President's Report

I am proud of our organization.

As the President of our Section’s organization I have been involved in its governance for more than 9 years.  I have followed many great leaders and servants to our membership.  I have been involved in many great programs, but none have been more important to our organization than the recent adoption of the Strategic Plan.  Yes, you have heard me talk about this before, but the importance of the clear direction and operations of our organization has never been better.  The Board’s job is to help develop and approve the Strategic and Business Plans and then allow the CEO and his staff to execute on it while holding them accountable to those plans.  Your Section Board is laser-focused on the engagement of themselves, the alignment of the six business entities in our Section and the accountability of the Organizational Chart.  We have developed a successful governance model and your Board and your Staff are “all in”.

At the recent Annual Meeting in Tacoma we delivered a report on our operations and how your dues are working for you.  If you weren’t in attendance, I encourage you to view a PDF of the presentation that Marlena has put on the Section website.

One of the most impressive things that I have witnessed in my first year as President is the work ethic of your CEO.  The Strategic and Business plans are not delivered by your Board but by your staff and under the guidance of their leader, Jeff Ellison.  Jeff always acts in the best interest of the Section Member first.  He is responsible for employees and business plans in five Chapters and the Section.  A daunting task for any of us and he makes it look effortless.  We all work a lot, Jeff is right there with anyone in our Section for commitment and effort to their job.  Thank you Jeff, for your tireless work to our Section and Chapter members, it is very much appreciated.

We still have many ways to improve; under the guidance of our Strategic Plan and its Mission Statement “To Serve our Members and Grow the Game,” we will develop even better alignment and plans to enhance your membership and development of our Professionals as the leaders in the game and business of golf.

Next time you encounter a Chapter or Section staff member, thank them.  They have worked hard on your behalf and will continue to be challenged by the Board to develop and execute on the plans for our business.  One of my favorite quotes is “failing to plan is planning to fail”.  Rest assured that your leadership is engaged in planning in order to deliver the most out of your membership.

If I can ever do anything for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Greg Manley, PGA
President, PNWPGA
[email protected]

CEO's Report

I hope you took advantage of the single largest golf event in the Northwest – our Merchandise Show, Annual Meeting, Pro-Vendor, Education and all the fun you could arrange in the evenings! We sold out the Show this year, vendors appreciated all the orders and we received many comments on the Annual Meeting, especially Don Rea’s interview with Greg Manley that highlighted key initiatives from the PGA of America. There is something at this event for everyone….plan to join us next year.

The 2018 Tournament Schedule is complete. Click here to see the outstanding line up and plan your schedule.

Entries are still out for the Holcomb-In-One Las Vegas Pro-Am. We return to the newly remodeled Park MGM rooms at the Monte Carlo and have added TPC Las Vegas to the schedule. This is going to be one of our best trips to Vegas so plan on joining us! Click here to enter now before it fills.

Your officers head off today to the PGA Annual Meeting in Austin. They will represent you on the floor of this important step in our governance process and help chart the course for your association. There are five resolutions on the agenda that can impact you. Check them out on PGA.org and watch the live stream on November 3^rd.

Your Board of Directors will be meeting on December 4-5 in our Winter Meeting to finalize our Business Plan, approve the 2018 Budget and confirm the Special Award Winners. If you would like your leaders to address specific issues please contact President Manley or myself and we’ll bring it to the meeting.

Be on the alert for the PGA Scholarship applications scheduled to go live on November 16. Open to children and grandchildren of PGA Members there are both merit and need based opportunities available. The rules changed a little a few years ago to spread the wealth so please continue to apply even if an award was not received in prior years. You never know!

As you prepare for 2018 please involve yourself in our three growth of the game initiatives. Be a part of PGA Junior League, promote Drive Chip and Putt and host a DCP Prep Clinic and finally apply for a Yamaha Player Development Grant from the Section. PGA Junior League is the best program the PGA of America has ever rolled out and it will see significant upgrades again this year. Need help, reach out to Branden Thompson our PGA Junior League Regional Manager. Branden is dedicated to helping you capitalize on PGA Junior League. Call him at 503-869-2827 or email [email protected].

By now you know that Monte Koch is our new PGA Career Consultant. Monte is here to help you not only with employment changes but just as importantly help you excel in your current role. Take advantage of the many seminars Monte will be hosting this winter and be sure to reach out to him for a little career coaching. Monte can be reached at 206-335-5260 or email [email protected].

Finally remember that the MSR cycle ends on June 15, 2018. Please check your status on PGA.org and get started now completing your final requirements. Our staff is here to help you understand your individual situation. Just give us a call in the office.

Jeff Ellison, PGA
CEO, PNWPGA

Don't forget to thank the 2017 tournament sponsors! You can find all their contact info on the members-only website at: member.pnwpga.com or get the PDF.

Gove and Slackman Win PNW Pro-Amateur Championship

by Molly Cooper, PGA - Director of Tournament & Member Programs

Palouse Ridge GC played host to the PNW Pro-Amateur Championship this year in beautiful sunny conditions. Carved into a broad expanse of rolling hills on the Pullman campus of Washington State University, and Palouse Ridge Golf Club is one of America’s finest public-access courses. The bold, dramatic layout is patterned after the classic courses of Scot­land and was designed by the late John Har­bottle III.

 The team consisting of PGA Professional Jeff Gove and amateur Darren Slackman of The Creek at Qualchan came out on top and captured the title of PNW Pro-Amateur Team Champions by two strokes after firing four-ball scores of 61-61-122, 22 under par. They won by two strokes over 2011 Champions Brian Thornton of Meridian Valley CC and amateur Todd Densley.

Sponsored by National Car Rental, the Official Rental Car of The PGA of America, the event is one of nearly 100 tournaments across the 41 PGA of America Sections nationwide being linked together to form the Pro-Am Series. National Car Rental created the tournaments to help further the PGA of America’s mission to grow interest and participation in the game of golf at local levels. The Series will run through October 2017.

The Pacific Northwest Section PGA would like to recognize National Car Rental for their continued sponsorship this year. We would also like to thank Steve Cotton and Pete Trudeau, with Pacific Golf & Turf for returning as supporting sponsors once again.

Thanks to Palouse Ridge and Head PGA Professional Jeremy Wexler, General Manager Todd Lupkes and their staff for hosting a fantastic week!

Next year we will return to Suncadia Resort and play Tumble Creek Club and Rope Rider.

69th Hudson Cup Team

69th Hudson Cup and 26th Senior Hudson Cup Matches

 Molly Cooper, PGA - Director of Tournament & Member Programs

The 69^th Hudson Cup and 26^th Senior Hudson Cup Matches kicked off to an exciting start at Columbia Edgewater CC. After the first day of the matches in the pouring rain, the professional team had a narrow lead with 6 1/2 points to the amateur team’s 3 1/2 points. The Senior Hudson Cup matches went into the final round tied at 5 points each.

As the Hudson Cup matches progressed, many matches kept flipping back and forth between the professionals and the amateurs. When the end results were posted, the professionals came out on top with 12 1/2 points to the professional team's 7 1/2 points.

In the 26^th Senior Hudson Cup Matches, the amateurs won with a two-day total of 11 points to the professional team's 9 points.

We had only one player undefeated this year. Congratulations to PGA Professional’s John Cassidy of The Home Course.

Congratulations also to the award winners this year for their spectacular play! The 53^rd Chuck Congdon Award went to Arthur Kim; the 43^rd Larry Lamberger Award was presented to John Cassidy. In the Senior Matches, the 26^th Bill Eggers Award was won by Erik Hanson and Steve Bowen was bestowed the 26^th Bob McKendrick Award. The awards are presented to the outstanding player on each team as decided by votes of the members of the opposite team. They honor Chuck Congdon, Larry Lamberger, Bob McKendrick and Bill Eggers, four great players with outstanding Hudson Cup records.

The PNW PGA would also like to thank the entire staff at Columbia Edgewater CC, headed by PGA Director of Golf Bryan Tunstill, for making this event so successful. Thanks to the captains Jerry Mowlds, Bryan Tunstill, Don Krieger and Mike Kloenne for a wonderful job in helping make this year such an exciting event.

Hudson Cup final results | Senior Hudson Cup final results

26th Senior Hudson Cup Team

Manley and Sica Win PNW Pro-Amateur Championship

 Molly Cooper, PGA - Director of Tournament & Member Programs

The Home Course played host to the PNW Pro-Vendor Championship this year in beautiful sunny conditions.

The team of PGA Professional Greg Manley with Vendor Mike Sica of TaylorMade Golf came out on top and captured the title of PNW Pro-Vendor Team Champions by one stroke after firing a four-ball score of 63, 9 under par.  Mike Sica got to have the beautiful Pro-Vendor Championship belt in his booth during the Merchandise Show for his win.

There was a tie in the Four-Ball Net results with the teams of PGA Professional Caleb Hung of Overlake G&CC and Vendor Mike Smith of TaylorMade Golf and the team of PGA Professional Chad Wagner of Peninsula GC and Vendor George Houlihan of PING. They scored a 11-under par 61 for their round.

Thanks to The Home Course and Head PGA Professional Justin Gravatt and his staff for hosting a fantastic day!

Last Chance to Join Us in Vegas!

Join us on our yearly trip to play the best golf courses in Las Vegas! Our annual destination event will take place March 11-15, 2018. We are playing golf Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Enter soon - the cost goes up after November 30. By popular request, we will be playing the ever-popular Anthem CC while TPC Las Vegas is brand new to the lineup.

online entry | entry form (pdf)

Don’t miss out on this fun opportunity, which includes:

• 4 Nights lodging at the brand new Park MGM
• 3 Rounds of Golf w/ Carts and Range Balls
• Welcome Reception & Awards Dinner
• $19,000 Prize Fund (based on 24 teams)
• Tee Prize Package

PNW Scotland Pro-Am

August 4-11, 2018

Western Gailes Golf Club, Prestwick Golf Club, Gullane #1, Carnoustie Golf Links, North Berwick GC

Assistant Player of the Year Points

1. Berg, Derek - 627.50

2. Prante, Shane - 555.00

3. Feenstra, Tim - 486.66

OMEGA Player of the Year Points - FINAL

1. Grove, Russell - 600.00

2. Cassidy, John - 517.50

    Feenstra, Tim - 517.50

OMEGA Senior Player of the Year Points - FINAL

1. Sovay, Tom - 442.50

2.Coston, Jeff - 382.50

3. Gibbons, Rob - 372.50

Holk's Highlights: Bryan Tuntill and Jerry Mowlds

Bryan Tunstill

Hometown: Portland, OR

PGA Member Since: 1995

Tunstill was the professional team captain this year, at his home course of Columbia Edgewater CC. Previously, he’d played in the 2003 Hudson Cup Matches. He recalls fondly “getting to play against our 12-time Men’s Club Champion, Randy Mahar, in the 2003 Hudson Cup singles match, with both of us shooting 67 to end in a draw.”

Jerry Mowlds

Hometown: Born in Great Falls, MT

PGA member since: 1963

Jerry Mowlds has played in so many Hudson Cup matches with so many great moments, he simply can’t pick just one. He played in the 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1985 and 1986 matches as well as the 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2000 senior matches.

He was awarded the Bob McKendrick Award in 1992, 1994 and 2000. He captained the professional team in 2002, 2009 and 2013. This year, Mowlds captained the senior professional team.

Pros on the Move

by Michelle Parish, Tournament & Membership Coordinator

Emplyoment Changes

• Wayne W. Clark, PGA (A-8) - from Unaffliated to Walter E. Hall
• Tyler V. Clavin, PGA (A-8) - from Columbia Edgewater CC to Meridian Valley CC
• Trent C. Henning, PGA (A-1) - from The GC at Hawks Prairie to Indian Summer G&CC
• Rochelle M. Lynch, PGA (A-20) - from DLF Pick Seed Intl. to Pure Seed
• William J. Womeldorf, PGA (A-4) - from Unaffliated to Mt Adams CC

Class Changes

• Nicholas J. McCaslin, PGA (Kalispel G&CC) - from A-8 to A-1
• Douglas E. Off Jr., PGA (Kalispel G&CC) - from A-8 to A-14
• Bryan R. Tunstill, PGA (Columbia Edgewater CC) - from A-1 to A-4

New Apprentices

• Kyle J. Clearman (B-8) - The Club @ Snoqualmie Ridge
• Shane D. Harvey (B-8) - The GC at Hawks Prairie
• Brian H. Johnson (B-8) - Meridian Valley CC
• Branning M. Luvaas (B-8) - Fircrest GC
• Wallace D. Small, Jr. (B-8) - Sand Point CC

Newly Elected Members

• Eric J. Sjogren, PGA (A-8) - Bend G&CC
• Jacob S. Suarez, PGA (A-8) - Highlands GC

Transfers INTO the Section

• Robert D. Johns, PGA (LM) to Unaffliated from S. California

Transfers OUT of the Section

• Mark Amberson, PGA (Awbrey Glen GC) to Rocky Mountain
• Gregory C. Brown (Unaffliated) to Southwest
• David K. Lee, PGA (Bear Creek CC) to Southern California
• Garrick A Little (The Creek at Qualchan) to Southwest
• Christopher J Vargas (Inglewood GC) to Southwest

Engagement Through Emotional Connections

Monte Koch, PGA of America Employment Consultant

[email protected]

“REASONS Lead to Conclusion;  EMOTIONS Lead to Action.” – Kevin Roberts,  Author of Lovemarks

Last month, I shared the first of several professional and personal takeaways from the game-changing book called Lovemarks by Kevin Roberts. (If you haven’t read the October ’17 article, may I suggest you read it before proceeding with this one?) As stated in the previous article, Roberts was focusing on marketing in general, but I will be sharing insights on how it applies to our golf industry and to all facility types.

If you read the quote from Kevin Robert in Lovemarks (above), it really lines up well with “The Start With Why” concept shared by Simon Sinek (in the most watched TedTalk of all time.) Paraphrased, “the whats” lead to conclusions and decisions, BUT it “the whys” (the emotional connections) that drive the actions on the decisions. Sinek says it his own way, “…When we communicate from the inside out (starting with why), we are talking directly to the part of the brain that controls behavior and then we allow people to rationalize it with the tangible things we say and do (the whats)…”

Purchase Power, or NOT

Blake Parrish, CFP®

[email protected]

The year 2016 started with the WORST START EVER, for any year, for the DOW and S&P 500.  I remember it like it was yesterday as we fielded calls from nervous clients.  Yet, if you were investedin the broad markets for the entire year, we finished the year in the positive.  Why is it that the one place (US stock markets) we can grow our wealth over time is the one place that is viewed first as a sham or fools game?  I would argue that there are other risks to pay attention to.  How far your dollar goes is important and will continue to be more important than politics and whether the stock market is up or down.

Why worry about how much you can purchase when we have low inflation?  You and I should care because a little inflation goes a long way.  We are all familiar with the power of compound interest – how a small amount of money can compound into a great fortune over time, even at paltry rates of return.  Save early and save often is what we always tell our young workers!  Well……inflation can cause a great fortune to dwindle into little purchasing power over time in the same manner just by substituting the inflation rate for a rate of return.

Certified Financial Planner Boardof Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.”