Colorado PGA News

from The SUMMIT - Colorado PGA Magazine - December 2020

Career Development News

Quarter Century Club

Celebrating 25 Years of Service as a PGA Member

PGA Members who have served the PGA of America with honor and pride for 25 years are elected to the Quarter Century Club. Their steadfast promotion of our great sport is recognized with a letter from the PGA President, a special Quarter Century Club certificate and a gold Quarter Century Club lapel pin. This month, the Colorado Section is proud to feature three Quarter Century Club Members; Joe Assell, Cary Callihan and Steve Samuels. Joe Assell, PGA President and CEO of GOLFTEC

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Oswego, Illinois.

What was your first introduction to the game of golf? In the town of Oswego, we lived across the street from Fox Bend, a public golf course, and I grew up playing golf there with my dad.

Why did you choose to become a PGA Golf Professional? My first job as a 12-year-old was at Fox Bend Golf Course for Leon McNair, PGA, who created a “Work for Golf” program, which allowed me the opportunity to be around the game and the business. I remained there through high school. McNair’s influence on me and his program propelled me to want to pursue a career in golf.

What makes you most proud about being a PGA Professional? A proud moment for me as a PGA Professional is having GOLFTEC give our Ten-Millionth lesson.

What golf facilities have you been employed at and in what capacity? I have worked at six different golf courses including those through the PGM Program I attended. I had internships at Stonebridge Country Club in Aurora, Illinois, the Golf Club of Tennessee, near Nashville, and at Cherry Hills Country Club. After graduation, I was offered the position of business manager and teaching professional to what was then a strip-mall storefront called Driving Obsession. It later became known as GOLFTEC and I have been there over 25 years.

What do you feel is the most meaningful contribution to the game of golf you have made? Through GOLFTEC, it has been meaningful to elevate the standards for golf instruction across the country and elevate the quality of life for PGA Professionals.

What hobbies do you have outside of golf? I enjoy mountain biking and skiing.

If you could have a dream foursome, who would it be and why? My dream would be to play with the best ever - all at once: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Annika Sorenstam.

Short par 5 or short par 3? Short par 5

Match Play or Stroke Play? Match Play

Pizza or tacos? Pizza This or That? Music on or music off on the course? Music On

Morning or evening person? Morning Favorite fast food chain? Starbucks

Shorts or pants on the course? Shorts

Chocolate or vanilla? Cherry

Where did you grow up? I was born in Durango, Colorado, and grew up in Grand Junction.

What was your first introduction to the game of golf? My dad was an avid golfer and introduced me to the game when I was young.

Why did you choose to become a PGA Golf Professional? I started in the business picking range balls and washing carts in 1981 when I was 16. I loved everything about working at a golf course, so it was a natural progression for me to obtain my PGA membership after I graduated from college.

What makes you most proud about being a PGA Professional? I am proud of being associated with this great sport, along with my peers as being an “expert” in the game and business of golf.

What golf facilities have you been employed at and in Cary Callihan, PGA, with his wife, Juanita, this year at a charity what capacity? tournament at The Bridges in Montrose. • Lincoln Park Golf Course, Grand Junction, CO - Assistant Golf Professional • Quail Valley Country Club, Missouri City, TX - Assistant Golf Professional • Weston Lakes Country Club, Fulshear, TX - 1st Assistant Golf Professional • Houston Oaks Golf Club, Hockley, TX - Head Golf Professional • Saddle Rock Golf Course, Aurora, CO - Assistant Golf Professional • Meadow Hills Golf Course, Aurora, CO - 1st Assistant Golf Professional • Aurora Hills Golf Course, Aurora, CO - Head Golf Professional

What do you feel is the most meaningful contribution to the game of golf you have made? Managing a golf operation that caters to a wide diversity in demographics and making them all feel welcome and comfortable playing at my facility is the contribution to the game I have made.

What hobbies do you have outside of golf? My wife Juanita and I like to travel. I also like to read and be outdoors. I’m an avid Denver Broncos fan.

If you could have a dream foursome, who would it be and why? My dream foursome would be Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Lee Trevino. Jack was my hero as a kid and the ‘86 Masters is still my favorite golf tournament of all time. I was never a fan of Tom when I was younger simply because he beat Jack on a regular basis. As I became older, I began to appreciate how good of a player and ball striker that Tom was. To me, Lee Trevino is one of the all-time great personalities of the game.

Short par 5 or short par 3? Short par 3

Match Play or Stroke Play? Match Play

Pizza or tacos? Pizza This or That?

Music on or music off on the course? Music On

Morning or evening person? Morning Favorite fast food chain? Burger King

Shorts or pants on the course? Shorts!

Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla with chocolate syrup

Where did you grow up? I was born in Greeley, Colorado, and raised in Fort Morgan, CO.

What was your first introduction to the game of golf? When I was eight years old, my dad and the Fort Morgan PGA Professional, Hal Douglass (father of Tour Player Dale Douglass), introduced me to the game.

Why did you choose to become a PGA Golf Professional? I loved the game and worked in the golf shop when I was in high school. I also loved the business, especially instruction and running tournaments.

What makes you most proud about being a PGA Professional? There are many reasons I am proud to be a PGA Professional. In the beginning, it was the challenge of becoming a PGA Professional, as only a small percentage Steve Samuels, PGA, and his wife, Lee Ann, on a recent of those who try actually make it. But I loved everything motorcycle trip. about the job: teaching, rules, running a great tournament, etc. When a weekend event went off without any problems or challenges, I took pride in that. Seeing a new club champion crowned that went through my Jr. Golf Program, makes me smile. People remembering what you do even if they don’t remember your name, is rewarding. There is not much negative about being a PGA Golf Professional!

What golf facilities have you been employed at and in what capacity? • Fort Morgan Municipal, Fort Morgan, CO, - Assistant Professional • Olive Glenn Country Club, Cody, WY, - Assistant Professional • Marriott’s Rancho Las Palmas Resort, Rancho Mirage, CA, - Assistant Professional • Marriott’s Desert Springs Resort, Palm Desert, CA, - Associate Professional, Outside Operations Manager and Tournament Director • Ptarmigan Country Club, Fort Collins, CO, - Assistant Professional • Bunker Hill Country Club, Brush, CO, - Head Golf Professional, General Manager

What do you feel is the most meaningful contribution to the game of golf you have made? Junior Golf!! I see many of those players still playing today.

What hobbies do you have outside of golf? I enjoy riding my Harley and am a Fantasy Football Guru.

If you could have a dream foursome, who would it be and why? My dream foursome would include Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and my dad. My dad loved Arnie and I love Jack.

Short par 5 or short par 3? Short par 5

Match Play or Stroke Play? Match Play

Pizza or tacos? Tacos This or That?

Music on or music off on the course? No Music!!

Morning or evening person? Morning, but my wife just laughed... Favorite fast food chain? Arby’s

Shorts or pants on the course? Pants

Chocolate or vanilla? Sure...

Colorado PGA News

2020 Colorado PGA President’s Award Goes to Bob Longmire

The President’s Award is given annually to an individual who, through their efforts and contributions, has promoted and enhanced the PGA Professional, the Section and the game of golf and contributed to the betterment of the golf professional vocation. The recipient of the 2020 Colorado PGA President’s Award is Bob Longmire, originator of PGA Jr. League and Co-Founder of Doubles Golf.

A long-time friend of the Section, Longmire has participated in many Colorado PGA events over the years, consulted for the PGA REACH Trustees Board, and with his wife, has donated funds for two homes to be given to military families through Colorado PGA REACH. Escaping the heat of the South, Longmire and his wife spend time in Colorado for a couple months each year. They enjoy doing what they can to support the Section, the REACH Foundation and the game of golf in Colorado.

When asked how it feels to receive The President’s Award, Longmire replied, “I have worked for 46 years in the Sports and Entertainment industry. I work hard and feel as though I have accomplished a lot. This is the most gratifying award I have ever received. It is the first award of any kind that I have received in the world of golf … golf is my true love. To have, in some way, participated in developing programs that have helped the game grow and help the Colorado Section specifically, to receive the President’s Award, is a terrific honor. I feel humbled by it.”

The career Longmire referenced began after his graduation from LSU. He started in the industry as a marketing executive and an announcer for the NBA team that before transferring to Utah had its start in New Orleans; the New Orleans Jazz.

After the Jazz moved, Longmire moved to Atlanta to head up marketing for the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Team. He then spent time leading the marketing for the Omni Coliseum and was enamored with concerts. Longmire developed an agency, which for 11 years represented major concert artists all over the world. Longmire remarried and had a child in 1990, which prompted him to stop touring and get back into the sports industry. He became the Executive V.P. of a sports marketing agency in Atlanta, and then in 2000, he started his own agency, the LEJ Sports Group of which he is the Senior Partner. It is this agency that worked with organizations such as the NFL, MLB, NBA and more, in the development of youth programs.

Longmire with Jack Nicklaus at the 2020 United States Doubles Golf Am Championship at The Bear’s Club

About 10 years into the LEJ business, Longmire started the concept of a youth program for golf, the Jr. League program, which was later purchased by the PGA of America.

In launching the PGA Jr. League, Longmire met Eddie Ainsworth, PGA, CEO and Executive Director of the Colorado Section, at a PGA show. The two discussed meeting again in person. Longmire’s son lives in Parker, Colorado, and so he decided to visit the Colorado Section and has since fallen in love with the area. That was the beginning of the relationship with the Colorado PGA.

Longmire serves as Chief Executive Officer of League Golf, which was the founder of Jr. League, and co-founder of Doubles Golf with Tour Player, Jack Nicklaus. This new entity, Doubles Golf/2PG, means two-player golf, which is Doubles Golf. The 2PG is the name of the rating and ranking system used to rank and rate doubles teams.

“Doubles Golf is what we bequeath to the Sections. We are hoping to help them in the future. We believe that Doubles Golf is not only a phenomenal way for PGA Members to generate revenue for themselves and their Assistants at their Clubs, but it is also a revenue generator for the Sections,” states Longmire. “So, it becomes a business unit. We don’t charge them anything for it. We license the rights to the Section. All we do is manage the United States Doubles Golf Committee and we host the United States Doubles Golf Am Championship.” Colorado PGA Honorary President, Ben Welsh, says of Longmire, “He has been a great partner in helping our Colorado PGA REACH Foundation accomplish some of our goals. His efforts to grow the game nationally are wonderful and the fact that he lives here locally in Colorado Springs (for a couple months of the year) has made the relationship here closer.”

Doubles Golf National Finalists From Colorado

Four Teams Played at The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida

Four teams from Colorado competed at the First United States Doubles Golf Am Championship. The event was hosted by Jack Nicklaus, himself, in Jupiter, Florida, at The Bear’s Club, November 3-5, 2020. The teams represent each category in Doubles Golf: Men’s, Women’s, Senior’s and Mixed Doubles.