march cover

bryan tunstill

Bryan Tunstill
(503) 285-8354

President's Report

Spring has sprung (in most parts) of the Pacific Northwest, with many fingers crossed for a warm, sunny start to a great year.  Your Section is ready for the year, too, with a great calendar of tournaments, education, and events to promote the PGA Professional and golf in the Northwest.  I hope you take some time before the season gets too hectic to schedule yourself for a tournament (or many) to play in or a meeting (or two) to attend.  Participation in our Association is paramount to our success of our Section’s Mission Statement, "Growing the Game and Serving the Member."

Applications for Yamaha Player Development Grants are available now on the website. This program started last year and was a great success.  This year, we have increased the offerings to $14,000 in available funding. Your Section Board is committed to helping fund programs that directly generate golfers and rounds at our facilities, putting money back into local communities.  Kudos to PGA Professionals that take the time to apply and create a special program or event that grows the game.  Please take advantage of this program by applying for a grant - your chances are pretty good! Click here for the application. The deadline is March 28.

Please do myself and every other PNWPGA Professional a favor – complete your Compensation Survey.  If you have already completed it, thank you.  If you haven’t, consider this:

  • The data that is generated from this survey is held confidential.
  • This data can be provided to you, the PGA Professional, in a custom filtered way, to properly compare "apples to apples".
  • If not enough surveys are completed in a given zip code, the results for that area will not be available.
  • Our Section annually ranks in the lower ½ of participation in the nation.  We need to reverse that. 
  • You get 2 MSR’s for filling it out!

Finally, some of you have heard about the new relationship with Golf Tec and the PGA of America.  If you haven’t read or heard about it, here is a an article that explains the details of the agreement and the rationale behind the origin of this relationship. If you have any questions or comments about this, please let me know - I’d love to hear about them.

Hope to see you soon around the sunny Pacific Northwest Section soon!

Bryan Tunstill, PGA
 
Culture Committees
jeff ellison

CEO's Report

March is here, let the golf season begin! Spokane courses are opening, I see Polson and Mission Mountain playing… if it will just stop raining, we may get off to a great start!

Coming up quickly is the Spring Meeting and Special Awards Ceremony at Tualatin Country Club.  On Sunday, March 20 we gather to honor 14 of the Section’s top professionals. In addition to their invited guests, all Section members are invited to attend and support their peers.  Click here to RSVP. The following day, we hold the Section Spring Meeting in conjunction with the Pro-Assistant Championship, again at Tualatin.  That evening at 7:00, President Tunstill and the leadership team will guide you through the key elements of our Strategic Plan as well as updates on important Section initiatives in the coming year. Please make time in your schedule to attend.

Bryan Tunstill mentioned the Yamaha Player Development Grants above.  The Pacific Northwest PGA Junior Golf Fund is offering another $10,000 in similar grants for Youth Player Development. Click here for the application.

As you have come to expect, we have another great tournament schedule this year. Out right now are entries for the Pro-Assistant Championship at Tualatin CC on March 21-22.  This will prove to be a great event with sponsorship from Bushnell, Cutter & Buck, PTE Golf, Pro-Tag and this year Hole-in-One USA is offering up a $10,000 HIO prize! Entries close soon.

Next up is the Senior Players' Championship, April 19-20 at Wine Valley GC in Walla Walla.  Always popular, Wine Valley offers great weather, a fun golf course…and we set it for Seniors, not the Northwest Open!  Ken Allen and ClubGlove are supporting us again this year.  

The Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open Invitational is on track to be even bigger and better than last year.  Thanks to the hard work of Chris and Greg Manley, the pro-am is nearly sold out, sponsorships are on pace with last year, and we are gaining significant traction with auction items to support the Folds of Honor.  This event raised $43,000 in 2015. With your support, we should be able to increase that donation in 2016.  For details on the Pro-Am Benefiting Folds of Honor, click here.

Be sure you become familiar with the changes to the Rules of Golf for 2016. In addition to the changes to Anchoring, there are other important Rule changes and new decisions that require your attention. Click here for a full page of resources from the USGA that highlight the changes for you. Be sure you order new Rule Books and Decisions books as your old ones are now worthless.

Your staff is looking forward to a great year in 2016.  We just signed a deal to employ Golf Genius software to manage both our Chapter Pro-Ams and Section Championships. You will enjoy the new features we will be able to offer, especially online scoring for pro-ams. You’ll see your scores and where you stand in each of the competitions on the drive home! A big thanks to Troy Flateau of Golf Genius for his help in making this transition possible. He will be sponsoring us as well! Watch your email as we roll out the features of this new system.

Please call the office if we can help. You have a great team here. They are extremely capable and this month they will handle things professionally while I’ll be at the WW Chapter Meeting, OR Chapter Meeting, CW Chapter Meeting, PGA Super Regional in LA, Holcomb-in-One in Vegas, Awards Ceremony, Spring Meeting, Pro-Assistant, Nike Mentoring and my 17th PGA/USGA Rules of Golf Workshop.  A busy month but we are never too busy to “serve our members”.

Have a great March. Here we go!

Jeff Ellison, PGA
CEO, Pacific Northwest Section PGA

 
 
 

survey

March 31 is the deadline to complete the compensation survey.  In addition to the 2 MSR's members will receive, this process provides critical data to help all of us increase our compensation. The system is designed to be confidential. Sample sizes for any report must be sufficient so that no individual professional’s compensation can be determined. Please take the time to complete this important process. Log into PGA.org and you’ll see a link on your home page.

 
 
 
 

kpmg

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is just three months away. We are recruiting PGA Members and Apprentices to fill our 158 volunteer shifts. Most of these are the highly prized practice area duties. You'll be able to watch the best LPGA players in the world prepare for a major championship. It should be an exciting week. Volunteers who work at least two shifts will receive their uniform - shirt and outwear from Polo and a Section hat. Lunch and free parking are included. To volunteer, click here for the schedule of available shifts; then call Angela Hinzpeter in the Section office to sign up (800-688-4653).

 
 
 
 

nike

Our friends at Nike Golf continue to support the Nike Mentoring & Networking Conference. This year, we are rolling out a new format and we are bringing the conference to you.  There will be three conferences, one at Portland Golf Club on March 18, one in Western Washington on March 25 and one in Spokane on April 1. The idea is for a one-day, 8:00 – 5:00 schedule with a program focused on new professionals. Both Apprentices and PGM Students just joining the Association will find these conferences valuable. The goal is to provide aspiring professionals with a framework and ideas to accelerate their development into outstanding PGA Members. Sean Fredrickson is spear-heading this effort and has pulled together a veteran faculty for each conference. Click here for the Portland Conference flyer and registration form. The cost is a modest $25 and includes lunch and all materials. Western Washington and Eastern Washington will be available soon!

 
 
 
 

dcp

We will host 10 Drive Chip and Putt Local Qualifying sites again this year. Thanks to the support of our local professionals we return to almost all of last year's sites (DCP asked us to cut one). Please promote this unique opportunity to your juniors. The program works for kids of all abilities and you never know, a couple of good bounces and a stumble by an all-star and a newer golfer moves on. It happens every year.  We were fortunate to have the Regional at Chambers Bay last year. This year it rotates to Northern California, however, a trip to San Francisco and The Olympic Club should not be a hard sell to the parents of a qualifier. Send your juniors to drivechipandputt.com to register.  Click here for a flyer you can post in your golf shop or e-mail to your members.

 

 
 
Culture Committees
 

Be a Part of the 90th Washington Open Invitational!

pro-am

Entries are now available for the 90th Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open Invitational. PNW PGA Vice-President Greg Manley is excited to invite you back to Meridian Valley CC for this exciting week of events! The deadline for championship entries is Wednesday, April 27.

  • Meridian Valley CC - 6,658 Yards, Par 72
  • Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open Pro-Am: Saturday-Sunday, May 14-15
  • Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open Invitational: Monday-Wednesday, May 16-18
  • Field size: 136 professionals, 32 amateurs
  • Competition: 54 hole stroke play. No cut
  • Pro online entry form
  • Pro entry form (pdf)

Read More

 
awards

PNW PGA Special Awards Ceremony

March 20 - Tualatin CC
5:30 - 9:30 PM

Please join us for a special evening, honoring your fellow PGA Professionals.
Details

 
 
 
pro-asst

PNW Pro-Assistant Championship

March 21-22 - Tualatin CC
Deadline for entries: March 16
Eligibility: Teams are made up of Directors of Golf, General Managers, or Head Professionals paired with their Assistant Professionals. Multiple teams are allowed based on space availability.

Details

 
 
Culture Committees
 
doug kauffman

Holk's Highlights

Nominated by: JD Cline

 

Doug Kauffman

  • Facility: Head Golf Professional at Bear Creek CC
  • Hometown:Everett, WA (Currently living in Edmonds, WA)
  • PGA Member Since: 1992

“Doug came to work at Bear Creek about two years ago. He stepped right in and established himself as a confident leader and a really organized guy,” said JD Cline, who nominated Kauffman. “I’ve witnessed many times when Doug has booked a tee time, took in a returned sweater and fielded 3 phone calls, without missing a beat. He is never rattled and the members love him.”

We decided to find out more about the Head Professional at Bear Creek CC.

Brought to you by:

antigua
 
 
 
carol pence

Career Services
Carol Pence
(510) 706-1583
CPence@pgahq.com

Divergent - Not the Movie!

Divergent” is a popular movie that came out in 2014, set in a future divided into different factions based on virtues. This article will be using “divergent” in a different way. “Divergent” is defined as “moving or extending in different directions from a common point”. This came to mind as I heard more and more employers talk about the skills sets they are seeking in qualified candidates for their head professional positions.

When asked which skills are most important in head professional candidates, employers typically mention the following...

Read on to find out which skills are most important in 2016 (hint: "divergent")

 

scg
 
 
Culture Committees
 

Members on the Move

Michelle Parish
Tournament & Membership Assistant

Employment Changes

  • Matthew P. Crotts (A-6) - from GolfTEC - Southcenter to The GC at Newcastle
  • Mark S. Easley (A-8) - from Unaffiliated to Pendleton CC
  • Tyler J. Hella (B-6) - from Snohomish GC to GolfTEC - Bellevue
  • Douglas E. Phares (A-1) - from Clarkston CC to Indian Canyon GC
  • William G Roberts (B-8) - from Skamania Lodge to Orchard Hills CC
  • Christopher J Stoops (B-8) - from Creekside GC to Wildhorse Resort GC

Classification Changes

  • Ryan O'Donnell (Orchards Hills ) - from A-8 to A-13
  • Greg S. Manley (Meridian Valley CC) - from A-1 to A-4
  • David A Nuhn (University of Idaho) - from B-8 to B-12
  • Benjamin A Talbot (Tumwater Valley GC) - from B-1 to B-8

New Apprentices

  • Brett J Balch (B-8) - Royal Oaks CC
  • Wesley A Boone (B-8) - Overlake G&CC
  • Hagen Dickinson (B-8) - Chambers Bay
  • Casey Dunn (B-8) - Coeur D'Alene GC
  • Ryan J Fordham (B-8) - Salem GC
  • Sean C Howland (B-8) - Alderbrook G&YC
  • Bryan F. Jan (B-8) - Canterwood G&CC
  • Vincent SC Johnson (B-6) - Golf in the Pearl
  • Reid HC Martin (B-8) - Legion Memorial GC
 
 

Newly Elected Members

  • Keith W. Bennett (A-8) - Aldarra GC
  • Tyler V. Clavin (A-8) - Columbia Edgewater CC
  • David M. Fern (A-8) - Downriver GC
  • Ryan C. McKinney(A-8) - The Highlands GC

Transfers INTO the Section

  • Alexander D. Daggett (B-8) - from New England to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
  • Brandon L. Flynn, PGA (A-6) - from Colorado to GolfTEC - Bellevue
  • Kyle A. Weeks (A-8) - from Rocky Mountain to Bend G&CC
  • John Yacobellis (LMA) - from Northern California to Diamond Woods GC
  • Harrison M Taylor (B-8) - from Southwest to Village Greens GC

Deceased

New Quarter Century Members

 

  • Larry G. Dealy

New Half Century Members

  • Gerry D. Mehlert
  • Jon A. Peterson
  • Ted Wurtz
BSG
 
 
Culture Committees
monte koch

Player Development
Monte Koch
Player Development Regional Manager
(206) 335-5260
Mkoch@pgahq.com

Being a “Principled Change Agent”

In Day 2 of the Sweet 16 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort (thanks Andy Mackimmie, PGA), the presenter for the Player Development Section Workshop shared a video I’d seen just one time before. It is not about golf, but it is very applicable to the working life and livelihood of the PGA golf professionals. Please take a moment to watch it (17 minutes) or check out the transcript.

video

“What do we do for a living? What exactly to the people watching this do every day? And I want to argue that what we do is we try to change everything. That we try to find a piece of the status quo — something that bothers us, something that needs to be improved, something that is itching to be changed — and we change it.”

Read more about what we can learn from Seth Godin, as it applies to golf

 

 
 
blake parrish

Financial Services
Blake Parrish
Senior VP, Portfolio Mgr.
(503) 619-7237
blake@bpfinancialassoc.com

Social Security Changes in 2016

In many cases, it can still make sense to delay filing for your social security retirement benefits. The longer you wait, the greater your monthly benefit becomes, which can also mean receiving more money over your lifetime. Keep in mind, you need ten years of work for full benefits and they use your top 40 quarters, or three month periods, to calculate it for you. As you can see below, it doesn’t take long for a person who waited until age 70 to claim their benefit to “break even” compared with taking it at the age of 62. If you have a family history of longevity and can afford to push off taking social security until 70, it may be the best way to go over your lifetime. However, life expectancies are not guaranteed – as the priest found out in the movie “Caddie Shack”.

Find out how SS is changing in 2016.

wildhorse
 
 
Culture Committees
 

Sponsors

Gold Level Sponsors
FP-gold-sponsor-NCR FP-gold-sponsor-wildhorse FP-gold-sponsor-rosauers
Holcomb-In-One Sponsors
holcomb in one sponsors
Silver Level Sponsors
FP-silver-sponsor-PACGolf FP-silver-sponsor-bridgestone FP-silver-sponsor-CB FP-silver-sponsor-bushnell FP-silver-sponsor-clubcar
FP-silver-sponsor-SCG FP-silver-sponsor-yamaha FP-partner-sponsor-ama FP-silver-sponsor-sundog FP-silver-sponsor-gregnorman
National Sponsors
FP-natl-sponsor-TMAg FP-natl-sponsor-nike FP-natl-sponsor-titleist-fj FP-natl-sponsor-mercedes FP-natl-sponsor-omega
FP-natl-sponsor-KitchenAid FP-natl-sponsor-PGANatlResort FP-natl-sponsor-PGATour FP-natl-sponsor-pepsi FP-natl-sponsor-janiking
Partner-Level Sponsors
FP-partner-sponsor-PTE FP-partner-sponsor-statefarm FP-partner-sponsor-GSC winners award group
FP-partner-sponsor-lorente FP-partner-sponsor-pelzer FP-partner-sponsor-haas-jordan club glove
FP-partner-sponsor-HIOne FP-partner-sponsor-martin FP-partner-sponsor-b2e