President's Report

This is my first Foreword Press article as President of our Section.  I’m very humbled to serve our Section and the association.

I wanted to start off by saying I have big shoes to fill. I was fortunate to be able to have dinner at the PNW PGA Merchandise Show with about 14 Past Presidents and the experience was amazing. The knowledge and willingness to share the history of our Section is something I will be ever thankful for. Thank you again for your service to our Section and the association.

I want to also thank Past President Bryan Tunstill for his service as he has now moved on from the officer core. B.T., you have guided us down a path with introducing the strategic plan that will serve our members for many years to come.  Also, thank you to the past presidents of our chapters for their service and dedication to the board room. Your willingness to serve your Chapters and Section Board has made us stronger and we now have a clearer vision for the Section’s business going forward.

I welcome the new chapter vice presidents to the Section Board. Our goal together is, and always will be, to serve the members and grow the game. I look forward to working with all of you shortly, starting with our Section Winter Planning meeting in beautiful Whitefish, Montana.

I would like to welcome Howie Pruitt to the new officer core as Secretary of the Section. Howie comes from the Oregon Chapter and his knowledge and experience will be a great addition to our board room as he serves our Section for the next 8 years.  Enjoy the ride Howie, and I look forward to working with you.

Last but not least, Mr. Greg Manley who now has moved into the Past Presidents chair, thank you for always challenging me and the rest of the board to think outside the box and never kick the can down the road. Your work is not done and I look forward to the next two years serving with you.  Thank you, my friend.

Next week at the PGA Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, Manley and I have the responsibility of voting for the next Secretary of the PGA of America. There is still time to reach out to either of us regarding the candidates that are running in this year’s election. Please don’t hesitate to call either of us.

Going forward in 2019, my only job as I see it is to serve you the member and grow the game. My only goal is to follow the Section strategic plan, strategic vision and core components to this plan and to allow the Section Business Plan to guide us through the upcoming year.  I plan on working tirelessly over the next couple of years on your behalf to assure that our section continues to thrive, if I can ever do anything for any of you, please don’t hesitate to call me.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank my wife Jessica and my club Iron Horse Golf Club for supporting me during my process of serving the association. Without their support I could not do what I do. I look forward to seeing everyone soon. Enjoy the downtime and plan to play in at least one more event in 2019.

Gregory C. Morris, PGA
President, PNWPGA
Head Golf Professional, Iron Horse GC

CEO's Report

I hope you were able to join us for the Merchandise Show in Tacoma last month. We filled the 30,000 square feet of exhibit space with vendors showing the latest and greatest in golf. While they are there to make a few bucks, it truly is a partnership where we need their support just like they need our support.  We are lucky to have such great reps here in the Northwest.  Remember to utilize their expertise, to support our sponsors and to be professional in your dealings with all reps – return calls promptly, tell them no when it’s no (they are OK with it) and simply treat them like partners. Together we all succeed.  The 2019 Show moves to Portland on October 15-16. I hope to see you there.

Speaking of sponsors, we are so lucky to enjoy such great support from so many sponsors.  Over $500,000 comes your way from our many sponsors.  We also added two new partners at the Show. An old friend, Neville Hong of Swing Caddie joined us to support your education programs. Neville is partnering with Craig Pelzer and has a unique product to help you. Check it out at www.swingcaddie.com. PureGrips also joined us to sponsor the Reception on Tuesday night. Thanks Matt Oldham and Bill Jackson for the drinks!  As things slow down, please take a minute to email our sponsors and say thanks.

If you were at the Annual Meeting, you saw a video of the terrific 2019 tournament schedule. Click here to check out the video and click here for the detailed schedule. It’s a great lineup.  We are also working on an Ireland trip in late September.  The tentative lineup is pretty terrific if you like links golf in big dunes! Give me a call if interested.

PGA Junior League continues to flourish in the Pacific Northwest Section.  First and foremost PGA Junior League is a player development program for YOUR FACILITY.  The program is purposely designed to help you engage families at your facility to be involved in all that you have to offer.  Design your program that way.  Branden Thompson has it right, don’t just recruit kids who already play; find that occasional golfer, that new golfer, even that athlete involved in other sports and let your regulars mentor them into golfers.  If you are new to PGA Junior League, call Branden at 503-869-2827 to get started. If you are a veteran, visit with Branden about the financial benefits of an in-house league. Like $40,000 in benefits. Captain registration opens on November 25. Get started today.

If you have college-age children or grandchildren be sure to check out the PGA Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship.  The application process opens on November 16.  Go to PGA.org on that date to view the application. The Pacific Northwest PGA Junior Golf Fund uses this same application for the Bunny Mason Scholarship process.  Please apply!

Finally, take a few minutes in this off-season to do something for yourself and your career. Expand your skill set, try something new and most importantly make sure your CareerLinks ProFile is current.  A current ProFile is critical for you to be contacted about those great new job opportunities that are the next step in your career.  Contact Monte Koch if you need help with your profile. 206-335-5260.

Have a great November and enjoy a little time off!

Jeff Ellison, PGA
CEO, Pacific NW Section PGA

Don't forget to give thanks to our 2018 tournament sponsors! You can find all their contact info on the Online Member Handbook at: http://web.foretees.com/pnwpga.

70th Hudson Cup Team

70th Hudson Cup and 27th Senior Hudson Cup Matches

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

The 70^th Hudson Cup and 27^th Senior Hudson Cup Matches kicked off to an exciting start at Overlake G&CC. After the first day of the matches in temperatures close to 70 degrees, the professional team had a narrow lead with 5 ½ points to the amateur team’s 4 ½ points. The Senior Hudson Cup matches went into the final round with the amateurs leading 5 ½ to 4 ½ points. The Senior Professional team made a nice comeback in the afternoon after leaving the morning matches 0-5.

As the Hudson Cup matches progressed in the single matches, many matches kept flipping back and forth between the professionals and the amateurs. When the end results were posted, the professionals and amateurs tied (with the professionals retaining the cup after winning the year prior).

In the 27^th Senior Hudson Cup Matches, history was made once again with the Matches tied 10-10 after the last putt was holed. The senior amateur team retained the cup as they won the year prior.

We had only two players undefeated this year. Congratulations to PGA Professional’s Darren Black of Rainier G&CC and amateur Nick Mandell of Canyon Lakes GC.

Congratulations also to the award winners this year for their spectacular play! The 54^th Chuck Congdon Award went to Nick Mandell; the 44^th Larry Lamberger Award was presented to Darren Black. In the Senior Matches, the 27^th Bill Eggers Award was won by Erik Hanson and Bruce Stewart was bestowed the 27^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 Overlake G&CC, headed by PGA General Manager Marcus King, PGA Director of Golf Mark Sursely and Head PGA Professional Adam Rogers, for making this event so successful. Thanks to the captains Kevin Bishop, David Phay, John Bracken and John Saegner Jr. for a wonderful job in helping make this year such an exciting and historical event.

27th Senior Hudson Cup Team

Coston and Cornett Win PNW Pro-Amateur Championship

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

Suncadia Resort – Tumble Creek Club and Rope Rider courses played host to the Pacific Golf & Turf Pro-Amateur Championship this year in beautiful sunny conditions. Players enjoyed stunning views, incredible design, and immaculate conditions surrounded by the rolling pine forest and towering granite peaks of the sunny, eastern slopes of the Cascades. Tumble Creek Golf Course is a private club course designed by famed golf course designer Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design. Rope Rider Golf Course, designed by Jacobsen Hardy Golf Course Design, was named Best New Course of the Year in 2011 by Golf Magazine.

PGA Professional Jeff Coston of Semiahmoo G&CC and amateur Kyle Cornett of Inglewood GC won the Pacific Golf & Turf Pro-Amateur Championship after posting rounds 61-65-126 -17-under par in the Four-Ball team competition. They won by four strokes over the team of PGA Professional Jeff Gove and Darren Slackman of The Creek at Qualchan, and the team of PGA Professional Ryan Whitaker of Tumble Creek Club and amateur Dan Whitaker of Ellensburg G&CC.

When asked how it felt to win with Coston, Kyle Cornett responded “Jeff and I have been planning on playing this tournament together for over 6 months now. It's a great feeling to prepare for the event and to win it.”

Coston commented, “It is always great to win. Team events are quite different than individual tournaments. It is great fun to play a best ball. There is no one I’d rather have as a partner than Kyle. He has made amazing strides as a golfer! Kyle understands ‘the game’ and ‘the game within the game!’”

The Pacific Northwest Section PGA would like to recognize Steve Cotton and Pete Trudeau, with Pacific Golf & Turf for their title sponsorship and thank Eric Kobylinski and Mizuno for joining our team as supporting sponsors! Thanks to Suncadia Resort, Mike Jones, Adam Alldredge, Jared Jeffries, Ryan Whitaker and the rest of the staff at both courses for being incredible hosts.

Dickinson and McHugh Win PNW Pro-Vendor Championship

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

The team of PGA Professional Hagen Dickinson (Allenmore Public GC) & Mike McHugh (Big Max USA) battled the fog and captured the title of PNW Pro-Vendor Team Champions at The Home Course. They won by one stroke after firing a four-ball score of 66, 6 under par. Mike McHugh displayed the beautiful Pro-Vendor Championship belt in his booth during the Merchandise Show for his win.

Carrie DeGree (Eugene CC) & Jay Poletiek (Callaway Golf) won the Four-Ball Net competition. They scored a net 12-under par 60 for their round.

Thanks to The Home Course and PGA Director of Golf Justin Gravatt and his staff for hosting a fantastic day!

Assistant Player of the Year Points

1. Prante, Shane - 612.5

2. Inglis, Colin - 542.5

3. Cassidy, John - 492.5

OMEGA Player of the Year Points - FINAL

1. Grove, Russell - 575

2. Prante, Shane - 452.5

3. Inglis, Colin - 355

OMEGA Senior Player of the Year Points - FINAL

1. Coston, Jeff - 515

2. Carranza, Joe - 380

3. Gibbons, Rob - 375

Holk's Highlights: Kevin Bishop, PGA & David Phay, PGA

This month we interviewed the Hudson Cup and Senior Hudson Cup Professional team captains. Kevin Bishop is the golf coach at Saint Martin’s College and David Phay is the Head Golf Professional at Whidbey GC.

Kevin Bishop, Senior Hudson Cup Professional team captain: Great fun and a great competition. I was super proud of how our senior professionals fought back from a 0-5 deficit in the opening matches to get the tie!

David Phay, Hudson Cup Team Professionanl team captain: At the time I was not so excited to have the matches end in a tie but looking back on the event I believe it was a fitting end.  There was such great play from both sides and some great finishes from our Professionals and the Amateurs. 

Pros on the Move

by Michelle Parish, Tournament & Membership Coordinator

Employment Changes

• Jordan R. Cooper, PGA (A-23) - from Club Champion - Seattle to Club Champion - Portland
• Rick E. Fehr, PGA (A-6) - from Willows Run GC to Pro Golf Discount - Bellevue
• Sean Holm (B-20) - from North Shore GC to Tee Snap

Class Changes

• Seth M. Misenhimer (Mountain View GC) - from B-8 to B-1
• Michael D. Wynne, PGA (Eagle Bend GC) - from A-1 to A-4

New Associates

• Russell W. Furth (B-8) - Seattle GC
• Tanner M. Hill-Lester (B-8) - Loomis Trail GC
• Michael R. Parker (B-8) - Tri-Mountain GC
• Benjamin J. Vandenberg (B-8) - Homestead GC

Newly Elected Members

• Nicholas S. Bonander, PGA (A-1) - Pacific Dunes
• Brad C. Ebberson, PGA (A-1) - Hayden Lake CC
• Tanner T. Montgomery, PGA (A-8) - Circling Raven GC

Transfers INTO the Section

• Joseph A. Tolla (B-8) to Woodburn Estates G&CC from North Florida

Transfers OUT of the Section

• Evan J. Mitchell, PGA - from Rock Creek Cattle Co. to Southern California
• Raymond E. Otis, PGA - from Unaffliated to Northern California

Deceased

• Dan Strite - read obituary

Branden Thompson, PGA - Regional League Manager

Hopefully I’ve had a chance to see you at a Chapter or Section meeting this fall. It’s been fun talking with captains and hearing about their success with PGA Jr. League. Captain registration for 2019 opens this month if you can believe it.

2018 has been a great year. Here are a couple highlights:

We saw 20% growth in the program nationally and in the PNW Section.

• “The Scrubs” from Bellingham-Skagit, captained by Rick Blankenburg, will be representing us at the National Championship at Grayhawk, November 16^th- 19^th. They are the first team from our section to advance that far. Good luck!

 We’ve got a few missions for 2019 in addition continuing to provide a great gateway to golf for all kids.

Multiple teams and/or in-house leagues – Increase the impact of the program by expanding the number of teams at your facility. Through research and surveys we have found that PGA Jr. League brings in $5.80 of extra revenue (F&B, merchandise sales, cart revenue, etc.) per each registration dollar paid to professional. That means one team of 12 players brings in over 10K in extra revenue to your facility. Expanding your program will have a huge measurable impact on your facility and your wallet.

• Fall leagues are an option this year. Use this to keep those kids interested in golf or get new players in your program. There’s no need to waste the great late summer and fall weather.
• 16U expands to 17U providing more opportunity for the kids coming to the game late or aging out of the core program. This is a great way to build the high school programs in your area.

Here’s a quick timeline for you to put on your calendar:

• November 25^th – Captain registration opens
• January 15^th – Early deadline for captain registration to begin the league formation process
• February 1^st – Player registration opens
• April through July – Regular season play
• August – Section Qualifiers and Section Championship
• September – Regional Qualifiers
• October – PGA Jr. League National Championship

I hope to see you at a PGA Jr. League workshop this winter. A schedule will be out soon. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

Branden Thompson, PGA
[email protected]
561-293-2585

Being Thankful & "Ambitious Humility"

Monte Koch, PGA of America Employment Consultant

Ambitious humility. It’s like clean dirt, or an open secret, definitely maybe, alone together or military intelligence (as my father-in-law likes to say when talking about his career in the Army.) These two words: Ambition and Humility – they just don’t go together, they are oxymoronic. Or do they? Or could they? More specifically, what if they did go together in our lives and careers?

“We live in a world where ego gets attention but modesty gets results. Where arrogance makes headlines but humility makes a difference. Which means that all of us, as leaders or aspiring leaders, face questions of our own: Are we confident enough to stay humble? Are we strong enough to admit we don’t have all the answers?" – Simon Sinek.

Click here for Career Planning and Coaching with me…

Monte Koch, PGA Certified Professional/Player Development | Career Consultant
PGA Career Services | PGA of America
Serving PGA professionals, employers in the Pacific NW & Rocky Mountain PGA
Email: [email protected] Cell: 206/335-5260

The Glass Half Empty?

Blake Parrish, CFP®

“Always count your blessings.  Be thankful you are able to be out on a beautiful course.  Most people in the world don’t have that opportunity”  – Fred Couples

Remember fears about adjustable-rate mortgage re-sets, or the looming wave of foreclosures that would lead to a double-dip recession?  What about Y2k at the turn of the century?  Remember the threat of widespread defaults on municipal debt?  Many of these stories flood our news channels and social media platforms and pretty soon people start to believe that they need to be in defense mode 24/7.

Every investor worries from time to time.  It is their hard earned money that is invested.  But, if we all know that the markets cannot be timed perfectly before going up, why in the world do some investors think they can time it perfectly when the markets go down? 

Let's take a look at the glass from a point of reason...

"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."