My name is David Owens and I am running to be your next Section Secretary. I’m excited about the opportunity and would like to use this opportunity to introduce myself to those of you who don’t know me. I have just recently joined the senior circuit, having turned 50 a couple of months ago. My wife, Tricia, and I have been married for 23 years and have two daughters, Rylee and Ashlee. We are soon to be empty nesters as Rylee is heading to law school and Ashlee is heading to Arizona for college in the fall.
My route to becoming a golf pro was not a traditional path. I always liked and played golf, but becoming a Golf Professional wasn’t something I had ever considered. I went to college at Hendrix College, a small private school in Arkansas. They had just recently started a baseball program and I jumped at the chance to continue to play for a few more years.
I pitched in our first game that fall. When I woke up the next morning, I couldn’t raise my right arm. After three months of rehab, I decided I better try something else and went out for the golf team. I played golf for the next three years and really loved it. When I graduated with a history degree, I decided to come back to the University of Montana for law school. It was during this time that I took my first golf lessons and over the next few years, I became a pretty good player. More importantly, I was addicted to it. I skipped bar review all the time to play golf. I couldn’t get enough. After graduating law school and passing the bar, I did what everybody does and decided to become a Golf Professional. Over the last 23 years, I have never regretted that decision. I love being a part of this business and this community.
Currently, I am the Director of Player Development at Missoula Country Club in Missoula, MT. I have been here for three years. Before this, I have spent most of the last 20 years as a Head Professional at clubs around Montana, including Hamilton Golf Club, Double Arrow Resort and Phantom Hills. I became a Class A member in 2005. A couple of months later, I was elected to be Secretary of the Western Montana Chapter. It was very gratifying to get to be involved in governance at both the chapter and section level. I know it’s a cliche, but getting to spend time with some truly great Golf Professionals like Steve Prugh, Dan Hill, Marcus King and Greg Manley, I truly got more from the experience than I gave.
After two years off, I was asked by members of my chapter to serve again. I am currently in my last year as the past president of the WMCPGA. I have spent 16 of my 18 years as a Class A member as an officer of the WMCPGA, and as part of that, 8 years on the PNW Section Board of Directors. Outside of board service, I have been on the PNW Section Player Development Committee and currently serve on the PNW Section Tournament Committee and Hall of Fame Committee. In addition to service, I love to play. I play in almost all Chapter and Section events.
I believe that with my education and experience in governance, I am strongly prepared to be the next Section Secretary. We face an ever changing landscape in this industry. While business is booming for most of us, it does bring challenges as well. I want to make sure that we are doing all we can at the section level to help the PGA Professional, be it through education, career services, etc. I look forward to continuing to communicate with you through the Foreword Press this year and look forward to seeing you at tournaments and at your fall meetings.