I have a confession to make. I really enjoy Christmas movies. Sure, I could blame it on my five kids, but it is hard to argue with the value of a good holiday movie. They are great on a relaxing Saturday afternoon as a nice diversion from the nonstop insanity of the holiday season. They’re also solid, mindless entertainment. Most Christmas movies are very light on plot and very heavy on sentimentality. Others have a strong moral message, or maybe remind the kids to be good because the big man Santa Claus is watching. I enjoy them all. Holiday movies are about appreciating the good in your life, even when it’s hard to see that good.
It might surprise you that Christmas movies have some wise business lessons hidden at their core. If you’re partial to the Hallmark variety of Christmas movies, you have unavoidably been buried under their avalanche of charming small-town shops, quaint bakeries, and local craft competitions. But the others, even the ones you’d least expect, reinforce some basic business—and life—principles. ‘Tis the season to, maybe, take a refresher course on them all.
1.Money isn’t everything, but it doesn’t hurt
There are countless holiday movies that remind us that there is a lot more to life than money. In “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” the boss’s decision to eliminate holiday bonuses nearly sends Clark Griswold off a cliff. To save a few bucks, Mr. Shirley nearly ruined the holiday season and maybe even the year for his employees. When given the chance, Clark explains how bad a move it was, explaining to Mr. Shirley how employees depend on it as a portion of their income. Mr. Shirley learns that alienating his employees is no way to run a business or make a profit. At the same time, Clark learns that he doesn’t need an extravagant backyard pool. A similar business lesson appears in the Holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol.” The hardworking but chronically underpaid Bob Cratchit embodies the ideal that money isn’t everything. He and his family are a loving group that appreciate what they have, but most importantly appreciate each other. Their generous and loving spirit convinces mean, old Scrooge that his cheapskate ways are not a smart operating strategy—in his business or in his life.
2. You Do You
In “Elf,” Will Ferrell’s Buddy is different from the elves on the North Pole. He is physically bigger, he is more easily excitable, and he’s terrible at making toys in Santa’s workshop. Buddy’s Christmas spirit, however, is incomparable. We also come to find out Buddy is a fabulous storyteller. We meet other characters who are not like most others. The “angry elf” Buddy meets in New York, world famous author Miles Finch, is the very gifted author. He, too, is physically different from those around him. The combined efforts of all the generic businessmen in very similar, nondescript suits cannot match what Buddy and Miles are able to accomplish. Buddy is also an inspiration to those around him. Buddy is unafraid to spread joy. Whether elaborately decorating and “singing loud for all to hear,” Buddy is quick to spread his unique spirit. What makes Buddy different is what makes him great. What makes you different makes you great, too. This is the most important thing you can give your students, players, members, and customers. Don’t ever try to be like everyone else. Your unique value proposition is why they want to do business with you.
3. Karma is Real
If you are looking for an end-of-the-year boost in sales and productivity, just about the worst thing a boss can do is to negatively influence the personal lives of their employees. This type of “abuse” bleeds into the workplace, and is almost certain to negatively impact your company. In “Trading Spaces,” the Duke brothers use Winthorpe and Valentine as guinea pigs in their not-so-small experiment. When Winthorpe and Valentine realize how they have been used, they join forces to destroy the brothers. Ultimately, the Duke brothers lose everything in their respective lives‒all over a $1 bet. When doing business, conduct yourself with honor. People do business with people they like so it’s a profitable strategy, too. What goes around comes around, don’t burn bridges or sew any bad seeds‒these are all life lessons that are more than old clichés.
4. Always, always, always, dream Big
Throughout most of “A Christmas Story,” little Ralphie Parker schemes and connives on how to convince his parents and just about every other adult in his life that he is mature enough for a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle. He tries to make stateman-like arguments to his mother, is cooperative when asked to help his little brother, and even wears a ridiculous homemade costume sent from an aunt. Ralphie works overtime paying his dues to prove he is mature enough for the rifle. Even though on Christmas morning it appears that his dream will not come true, Ralphie is content with his Christmas, and has come to appreciate his family more than ever before. When it is finally revealed that he got the rifle, the victory is all the sweeter thanks to the incredible effort he put into achieving it. We should always dream big in business, too, no matter how unachievable it seems. To me, the alternative is a surrender.
As we end 2021, we continue to work harder than ever for you, our members. On December, 14, we officially launched our new “PNWPGA Perks program.” Available at no charge for all “Friends of the PNWPGA,” the Perks Program grows the consumer database we created in 2021, while making “belonging” to our group even more valuable. This database, currently just under 50,000 golf consumers, will receive discounts, special offers and regular giveaways from seventeen sponsors—and that list is already growing. Next, I would like to remind you that the PGA Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship application for the 2022-2023 school year will be available Friday, December 17, 2021.
Lastly, it is my sincere pleasure to announce that Ms. Jayme Eberle, LPGA, has been selected as the new Executive Director serving the Inland Empire, Western Montana, and Central Washington Chapters. Jayme comes to the Section after serving Gordon Corder and his team at Manito G&CC as their Golf Operations Manager. My thanks to the leadership of each of these three chapters for their tireless work to select our newest team member.
On behalf of our amazing Section staff, please accept our best wishes for a wonderful holiday season. Stay safe, be well, enjoy those you love, and, if you have the time, watch a couple holiday movies. If you look hard enough, you’ll find a gift within each of them.
Frank Talarico, CEO
ftalarico@pgahq.com
Doug Doxsie, PGA
This is always a great time of year for reflection on what we are thankful for. While I have many things, I want to share some from the “profession side”.
First, I want to acknowledge and express my gratitude to the Chapter and Section Board of Directors, Executive Directors, Committees, and Staff for your hard work and dedication. You all provide a tremendous passion and effort to help our association, fellow Members and Associates, and to the game of golf in your areas. Those that have been a part of service to the association know it takes a lot of time, commitment, and patience. It is a selfless and often thankless service, but you are all appreciated! I am thankful for what you do for our great profession.
Next, I want to acknowledge our “best of the best”, our award winners at both the Chapter and the Section level. You truly inspire me every day to be a better PGA Professional and I learn things every time I get to interact with you. Keep up the great work, enjoy your recognition, and share your wisdom with others.
Lastly, I am truly thankful to be able to represent you as your voice in the PGA of America Boardroom as your District 14 Director. It has been an incredible experience thus far and I am looking forward to helping our association accomplish more great things heading into my final year. I think you will like what we are working on to help our PGA Professionals, Sections, and Chapters to have the resources, support, and opportunities that we all deserve to be successful in our careers.
I hope you get the opportunity to enjoy the holidays with your friends and family. My best wishes to all of you for a healthy, safe, and joyous 2022.
Doug Doxsie, PGA
Seattle Golf Club
PGA District 14 Director
425-681-8889
doxpga@msn.com
Branden Thompson, PGA - Regional League Manager
Your 2022 Coach registration is officially open! Visit the new and improved PGAJrLeague.com and sign up today. We hope you’ll take a look around the new website, and enjoy the easier registration process.
We will be reaching out to the larger PGA Membership in January to encourage others to register. Player registration will open in early February.
Want to discuss PGA Jr. League or just bounce some ideas around? The following link will take you to my Calendly page where you can choose a time that works for you, and eliminate the need to email back and forth.
Regards,
Branden Thompson, PGA
561-293-2585
bthompson@pgahq.com
Monte Koch, PGA of America Employment Consultant
Last month, the focus was on how PGA professionals, in the role of employee, can approach their career to better understand their neighborhood and the factors that define it, including the obvious factors and the new megatrend demographic factors. Click the link below to review:
Part 1: Understanding Your Neighborhood
This article’s focus will be on employers (whether as a supervisor, owner, club board of directors, etc.). We will examine how top talent think about these factors and how they affect the “application considerations” of nearly every potential candidate.
As stated in Part 1, the golf industry is being impacted by some social megatrends and industry specific trends. These trends are now factors that define the “employer’s neighborhood” and the manner that top candidates see (or rate) the quality of the opportunity as well.
Besides the above “employer differentiators,” the most obvious one is compensation. The question and impact of the median average and percentile view in an employer’s (facility) “neighborhood” has proven to be effective in comparing clubs, positions, jobs and more. To get a more “apples to apples” snapshot to accurately understand the “comp neighborhood” we must think carefully about “neighborhood” factors above including:
Fact: Every employer needs to evaluate and understand the “neighborhood” they’re in. Fact 2: It’s an assessment that nearly every candidate makes when looking at a job (one they are considering or sometimes one they already have).
Whether you’re primarily an employee in the golf industry or you’re both an employee and an employer, let me know if I can help you with finding a deeper and more meaningful understanding of “your neighborhood” and the “position you have in that neighborhood” in the next few months. Now is the time to make your case and I’m here to help you make it.
With that said, I want to say how grateful I am to be able to work with the PGA Professionals in this Section, with the Section’s Board of Directors, each Chapter’s Board and with the amazing Section staff. I am so grateful to be a partner with each person and group in the list above – I am the blessed one, that is certain! (Special thanks to my editor for these articles, Marlena Cannon, who is just awesome.)
Best wishes to you, your families and the facilities you serve for Christmas, the holidays. I wish happiness, health and success for you in the coming year.
Kind regards,
Monte Koch, PGA Certified Professional/Player Development | Career Consultant
PGA Career Services | PGA of America
Serving PGA professionals, employers in the Pacific NW & Rocky Mountain PGA Sections
Email: Mkoch@pgahq.com Cell: 206/335-5260
Tanner Montgomery, PGA
Manager of Tournament Operations
The PNW PGA Arizona Sun Pro-Am took place December 5-9 at We-Ko-Pa Resort. We took 17 teams to beautiful Arizona, enjoying the sunshine and hospitality of the We-Ko-Pa Resort in the first year of this new destination event sponsored by ProTag.
Five-man teams played stableford competitions in the PNW PGA Arizona Sun Pro-Am. Teams consisted of one professional and four amateurs. There were daily team prizes, daily professional prizes, daily amateur gross and net prizes as well as overall prizes for the professionals, amateurs and teams.
Congratulations to the team led by PGA Professional Bryan Stevens of The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge with amateurs Brad Laufer, Sean Nielsen, Eric Dunkel and Stephen Reed, who won the overall team competition! Taking second place was PGA Professional Tim Ressa of Harbour Pointe Golf Club with his team members Mike Robb, Mark Hanna, David Poore, and Mark O’Donnell.
PGA Professional Brian Thornton of Meridian Valley CC won the overall professional competition with Bryan Stevens taking a close second. Eric Dunkel of West Seattle GC won the overall amateur competition, with Mike Robb winning the overall amateur net competition.
Teams played Monday on the Saguaro Course, Tuesday on the Cholla Course before they returned on Wednesday for the final round on the Saguaro Course.
With two award-winning golf courses set in the thriving Sonoran Desert, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club delivers one of the best golf experiences in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area. Scott Miller designed the Cholla Course, while Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw teamed up to create Saguaro. The results have captivated the golf world ever since opening for public play to much acclaim by industry leading publications such as Golf Magazine, Golfweek and Golf Digest.
Offering breathtaking views of the McDowell Mountains, Red Mountain, Four Peaks and the Superstitions, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club lies on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation land that will never be commercially developed.
We look forward to returning to Arizona next winter for another fun Arizona Sun Pro-Am and hope you will join us!
Monte Koch, PGA of America Employment Consultant
Click here to access the PNW PGA job postings
We are all feeling the Crunch of Inflation - Be Proactive Today about Your Compensation Keeping Up!
That’s right, in 2022, the SSA will be giving a 5.9% COLA for recipients. That is added to the 1.3% that was in place in 2019 and the 1.6% that was in place for 2020. You’ve seen the comp for entry level roles in our business go up over the past 3 years...has yours? It’s time to do something about it.
As of 10/29, we are here as a Section: 45.12% (393 completed, 478 incomplete) #21 of 41 Sections. The more of us who complete the profile, the better data I will be able to provide to any PGA professional, facility, etc. who needs it. Knowledge is power here...so do it for yourself and your peers.
Please don't hesitate to call or email me if you have any questions or difficulty in completing your profile. Thank you for your contribution to this important tool used to impact compensation for you and your peers!
Complete your Compensation Profile Survey now >>
Regards, Monte
Every Thursday @ 9:00 AM Pacific
Dec 17 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Creating “The Right Dirt” to Attract and Retain Talent
presented by Monte Koch, PGA
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Dec 17 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Recuiting Talent "In Your Yard"
presented by Monte Koch, PGA
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Dec 21 @ 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
PGA Jr. League 2022
presented by Branden Thompson, PGA
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2022 Tournament Schedule