President's Report

Before long we will be full throttle into the golf season! I hope that you have all had a chance to develop your plan for the season, including its execution and a way to measure your success. Your Section Board has developed the Business Plan for 2018. Our goals are clear and we will be able to measure their success throughout the year. We will then report on those goals at our meeting at the Merchandise Show this fall in October.

Our Section is part of the early registration for PGA Jr League this year and you can sign up and register as early as this month! We have seen so much success in our Section with this program, partly because the board and staff have made it a goal to grow each year. However, the main reason for its success is because YOU have utilized this program to grow the game and enhance the revenue at your facility. Thank you, and please continue to use this program to grow this great game and enhance your position at your facility. It’s so rewarding to see these kids enjoy golf, and when they do you get the parents engaged as well. It’s a win-win all the way around!

Chapter Pro-Members will be starting this month and our Section events are right around the corner. Get your game in shape and make an effort to play in your Chapter events. The participation of you and your teams in Pro-Members is the lifeblood of your Chapter operations. Without the revenue from those events, your Chapter can’t operate. Please plan on playing in more events this year than you did last year. Work on your game, promote golf at your facility and teach everyone you can how to play better and enjoy the game more! It’s at the core of what we do and we can all make the game better.

My club installed a simulator this past November. I can’t tell you enough how successful and beneficial it is for your members and customers to continue to be engaged even when the weather isn’t conducive. If you or your facility is considering doing a project like this, I would be happy to share my experience and great success to date with this addition. It’s been amazing! Better yet, grab your clubs and stop on by and I’ll show you first-hand how cool it is!

Enjoy your spring and if I can be of any help to you please don’t hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,

Greg Manley, PGA
President, PNWPGA
greg@meridianvalleycc.com

CEO's Report

I just returned from the PGA Executive Director Conference and Merchandise Show. It was a busy week working with my peers, National staff and of course our generous sponsors.  Before I get to a few National highlights – we are very lucky to have such a great list of sponsors supporting our programs.  Without them, our opportunities would look very different.  One theme is universal – sponsors are looking for support and recognition.  Buy when you can and always recognize their generosity even if you don’t buy. It makes a difference!

We’ve already confirmed support from – adidas, AMA/Sundog, Antigua, Bushnell, Certifresh, Cutter & Buck, Ecogolf/ProTag, GT Golf Supplies, Haas Jordan, Hole In One, USA, Imperial, Levelwear, Mizuno, OrangeWhip, Pacific Golf & Turf, Pelzer Golf Supplies, PlayKleen, PTE Golf, Range Servant, Skechers, Sun Mountain, State Farm, Sterling Cut Glass, TaylorMade, and Yamaha.  We are in talks with Bridgestone, Club Car, Club Glove, eGull, Greg Norman, Honma, PXG, and TCM Bank to develop programs to meet their needs.  Add in our National sponsors – adidas, Club Car, Golf Advisor, JaniKing, John Deere, National Car Rental, Omega, PGA Tour, Srixon-Cleveland, TaylorMade, and Titleist-Footjoy and we are fortunate indeed. Thank you all for supporting our sponsors and writing those thank you emails!

In Orlando I met with Dawes Marlatt and Todd Sammons and they will be bringing the PGA Business Simulations to Willamette Valley Country Club on Sunday, March 18. These are real-life simulations of running a business, the decisions you make change the scenario for the next challenge you need to solve. We will offer two sessions – one geared toward public facilities and another focused on private clubs.  Look for complete details very soon.  Opposite each session Birk Nelson of OrangeWhip will give a short seminar to help your teaching.

March 18 is also the night of our Special Awards Ceremony, click here to register to attend and support our award winners. You’ll enjoy the evening as we discover why these professionals are recognized as the best of the best.

Since we like to combine activities to provide for efficiency of travel in our rather large section, we combine the Pro-Assistant Championship (March 19-20) and the Spring Meeting (March 19) with the two programs above with all events at our host, Willamette Valley Country Club.

In an effort to help drive participation in PGA Junior League nine markets were chosen to receive the full court press in National media promotions.  Seattle is one of those markets and the push will begin in early February. While focused in Western Washington the marketing will naturally spill over to other areas of the Section. What does this mean to you?  There will be a significant number of new players looking for a team….be sure you are registered as a captain and once registered be sure you are prepared to accept more players. If you fill, be ready to open additional teams!

The playoff structure for PGA Junior League is also being updated. We will now have a Section Championship and this team will move on to the Regional Championship.  The playoff structure will change and we are working with Branden Thompson on the plan. Sites are being recruited for Local Qualifiers in 8 areas with these 8 champions heading to the Sectional Championship.  We hope to have all Locals on a single weekend in August.

Drive Chip and Putt is another big initiative of ours – registration is OPEN.  Please promote to your juniors and parents.  Parents can register at www.drivechipandputt.com.

I’m happy to report that Ben Foreman of Yamaha renewed his support for the Yamaha Player Development Grants.  Look for applications for both these grants and the PGA Junior Golf Fund’s Youth Player Development Grants early next week. Together we’ll be offering $24,000 in support again this year!

On January 22, National announced a new member benefit program called PerkSpot. This new program offers discounts in a nearly endless supply of companies.  Check this National email and watch for a follow up from the Section in the coming weeks. You can of course go to PGA.org for more information.

We start the Chapter Spring Meeting schedule on February 19, I’ll be making the tour and look forward to connecting with you at your meeting. Be sure to corner me at your meeting if I can be of assistance.  I ask questions when I see the National staff – feel free to do the same to me!

Jeff Ellison, PGA

Bosses, Take Your Employees to the PNW Pro-Assistant Championship!

Please join us for the Spring General Meeting and the PNW Pro-Assistant Championship at Willamette Valley CC on March 19-20. Head PGA Professional John Grothe is excited to host this year and invites you to join us for both the tournament and our meeting, which will immediately follow our first round at 7:00 pm. Dress attire for the meeting is golf attire.

“The Pro-Assistant Championship is always a 'don’t miss' event for me each year.  It is a great way to kick off the season with a nice mix of competition and camaraderie.  With as much time as I spend together with my assistants on a daily basis at work, we rarely get the chance to play golf together.  The Pro-Assistants Championship gives us the opportunity to connect at the competitive level, which is what originally drew many of us to the business.” – Brent Murray, 2012 champion

The Oregon Golf Club Dominates Hawaii Pro-Am

Jeff Ellison, PGA - CEO

The Pacific Northwest Hawaii Pro-Am enjoys a rich 43-year history of great golf, great venues and of course great weather. This year was no exception but the 19 teams escaping the Northwest winter experienced a little surprise first for a Section competition. As players were preparing for round one phones started flashing an Emergency Alert – “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” In the end, we learned it was indeed not a drill, but a mistake! In true Section fashion, we did manage to keep our tee times on schedule.

After the pre-round excitement, it was time for a little golf on the very scenic Mauna Lani South Course. Jason Aichele brought three teams to the islands and with his team of Jim Giesa, Gordon Beecher, Jeremy Anderson and Steve Connors posted 134 points to claim round one. Aichele also was low professional in round one with 42 points.

After a day off to enjoy the sites on the Big Island it was time to take on the challenging Mauna Lani North Course. Under ideal conditions – 82 degrees and light winds – Maggie Simons teamed with Ellen and Cam Worsham, Teresa and Nick Caba to fashion an impressive 139 points for the round two team title. Mike Gove shook off the rust to win professional honors with 39 points.

Round three focused the teams on both the individual round titles and also best two out of three rounds for the overall team, professional and amateur competitions. Back on the South Course Mike Gove and Mark Rashell coached their teams to a tie at 137 while Maggie Simons was able to bring her team in at 131 for a 270 total and a one shot victory over her boss in the team competition. Greg Manley posted the low round of the week – 65 for 43 points and it was enough to claim the overall professional title at 81 points.

Our thanks to Jim Ostrander of State Farm for his generous presenting sponsorship. Jim has been with us for many years as a player and a sponsor. New Director of Golf Scott Christenson and his staff were terrific hosts and the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel once again treated the players as family. If spending a week in Hawaii during January sounds appealing, just watch your email for details on the 44^th Pacific Northwest Hawaii Pro-Am.

Important Dates for PGA Jr. League

Branden Thompson, PGA

The 2018 season is approaching quickly. Captain registration is going strong and growing. Below are some very important dates and a link to register as a captain:

February 1^st – Player registration opens. This will be a soft opening. No communication will go out to players unless it is through a registered captain. Those captains that have registered can send a link to their registration site on this date. I’ll provide the link to you once it is open.

February 15^th – Open player registration will be communicated to past participants through a mass email.

March 1^st – Deadline to register to be included in the first round of league formation. With the great growth of the program, some leagues may change from year to year. To be sure your team has the best chance to be in a league that fits geographically, register early, no later than March 1^st.

April 1^st – July 31^st – Regular season window. All regular season schedules need to be completed in this window. I will schedule a conference call or meeting with each league prior to your first game to make sure all the details of the season are covered and we are prepared for a great season.

Click here to register or visit www.pgajrleague.com/captains

I’m here to support your efforts with PGA Jr. League. Reach me via email at bthompson@pgahq.com or phone at 503-869-2827. Please contact me with any questions and have a great 2018 season.

Holk's Highlights: Don Kramer, PGA

Facility: Moose Run GC

Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin

PGA Professional Since: 1996

After a nearly 10-year career in the US Air Force, Don got out in 1991 to specifically get into the golf business.

“It is something I had thought about doing ever since I was back in Wisconsin as a kid, but didn’t really know how to go about getting in the business. It was scary at first going from all the security and benefits of the military to being an apprentice working 60 hours a week for $14,500 a year in 1992,” Kramer remembers.

He succeeded at his new career and spent 20 years in the Middle Atlantic Section. In 2013, he was hired by the Air Force to manage the Gator Lakes GC at Hurlburt Field in Ft. Walton Beach, FL, where he was honored with the Dixie Section Player Development Award in 2015. In 2016 he transferred to Alaska to manage the 36 holes at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Alaska, though remote to many of us, is part of the Western Washington Chapter of the Pacific Northwest Section PGA.

“Being a Golf Professional in Alaska is unlike anything I have ever done in my career. You have to roll with the punches every day,” says Kramer. One of those challenges is the wildlife.

Pros on the Move

Michelle Parish, Tournament & Membership Coordinator

Employment Changes

• Timothy J. Bakker, PGA (A-1) - from Double Arrow Golf Resort to King Ranch GC
• Adrian P. Burtner, PGA (A-1) - from Concordia University to Columbia Edgewater CC
• John F. Cassidy III, PGA (A-8) - from The Home Course to Arrowhead GC
• Chris Isaacson, PGA (A-4) - from Emerald Valley GC to Wine Valley GC
• Casey T Keyser (B-1) - from Northern Pines GC to Buffalo Hill GC
• Deborah A. King, PGA (A-14) - from Laurelwood GC to Emerald Valley GC
• Shane A Prante (B-8) - from Lake Spanaway GC to The Home Course
• Mark M. Swift, PGA (A-13) - from Salishan Golf Links to Persimmon CC
• Justin D Wiles (B-6) - from Reames Golf & CC to Eagle Point GC

Class Changes

• Phillip J. Gaggero, PGA (Lake Padden GC) - A-13
• Jake W Gregus (Tri-Mountain GC) - B-1
• Christopher J Risley (Roseburg CC) - B-1

New Apprentices

• Terrance Q. Parnell (B-8) - Columbia Point GC

Newly Elected Members

• Carmine R. Allen, PGA (A-6) - GolfTEC - Beaverton
• Colby J. Johnson, PGA (A-8) - Tetherow GC
• Kevin L. Story, PGA (A-8) - Eagle Crest GC

Transfers INTO the Section

• Gabriel D. Dorosh, PGA (A-6) to Unaffiliated from South Florida
• Timothy P. Ressa, PGA (A-6) to Harbour Pointe GC from Unaffiliated

Transfers OUT of the Section

• Grant S. Lancaster, PGA
• Christopher A. Meyer, PGA

New Quarter Century Members

• George Stoffel Jr.

Deceased Members

•  Herb Magnusson
• Terry Anderson
• Joseph Dubsky

PGA Compenstation Survey

Be sure you’ve completed the 2018 PGA Compensation Survey (before Mar 31, 2018). All of the information you provide is confidential to you. It may seem like one professional’s information won’t be missed. Not true, our diverse Section with several metro areas, and even more rural communities needs as many good surveys completed as we can. At nearly 80% we are a leader completion percentage, but there are still times we don’t have enough info to help one of our members, or an employer. In that context, I ASK YOU to complete it in 2018 so I have the best opportunity to “make the case for increased compensation” each time I’m given the opportunity.

If you’ve already completed it: Thank you!

Monte Koch

Boost Your Career with TOWS

Monte Koch, PGA of America Employment Consultant

What?! TOWS. Yes, TOWS. It’s a backwards view of the standard SWOT analysis (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats). I have been a part of so many of these (including ones I’ve lead) I can’t even begin to count them. SWOTs are good tools for sure, or else why would we continue to do them?

What I question (this is hard to say) is have we really been doing it right? I believe what I’m about to state is true. We like SWOT (the order of it) because we get to start with the positives, our strengths. In the process, we seem spend a significant amount of time on these of course, because it’s enjoyable, it makes us feel good about ourselves, our company culture or our company, etc. Actually, we spend far too much time on this part and on the weaknesses. As a result, it seems we rarely have nothing left in the tank to give to the “Os” and the “Ts.”

Don't Time the Market

Blake Parrish

“The only thing a golfer needs is more daylight – Ben Hogan

The stock market is on a tear.  The S&P 500 rose 19.4% in 2017 excluding dividends, and is already up in 2018.  It’s not a bubble or a sugar high.

We never believed the “sugar high” theory that QE was driving stocks.  So, slowly unwinding QE (money printing press) and slowly raising the federal funds rate, as the Fed did in 2017, was never a worry.  But, now a truly positive fundamental has changed, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  Who thought this thing would pass and even if it did how many news outlets were telling us how it would not be helping tax paying Americans.

 Don't time the market - stay invested! Read more to find out why...