Happy New Year! 2019 here we go… WOW!!!
We all got into this business because of our love for the game of golf and playing golf. Everyone’s New Year’s resolution should be to find away to get out and play, if it’s playing in more tournaments at the Chapter or Section level or it’s just playing more at your home club. Fall in love with playing golf again.
The start of the Section Tournament Program is right around the corner. First up on the list of great events this year is the Hawaii Pro-Am presented by State Farm Jim Ostrander Agency, January 10th – 17th at a new venue this year, Kaua’i Marriott Resort. Section Professionals will get a chance to play Hokuala Ocean Course & Poipu Bay GC. Have a blast in the sunshine and drink a Mai Tai for me.
Congratulations to Pat Fitzsimons of La Quinta, CA and Dan Hill of Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle, WA. Both of these gentlemen will be formally inducted into the Pacific Northwest Section PGA Hall of Fame on April 26th during the Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Fame induction at Inglewood GC. I had the pleasure of informing both of these gentlemen last month. Both of their careers speak for themselves. Pat Fitzsimons’ distinguished playing record includes winning many Section Majors — in fact only three Northwest Professionals hold more titles then Pat and they are all in the Hall of Fame. Welcome to the club, Pat. Dan Hill has given back so much to our Section Professionals and has also represented us on the National level. Dan is a model PGA Professional and is personally someone I have looked up to for many years. Thank you for your service Dan, and for always picking up the phone to help us out.
The PNW PGA Special Award Winners were also announced. Congratulations to this extraordinary class of PGA Golf Professionals who represent the best of the best of our Section. Check out their bios here. These outstanding golf professionals will be honored at the Pacific Northwest Section Special Awards Ceremony on March 17th, 2019 at Seattle Golf Club in Shoreline, WA. Congrats again on an outstanding 2018, I look forward to hearing all about your best practices at the awards ceremony. Special thanks to Sean Fredrickson and the Awards Committee. Sean has chaired this committee for the last two years and under his direction the process keeps getting better.
Please be on the look out for the Adult Player Development and Youth Player Development grants coming out soon. Section professional will have the chance to apply for grants that can directly increase your bottom line in 2019. If you haven’t applied for one of these grants in the past, you are missing the boat on how the section is giving back to professionals to help increase business and programs at your home club. View past grant award winners and their programs’ best practices here.
As, always please don’t hesitate to call or email me with any questions or concerns about our Section. I’m here to serve and help the best way I can. Here’s to a great 2019, and finding more ways to serve the member and grow the game.
All the best,
Gregory C. Morris, PGA
President, PNWPGA
Head Golf Professional, Iron Horse GC