CEO's Report

Together, We Go Far

Frank Talarico

Henry Ford famously said, “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is a process, and working together is success.” Working together and forming mutually rewarding partnerships are the life-blood of any business. The Pacific Northwest Section PGA is no exception. I am proud to announce our latest partner in the ongoing effort to align with like-minded, equally passionate sponsors. Please join me in welcoming Pelzer Golf as the 2021 Title Sponsor for the 2021 Oregon Open Invitational. Pelzer Golf joins supporting sponsors Legendary Headwear, Sun Mountain, Skechers Golf and CMC Golf. Club Car is, again, generously supporting the Section Skins. The PNWPGA is grateful to our sponsors, alongside whom we are empowered to produce one of the finest tournament program in the nation.

I am thrilled to also announce that Craig and his firm will also take title to the 2021 Mexican Paradise Pro Am, supporting that new destination event and deepening his commitment to the Section, our professionals and our associates.  Pelzer Golf’s decision to join us in such a substantive way is the more proof that a strong and lasting partnership delivers extraordinary value, especially when our businesses are as complementary. Pelzer Golf is renowned for their exemplary customer service. I encourage you all to take a minute to review their current catalog or simply connect with Craig.

Being together is always better. As you have heard me say so many times before, we chose to work in a profession that is, by definition, a social game. To be forced to compromise our ability to freely socialize with one another, even in the midst of a global pandemic, is still challenging. I would argue that for those of us in the golf business, it is especially difficult. Last Wednesday, April 28, I had the sincere pleasure to be in-person with nine fellow participants in the inaugural “100 Holes of Golf Marathon.” This year’s event was graciously hosted by High Cedars Executive Course. My thanks to the host facility for donating their executive course to us for the day as well as to each of my fellow participants.

Special thanks to Molly Cooper for having this fantastic idea to spend thirteen hours, together, to raise funds for our respective, chosen charities. The day was coordinated perfectly. Despite putting my very rusty, very amateur game on display, selfishly, I would not have traded a single second of my time with so many dedicated, amazing golf professionals. My thanks, too, to the many other participants who also participated at other courses across our Section, prior to and after April 28. The first year resulted in more than $50,000 in funds raised!

As I reported during our time together at this year’s Spring Meeting, the Section has very aggressively developed a new, consumer-facing database. Using best practices I’ve been fortunate to have deployed in prior professional roles, the Section staff and I have worked diligently to build—and grow—a group of opted-in, eager, golfing enthusiasts.  That database is now just under 47,000-strong.  There are very clear sponsor opportunities attached to this effort. Our work to grow it will benefit both our partners as well as our Section.

For me, the most exciting opportunity to this work is that it creates a new channel through which we can now promote you, the PGA Member, your business and the many valuable services you prospective offer. Last week we decided to take the database for a test drive. Many of you likely saw the PGA Coach email that was sent. That email features four Section teaching professionals and a short video lesson for each. That email, also, featured a click-through to PGA Coach, inviting recipients to find a PGA Member close to them. Response was phenomenal. That initial email beat every prior email in every key metric: open rate, click through, to name just two. We also saw fantastic activation numbers. Sixteen percent of every person that opened the email also clicked through to find a PGA Member near them. These are very real, very viable business prospects.

While playing a hundred holes last week I was telling Caleb Hung about the “database test drive.” As I finished my sentence about activations, Carissa Shaw volunteered, “I have already received ten leads from that email!” This works. I encourage every one of you to complete your PGA Coach profile. For those with questions on just how to effectively create your online profile, the Section is offering a “Stay Involved Webinar” on precisely this topic, May 19. Please, mark your calendars. Our efforts to promote you, the PNWPGA, are only going to become even more intense and, hopefully, profitable for you. We are here to achieve one very clear, very important goal: To promote the Member and Grow the Game. Together, that goal will be accomplished.

As always, if I or any member of your phenomenal Section staff can be of any service to you, please contact us.

Frank Talarico, CEO
[email protected]

District 14 Director's Report

Doug Doxsie, PGA

I usually end each of my articles with a reminder to reach out if you have any questions, comments, or ideas about the PGA of America. Before you get too excited that you have already reached the end of my monthly article, I want to share a few thoughts about this statement!

I am your voice for District 14 on the National PGA Board of Directors and with two National Committees; Membership and Properties. While I would like to think you trust my judgment and ability to serve you well, I know there are topics that give you concern, confusion, or maybe even optimism. While I speak with the leadership of both the Pacific Northwest and Southwest Sections on a regular basis, I feel there is a lack of feedback from the trenches by our PGA Professionals and Associates. Being in this seat for almost 18 months now, I am amazed how rarely I receive calls, emails, or contact from my fellow Golf Professionals about what is going on with our Association. I am personally going to change this narrative going forward. I will be reaching out to many of you to find out what is on your mind. Be forewarned, I may be calling you!

Many use the words “apathy” or “indifference” to describe our PGA Golf Professionals’ relationship with their Association. I would speculate that it is more that most of our 29,000 are grinding it out, tending to their careers, or don’t feel like they have a voice. Your voice can be heard in multiple ways; through leaders at the Chapter, Section or National level. My job is to share your voice at the National level. Your leaders at the Chapter or Section level want to hear from you as well. I feel that whenever a topic hits close to home, our PGA Professionals answer the call and the passion is evident. The best example of this was the proposed USGA changes to Amateur Status. The USGA heard loud and clear how you felt as a PGA Professional. So, I know the passion is there for topics that impact you directly.

In my next article I plan to highlight some exciting programs and initiatives going on with your PGA. I will also share my perception of our challenges and opportunities. We are at an exciting time in our industry and profession. The pandemic golf boom has benefited many of your facilities, businesses, and careers. Sure, there are exceptions and we will continue to pay attention to that. However, our PGA Professionals have never more poised to influence and lead the golf industry than now.

My main encouragement to you is simple. Your leaders‒and especially I‒want to know what is on your mind about our association and your career as a PGA Professional. From my seat, I can represent you more effectively if I know what is important to you. It maybe my most important role as your District 14 Director.

Have a great season and thank you if you read through this far!

Doug Doxsie, PGA
Seattle Golf Club
PGA District 14 Director
425-681-8889
[email protected]

PGA Jr. League

Branden Thompson, PGA - Regional League Manager

With the player registrations coming to an end and the season beginning, here are some FAQ’s to help you when you hit a roadblock.

1. "HOW DO I EDIT MY REGISTRATION OR EXTEND MY DEADLINE?"

Click here to find out how to change your player registration closing date, or any other parameters you set for your program when you registered as a captain.

2. "HOW DO I SEE MY PLAYERS AND THEIR REGISTRATION INFORMATION?"

Click here to find out how to see everyone who has registered for your program, and all of the information they entered when they registered. Including their contact information.

3. "HOW DO I ROSTER PLAYERS?"

This is a required step for all captains before requesting team kits.

Click here to see how you "assign"/"roster" players to your team or teams.

4. "HOW DO I GET MY PLAYERS TEAM KITS?"

Click here to find out how to request your players team kits once players have been rostered.

This is also how you request replacements if something in your order was missing or incorrect.

5. "HOW DO I SCHEDULE PRACTICES AND GAMES ONLINE?"

Do you want to make it easy for you and your kids to see your practice and game schedule?The EASIEST WAY is to use the SportsEngine Team Management mobile app.

Click here to see how to do it via the app, and via the website on the desktop.

6. "HOW DO MSRs WORK FOR PGA JR. LEAGUE?"

PGA Members who are captains or coaches receive MSRs for participating in PGA Jr. League. But they must be registered.

Learn more here.

I hope these quick tips save you time and energy. And as always, please don't hesitate to contact me if there's any way I can be of assistance! Enjoy the day!

Click here to register.

One-on-one Assistance

Want to  discuss PGA Jr. League, Family Cup, or just bounce some ideas around? The following link will take you to my Calendly page where you can choose a time that works for you, and eliminate the need to email back and forth. 

Click Here to schedule

Have a great season,

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

Building Blocks of Your Career Series

Monte Koch, PGA of America Employment Consultant

Part 9: Humbition

We started this Building Blocks of Your Career Series with Passion & Purpose. For No. 9 of 9 in the series, let’s close with a great bookend to complete the series ‒ the concept of Humbition.

In December 2019, I published an article in the Foreword Press called Win the Next Decade: Start by Making Humble Leadership YOUR “Go-To Move” for 2020. In it, I shared a quote by Bill Taylor, from his article in the Harvard Business Review:

If Humility Is So Important, Why Are Leaders So Arrogant?

In that article, he wrote, “Indeed, humility in the service of ambition is the most effective and sustainable mindset for leaders who aspire to do big things in a world filled with huge unknowns. Years ago, a group of HR professionals at IBM embraced a term to capture this mindset. The most effective leaders, they argued, exuded a sense of ‘humbition,’ which they defined as ‘one-part humility and one-part ambition’ (emphasis mine)”.

Since I can’t come close to improving on his wording, I will share Taylor’s thoughts verbatim to see if they speak to you as they did to me. He wrote, “Humility can feel soft at a time when problems are hard; it can make leaders appear vulnerable when people are looking for answers and reassurances.” He continues, “Of course, that’s precisely its virtue: The most effective business leaders don’t pretend to have all the answers; the world is just too complicated for that. They understand that their job is to get the best ideas from the right people, whomever and wherever those people may be.”

With that simple idea in the forefront of our mind, it would seem “humbition” is more than the “go-to move” for all of us. Instead, it’s a “closers” move. And whether we’re the leader, the executive manager or we’re just aspiring to be a leader working our way up and through an organization, we would be wise to understand what it means to be humbitious and seek out ways to make the practice of “Humbitious Leadership” one that others recognize and value in us.

As this is a wrap-up of a nine-part series, let’s also be clear that many outside of the golf business think this role of being a golf professional is easy. They seem to view it as a two-dimensional (2D) world where we only need to be “good at the game” and “good with people.” On the face of it, that may be true. But, for those of us who know better, we would say that successful golf professionals operate in four dimensions (4D) and there are portions of the role that require humility and ambition in each of these four dimensions. Let’s expand on what that means below.

Good at THE GAME (of Golf)

• Humble: We know this one. As golfers, and as golf professionals, we instinctively react to great shots and scores with humility. We tip the cap, we briefly raise our hand and give a small fist pump. We “act like we been there before” as the legendary Nebraska football coach, Dr. Tom Osborne, used to tell his players. We also know from sports psychology that celebrating success correctly is a great way to imprint the right feelings of success and generate more success, so maybe some of us are getting better at “humbitious celebrations” on the golf course and in other areas of our lives.
• Ambitious: To be our best, and most consistent as golfers, we need to ambitiously seek out ways to get better at the disciplines of the game (driving, putting, chipping, course management, etc.). We know that in order to keep from leveling off or going backwards, we need to have the drive to keep working out the small but measurable improvements.

Good at THE GAME (of Self-Awareness)

• Humble: To be a good teammate, a good leader and a good friend, we all need self-awareness (and with it self-regulation). Another word for humble self-awareness is introspection. Being capable of introspection means one has the capacity to examine/observe their own actions, words, non-verbals and their “inner monologue” (thought life). Introspection is not an unfair view of self either; the goal is to reach a fair, accurate and unbiased conclusion of oneself.
• Ambitious: We can win when we’re ambitious and driven about getting better at self-awareness and self-regulation (or self-management). With self-awareness “switched on” (re: our emotions, our triggers, what inspires us, what maddens us), we can succeed in disciplines where others are failing. Self-awareness has little value without self-regulation. The difference self-regulation makes can be seen as “professionalism” (maturity vs. impulsiveness, especially in our communication). Ambitiously asking oneself, “What is my internal state?” is a bold and valuable question to ask often. With “humbitious courage,” giving others we trust permission to “check our temperature” is another great way to improve at the game of self-awareness.

Good at THE GAME (of Business)

• Humble: Being good at the disciplines of business is similar to the game of golf. The game of business (in golf) is a suite of skills in several areas that make up 6-8 disciplines where good business people thrive and others don’t. Like golf, letting your “business” scorecard declare where you stand in those disciplines (versus talking them up) is generally the best way to go. Having skills, disciplines and knowledge in your toolbelt (or golf bag if we are sticking with that analogy) is a great way to surprise those you work with and/or for at your facility.
• Ambitious: Like the game and getting better at it, being good at the “game of business” requires intentionality, it requires study and investment and it requires practice and flexibility. And like the game of golf, those who are good at analysis, recognizing trends, taking advantage of good buys/good opportunities, etc. hone their skills and build on them. They have good sources where they find good information (for benchmarking, for testing of concepts) and for great ideas that can be adapted and used at their facility.

Good WITH People and THE GAME (of Organizational Awareness)

• Humble: We need to build on the concepts of self-awareness and self-regulation to start with this one. Without them, being good at “the game” of organizational awareness is simply not possible. Without humility, organizational awareness is not really possible either. Focused on ourselves, how can we get a good read on others’ actions, words and non-verbals? How can we get a good read on how they’re doing, or how they’re feeling?
• Ambitious: Continuing with the theme of getting better at the game of golf, ambition will fuel the desire to get better at organizational awareness. Of course, it is mutually beneficial for someone to be good at this discipline and good for the team or organization as a whole. Here’s how. With organizational awareness and knowledge, one can observe and intentionally act to “balance out the collective dynamics of the organization” (the group, the team) based on the given day, time and/or circumstances. As a result, this balance will often improve, stabilize or inspire the organization. As with self-awareness, we can restate the concept for organizational awareness. With “humbitious awareness” (and a servant’s heart), any team member or any leader can be the person on the team who brings the right blend of energy, inspiration, motivation and calmness to the team.

As we wrap up this Building Blocks of a Career Series, I sincerely hope that there’s been something in each of the nine building blocks that has been valuable for you. As the series ends, let’s ask ourselves these questions:

1. Are you still passionate about what you’re doing? Are you still inspired by the purpose you have in your career?
2. Are you aware of how your experiences are helping you succeed in how you respond to challenges? (Are some of them holding you back?)
3. Do you still have the right mix of mentors at this point in your career? (Do you need to find some better ones, or maybe “fire” the wrong ones?)
4. How is the status of your network? Is it stagnant? Are you actively and authentically building relationships every day?
5. How is the average score of your daily interview looking? (Don’t forget that you’re always interviewing.)
6. How receptive have you been of late (to constructive feedback, to charity, to commendations)?
7. Based on each of the first six blocks of “career builders,” are you becoming more influential and more valued at your facility and within your community?
8. How strong is the beat of your “servant’s heart?”
9. How is the blend of your ambition and humility (your humbition) doing these days?

Thank you again for the opportunity to develop and share my takes on each of these building blocks in succession. Let me know if I can assist you with your career, or if you want to share with me some of the answers you have come to above. As it’s been said, you’ve only got one career, so make the most of it.

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 Sections
Email: [email protected] Cell: 206/335-5260

Career Planning and Coaching

Employment Opportunities

Monte Koch, PGA of America Employment Consultant

Click here to access the PNW PGA job postings

Compensation Matters to Every PGA Professional

Help Yourself & Help Your PNW PGA Peers

We have now launched the updated and simpler Compensation Profile/Survey for PGA professionals. Like the changes we’ve made to the Job Preferences Profile, I'm excited to say the new Comp Profile is much more concise as a survey than it was previously. It will still have all the needed components you, employers and other industry decision makers all are looking for in comp reports. A key feature is that it is going to be more timely, current and relevant…you can update it whenever you make a job change, negotiate a raise, etc. As before, the information you submit is confidential and viewable/editable only by you.

In the past 18 months, many of you have reached out to me for comp reporting and I’m happy to share that many of these reports have resulted in increases in compensation, negotiation successes and more. But, these current reports take a lot of time (but they are worth it). 

With your help and that of your peers, these reports will be easier to complete, they’ll be even more accurate AND more in the eyes of our employers/owners. For those of you in smaller markets, and/or those in teaching/coaching roles and similar non-traditional positions, your participation is imperative.

With that said, I am asking you to take a few minutes to:

Complete your Compensation Profile Survey now >>

Thank you in advance for helping me “help you and your fellow Section professionals” in this area that is so important to each of us as PGA professionals. If I can assist you or one of your peers with a compensation report, please reach out to me.

Regards, Monte

Open Events

PNW PGA “Stay Involved” Education

Growing Your Business with PGA Coach
May 19 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Presented by Ryan Young
Check your email for Google Meet join info

Education Schedule

Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open Invitational

Pro-Am benefiting Folds of Honor: May 22-23
Championship: May 24-26
Kent, WA – Meridian Valley CC
Enter online

Pelzer Golf Oregon Open Invitational

June 15-17, 2021
Sisters, OR – Black Butte Ranch – Glaze Meadow
Enter online

Alaska Folds of Honor Championship

July 10, 2021
Anchorage, AK – Moose Run GC
Enter online

Rosauers Open Invitational

July 16-18, 2021
Spokane, WA – Indian Canyon GC
Enter online

Northwest Open Invitational Pro-Am

August 14-15
Walla Walla, WA - Wine Valley GC
More information

National Car Rental PNW PGA Assistant Championship

August 2
Salem, OR - Illahe Hills CC
enter at www.pgatournaments.com

PNW PGA Professional Championship

September 21-23
Molalla, OR - Arrowhead GC
enter at www.pgatournaments.com

Pelzer Golf Mexican Paradise Pro-Am

October 31 - November 5
Villa Del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa/TPC Danzante Bay
enter online

PNW PGA Arizona Sun Pro-Am

December 5-9
Fort McDowell, AZ - We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort
enter online

Tournament Schedule