It’s May and, like all of you, we are going full-speed in the Section and Chapter offices. Chapter pro-ams are at peak levels, making our chapter folks very busy. Help them out by submitting your registration information early and accurately, filling your teams instead of cancelling and leaving a detailed message when you call and don’t reach them. Believe it or not, they are easier to reach than you on a call back! This pro-am activity really ramps up the activity in the Section office managing deposits, payouts, MSR’s, handicaps and of course eligibility for the chapter events. We have a couple things going at the Section level too!
We are in URGENT need of your assistance for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, June 6-12 at Sahalee CC. The Section manages the volunteer effort for the Practice Range and Short Game area. We still need about 40 professionals – members or apprentices – to pick up a couple of shifts. For the practice rounds, you’ll be up close while the players work with their instructors; during the championship, you’ll witness them preparing for competition. Please find time in your busy schedule to assist, you’ll enjoy the experience. Volunteers who work at least two shifts will receive their uniform free – shirt and outwear from Polo and a Section hat. Lunch and free parking are included. To volunteer, click here for the schedule of available shifts, and then call Angela Hinzpeter in the office to sign up.
Dues bills will be hitting your email shortly. Every year, the PGA of America emails your dues invoice. Simply log into PGA.org to make your payment or print off an invoice for the club to pay. If you have an email address in the system, that is how your invoice will arrive. Paper copies will only be mailed to the handful of members with no email on record. Notice I did not say “correct” email address. If you don’t see the email, just log into your account. New this year, you can assign a “proxy” to have temporary access to your account for the purpose of paying your dues on-line with a company credit card. Log into PGA.org for the information, right below your dues amount.
The first round of the Yamaha Player Development Grants and our Junior Fund’s Youth Player Development Grants have been awarded. In total, just under $19,000 has been provided to you! We do have a little funding left under the Yamaha program so look for round 2 soliciting new applications very soon. Deadline for this will be June 15.
Yamaha Grants went to Clint Ables, Tim Bakker, Mark Easley, David Fern, Mark Gradin, Mat Hennick, Evan Johnsen, Casey McCoy, Chirstopher Meyer, Aaron Oakley/Jeff Evans, and Ed Paine. Junior Fund Grants were awarded to Kathy Brown, Chuck DaSilva, David Fern, Sara Griffin, Chris Grossbach, Mat Hennick, Steve Hill, Shanda Imlay, Chris Johnston, Cameron Milton, Chris Nowlen, Ed Paine, Justin Roberts, Chris Runyan, Ted Westling, and Todd Young. In all, a very diverse group of programs were supported. Congratulations to all these professionals who are definitely “growing the game” in the great Northwest.
There is a new entry process for our National Championships. Most importantly, there is no longer a universal national deadline in July! Our deadlines will be the typical 10-20 days before the championship……and will close on the appropriate day at midnight! Two benefits for you…1) you don’t write three championship checks the same month you are paying your dues; and 2) you should know your final schedule by the entry deadline. With this change…be careful…there will not be a late entry opportunity.
The Section Secretary election process is in motion. Be sure to read Dan and Sean’s response to this month’s topic.
On the Tournament front, entries are out for the Oregon Open and Rosauers Open. The Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open just closed but if you enter by Wednesday, I’m sure we have a few spots available. Our 2016 destination events were very popular, nice fields and a lot of fun. Look for information on 2017 shortly…..Hawaii in January or Vegas during March Madness….hmmm…..maybe both!
Finally, we live and die with our sponsors, please go out of your way to send them a short email of thanks. This is so important as they forward these to their sales managers…..the folks who approve the checks for next year! We need you. Please do this, it only takes a second.
Golf Genius has been a nice addition to our tournament operations. We are past the learning stage and really starting to implement some of the key features of the software. Open Registration has really helped the Chapter Pro-Ams. Thank you all for your diligence entering accurate information. Firing up a 200-player event every Sunday…and sometimes Wednesday, Thursday, Friday takes a little time and Open Registration really helps. The other very nice feature is the online leaderboard. You can reach this via our websites and also through the Golf Genius app for your phone. If you click on a name on the leaderboard, it will show you the hole-by-hole scores. In the team leaderboard, you can see the entire team’s scores. Under analytics, you can see the stats for the round for yourself and the field. Take a look, you’ll get hooked. A big thanks to Troy Flateau for bringing Golf Genius to us. Give Troy a shout for a demo for your club!
Have a great May, enjoy the sunshine, play a little, teach a little more and be thankful we work in such a great industry. It’s the people who make is so special. I know, I’m lucky to work with such a great staff and all of you.
Jeff Ellison, PGA
CEO, Pacific Northwest Section PGA