May 15, 2023

CEO's Report

Things Are About to Heat Up

In any demanding work environment, burnout has become a pressing issue affecting both employees and their organizations. Our industry is especially vulnerable, now more than ever. With Q1 rounds in the books and April research data continuing to come in, it appears the pandemic demand surge continues to hold. Comparing January to March total play for the past three years – post-Covid – rounds are up almost 17% compared to the three-year period ahead of the pandemic (2017-19). This is fantastic news for our business, but a cautionary tale for us and our colleagues.

Burnout can lead to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and a negative impact on the overall wellbeing of you and your staff. As a leader or team member, it is crucial to recognize the signs of burnout and take proactive measures to support your team.

Foster an Open and Supportive Work Culture

Creating an open and supportive work culture is the foundation for preventing burnout. Encourage open communication channels, where team members feel comfortable discussing their workload, challenges, and concerns. Actively listen to their feedback and address any issues promptly. By fostering an environment where employees feel valued and supported, you can prevent burnout by promoting a sense of psychological safety and encouraging work-life balance.

Set Realistic Goals and Expectations

Setting realistic goals and expectations is essential for preventing burnout. Overloading your team with excessive workloads and unrealistic deadlines will only lead to stress and exhaustion. This is always easier said than done, but nonetheless critical. Involve your team in the goal-setting process, allowing them to provide input and contribute to the decision-making. By setting achievable goals and maintaining a realistic pace, you can help your team prioritize their tasks effectively and reduce the risk of burnout.

Encourage Work-Life Balance

Promoting work-life balance is crucial in preventing burnout. Encourage your team to prioritize self-care and personal time outside of work hours. Set an example by respecting personal boundaries and avoiding excessive after-hours communication. Encourage regular breaks throughout the workday and provide opportunities for team members to engage in wellness activities, such as exercise or mindfulness exercises. By supporting work-life balance, you create a healthier and more sustainable work environment.

Foster Skill Development and Growth Opportunities

Burnout can arise from feelings of stagnation and lack of personal growth. Support your team’s professional development by offering skill-building opportunities, such as training programs, workshops, or conferences. Look to the Section and our robust and always growing number of professional development opportunities—and encourage your team to participate. Provide regular feedback and recognition for staff achievements, helping them see their progress and contributions. Encourage learning and growth within the team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. By investing in your team’s development, you not only prevent burnout but also enhance their engagement and satisfaction.

Promote Workload Management and Collaboration

Effective workload management plays a significant role in preventing burnout. Encourage your team to prioritize tasks and delegate responsibilities when possible. Foster a collaborative environment where team members can support and help each other, reducing individual workloads and fostering a sense of camaraderie. Emphasize the importance of teamwork and encourage open collaboration, as this can alleviate stress and prevent burnout by distributing the workload more evenly.

Recognize and Address Early Signs of Burnout

Vigilance is key to preventing burnout. Train yourself and your team to recognize the early signs of burnout, such as increased stress, fatigue, or decreased motivation. Regularly check in with your team members individually and create opportunities for them to express any concerns they may have. If you notice signs of burnout, address the issue promptly by providing support, adjusting workloads, or exploring flexible working arrangements. By addressing burnout early on, you can prevent its escalation and promote a healthier work environment.

Burnout is a significant concern in any workplace but especially demands awareness across the golf industry. By implementing these strategies, you can help your team avoid burnout and foster a healthier work environment. By promoting an open and supportive culture, setting realistic goals, encouraging work-life balance, fostering skill development, promoting collaboration, and addressing burnout early on, you can support your team’s well-being and enhance their overall happiness.

Special Notes and Thanks

You are cordially invited to attend the Special Awards Ceremony on May 21, 2023, 5:00 PM, as well as our Spring General Meeting on May 22, 2023, 7:00 PM. Both events are hosted at the Home Course in Dupont, Washington.

If you have not yet registered, consider attending the 2023 PGA Buying & Education Summit, July 31 – August 2 at PGA Frisco. Registration is open – https://www.pgabuyingsummit.com.

We are very excited to announce two new sponsorship agreements. Both partnerships continue to grow our Arizona Sun Pro-Am. Mr. Mike Worden and his family of brands—Sun Mountain, CMC Design, Callaway, Ouray—are taking title to the 2023-2025 events. I encourage you all to thank Mr. Worden and consider his brands when making your merchandising decisions. It is also my pleasure to announce that Maui Jim Sunglasses have also agreed to partner with the PNWPGA. Maui Jim is officially a Supporting Sponsor of the 2023 Arizona Sun Pro-Am presented by Mike Worden.

As always, if I or any member of our Section team can serve you, please contact me directly at [email protected].

Grant Tribolet, 2023 Tournament Intern

Howdy, my name is Grant Tribolet; I am from Dallas, Texas, and have grown up playing and loving the game of golf! I am a senior PGA Golf Management and Marketing student from Clemson University. My PGM degree has allowed me to intern and learn about the game of golf and the industry across the United States! I have worked in Whitefish, Montana; Dallas, Texas; Pinehurst, North Carolina and now Olympia, Washington! I have experience in the tournament operation industry and look forward to seeing where else the game can take me! I will receive my Class A PGA at the end of the year, and I hope to stay in the tournament operations division and understand how I can make the player experience that much better! I can’t wait to work for the Pacific Northwest Section this summer, and I’m excited to see what more I can learn this summer!

District #14 Director's Report

Jeff Lessig, PGA - National Director, District #14 | [email protected]

The PGA of America and the USGA Need to Hear from You

As you know, the USGA is proposing a Model Local Rule to roll back the golf ball for “elite competitions” beginning in 2026. You can research and read for yourself their rationale and just exactly what they have to say about this proposal at usga.org. If you do, you will see/hear no mention of the PGA or how this rollback may need to be administered – by club professionals.

Two of the USGA bullet points that are right up front are:

Intended for elite competitions only
No effect on the recreational game

More on that in a moment.

They go on to say that “Manufacturers and golf stakeholders can provide feedback until August 14, 2023.” To do so visit [email protected]. It does seem to me that PGA of America Members are “stakeholders”. Here is our Association’s statement:

PGA Statement on USGA and R&A Model Local Rule – Elite Players

“As we have previously stated to the USGA and the R&A, we are strongly opposed to any rules changes that will make the game less fun for recreational golfers. Regarding this specific area of interest, we are pleased that there is no longer a focus on changing or modifying the ball or clubs that recreational players may use.

We are not in favor of bifurcation and do not anticipate individual clubs implementing such a Model Local Rule as it is meant for Elite Players.

In regards to the PGA Championship, 2026 is still a long way off and until we know the specifics of the proposed Model Local Rule we are not in a position to make that determination.”

What is your statement? I’m not 100% sure.

Bifurcation. Personally, I am strongly opposed to any rule change that would cater to one kind of player – or the acquired skill level of a player – or a singular ball – that would cause The Rules of Golf to differ based upon who’s hitting it. One of our game’s greatest tenets, in my judgment, is that players around the world are presently and have historically played by one set of rules. It’s part of what makes our sport unique. And yes, I know that different golfers play from different tees, courses have differing local rules, etc., but once the ball is “in play”, we’re all subject to the same book. Pretty cool thing if you ask me.

What is an “elite competition”? At this point, there is not a definition. It gives “competition organizers” (that’s you) “…the option to require use of golf balls that are tested under modified launch conditions…”

So, I ask you as a “competition organizer” whether you’d implement this MLR in say, the championship flight at your club? The Section Championship or state open? Are these elite competitions? If the MLR exists in the rule book, would you have some players lobbying for it, and others against it? And no matter which way you go, could there be repercussions?

Or let’s say that player X decides to use the new “shorter distance” golf ball every time he/she plays when establishing a handicap. After all, the ball is legal. But then at the end of the year for the club championship, pulls out a PRO V1x. Is the established handicap artificially high after playing all year with a “shorter” ball? The USGA flatly states, “no effect on the recreational game.”

The USGA and R&A are late to this dance and are attempting to craft a distance solution by regulating it for the top one percent of one percent of players.

I happen to think this is a big deal. You may not. I see it as a slippery slope – if this bifurcation can happen, what’s the next one?

What definitely matters is what you think and I hope you can find a few minutes, as a “stakeholder” to make your opinion known both to the USGA and to your Association. August 14 is coming right up.

Jeff Lessig, PGA

National Director, District 14

P.S. But on the other hand, I don’t particularly enjoy watching PGA Tour players hitting 8-iron second shots into par 5’s either. As I mentioned, not 100% sure.

Jeff Lessig, PGA
National Director, District 14
[email protected]

Player Engagement

Patrick Oropallo, PGA - Player Engagement Consultant | [email protected]

The Other Side of Player Engagement

As your busy season approaches, I just wanted to remind you of something very important—connecting with your members and guests. I know you’ll be juggling a lot with tournament operations, personnel management, and teaching lessons, but please don’t forget about your interactions with people. After all, Player Engagement is about more than just great golf programs and lesson plans—it’s about connecting with individuals.

As the PGA Professional or Associate, you’re a bit of a celebrity at your facility, and your members and guests really value their interactions with you. You may have heard this before, but it’s true—we’re in the people business! That’s why it’s so important to schedule regular time in your calendar to play golf with members and guests, walk the range line, or even be the starter on the #1 tee once a week.

I know you’ve heard about these best practices before, but there’s a reason they work so well. By taking the time to connect with others, you’ll find your work as a Golf Professional to be amazing, rewarding, fulfilling, and just plain fun. So, as you gear up for your busy season, don’t forget to slow down and make time for what matters most—your health, well-being, and those meaningful human connections you make at your facility. You got this!

PGA Jr. League Championship Season

I just wanted to take a moment to say a huge THANK YOU to all the facilities and Golf Professionals who are participating in PGA Jr. League thus far. Your hard work has paid off—we’ve seen some significant growth in participation in the PNW! We’re currently at 120 facilities and almost 3,000 players, which means over $625k in coaching revenue for our golf professionals. Great job!

Just a heads up – as of May 1st, PGA Coaches can register their All-Star program(s). I don’t want to get too detailed here, but I highly recommend checking out my recent Player Engagement Newsletter for more info on the Championship Season. One thing I do want to emphasize is that you should charge for your All-Star programs, including practices and #PlayDays. This is a great opportunity to earn some extra income for your time and expertise. And if you’re not sure what to charge, I’m here to help! Just schedule a one-on-one consultation with me and we’ll make sure you hit your All-Star season goals.

Patrick Oropallo, Certified PGA

Where Eagles Dare (to Lead), Part I

Monte Koch, PGA Certified Professional, CEIP - PGA Career Consultant | [email protected]

As a young person, I had a few authors that I really enjoyed in the fictional space. Authors included Zane Grey (100+ cowboy stories), CS Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia) and Alistair MacLean, whose books were often set in the timeframe of WWII and the Cold War. Some of MacLean’s books were made into movies, including The Guns of Navarone, Ice Station Zebra and Where Eagles Dare.

First published in mid-1967, Where Eagles Dare is a great read (and movie). A Goodreads review infers that this book and then the movie “set the pace for modern action thriller.” In other words, it was an innovative, “leading edge” model that many have followed.

With that in mind, I have been thinking about another book, Dare to Lead, by Brene Brown. There are so many ways to find applications to our current golf industry and our careers as PGA professionals. One quote stands out to me right now and it is, “Own the fear, find the cave and write a new ending for yourself, for the people you’re meant to serve and support…choose courage over comfort. Choose whole hearts over armor…choose the great adventure of being brave and afraid. At the exact same time.”