Time flies when we are having fun! All of a sudden, it is the middle of August, and we are rolling out of summer and into fall. I hope you have had a great summer.
August is such a challenging time for many of us with the start of school and the departure of seasonal help at an alarming rate. We still have a calendar full of events and fewer people to get the work done. Additionally, some of the key players start to suffer a bit of burnout as member-guest events and player development programs wrap up. Burnout can affect all of us and the people we depend on most. Remember to address workplace stress with your people and for yourself. The best thing you can do is talk openly with your team, provide variety in their roles, encourage them to relax when they can, and distribute work carefully. It is so important to take mental health seriously.
Fall is the best time of year in our business, in my opinion. The crisp mornings, sunny afternoons, and cool evenings feel amazing, and course conditions are always superb, barring the seasonal greens aerification. It is the best time of year to play golf and watch football! I look forward to fall every year. As golf pros, there are a number of playing opportunities for us in the PNW in the fall. Hopefully, you will be signing up for your Chapter Championship, and you are considering visiting us in MT for the PNW Section Championship! Entries are now available for the PNW PGA Professional Championship presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex. This year’s championship will take place September 16-18 at Canyon River GC in Missoula, MT. Entries are due by 5:00 PM Pacific on September 3. Please pay close attention to the entry deadline, as no late entries will be accepted! The optional Pro-Pro will take place on Monday, September 15, at 1:30 PM. Pick your own Pro-Pro partner for the four-ball competition and meet us there!
We will also be conducting the Section’s fall governance meetings at Missoula Country Club during the event. On Tuesday, September 16, after Round 1, join us for the PNW PGA Fall Meeting. I am thrilled to have the Section meeting at my club. The board will conduct the fall board meeting the day before. 2025 has been a great year so far, and I suspect we will finish the year the same way. We will begin our process of planning for 2026 at this meeting and prepare for the winter planning session in December.
As we move into fall, please mark your calendars for the mentoring conference. This is a great opportunity. Last year, five of my team attended the event at Tacoma C&GC. It was very rewarding and a nice bonding experience for our team. We aligned goals, fostered new ideas, and learned many things—both about each other and our profession. The young associates on our team are more engaged in their journey to membership and their job at Missoula CC than I have ever experienced. I hope you will consider doing the same. The cost is very low, and the experience is invaluable. Registration is now open for the 2025 PNW PGA Mentoring Conference presented by TaylorMade, aboutGOLF, Evolve Golf, and NI Golf Tours, November 11-12 at Tualatin Country Club. Attendance is limited for this popular event, so make sure to enter quickly! Earn 16 PGA Required PDRs for attending, or AMP Education for associates. We hope you are planning to join us!
Have a great month and enjoy the game! I look forward to seeing you soon.