“Hello Friends…”
April is upon us and with it comes a “tradition, like no other.” This year’s Masters’ has proven that some “traditions” are inevitably broken. Our 2021 Champion, Hideki Matsuyama, is the first Japanese champion for any of the majors. This achievement, if nothing less, reminds us that the great game of golf transcends race, religion, or any other demographic data point. It’s a “great game” for a reason. Golf—whether through its competitive spirit or its inherent frustration—creates a common denominator, and it unites us as we dig deep within ourselves to “get home in two” or find a way to “get up and down” or, perhaps, just to finish. Personally, I have met more “new friends” over a round of round than I have in any other situation. It’s one of so many reasons we all love this game and have chosen to make it our profession.
Hopefully it was not missed in between pimento cheese sandwiches that our very own Section President, Howie Pruitt, was invited to the 2021 Masters. To honor Mr. Lee Elder, the Masters’ first African American golfer, Howie and many of his colleagues from across the PGA were present to honor the impact that Mr. Lee Elder made upon the game of golf. As you know, Lee Elder joined Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player as honorary starters at this year’s Masters. And our own Howie Pruitt was invited to join Mr. Elder and other prominent African Americans in the PGA of America to commemorate this historic event. Bravo, Howie. You did the Pacific Northwest Section very, very proud.
And, so, with the Masters comes the full start of our tournament season here at home. My personal and sincere thanks to Liz Ogle from Sunice for sponsoring our Senior Players’ Championship. Hosted by Wine Valley Golf Course in Walla Walla, this year’s event witnessed an expanded field over year’s past. Congratulations to champion Mike Swingle, and thank you to all who participated.
Our Section recently completed our annual “Holcomb in One” in Las Vegas, Nevada. A near record forty-two teams competed in the 2021 event. Mr. Grant Holcomb has been the title sponsor to this longstanding Pro Am for nearly twenty-years. Somehow, “thank you” seems hardly enough. On behalf of the PNW PGA, Mr. Holcomb, thank you.
I am proud to lead a Section that is steadfast in our commitment to “serve the member and grow the game.” Recently, many of you applied for and were successful in securing our annual Player Development Grants. I congratulate each of the grantees—not just for their success in securing these precious dollars but also for their commitment to our youth and to the future of the game of golf. Additionally, my thanks to Yamaha for continuing their financial support of this initiative.
In a similar theme of growing the game, a reminder that now is the time to be encouraging your local juniors and their families to enroll in Drive, Chip, and Putt (DCP). As you likely heard me talk about during the Spring Meeting, courses interested in hosting a Drive, Chip, and Putt “clinic” are encouraged to contact the Section staff. Demand for golf is up, as you know. Youth-specific clinics is one of many strategies we must embrace to ensure that this “spike” in golf interest becomes a “trend” over the long-term.
Golf is, indeed, a great game. If it wasn’t, none of us would be here, and you certainly wouldn’t be reading this. I challenge all of us to wake up tomorrow and think: “what is one thing I can do today to grow this game I love so much.”
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