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President's Report
We are emerging out of the best spring ever, eyes focused on the busier summer months ahead. Many of our facilities are seeing record rounds of golf (40% above last year in Washington and Oregon in March, many Idaho and Montana courses opening earlier than ever). Trying to prepare a staff ahead of the “normal” season is a challenge for many facilities. Yet, we roll up our sleeves, move forward and carry on to promote this game and serve our customers. Congrats to Darren Black for his narrow victory in the Washington Open last month at Meridian Valley CC. A special thanks to Greg and Chris Manley, for hosting our first major of the year with professionalism and class. The Muckelshoot Pro-Am was a huge success largely due to the efforts of Chris, filling up the field and providing a top-notch experience for the amateurs and professionals alike. These tournaments don’t “just happen.” Please take 5 minutes out of your schedule and write thank you letters to our sponsors and facility decision makers. It’s the simplest gesture we can do as professionals to show appreciation for the excellent events we are fortunate enough to play in. TopGolf is coming to the Pacific Northwest, with the first facility breaking ground last month in Hillsboro, Oregon, just west of Portland. By now, I’m sure most of us have heard of TopGolf and the growth of the popular golf centers. As this facility opens in the Spring of 2016, it will have an impact on golf in the Portland Metro area. Will it be good or bad for the local golf economy? That answer probably depends upon your perspective, whether you are a facility owner/operator or a golfer looking for a new experience. What can we learn from the success of TopGolf? I think most of all it should be about the fun. They’ve created a business that caters to the fun side of golf. No dress code, cocktail lounge atmosphere, interactive gaming, and great social opportunities. It’s estimated that 50% of their clients don’t consider themselves golfers at all. Yet they are growing at an exponential rate with current facilities full to the brim with long lines for hitting spots, as they have created a non-intimidating way to hang out around the game of golf. We could all “borrow” some of their best practices at our facilities. Some of the very best ideas are not original! Bryan Tunstill, PGA
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CEO's ReportJune is a busy time for PGA Professionals: the MSR deadline, entries are out or soon to be out for the PPC, Sr. PPC, Assistant, Rosauers and Senior Oregon, dues bills are out and of course you are all swamped at the course….at least I hope so! First, a big thank you to Chris and Greg Manley and the members at Meridian Valley for a very successful Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open. Great job! In addition to an exciting championship with Darren Black out dueling Chris Griffin and Brian Thornton down the stretch, we raised $43,000 for the Folds of Honor. Thank you to all the professionals who played with our sponsors in the pro-am and participated in the great parties, auction and raffle. The PGA of America has distributed entries for the PGA Professional Championship at Canyon River GC in Missoula. Those who played five years ago remember the fun golf course and hospitality of the local spots in Missoula. If you like to wet a fly once in a while, the fishing is outstanding just down the way from the club. Entry for this championship is through the PGA of America. Don’t miss the July 7 deadline. Enter at www.pgatournaments.com. Entries will be out soon will be the PNW Senior PGA Professional Championship, Northwest Open Invitational and the PNW PGA Assistant Professional Championship. Watch your email notices and the mid-July deadlines! Tee times are posted for the Oregon Open Invitational at Crosswater. Thank you Josh Willis for the invitation to return to Sunriver. The full field speaks to the popularity of your great facility. Be sure to watch our almost live scoring starting on June 9. Our thanks to our sponsors – National Car Rental, Bridgestone, Sun Mountain, Greg Norman, Sundog/AMA and of course our friends at Abby’s Pizza. The Rosauers Open returns to Indian Canyon in 2015. The weather cooperated and the city has made a strong effort to revitalize the course. It looks great! The Rosauers team will once again produce an outstanding pro-am and our largest purse of the year. Many of you have worked with Bob Fah over the years. As I write this, Bob is sitting next to me on a bus traveling across Ireland on the first day of our Ireland Pro-Am. Be sure to ask Bob about his experience, we’ll make sure he has fun! Click here for Rosauers entry forms. Congratulations to PGA Scholarship winners Kyle Robertson, Joel Bowen, and Carly Conner. Your good work has been recognized by the scholarship committee. Our local Drive Chip and Putt qualifiers start on June 14 at both the OGA Course and Mount Si. Please promote this fun opportunity to your juniors and parents. It really is a no pressure competition for most of the kids and a way to help your new juniors ease into competition. We have 11 local sites, one is near you! Registration is free and players may sign up at www.drivechipandputt.com. For a bit of business, remember that your PGA dues are payable no later than June 30. Simply log into PGA.org to pay on-line or print an invoice to submit with your check. Paper invoices are not mailed! One caution, if the club pays your dues, please walk your invoice though accounting. Every year we have a club accountant think mailing a check on June 30 works….not so much. Help yourself out and avoid the late fees/suspensions by taking an active role in the process. If you know of a senior who is unable to pay their dues due to health reasons, please let me know as a group of seniors has a private fund to assist in special circumstances. We are just two weeks away from the US Open at Chambers Bay. It should bring a great focus on golf in the Pacific Northwest. We’ve received a few calls about access to the championship. The following is reprinted from PGA.org: As a courtesy extended by the USGA; Class A PGA members, Life members and Master Professional members. No spouse or family members (PGA members only; this offer is not extended to apprentices). Must show membership card and Photo I.D. each day. Go to Will Call to pick up daily ticket. Ticket Information (800) 698-0661. I hope you have a great summer. Your fantastic staff is here to help you navigate your PGA membership. Please feel free to give them a call. They are a dedicated team that I’m so grateful to be working with. Reach out to them when you need help. Jeff Ellison, PGA |
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Senior Oregon Open Returns to Indian Wildhorse Resort GC!
Team Entry Form Available June 3!The PNW PGA's Most Popular Senior TournamentWe expect a strong field of competitors for the Senior Oregon Open Invitational this year as we return to the Wildhorse Resort & Casino for our 13th straight year! We will have a full field of 56 teams (224 PGA Professionals and amateurs). This event fills every year and usually has a large waiting list. Please make sure you are aware of the entry priority processing procedure to see what category you fall under. View Exemption List Wildhorse Resort & Casino
Wildhorse championship golf course was designed by John Steidel. Nestled at the base of mountains and wide open terrain, the course is modeled after a traditional Scottish links-style course with plenty of bunkers and tall grass lurking to make you work a little harder than usual. Each hole is surrounded by spectacular, unobstructed vistas with gentle rolling hills and fairway mounds reflecting the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Wildhorse Resort & Casino went through a major renovation, including adding a ten story tower hotel (with the old courtyard hotel still open). There are over 300 hotel rooms available in the two hotels plus a business center, fitness center, pool, spa, new coffee shop/deli and restaurants. They also expanded their 24-hour gaming floor by over 24,000 square feet and a five screen Cineplex with two 3D screens. The resort and casino is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. |
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PNW PGA Professional Championship Entries Available
National is now accepting entries for the PNW PGA Professional Championship at Canyon River Golf Course on September 22-24, 2015. The entry deadline is Tuesday, July 7th at 2:00 PM. You may register for this event through PGA of America Membership services at 800-474-2776 or www.pgatournaments.com. Please pay attention to the 2:00 PM entry deadline for this event! Your Section Championship & Qualifier for the National PGA ChampionshipThis championship confers the title of “The Pacific Northwest Section Champion”. It is the most important and elite PNW PGA tournament of the season. Eligibility: You must be employed in one of the following classifications as of July 7th to be eligible to play in the PNW PGA Professional Championship: MP, A-1, A-2, A-4, A-5, A-6, A-7, A-8, A-9, A-10, A-11, A-12, A-13, A-14, A-15, A-16, A-17, A-18, A-19, A-20, A-21, A-22, A-23, A-24, LMA and LMMA. Advancement: Top finishers in our PNW PGA Professional Championship will advance directly to the 49th PGA Professional Championship at Turning Stone Resorts Atunyote and Shenandoah Courses, Verona, New York on June 26-29, 2016. The Return to Canyon River GCThe PNW PGA Professional Championship was held at Canyon River in 2010 and we are glad to be welcomed back! Host PGA Professional Edward Bezanson and his staff are excited to host this year’s championship. Canyon River Golf Course was designed by Lee E. Schmidt, ASGCA/Brian Curley, ASGCA and opened in 2006. Canyon River meanders through towering pines and native grasslands. It offers numerous lakes and riparian marshes located throughout the property that come into play on seven holes. The mountains around the course provide for some amazing views of scenic Montana. The course was named by Golf Digest as one of the top ten new public courses to play in 2008. |
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Join Us at the Rosauers Open Invitational
There are still spots available in the Rosauers Open Invitational at Indian Canyon GC on July 17-19. Entries close July 1, so sign up online or fax your paper entry in today! You won't want to miss playing Indian Canyon in the best-ever condition! Play One of Washington's Most Desired Courses to PlayWe are excited to return to Indian Canyon GC! The course was built in 1935 for $200,000. H. Chandler Egan, a member of the PNGA Hall of Fame, crafted the Canyon’s layout over the well treed hillside southwest of the Spokane River. This municipal track has been annually rated among Golf Digest’s “Best Public Courses”, “Best Affordable Courses”, “Best Golf Courses You Can Play”, “Best in State” and taken individually, some holes rank with the best holes found on any course – public or private – in the region. Indian Canyon’s lofty acclaim is well deserved. Indian Canyon hosted the 1941 and 1984 Public Links Championships. When Bill Welch was victorious in 1941, he concluded “After I played Indian Canyon, I never wanted to go back to Texas again. I never saw a golf course that beautiful in my whole life…. I did return to Texas, but only to pack my bags and move to Spokane.” Fun for your FamilyThinking of bringing your spouse and making it a vacation? Northern Quest Resort & Casino is right nearby. This is Spokane Washington’s premier destination for vegas-style casino gaming, a luxury spa, 14 restaurants and lounges and more. For those with kids, consider a trip to Splash Down Water Park! |
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PNW Senior PGA Championship to be Contested at The Home Course
Entries for the Senior PGA Professional Championship at The Home Course in DuPont, WA will open on Wednesday, June 3. The championship will be held Wednesday- Thursday, September 2-3 with an Optional Pro-Am on Tuesday, September 1 (we will pair you with another PGA Professional and amateurs from The Home Course). The entry deadline is Tuesday, July 14th at 2:00 PM. Please pay close attention to the 2:00 pm deadline for this event! Your Section Senior Championship & Qualifier for the Senior PGA Professional National ChampionshipEligibility: You must be eligibly employed and classified in one of the following active membership classifications as of July 14th or have Life member status (LM, LMA, LMM, or LMMA) to be eligible to play in the Senior PGA Professional Championship Qualifier: MP, A-1, A-2, A-4, A-5, A-6, A-7, A-8, A-9, A-10, A-11, A-12, A-13, A-14, A-15, A-16, A-17, A-18, A-19, A-20, A-21, A-22, A-23, A-24. Advancement: Successful qualifiers from the PNW Senior PGA Professional Championship will advance directly to the 27th Senior Professional National Championship presented by Mercedes-Benz, held October 15-18, 2015 at Bayonet and Black Horse Golf Courses in Seaside, CA. Players qualifying to the Senior PPC will receive a bonus payout of $300 each. Additionally, the top 35 finishers at the 27th Senior Professional National Championship earn a berth in the 77th Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, to be conducted in May 26-29, 2016, at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Note: If you want to have a chance to advance to qualify for the Senior PGA Professional National Championship presented by Mercedes-Benz, you must enter through PGA of America Membership services at 800-474-2776 or online at www.pgatournaments.com. Come “Home” to the Home CourseThe Home Course was designed by golf course architect Mike Asmundson of Scottsdale, Arizona and opened on June 29, 2007. It is a walkable layout with panoramic views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and Mount Rainier present throughout the golf course. The Home Course was selected by the United States Golf Association as the assisting course for the 2010 U.S. Amateur Championship. The Home Course will assist the primary course, Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, WA in conducting America’s National Amateur Championship. It is truly a great championship golf course at the home of golf in the Pacific Northwest. |
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National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship Entries Open June 10
Tualatin, OR – Tualatin CC – August 3, 2015 You may register for the 2015 National Car Rental PGA Professional Championship through the PGA of America Membership services at 800-474-2776 or www.pgatournaments.com beginning on Wednesday, June 10. The entry deadline is Tuesday, July 21 at 2:00 PM. Please pay close attention to the 2:00 PM entry deadline for this event! Eligibility: You must be employed as an A-8 or as an Apprentice (including Apprentice Head Professional) as of July 21 to be eligible to play in the Section National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship. Advancement: Top finishers in our Section National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship will advance to the National Car Rental PGA Assistant National Championship that will be played at PGA Golf Club – Wanamaker Course in Port St. Lucie, FL, held October 29 – November 1, 2015. Encourage your employees to enter: The more players who sign up, the more spots our Section will receive to advance to the National Championship. Additionally, the purse increases as our players increase! Note: The PGA of America has adopted the condition of competition for Grooves and/or Punch Marks at the Section level of the Pacific Northwest PGA Assistant Championship. ALL PLAYERS MUST comply with this condition of competition. |
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Black Clinches First Major Win at the Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open
by Austin Fields - PNW PGA Tournament Intern KENT, WA – Meridian Valley CC – 6,707 Yards, Par 72 PGA Professional Darren Black of Rainier G&CC won the 89th Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open Invitational by two strokes over PGA Professional Brian Thornton of Meridian Valley CC. Black fired a final round score of 68, 4-under par. He birdied his last hole for the win. In third place was PGA Professional Chris Griffin of Tacoma C&GC. Low amateur honors went to Kent Hagen of Meridian Valley CC who carded a three round total of 213 (65-72-76) placing him tied for 7th with PGA Professional Ben Nelson of Linden G&CC. Black (-6) started his final round one shot behind co-leaders Brian Thornton and amateur Kent Hagen (-7) before clinching his first major win at the Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open Invitational. Black discussed his thought process going into the final round one stroke back of the co-leaders, stating, “I knew I was going to have to make birdies to keep up with all three of the final groups… and I didn’t think any of them would fold under pressure. I had to shoot in the 60’s!” After his victory, Black said, “It feels great to finally get a win as I have been so close many times! Hopefully… all I needed was the first one to get over that hump and believe in myself to do it more often. None of our section majors are easy wins of course, but knowing I have done it in the past will help me mentally when in the mix next time”. During the tournament Black had a special individual on the bag, his son Drew. “It truly made the whole experience even that more special,” said Black. “He is still just starting to like and learn about golf and this whole week really excited him for the game and my career. He looks forward to doing this again.” In the Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open Pro-Am benefitting Folds of Honor, the Mirage Las Vegas team led by Darren Black took first place by carding a two round total of 228 in a best two of five net shamble. The Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open Invitational and Pro-Am benefitted the Folds of Honor, a foundation that provides annual educational scholarships to the military families of those who have been killed or disabled while in active duty. The event raised $40,000+ this year. For more information or to make a donation please visit www.foldsofhonor.org. Special thanks goes out to Head PGA Professional Greg Manley, Pro-Am Tournament Director Christine Manley, Superintendent Craig Benson and their staff for providing a phenomenal week at Meridian Valley Country Club. Along with these individuals, the PNW Section would like to thank Judy Thompson for providing such great volunteers to make the 89th Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open Invitational a spectacular event!
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Seccor and Tibbits Capture PNW Junior PGA Championship
by Molly Cooper - Director of Tournament & Member Programs Spencer Tibbits of Vancouver, WA and Ellen Secor of Portland, OR won the 2015 Pacific Northwest Junior PGA Championship presented by Under Armour and Genesis Networks at Lake Spanaway GC in Tacoma, WA. By winning the boys’ and girls’ divisions respectively, Tibbits and Secor qualified for the 40th Junior PGA Championship presented by Under Armour and Genesis Networks, Aug. 3-6, at Miramont Country Club in Bryan/College Station, Texas. Tibbits, 16 posted a final-round 66 for a two-day total of 133 and a 7-stroke victory over Sam Warkentin of Bainbridge Island, WA. Secor, 17 had a final-round 71 for a two-day total of 149 and a one stroke victory over Olivia Benzin of Tacoma, WA. Winning the girls 13-15 age division was Alyssa Nguyen of Renton, WA. She won by 5-strokes over Janine Surge of Seattle, WA. In the boys 13-15 age division, Samuel Pyon of Happy Valley, OR won by two strokes over Victor Wang of Sammamish, WA. The Junior PGA Championship, Presented by Under Armour and Genesis Networks, is open to one boy and one girl champion from each of the 41 PGA Sections, champions of the nine PGA Junior Series events, select national junior tournaments conducted throughout the year and special invitees who have yet not reached their 19th birthdays as of the final round of the championship. The Junior PGA Championship has traditionally been a stepping-stone for many of today’s PGA and LPGA Tour professionals as well as current collegiate stars. Past Junior PGA Championship competitors who have gone on to successful professional careers include: Inbee Park, Luke Guthrie, Trevor Immelman, Cristie Kerr, Justin Leonard, Hunter Mahan, Michelle McGann, Phil Mickelson, Grace Park, Dottie Pepper, Jordan Spieth, Lexi Thompson, David Toms, Michelle Wie and Tiger Woods |
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Holk's Highlights
Who inspired you in your golf career? "Early on when I was a kid, my parents inspired me. We would go to the range or go play a scramble and all I wanted back then was to beat my dad at golf. Once I accomplished that I knew I wanted to play at a higher level and really enjoyed playing in tournaments and the competition. There really wasn’t one person that inspired me at that point, but the local PGA professionals from Lewiston and watching the PGA Tour and Tiger on television helped." What would you like to see yourself accomplish in the next 10 years? "If I ever got the chance to play on the PGA Tour, I would jump at it. I would like to play in a few U.S. Opens and PGA Championships where I play well and make the cut. That is one thing great about playing at a high level in the section tournaments, we get the opportunity to qualify for nationals, and the top players get an invite to the PGA Championship. It is nice knowing there is a route to take without going through q-school to play in tour events." Brought to you by Grant Holcomb and:  |
Darren BlackFacility: Rainier G&CC Hometown: Lewiston, ID University: Graduated from Lewis-Clark State College; played golf all 4 years. PGA Member Since: 2008 Tell us a little about your past playing career prior to becoming a PNW PGA Professional. "I first became a professional after I graduated from college. I started by playing a few events on the Cascade Golf Tour that played in the Pacific Northwest. I then moved to Phoenix, AZ and played on the Gateway Tour, Pepsi Tour, and Golden State Tour. I made quite a few cuts on the Gateway and Golden State Tours and won a couple of the Pepsi Tour events, but that would be the only highlights before moving to Oregon and joining the PNWPGA." You won the 2014 PNW PGA Player of the Year Award. You did not win any PNW PGA championships last year but had played very well. How does it feel to be the 2015 Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open Invitational Champion? "It feels amazing! I was truly proud of how I played in all 5 majors last year and was fortunate enough to win the Player of the Year honor. But the best moment was qualifying for nationals again, since I hadn’t done that since my first year as eligible to compete in that event in 2009, as I was elected to PGA Membership too late in the 2008 season." Which championship trophy is next on your radar? "The Rosauers has always been my favorite event and has always been on my radar. I often call that one our 'Masters' in the PNW. It has always been a fun event and I love playing Indian Canyon and the pro-am before the tournament." |
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How to Ask for More Money After a Job OfferCarol Pence, PGA | PGA Employment Consultant | CPence@pgahq.com Many people I meet don’t have a strategy for negotiating their salary and compensation package. They come to me after receiving a new job offer and desire direction on how to maximize compensation. While there are numerous ways in which to find what is fair, it should not be based off of what you have been earning. Here are a few tips to improve the quality of your negotiation conversation. First, uncover your competition. Before there is an offer on the table, ask the interviewer questions such as, “Can you tell me where you are in the hiring process?” or, “How many people are you interviewing for this position?” If you discover that you are their only current candidate, you will have more leverage during the negotiation process and you may be able to command a higher salary. |
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The Value of a Lead Lies in Strengths of the CloserMonte Koch, PGA | Player Development Regional Manager | mkoch@pgahq.com In three plus years here in the PNWPGA Section, I've had the privilege of meeting many wonderful professionals in the golf industry, especially PGA members and apprentices. Recently, I was talking with a friend, whose recently started working within our industry but who has incredible experience in marketing. David White, the President of Fanstactic (a social media marketing company based in south King County, WA - www.fanstactic.com) and I were talking about the how golf courses can use digital marketing and social media to grow their business, increase the size of their membership, etc. Fanstactic is a niche company whose list of clients is made up of small businesses, including golf courses. In our most recent visit, David told me a story about one of his clients who owns a roofing business in Seattle, WA. Per David, the owner pays $150 for a "qualified lead" on a roofing job. At first glance, that may not hit home for most people. Let's slow down and break it down... |
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Pros on the MoveMichelle Parish | Tournament & Membership Assistant Employment Changes
Classification Changes
New Apprentices
Newly Elected Members
Transfers OUT of the Section
Transfers INTO the Section
New Quarter Century Members
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