President's Report

Happy August! It feels like the summer just started, but the first NFL football preseason game of 2019 is on tonight, soon kids will be going back to school, and we will be heading into the fall golf season.

There are still plenty of opportunities to play in a Section event. Next up is the Northwest Open at Wine Valley Golf Club. A few spots are still available, don’t miss out on one of the best events of the year.

Congratulations to Scott Erdmann on winning the Rosauers Invitational. Scott fired a blistering final round of 63 and eventually won in a playoff.  Great playing, Scott, and well deserved!

I know everyone is trying to come up for air after a long July of running member-guest tournaments and other club events. The light at the end of the tunnel is coming soon.  Keep grinding through the season and make sure that the stamp you put on your club and operation is one that reflects who you are.

This will be my last article as I leave Iron Horse and the Pacific Northwest Section on August 31st to start my new adventure in Las Vegas….  Thank you for all of the friendships.

All the best,

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

Tips on Learning the New Rules of Golf

Tip #8: Sign up for a Rules Seminar Today!

Molly Cooper, Certified PGA Professional
Director of Tournament & Member Programs

Welcome back to our eighth monthly Rules article to help guide you to a successful 2019 season and beyond!  I can’t believe it is August already and our season is starting to wind down. Let's finish strong and start to plan our 2020 season.

The United States Golf Association and The PGA of America recently announced the 2020 schedule for workshops on the Rules of Golf.  These very important workshops will be held between mid-October 2019 and the end of March 2020, which is perfect for us in the northwest as that is our off-season!

Information about these workshops is available on USGA.org along with the schedule.

Registration online for these workshops opened recently on Tuesday July 23^rd. If you have questions on how to enter, please call (908) 280-4571 weekdays any time between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

The USGA/PGA Rules Workshops are three days of learning from amazing instructors before the optional testing on day four. You get to choose between two different tests: the 100 question test or the 80 question test.  You can even decide the morning of the test which test you would like to tackle. 

PGA Members will earn 24 PGA Required MSR’s for their attendance while PGA Associates will earn a PGA Education credit.

What you will learn is up to you!  In addition to all of the rules knowledge you should learn, you can get to know other leaders in the business and make some new friends and some connections.  I’ve met some great people over the years while attending these Rules of Golf workshops. 

I have been to between 15 and 18 of these USGA/PGA Rules Seminars over my time as a Tournament Director both in my current job and my job prior to joining the PNW PGA.  Each year I have a couple "aha" moments in the rules workshops where I feel like something clicked better with me than it has prior.  Even after all the years of attending these educational seminars, I still am learning and feel like there is constant room for improvement.

I especially feel that way this year with the Rules of Golf changes that took place in January.  After all these years of studying and on course experience applying the rules of golf, now things are different.  The USGA has done a really great job of trying to simplify the rules and make things easier to understand and appreciate, and hopefully even speed up our rounds (ex: 3-minute ball search, knee height drops and having the option to leave the flagstick in).  None of these changes are difficult to understand or administer.  The difficulty is not applying the new Rules of Golf but knowing a rule change was even made.

That is why going to a USGA/PGA Rules of Golf Workshop is so important.  If you did not go to one in 2019 yet, you should plan on attending one soon. You can become such a valuable PGA Professional through your knowledge.  Who doesn’t want to be the go-to person at their club because people consider them knowledgeable?

To continue learning more about the new Rules of Golf, go to www.usga.org

I know I say this every month but please download the new Rules of Golf App on your phone.  I can not stress how convenient it is and how easy it is to use.  The search engine on the App is amazing!  You just type in what you are looking for and you immediately have the answer at your fingertips!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Erdmann Wins the Rosauers Open Invitational in a Playoff!

By Alec Bahnick, PNW PGA Tournament Intern

Scott Erdmann of Oswego Lake CC won his first Pacific Northwest PGA Section Major at the Rosauers Open Invitational at the newly renovated Indian Canyon GC. After the win, Erdmann, who in 2011 was runner-up in the PGA Professional National Championship, said he “felt like one of those players that should've won a major that hasn't and as the years go by, it's going to get harder with a lot of young talented golf professionals coming in. Hopefully this breaks the seal and I can win some more.”

Erdmann began his final round 5 shots behind the leader and fired an 8 under par, 63 to force a three-way playoff at 14 under par with Jared Lambert of Meadow Lakes GC and Justin Wiles of Running Y Ranch. A birdie on the first playoff hole proved to be enough for Erdmann to capture the 32nd edition of this tournament. The low amateur for the three-day event was Zachary Stocker of MeadowWood GC, who finished at 9 under par for the championship.

After an opening bogey on the first hole, Erdmann played brilliantly to get himself back into contention. Even though he shot a 30 on his opening 9 holes, he felt hole 16 was a key turning point to his round. Erdmann said, “16 was probably the most pivotal hole of the tournament for me. A favorable drop from ground under repair gave me an opportunity to hit a punch hook around the trees and it came out perfect and set up a 10-foot birdie putt which I was fortunate enough to make. Huge swing of momentum would be an understatement.”

Before the championship began on Friday, the Franz Bakery Pro-Am took place over two days. The format was a best two of five net competition, with the PNW PGA Professional playing his/her ball in an individual professional competition. The sponsor team of Coors Light led by PGA Professional Steve Prugh of Manito G&CC won the tournament with amateurs Bobby Gosney, Bob Mason, Matt Almond and Jeff Gardiner after posting scores of 115-120-235. This event raised $100,000 to the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, which is Spokane’s safe haven for children at risk of abuse and neglect. The Nursery also provides counseling, education, and referrals for parents of young children. The event has raised $3,000,000 for the charity throughout the 32 years.

We would like to thank Indian Canyon GC Head PGA Professional Doug Phares for providing a beautiful venue for this year’s Rosauers Open Invitational. Also, a huge thanks to Superintendent Josh Hardy and his staff for their tireless effort to prepare Indian Canyon GC into fantastic playing condition after newly sodded greens. We would also like to thank Rosauers and Franz Bakery and all the various sponsors and volunteers for continuing to make this event so special.

Play in YOUR Section Championship

PNW Senior PGA Professional Championship

Presented by Cadillac
Woodinville, WA – Bear Creek CC
September 5-6, 2019

Two entries: If you want to have a chance to advance to qualify, you must enter through PGA of America Membership services at 800-474-2776 or www.pgatournaments.com. There is a SEPARATE (and additional) entry for a chance to play for the purse and title of Senior PGA Champion. You will need to get BOTH entries in if you wish to qualify for the Senior PGA Professional Championship AND our Section title!

PNW  PGA Professional Championship

Presented by Cadillac, Club Car and OMEGA
Olympia, WA – Indian Summer G&CC
September 17-19, 2019

Folds of Honor Scramble

Anchorage, AK – Moose Run GC
August 3, 2019

Northwest Open Pro-Am

Walla Walla, WA – Wine Valley GC
 August 17-18, preceding the Northwest Open Invitational

PNW  PGA Merchandise Show

Portland, OR – Oregon Convention Center
October 15-16, 2019
Pro-Vendor Invitational: October 14

OMEGA Player of the Year Points

1. Scott Erdmann - 280

2. Shane Prante - 250

3. Ryan Benzel - 210

OMEGA Senior Player of the Year Points

1. Jeff Coston - 192.5

2. Joe Carranza - 190

3. Tom Sovay - 157.5

Assistant Player of the Year Points

1. Shane Prante - 327.5

2. Colin Inglis - 300

3. Ryan Malby - 285

Hudson Cup Points

1. Shane Prante - 280

2. Scott Erdmann - 246.25

3. Ryan Benzel - 240

Senior Hudson Cup Points

1. Billy Bomar - 425

2. Jeff Coston - 402.5

3. Joe Carranza - 390

Holk's Highlights: Scott Erdmann

This month we interview Scott Erdmann, winner of the 2019 Rosauers Open Invitational. In 2011, Scott was runner-up in the PGA Professional National Championship.  Scott played his last 14 holes two-under par to earn a spot in the playoff before bowing to the eventual champion, David Hutsell.

Facility: Oswego Lake CC

Hometown:  Portland, OR

PGA Member Since: 1997

PNW PGA Tournaments & Awards Won:

• 2009 PNW Assistant PGA Championship
• 2011 PGA Professional National Championship runner-up
• 2011 PGA Cup Team member
• 2011 PNW PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Award
• 2012 PNW Pro-Assistant Championship (with Brent Murray)
• Hudson Cup Team member: 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018

Tell us a little bit about your career. Who or what inspired you to get into golf?

I think by about age 15 I knew I wanted to become a golf professional. PGA Professional Tom Carey (the father of a good friend of mine) gave me my first job at a brand new beautiful driving range in Beaverton and I just loved the atmosphere. I was consumed with getting better and I just loved practicing and learning from other golf professionals. By the end of high school, I was confident enough in what I wanted to do that I attended Professional Golfers Career College in Temecual CA. PGCC is a two-year school that focuses on developing golf industry professionals and I’ve been in the business since as a golf professional since the age of 19.

Now that you’re secured the Rosauers title, do you have any other PNW PGA majors in your sights?

I’m sure hoping I’ve broken the seal and there’s more to come. I’ve been knocking on the door for a while and over the years I’ve had a number of chances, so it’s great to finally have broken through. Certainly having gotten this victory, it gives me a positive memory to rely on when getting back into that situation when trying to close out a tournament.

In 2011, you were runner-up in the PGA Professional National Championship. How do you feel about going for the 2020 PGA Professional Championship title?

2011 was an incredibly special year and the chance of recreating those memories would be amazing! Winning a Section Major, making the Hudson Cup team and qualifying for the PGA Professional National Championship will always be my goals and what I would define as having a great year.

Who is your favorite golfer?

TIGER!

Pros on the Move

by Robin Lindsey, Tournament & Membership Coordinator

Employment Changes

• Matthew P Lipe (B-1) - from Jefferson Park GC to Jackson Park GC
• Tony Wilkins, PGA (A-13) - from Jefferson Park GC to Jackson Park GC
• Adam M. Slemp, PGA (A-1) - from Jackson Park GC to Interbay Golf Center
• Eric E. Stevens (B-8) - from Jefferson Park GC to West Seattle GC
• Michael S Blinco (B-6) - from RedTail Golf Center to GOLFTEC - Tualatin
• Christopher A. Myrvold, PGA (A-8) - from Rock Creek CC to Quail Valley GC
• Matthew B Nosbaum (B-8) - from Circling Raven GC to Indian Canyon GC

Class Changes

• Jeffrey A. Kragt, PGA (Rock Creek CC) - from A-8 to A-1
• Zachary T. Lampert, PGA (Meadow Lakes GC) - from A-1 to A-13

New Associates

• Dominic S. Lacie (B-8) - Wing Point G&CC
• David M. VonBrethorst (B-8) - Kalispel G&CC
• John A. Riley (B-14) - Fusion Golf Academy
• Andrew M. Quirk (B-8) - Indian Springs Ranch GC

Newly Elected Members

• Bradley Myers, PGA (A-8) - The Reserve Vineyards & GC
• Ryan Cutter, PGA (A-8) - Green Meadow CC

Transfers INTO the Section

• Andrew D. Putnam, PGA (A-3) to PGA Tour from Southwest 
• Andrew M. Elaimy, PGA (A-1) to University of Idaho GC from Middle Atlantic
• David D. Johnson, PGA (A-1) to Washington National GC from Sun Country

Transfers OUT of the Section

• Bruce A. Lewis, PGA - from Twin Lakes Village GC to Northern California
• John S Forbes, PGA - from Gallery GC to North Florida
• Christopher A. Meyer, PGA - from Golf Performance Studio to Rocky Mountain
• Kyle A. Weeks, PGA - from Golf Performance Studio to Rocky Mountain
• Kramer J Henson - from Washington National GC to Southwest

New Quarter Century Members

• Richard O'Hara, PGA
• Johnathan R. Brandvold, PGA
• Steven R. Bratcher, PGA
• Richard C. Denholm, PGA
• Rusty Fancher, PGA
• John B. Freitas, PGA
• Brad Hansen, PGA
• Davie C. Hendrix, PGA
• Mark T. Lynch, PGA
• Matthew R. Mandell, PGA

Four Common Assumptions

Blake Parrish, CFP®

“The most important shot in golf is the next one.” - Ben Hogan

About every seven years a consensus forms around the fastest growing sector of the stock market, or the fastest growing country, or the fastest growing industry.  Do you remember how excited everyone was about investing in China?  Over fifty major global companies have been relocating manufacturing outside of China the last two years and where did those 500 million new middle-class citizens go which many of us knew were going to make companies rich?  History shows that themes of popularity are an invitation for poor forward returns. Simultaneously to the over-pricing of well-known facts, is the underpricing of the futures of meritorious companies which are suffering temporary forms of tribulation.

Learn four common assumptions in investing, and if there's any truth to them. 

"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."