Berg and D'Amelio Win PNW Pro-Amateur; 68th Hudson Cup Matches; introducing your new board members; President's Report by Greg Manley; PROfile: Scott Williams

President's Report

Greg Manley, PGA

Dear PNW Section Members,

By now you have heard about the Section’s Strategic Plan and Mission Statement. While this may come across to you as “Board Speak,” it is imperative to the Section and its 5 Chapters in improving its Governance and Operating practices, culminating with serving you. Having a plan at your facility can enhance your career and further your value to your employer, when a similar plan is implemented at your facility. Everyone deserves to have clarity and accountability in their position. This is an environment that you can grow and build successful organizations from.

The Section’s Mission Statement is simple: “Serve our Section Members and Grow the Game”. It’s simple for a reason, as discussions come across the Board table we can evaluate our decision by whether they check one or both boxes. Does this serve our members? Does this grow the game? If it doesn’t check one or both of those boxes then why are we doing it? Your Board along with the other 5 Chapter Boards are there to serve the 1100+ members of our Section. We have to be accountable to you, the PGA Member or Apprentice. We have to serve you in a transparent and concise manner to best benefit you through the 6 core components of the Plan.

I encourage you to all become engaged in this plan, ask yourselves if you have a similar process in place at your facility and if you don’t, why not? It is engagement like this, that will make your Association better and that you can implement to make yourselves more valuable at your facility. You have the opportunity to be the leader at your facility, maybe you already are. If you already are then you can enhance yourself with this process. We can all get better and it’s my promise to you that through this foundation of a Strategic Plan we will make your Association better. It’s your engagement that is required to make this Section the best in the country. Your Section Board promises to lead, we hope that you will allow us to work hard to do that and that all 1100+ will become more engaged in the Association to allow us to improve.

Take a look at the plan on the member’s side of the website. Send me an e-mail with your comments and questions. Challenge your Board to be the leader in the country. I promise you, we are ready to make that improvement and do what is best for our members all while growing this great game.

There is power in numbers, we need your engagement to harness that power. My ears are open, let’s go!

Greg Manley, PGA
General Manager – Director of Golf
Meridian Valley Country Club
253-631-3131
President, Pacific Northwest Section PGA

2017 Tournament Schedule

Don't forget to thank the 2016 tournament sponsors! You can find all their contact info on the members-only website at: member.pnwpga.com.
Or download the PDF.

Members on the Move

by Michelle Parish - Tournament & Membership Assistant

Employment Changes
Mathew L. Hennick (B-8) - to Bear Creek CC from Harbour Pointe GC

New Apprentices
Christopher L Holloway (B-8) - Port Ludlow GC

Austin J Nutt (B-8) - Plateau Club

Newly Elected Members
Todd W. Pence - Fairways GC
Alex C. Rothstein - TPC @ Snoqualmie Ridge

Transfers OUT of the Section
James R. Henry (LMA) - to Illinois

Tyler A. Martin - from Whitefish Lake GC to N. California

Colin M McMahon - from Hangman Valley GC to S. California

Robert J Shoemaker - from The GC at Black Rock to Southwest

Austin W Westphal - Avondale GTC to S. California

Resigned
Dennis W. Willer

CEO's Report

Jeff Ellison, PGA

I hope you were able to join us in Tacoma for our Merchandise Show, Annual Meeting and Education programs. The venue is perfect for our activities with everything you need within just a few blocks – convention center, hotel, restaurants and a few spots for later.

Thank you all who wrote orders at the show. Orders are why our vendors spend their own money to attend. Your support makes this important function successful for everyone – thank you. Special thanks to our breakfast sponsor Craig Pelzer, and to our Annual Meeting sponsor PGA National Resort. Sponsors really help us create great programs for YOU. We are finalizing plans for the merchandise show next year in Portland. Watch your email for updates. Thank you to your staff for pulling off this big event. The schedule is non-stop for three days, and they handled it like the pros we know they are.

With the Show and Annual Meeting in the rear view mirror, we are on to the next project. The 100^th PGA of America Annual Meeting is just around the corner, November 9-11 in New York City. Your delegation will represent you on the floor as we consider the three candidates for PGA Secretary. Information on Jim Richerson, Russ Libby and Rick Murphy can be found on PGA.org. Please direct any comments on these candidates to our two official delegates – Bryan Tunstill or Greg Manley – before they fly out on November 8. It will be an important week as we work to identify the best new leadership of the PGA of America.

The 2017 tournament schedule is almost final. We are once again fortunate to enjoy another great season of outstanding venues. In addition to the traditional sites for three of our majors, we return to Juniper GC for the Oregon Open Invitational and the always popular Circling Raven GC for the PGA Professional Championship. Everyone’s friend Grant Holcomb continues to sponsor the Holcomb-In-One Las Vegas Pro-Am - entries close on November 30! View the 2017 schedule: http://www.pnwpga.com/tournaments/2017-tournament-schedule-draft/.

The Annual Meeting was the conclusion of the election for Section Secretary. Congratulations to Sean Fredrickson of Tualatin CC who was sworn in as your new officer. A special thanks to Dan Harrington for his dedication and service to the membership. Your new President is Greg Manley, your Vice President is Greg Morris, and Bryan Tunstill is taking on the role of Honorary President. We also bid farewell to Marcus King after 12 years of service on the Section Board. Along with the new officer crew, we have five new members of the Section Board of Directors. Beginning their four-year terms on the Board are Jason Aichele, Harold Bluestein, Chris Nowlen, Chris Runyan and Bill Shea. Your new board gets rolling full speed next month, culminating in our Winter Planning and Board Meeting on December 5-6. If there is something you want addressed, please reach out to President Manley.

This winter, take on your own player development effort. Whether you join our 164 PGA Junior League teams, enhance your adult programming or add a Drive Chip and Putt Prep Clinic, do something that works at your facility. The programs have a secondary benefit for the golf business, but done right they will benefit you and your facility much more than anyone else. If you need assistance, or just a few fresh ideas, reach out to Monte Koch, mkoch@pgahq.com or 206-335-5260.

The season is at an end and your staff is already hard at work preparing for next season. We have 230 events to plan, numerous board and membership meetings to organize, and of course all the education and membership processes to complete. It will be a busy winter making sure everything is ready for 2017. Please extend your thanks to this dedicated group when you have a minute.

Have a great November and I look forward to seeing you in the spring.

Jeff Ellison, PGA

Amateur John D’Amelio and PGA Professional Derek Berg

Berg and D'Amelio Win PNW Pro-Amateur Championship

By Molly Cooper, PGA - Director of Tournament & Member Programs

Salish Cliffs GC played host to the PNW Pro-Amateur Championship once again this year, having previously hosted this event in 2013. Salish Cliffs GC is a Gene Bates designed golf course which opened in September of 2011. Owned by the Squaxin Island Tribe and operated by Little Creek Casino Resort, the golf course covers over 300 beautiful acres through the Kamilche Valley.

Sponsored by National Car Rental, the Official Rental Car of The PGA of America, the event is one of nearly 100 tournaments across the 41 PGA of America Sections nationwide being linked together to form the Pro-Am Series. National Car Rental created the tournaments to help further the PGA of America’s mission to grow interest and participation in the game of golf at local levels. The series ran through October 2016.

The first round of the event concluded with the team consisting of PGA Professional John Cassidy of Alderbrook G&YC and amateur Casey Adams of Chambers Bay GC leading by only one stroke. They had posted a score of 64, 8-under par. One stroke behind was the team consisting of PGA Professional Jeff Coston of Semiahmoo G&CC with amateur Erik Hanson of Sahalee CC, as well as the team of PGA Professional Koll Farman and amateur Michael Haack of Meridian Valley CC.

During the second round, the team of PGA Professional Derek Berg of Sahalee CC with amateur John D’Amelio of Aldarra Golf Club came from behind to win by three strokes after firing four-ball scores of 66-62-128, 16 under par. The winning duo made seven birdies the final round with an eagle on the last hole along the way to their championship win. Finishing in a tie for second place were the teams of Cassidy-Adams and Coston-Hanson.

The Pacific Northwest Section PGA would like to recognize National Car Rental for their continued sponsorship this year. We would also like to thank Steve Cotton, Pete Trudeau, Eric Bowen, Mark Inman and Tyler Fisher with Pacific Golf & Turf for returning as supporting sponsors once again.

Thanks to Salish Cliffs GC and Head PGA Professional David Kass and his staff for hosting a fantastic week!

View final results: https://2016secproamateur.golfgenius.com

Points Lists

Omega Player of the Year (FINAL):

Brian Thornton - 535
Corey Prugh - 515
Tim Feenstra - 467.5

Assistant Player of the Year (FINAL)

John Cassidy - 517.5
Tim Feenstra - 467.5
Shane Prante - 430

Omega Sr. Player of the Year:

Jeff Coston - 575
Rob Gibbons - 525
Joe Carranza - 400

Hudson Cup Teams

68th Hudson Cup and 25th Senior Hudson Cup Matches

By Molly Cooper, PGA - Director of Tournament & Member Programs

The 68^th Hudson Cup and 25^th Senior Hudson Cup Matches kicked off to an exciting start at Fircrest GC. After the first day of the matches in the pouring rain, the amateur team had a narrow lead with 6 points to the professional team’s 4 points. The professional team took a lead in the Senior Hudson Cup matches, again with 8 points to the amateur team’s 2 points.

As the Hudson Cup matches progressed, many matches kept flipping back and forth between the professionals and the amateurs. When the end results were posted, the amateurs came out on top with 12.5 points to the professionals 7.5 points.

In the 25^th Senior Hudson Cup Matches, the professionals beat the amateurs with a two-day total of 14.5 points to the amateurs 5.5 points.

A record seven players were undefeated this year. Congratulations to PGA Professionals Craig Schuh of Deer Park GC, Jeff Marsh of Meriwether National GC, Steve Stull of Meadow Springs CC and Brent Murray of Oswego Lake CC for winning all three matches. Amateurs Jim Dunlap and Conner Barr both represented Pumpkin Ridge GC and Jack Dukeminier of Columbia Edgewater CC also won all three of their matches.

Congratulations also to the award winners this year for their spectacular play! The 52^ndChuck Congdon Award went to Conner Barr; the 42^ndLarry Lamberger Award was presented to Darren Black. In the Senior Matches, the 25^th Bill Eggers Award was won by Luke Wilson and Craig Schuh was bestowed the 25^thBob 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 thanks Nike Golf for their sponsorship of this championship and supporting the PNW PGA tournament program. We would also like to thank the entire staff at Fircrest GC, headed by PGA Professional Greg Talley, for making this event so successful. Thanks to the captains Scott Williams, Jim Pike, Dr. Jack Lamey and Bruce Richards for a wonderful job in helping make this year such an exciting event.

CLICK HERE to see results from 68th Hudson Cup Matches.

CLICK HERE to see results from 25th Senior Hudson Cup Matches.

Senior Hudson Cup Teams

Last Chance to Join Us in Las Vegas!

Join us on our yearly trip to play the best golf courses in Las Vegas! Our annual destination event will take place March 12-16, 2017. We are playing golf Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Enter soon - the cost goes up after November 30. By popular request, we will be playing the ever-popular Anthem CC and Chimera GC, and new this year Las Vegas CC.

entry form | flyer

Don’t miss out on this fun opportunity, which includes:

4 Nights lodging at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino
3 Rounds of Golf w/ Carts and Range Balls
Welcome Reception & Awards Dinner
$19,000 Prize Fund (based on 24 teams)
Tee Prize Package

Don’t delay in getting your entry in! Limited to the first 24 teams • The cost for this trip is: $1,485 / $1,725 single occupancy / $1,370 no room • The cost increases $150/player after November 30

Grant Holcomb is returning as our title sponsor with his companies Antigua, Slazenger, Sun Mountain, Z Sport, AM&E, Range Servant and Imperial Headwear.

We’d love to see you in Vegas! Contact Molly or Jeff at the PNW PGA Section Office at 800-688-4653 for details on this exciting event!

Holk's Highlights: Scott Williams, PGA

Hometown: Kirkland

PGA member since: 1988

Years Played on Professional Hudson Cup Team: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 20 01, 2002, 2003

Years Played on Amateur Hudson Cup Team: 1979

Years Played on Senior Hudson Cup Team: 2010

Scott Williams, captain of the 2016 Professional Hudson Cup team, has had his fair share of spectacular Hudson Cup moments. His favorite Hudson Cup memories include the 1993 matches at Bellingham G&CC. In the four-ball matches, paired with Dan Hixson, they made 13 birdies in 16 holes. Or, as Williams puts it, “miles of putts!

Learn the full story

5 Keys to Developing Better Listening Skills

Carol Pence, PGA of America Employment Consultant

The importance of listening in customer service, sales and relationship building is paramount. According to industrialist Andrew Carnegie, the most successful people listen more than they speak. Studies have found that about 40% of one’s time in communicating is spent listening, and by a wide margin more time is spent listening than reading, writing, or speaking.

Julian Treasure, a top-rated international speaker has given five TED talks on various aspects of sound and communication, which have been viewed an estimated 30 million times. His latest talk, How to Speak so that People Want to Listen, is in the top 20 TED talks of all time. Treasure recommends practicing focused listening as much as any other communication skills and offers five simple exercises to better your skill.

Climbing Towards Success as a Golf Business Leader

Monte Koch, Player Development Regional Manager

Here we are, November. (Exhale.) We are climbing up the mountain path (your choice: Rainier, Hood, Baker, Mt. Sentinel, Jumbo or Three-Fingered Jack) toward our “Summit of Success.” It’s been a steep path of late, filled with long days, and stress over the things we can control and those we can’t. In this month of November, we MUST take a deep breath and catch up like we would on a the trail heading up our favorite mountain. Hydrate, re-energize and connect on a personal level with our “climbing team.”

While catching our breath, we should also be reviewing the last portion of the trail with our “climbing team” focusing on the 2016 portion of the trail we just traversed.