringing friends, families, and communities together through golf
Girls and boys ages 17 and under of all skill levels are split between two age divisions: 13u and 17u
Over 1400 juniors participate on PGA Jr. League teams in Northern Ohio on teams run by our PGA Professionals and Associates and leagues are managed by our section and national staff
Kids wear numbered jerseys and compete on teams in a fun scramble format
At the end of the season, leagues create All-Star teams to compete in the Section Championship, competing at Eagle Creek Golf Club annually Championship is hosted by the Northern Ohio PGA
Drive, Chip & Putt
Founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, United States Golf Association and The PGA of America
Free nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf
Participants who advance through local, sub-regional and regional qualifying in each age/gender category earn a place in the National Finals, which is conducted at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters Tournament and is broadcast live by Golf Channel.
In 2024, the Northern Ohio PGA had two local juniors qualify: Preston Tolnar and Flynn Lewis!
The NOPGA will host 6 local qualifiers and a sub-regional each year
Now Let’s Look at the 501c(3) Foundation!
Below are a few of the charitable causes that the NOPGA Section Foundation runs and supports:
clubs to juniors with financial need free instruction to Veterans and Active Duty ar to high school seniors
t afford to participate in NOPGA Junior Tour events
PGA HOPE
Stands for “Helping Our Patriots Everywhere”
Free 6-8 week golf instructional program for Veterans and Active-Duty Military
PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans to allow them to use it as a means of rehabilitation physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually
Taught by PGA Professionals, LPGA Professionals & Associates
Professionals must go through PGA HOPE adaptive training before working with Veterans
PGA HOPE has a memorandum of understanding with the VA which enables VA doctors and staff to refer Veterans to the HOPE program as a form of therapy
Serves over 320+ Veterans each year!
OPERATION: PLAY DAYS
Operation: Play Days is the next step after a Veteran graduates from PGA HOPE Veterans will sign up for play days through PGA.Coach online
While the 6-8 week program is free, the Play Days will be at a highly discounted fee ($10) and include 18 holes of golf
Veterans will participate in a two-person scramble or play individually with prizes given out after each round
SCHOLARSHIPS
Northern Ohio PGA Section Foundation awrds two local students with a $10,000 scholarship to assist with their college education
The students selected to receive the $10,000 scholarship will receive it in $2,500 increments annually over the course of four years
Applicants must be high school seniors who live in Northern Ohio and are past or current members of a golf organization and are awarded primarily on three criteria: Academics, Community Service, and Financial Need
Over $100,000 in scholarships have been granted in the past years
GRANTS
Since 2020, the NOPGA Section Foundation has granted over $100,000 in grants to local Northern Ohio charities including:
Clearview Legacy Foundation
Ben Curtis Family Foundation
Cleveland Clinic Challenge Golf
Ohio Girls Golf Foundation
Greater Cleveland Junior Golf Scholarship
Fund
The Turn
CLUBS FORE KIDS
The Clubs Fore Kids program provides sets of golf clubs to individual juniors with financial need as well as girls high school golf teams that needed help getting more girls to participate. In 2024, 114 sets of golf clubs were distributed to 18 Girls High School Golf Teams and individual juniors.
What’s included?
Set of 10 Golf Clubs
Carry Bag
1 Dozen Golf Balls
Tees
Towel
Youth on Course Membership
Lesson from a PGA Professional
In 2025, the Foundation gave 135 sets of golf clubs to juniors with financial need and girls/boys high school golf programs!
PGA WORKS FELLOWSHIP
The PGA WORKS Fellowship is a 6-12 month, full-time contract with a PGA Section to be fully immersed in the responsibilities of a Section staff member Fellows get to experience the work behind the scenes including Player Development Programs, Social Media, Marketing, Tournament Operations, and so much more Anyone who has recently graduated from college or graduate school can be a Fellow!
The Fellowship is designed for underrepresented groups in golf (women, people of color, military, etc.) but everyone is encouraged to apply and be a part of the golf industry’s workforce.
The PGA WORKS Fellowship provides you with many opportunities to go into golf (including the PGA Headquarters!), continue with the Section if they have a need, work at a golf course, or go to a different sport altogether!
JUNIORTOUR FINANCIALAID
Over $10,000 awarded each year to financial aid recipients on the NOPGA Junior Tour Aid helped reduce the cost to families for tournament entries and membership Some families in need of financial aid fell onto hard times and had medical issues with a parent and unemployment that caused their need for financial aid This financial assistance program allows juniors who may not have otherwise been able to afford golf, to play in junior events
FIRESTONE JUNIOR CUP
Eight PGA Jr. League teams from around Northern
Ohio are invited to attend a day of activities prior to the playing of the Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club’s Fazio Course
Juniors attend a short game clinic, meet a Champions
Tour player, eat lunch, and play a nine-hole twoperson scramble competition
At the end of the day, the low aggregate score from the front nine competes against the low aggregate score on the back nine in a shootout to determine the Firestone Junior Cup Champions
JUNIOR OHIO CUP
A Ryder Cup-style event featuring some of the top junior golfers in Ohio, alternates sections each year Teams from the Northern Ohio Section and the Southern Ohio Section of the Professional Golfers Association of America were outfitted with CobraPuma uniforms and golf bags
Juniors compete in Four-Ball (aka Best-Ball) and singles matches Teams were comprised of eight boys and eight girls who qualified through their respective PGA Junior Tour programs through their status on their Playerof-the-Year points lists Northern Ohio PGA is undefeated against Southern Ohio PGA so far!
BIRDIE CLUB
The Birdie Club is a player performancebased fundraising drive to get Junior Tour members involved in community outreach Allows junior tour members to get a greater sense of pride and accomplishment beyond just their performance during Junior Tour events Junior Tour members asked family, friends, and neighbors for pledges throughout the Junior Tour season to support the NOPGA Section Foundation and its mission Donors pledged a dollar amount per birdie or simply donated a flat donation
FOUNDATION EVENTS
Ohio Open Pro-Am
1 Professional & 4 Amateur event at Firestone CC prior to the Ohio
Open Championship
PGA HOPE Cup
1 Professional & 4 PGA HOPE Graduate event to celebrate a year of
HOPE
Kenny Novak Scholarship Day
1 professional, 1 junior, and 3 amateurs raising funds for scholarships
Birdies & Charity
Professionals and associates from various facilities participate in 72 holes of golf in one day to raise money for the foundation
In 5 years, over $500,000 has been raised!
Section Goals
Goal # 1
Run more junior tour tournaments to allow all juniors that want to play in NOPGA Junior Tour events the opportunity to play
Below are three goals that the 501c(6) has going forward into the next 5+ years.
Goal # 2
Increase the purses in the three open events, section championships, and stroke play series
Goal # 3
Move into a new homesite that gives our section and foundation the ability to grow and run programming during all four seasons
Foundation Goals
Goal # 1
Create a Board of Trustees made up of individuals from the community to commit to annual financial support that will allow us to expand programming.
Below are three goals that the 501c(3) has going forward into the next 5+ years.
Goal # 2
Create an event where Veterans from the NOPGA play Veterans from other sections in a cup-style format incorporating Secretary’s Cup nominees.
Goal # 3
Secure dedicated funds for Operation: Play Days and PGA HOPE Cup for Veterans & Active Duty Military after their PGA HOPE Journey.
Direct Email Blasts to 480+
Section Members & Associates
Direct Email Blasts to 4000+
Junior Golf Families
Email Advertisements in Section Newsletter, Short Shots
Email Advertisements in Junior Golf Newsletter, Birdie Business
Social Media Posts on:
(X)
WHAT WE CAN OFFER WHAT WE CAN OFFER
A Few Ideas
Foursomes in Foundation events including Ohio Open
Pro-Am & Kenny Novak
Scholarship Day
Foursomes after select section events including stroke play series
Invitation to Spring and Fall Membership Meeting with 175-200 NOPGA Members in attendance
Invitation to Teaching & Coaching Summit
Invitation to Section Awards
Night
Signage on Property at all 30+
Junior Events and 40+ section events
Company Logo listed on section website with clickable link
Company Logo on all Junior Tour trophies
Arrangement of customized golf clinics led by Northern Ohio PGA professionals for the partner's employees, clients, or stakeholders
