August 1, 2021

President's Report

In many of my past articles, I have focused on thoughts or books to help strengthen our professional development. This month I want to focus on something different.

How many of you have heard at some point in your career, “Oh, you’re a golf pro. That must be fun, playing golf all the time.” We all know that is not reality. Maybe some golf, but all the time? I don’t know about you, but I sometimes feel like the public sells us short.

But, what’s important to realize is that we do have a tremendous impact on the people around us. Since golf is a game and games should be fun, we are purveyors of FUN. During our days at work, we often forget the impact that we have on people.

If through your lessons, clinics, leagues, or daily interactions, you put a smile on someone’s face, that’s a positive impact. If you make five people smile during a week, and, as a minimum, that happens every week, that’s twenty people by the end of a month or two hundred and forty by the end of a year. What if it was ten people instead of five? How about four hundred and eighty people a year whose lives may be a little more pleasant because of you. Can you imagine if half of those people, because of you, make someone else smile? What if that third person makes someone else smile? The numbers become immeasurable.

So, on those days when your owners, members, or others become intolerable, take a deep breath and remind yourself: We are purveyors of fun! That should put a smile on your face, and the cycle begins again.

Thank you for all that you do for the game and your communities.

Please stay safe and reach out to someone you haven’t checked on for some time,

Howie Pruitt, PGA
Director, Golf Operations, Aspen Lakes GC
President, Pacific Northwest Section
Cell: 541-390-7875
howie@aspenlakes.com

Inglis Completes Third Leg of Section’s Grand Slam

by Zane Fifield, Tournament Intern

The 2021 Rosauers Open Invitational at Indian Canyon Golf Course had a fantastic full-field turnout with 168 players. A record number of hole-in-ones were made during the tournament, with three coming on the first day on the same hole. We had a total of four hole-in-ones overall and they all came on the 8th hole. Two were scored by PGA Professionals Loren Jeglum and Jared Lambert; two came from amateurs Brandon Eyre and Dawson Strobel. However, they were unable to capture the title, which ended up going to PGA Professional Colin Inglis from Shadow Hills Country Club. He posted an impressive 194 (19-under) and beat a late push from amateur Max Sekulic, who finished with a 198 (15-under). PGA Professionals Loren Jeglum from Palouse Ridge Golf Club and Shane Prante from The Home Course tied for third.

“I have had my struggles in final rounds the last year, so it was good to prove to myself I could close out a tournament. I had played the back nine well all week and knew, if I was tied or leading, I liked my chances on the back nine,” Inglis reflected on going into the final round with a three-stroke lead. After securing the win, Colin locked in the third leg of the Section’s Grand Slam, with his other wins being the Pelzer Golf Oregon Open in 2018 and the Muckleshoot Casino Washington Open in 2020.

“Anytime you win a section major it is a great accomplishment, so this win is right up there with both my Oregon and Washington Open wins,” said Inglis. “I think the Oregon Open win will always be special because it was my first, but to win such a great tournament at a great venue is always a great feeling!” As for what’s next for Inglis, he has the final event in the Section’s Grand Slam on his radar.

“I am really looking forward to the Northwest Open! I love Wine Valley and it would be great to be in contention this year as the tournament is moving to The Home Course next year. I have been in the lead or near it a couple of times and one round there derails me, so I'm looking forward to trying to put three good rounds of golf together there.”

Asked how he was going to prepare for his upcoming attempt, Inglis responded, “There won't be much preparation unfortunately with work! We have a crazy next month with junior camps and member guests coming up so I won't be practicing or playing as much as I would like. That is our profession though and I know most in the industry can relate!”

Either way, with lots of preparation or none at all, you can bet many will be cheering for Inglis to finish what is considered an amazing achievement for Section Professionals.

Before the start of the Rosauers Open Invitational, the 34th Franz Bakery Pro-Am supporting Vanessa Behan took place. The overall winners of the team event were the UNFI #1 team, consisting of PGA Professional Jared Lambert with amateurs Jim Wilkerson, Mark Ly, Nat Sonnier and Robert Albaugh, who posted an excellent combined two-day score of 239, or 49-under. In the end, the pro-am participants and sponsors involved pulled in enough contributions to donate $100,000 this year to the charity!

We would like to thank Indian Canyon GC Head PGA Professional Doug Phares for providing a beautiful venue for this year’s 34th Rosauers Open Invitational. Huge thanks to Superintendent Josh Hardy and his staff for their tireless effort to prepare Indian Canyon GC. We would also like to thank Rosauers and Franz Bakery and all the various sponsors and volunteers for continuing to make this event so special!

FINAL RESULTS

Player of the Year Points Lists

FULL POINTS LISTS

Rolex Player of the Year

1. Colin Inglis - 390
2. Jeff Coston - 320
3. Shane Prante - 260

Hudson Cup

1. Jeff Coston - 320
2. Colin Inglis - 305
3. Shane Prante - 262.5

Assistant Player of the Year

1. Colin Inglis - 412.5
2. Shane Prante - 285
3. Brady Sharp - 242.5

Rolex Senior Player of the Year

1. Jeff Coston - 300
2. Tony Robydek - 280
3. Rob Gibbons - 267.5

Senior Hudson Cup

1. Jeff Coston - 700
2. Rob Gibbons - 547.5
3. Tony Robydek - 535

Bring Your Team to a PNW PGA Pro-Am!

The PNW PGA has three amazing Pro-Am events you can enter today. How would you like to play golf in the enchanting Southwest or the tropical island of Maui? What about a quick escape to Washington's wine country? Treat yourself and your favorite members to an unforgettable experience!

Northwest Open Pro-Am benefiting Folds of Honor

August 14-15, 2021
Walla Walla, WA – Wine Valley GC
More info

PNW PGA Arizona Sun Pro-Am

December 5-9, 2021
We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort
Cholla & Saguaro courses
Enter online

PNW PGA Hawai'i Pro-Am

January 13-20, 2022
Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
Ka'anapali golf courses
Enter online

More Upcoming Events

PGA Buying & Education Summitt

Now is the time to get back to business as the PGA Show returns to Las Vegas for the 2021 PGA Show Buying & Education Summit, August 9-10 at the JW Marriott Resort! The Summit is carefully designed to help PGA Professionals and buyers connect with curated apparel, accessory and golf lifestyle exhibitors during Las Vegas Fashion Week. Register now

Play in Your Section Qualifier!

Entries are available for the PNW PGA Professional Championship presented by presented by Cadillac, Club Car and Rolex, and the PNW Senior PGA Championship presented by Cadillac. You may register through PGA of America Membership Services by phone: (800) 474-2776 or online at www.pgatournaments.com.

Drive, Chip & Putt

www.drivechipandputt.com
Local Qualifying Schedule

Holk's Highlights: Bryan Tunstill and Brent Murray

This month we profile our captains of the upcoming 73rd Hudson Cup Matches. Bryan Tunstill will captain the Professional team while Brent Murray will lead the Senior Professional team.

Bryan Tunstill played in the 2003 Hudson Cup Matches and previously captained the 2017 Hudson Cup Matches.

Hometown: Portland, OR

PGA Member Since: 1995

How did you get into golf as a profession and who were your mentors?

My older brother Mark and I started playing golf in our late teens. We missed the junior golf events as we were consumed with baseball and other sports – golf was just something fun to do every now and then. But then we got hooked, and we wanted to beat each other every time we played. When Mark turned professional at Oswego Lake Country Club, it opened my eyes to the possibility of becoming a golf professional. I always have looked up to my older brother and wanted to follow in his footsteps. So he was my first mentor.

My second was Brent Murray. When Brent became the Head Professional at Oswego Lake in the early 90’s, I watched the way he interacted with members and staff – always a consummate professional. Brent led by example and I’ve tried to emulate that in my own career.

What are you most looking forward to in the 2021 matches at Oswego Lake CC?

It will be really fun to go back to Oswego Lake CC, and to get to hang out with Brent Murray as the other captain for the PNWPGA. Brent is so respected amongst our Section professionals and elite amateurs that have had the opportunity to play with or know Brent over his career. But I know it is going to be a bit of an emotional week for us all, too, as I will be thinking about our friend Sean Fredrickson and how much he would have enjoyed being a part of these matches. I think Freddy will be our good luck charm this year, as the Professionals play their hearts out in his honor. It should be a very special week at Oswego Lake in October.

Brent Murray has played in an impressive number of Matches (1974, 1976, 1978, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004) and Senior Matches (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020).

Hometown: Portland, OR

PGA member since: 1986

How did you get into golf as a profession and who were your mentors?
I got into golf as a professional like many guys did: I played successfully in college and wanted to play the Tour. I qualified to play the Tour in 1981, but did not have much success. I wanted to stay involved with golf, so I started a job as an assistant pro at Willamette Valley CC. One of my biggest mentors and teachers in golf was Lee Brune, who was the head pro at Glendoveer Golf Course and my neighbor growing up. I started picking up balls for Lee’s lessons when I was about 9 years old for minimal compensation and free golf. I also received tremendous support, advice, and help with my game from Bunny Mason throughout high school, college, and my professional career.

What is your favorite Hudson Cup memory?

I have a lot of great memories from the Hudson Cup matches over the years. One that always stands out for me was a match I played as an amateur in 1976 at Sahalee CC. Jeff Sanders and I were playing Bob Duden and Bill Tindall in a four-ball match. Jeff and I were both young and excited to be playing these two great veteran pros. We took this very seriously. On the first hole, all four of us drove the ball in the fairway. I’m not sure in what order the second shots were hit, but when it was Bob Duden’s turn to hit, and Bill had not hit yet, he looked at his partner, smiled, then picked up his ball and said, “Let’s see what kind of game you have today” — leaving his partner to play us by himself on that first hole. I think Jeff and I were more shocked than Bill Tindall was. I’m not sure who won the match, probably the pros, I just remember that first hole!

Employment Opportunities

Monte Koch, PGA of America Employment Consultant

These are primarily “PGA Professional” only positions posted on the PGA Career Services Job Board: https://jobs.pga.org

PNWPGA JOB BOARD NOTICE

Compensation Matters NOW More Than Ever

Hiring, Negotiating & Value Season is Fast Approaching

PGA Career Services continues to collect data for the newly updated Compensation and Benefits survey. We ask your support in completing the survey and helping our Section achieve our goal of matching our 2019 survey responses. Currently, we have received over 5,000 responses toward our goal of 13,000, so please support your fellow Section Members and Associates and fill yours out today. Why? More Data is Better Data!

As a reminder, the updated survey is a profile-based data collection system that captures more accurate data in real-time throughout the year. Your data will be kept purely confidential and live within your PGA.org profile, allowing you to update your profile at any time. There is no deadline for completion under this new system, and you only have to “edit” what you have previously entered. Please click the link below to access the profile survey or contact PGA Career Consultant Jason Boaz if you have any questions.

With that said, I am asking you to take a few minutes to complete your Compensation Profile Survey today. Each participant will earn 1 MSR per year for completing the profile before 9/1/21! As before, the information you submit is confidential and viewable/editable only by you.

With your help and that of your peers, these reports will be easier to complete, they’ll be even more accurate AND more in the eyes of our employers/owners. For those of you in smaller markets, and/or those in teaching/coaching roles and similar non-traditional positions, your participation is imperative.

Thank you in advance for helping me “help you and your fellow Section professionals” in this area that is so important to each of us as PGA professionals. If I can assist you or one of your peers with a compensation report, please reach out to me.

Regards, Monte