When I was younger, much younger, Christmas was the time of year I’d make long lists, wondering what was going to magically appear under the tree. I’d wake up on Christmas morning amazed that one fat man in a red suit not only knew what I wanted, but got it covered perfectly for all my friends and neighbors, too. I knew he had elves and ate a lot of cookies with milk, but it was still incredible. Did my parents have anything to do with this? Of course, not; it was a miracle.
As I am now much older, and I am a father myself, I appreciate that the magic was how my parents and relatives pulled off Christmas each year. I am now well-aware of the sobering reality that the “Christmas miracle” was really in how my parents were able to afford any presents, how they managed to work multiple jobs, and how they balanced our family and all the additional chores that the holidays brought them. With age, I have become wise to what happens “behind the scenes” to make the Christmas magic a reality. This Christmas, I’d ask that the PNWPGA Members take a moment and think about all the magic that happens throughout the year, and then consider what happens “behind the scenes” to make it all work for us. This Christmas I want to pay special tribute to all of the volunteers and to the Section Staff that I now have the privilege of working alongside in service to you.
Your Chapter and Section Boards are filled with men and women who share a passion and commitment for “serving the members and growing the game.” Let us not forget, though, these willing volunteers have “day jobs,” too. In a COVID-19 environment their responsibilities have only gotten more difficult to tackle. Leaders in a sport that is a social game have been forced to conduct the important business of our Section from a distance. Zoom is no substitute to being in the same room, sharing a meal, or grabbing a couple of adult beverages together. Members of our Section and Chapter Committees, also, have the unenviable task of juggling their own competing priorities, from employment to family, to their own professional development. Theirs is not an easy task, but I am confident that if you asked any one of them, they wouldn’t trade their responsibilities. In fact, I am sure they would encourage you to volunteer, too, and you should! Likewise, the Section staff is a family of like-minded—and like-hearted—professionals. In three short months I have witnesses their dedication, firsthand. Taken together, this group is the reason we can rest easy knowing that, when we wake up, everything will be simply perfect. Each day, every day, this group of selfless men and women ensure that all of our expectations are exceeded. They are the reason we are seldom disappointed, and for that I am thankful.
The Christmas season should also be a time for you to take a moment and celebrate yourself. What you do, as golf professionals, is amazing too. Celebrate your commitment to a professional for which you have an unwavering passion. Be proud of the collegiality that you unconditionally share with your peers. Never forget the impact you have each and every day on those around you. The professionals who care so much for what they do and who they serve clearly deserve recognition. This holiday season, remind yourself that the work you do makes a very big difference.
2020 may not have been the year we would have hoped for, or resulted in the things we all wanted for ourselves. Nevertheless, 2020 certainly makes us all a little more grateful for the things we have. Feel confident in how far we have come and be assured in how far we will surely all go, together.
Frank Talarico, CEO