Colorado PGA March 2014 Newsletter by Colorado PGA

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March 2014

Official Colorado PGA Newsletter A Monthly Review of Colorado PGA Professionalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Activities

Spring Meeting Edition

Monday, March 24, 2014 | Pinehurst Country Club

Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Newsletter

Colorado PGA Officers Barry Milstead, PGA

Contents Spring Meeting ED Message

4 Board of Director Candidates 7

Spring Meeting Sponsors

11 13 14 16

20 20

West Chapter West Chapter Awards

@The Buzz

West Chapter Schedule

Apprentice National Car Rental 22 Apprentice Committee PGA of America Announce Update s National Car Rental Pro Am Series Scholarhips and Grants 22 Colorado PGA Growth of Junior Golf the Game Grants Available Junior Golf Corner 23 PGA Scholarships Drive Chip and Putt 24 USGA/Chevron Scholarship Player Development CPP Class Recap 24 LPGA Scholarship

16 Four Members Earn Player Development CPP Certification

Communications 25 Colorado PGA Communications Plan and Survey Results

Employment Employment Update

Sponsors 27 MyGolfShafts

18 19

Member Update

Chip Shots

Imperial Headwear Partners with Colorado PGA

Leslie Core-Drevecky, PGA Vice-President | 2013-2014

Ty Thompson, PGA

Secretary | 2013-2014

Tim Lollar, PGA

Hon. President | 2013-2014

Eddie Ainsworth, PGA Executive Director

Board of Directors Jeff Carlson, PGA 2014-2016

Matt Cohen, PGA 2013-2015

Jim Hajek, PGA 2013-2014

Kyle Heyen, PGA 2012-2014

George Kahrhoff, PGA

Staff

President | 2012-2014

2014

Charles ‘Vic’ Kline, PGA Past District 9 Director

Cathy Matthews-Kane, PGA 2013-2105

Steve Patterson, PGA 2013-2015

Ben Welsh, PGA 2014-2016

Shawn Wills, PGA 2014-2016

West Chapter President Darren Szot, PGA Independent Director Theo Gregory

s we quickly approach the golf season I am sure that practically all of us have set goals for the upcoming year. Grow rounds, grow revenue, and add value to the customer/member experience. We all want to go “higher”. As you prepare for your heroic journey through golf season, hopefully you have had time to recharge your batteries, or even better yet, have come to the understanding that we all have limits, and that just maybe, we may painfully need to redefine victory and success. Our theme for the upcoming Spring Meeting is “Leaving a Legacy”. Our goal as a Section is to provide you education, training, programs, and support, to help to empower you in accomplishing just that. Our keynote speaker, Craig Glass, a Certified Career Coach and author of the weekly blog “Men Matter” will share with us that in a world of billions of people, where many wonder if they really matter – or whether they can make a significant difference in the lives of others, that yes, one person can make a difference. Ken Clay with Active.com will be one of our featured educational speakers sharing a new management tool, Program Manager, which will help you drive more participation, drive revenue for your programs, and manage your business more effectively. Patrick Salva will also be part of the educational seminars and will be sharing how to “Leverage the Power of Digital Media”. Additionally, we will be providing an update to all of you on our Junior Golf Program, Tournament Program and Tee Time Alliance, as well as electing three (3) new Colorado PGA Members to serve on our Board of Directors.

Spring Meeting

2014 Colorado PGA Spring Memembership Meeting

Finally, please let us know what you think of our new Newsletter. The first Wednesday of each month you will be receiving a copy of this in your inbox as we strive to provide you more efficient communication and enhance the member experience (one of our goals). The other Wednesdays of the month we will be providing you a short (2 minutes or less) video message providing you a quick update of coming events with links for more information. As previously stated, we want to be as efficient as we can in communicating with you so please let us know how we are doing and if there is anything specific you would like to see added to our monthly newsletter. In closing I just want to thank you for the opportunity to serve all of you and remind you that your Section Staff is here for you. Please remember that we are a resource; ready, willing and able to provide whatever we can to take you “higher” along your journey. I look forward to seeing all of you at the upcoming Spring Membership Meeting at Pinehurst Country Club on Monday March 24th. Very Respectfully,

Eddie Ainsworth

Click here to register! 3

Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Newsletter

Candidates of Board of Directors (submitted February 28, 2014)

My Fellow Colorado PGA Members, The Secretary is tasked with the responsibility to oversee the membership matters of the Section. One of these duties includes Board of Director and Officer Elections. At our upcoming Spring Membership Meeting on Monday, March 24th at Pinehurst Country Club, the Membership will be electing three (3) new Members to our Board of Directors. For the past several months we have been recruiting Colorado PGA Members to consider being a candidate for the upcoming election. I am pleased to announce that we have three (3) very strong candidates for the upcoming election. On the next page you will find these candidates and their bios in order for you to make your decision on the future leadership of our Section. In accordance with our Section Constitution & Bylaws, Article XII, Section 5, f, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If there are fewer than four (4) nominations at the time of the election, oral nominations may be made from the floor of the Spring Membership Meeting.â&#x20AC;? Therefore we will be taking nominations from the floor on March 24th. To be nominated from the floor you must be present and a Colorado PGA Section Member in good standing. If we do not receive any nominations from the floor we will vote by acclamation on the three Colorado PGA Members who have stepped up to serve their fellow Colorado PGA Members. I would like to thank all of these candidates for volunteering to serve and I wish them all well. Please feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions on being a future candidate. Respectfully Submitted,

Ty Thompson, PGA Head Professional Colorado Springs Country Club Secretary Colorado Section PGA 4

Jim Hajek, PGA

Jim Hajek has been the PGA Head Golf Professional at Fossil Trace since opening the course in 2003. He has previously served on the Colorado Board of Directors and most recently was appointed by the Board to serve out the remaining term of one year as a replacement for an elected member who had stepped down. Jim has a passion for entrepreneurial side of the business of golf and brings a background perspective ranging from low to high end public golf facilities during his 25 years in golf operations.

Spring Meeting

Candidates of Board of Directors

Jim’s Reasons for Serving on the Board “I would like to continue serving on the Marketing and Promotions Committee for the CPGA with an emphasis on best serving the membership with programs like the Tee Time Alliance and utilizing the Marketing & Communications Director’s position to best assist golf facilities with offering marketing options, promotions and programs. It would be an honor for me to be able to continue to serve my fellow Colorado PGA Members”.

Scott Erwin, PGA

Scott Erwin, PGA has been the PGA Director of Golf/Owner Representative at Maroon Creek Club since 2011. He has been a PGA Member for 35 years and a Member of the Club Manager Association for 15 years. Other than Colorado his work experience spans from LA, Palm Springs, Dallas, Tulsa and South Carolina. In 2007 he placed 2nd in the Carolina’s Senior PGA Section Championship. Scott participated in Tour events in the ‘70’s in South Africa, Asia and Canada. He has served on Advisory Committees for Dallas Police Department and Presbyterian Hospital and was a Board Member of the Midwest Chapter of CMAA. Scott also represented People to People Sports Committee and captained 5 teams: Europe, Scandinavia, British Isle, Australia & New Zealand. Scott’s Reasons for Serving on the Board “I would like to serve on the Colorado PGA Board so I can give back to the organization which has made my professional career possible. I will serve in whatever capacity best serves the membership. With that said, I believe I could make a significant contribution to other PGA members in helping them improve their current compensation or win the job they are applying for. To be the choice of the Board of Directors/GM of a club, you must demonstrate your ability to think and react intelligently when the pressure is greatest. Like playing golf, a personal routine can enhance your ability to perform at the highest level under the intense pressure of a Board of Directors interview. I would like very much to spend time with fellow PGA Members helping them develop a "personal routine" that will allow them to be more effective during the interview process.”

Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Newsletter

Candidates of Board of Directors

Rick Ellefson, PGA

Rick Ellefson, PGA is the PGA Head Golf Professional at The Club at Pradera and has been a PGA member for 25 years. Rick first began in the golf business in 1983 as an Assistant Golf Professional at Meadowbrook Golf Course in Rapid City, SD. He also worked as the 1st Assistant Golf Professional at Minnesota Valley Country Club before becoming the Head Golf Professional at Le Sueur Country Club (MN) at age 27. After moving to Colorado in 2004, Rick became the Director of Instruction at Fossil Trace Golf Club and taught over 700 students annually before becoming the Head Golf Professional at The Club at Pradera. He served on the board of directors of the Minnesota Section PGA for two terms and has been nominated for Teacher of the Year four times. He has played on the Colorado Cup Team and Taylor Cup teams, and continues to play regularly in Colorado PGA events. As a PGA Professional, Rick enjoys the challenges and rewards associated with golf operations, event management, and teaching the game of golf. He believes in giving back to the community and has participated in the Colorado PGA 100 Holes of Golf/PGA Golf Days to raise money for the Colorado PGA Foundation and other charities. Rick’s Reasons for Serving on the Board “It is with great pleasure that I apply for the Board of Directors of the Colorado PGA. I have been a member of the PGA since 1989 and a member of the Colorado PGA since 2004. Prior to moving to Colorado I was a member of the Minnesota PGA and served as the Membership Committee Chair for four years, Tournament Committee for three years, and the Board of Directors for four years. Since moving to Colorado, I have been a member of the President’s Council since 2005 and have served on the Education Committee for a year. As a PGA Professional I hope to impact the industry by growing the game of golf to a wider audience, training and advancing our assistant professionals to greater positions, and to promote all professionals as the leading industry experts in all areas of the game and business. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to bring my knowledge and experience to an already great section. Thank you for the opportunity.”

How To: Text Message Voting If we do need to conduct the election by vote we will again be using Text Message voting through the Poll Everywhere software. Each candidate that is up for election will be assigned a specific code. Those voting with then have to opportunity to send up to three text messages with their choices to a phone number provided the day to the vote. This system will provide us the opportunity to have realtime, live results and will make the process of conducting the vote much more efficient. We will also have paper ballots available for those of you that are uncomfortable with the process.

go above and beyond to help our Section, including you, the Member. Faiway Promotions James Schlatter p 720-470-9177 james@fairwaypromotions.com Nick Porter p 303-638-5475 nick@fairwaypromotions.com www.fairwaypromotions.com

Fairway Promotions specializes in providing high quality promotional and branding signage to the golf industry. They have developed a complete line of products that are designed to enhance play and maximize brand visibility on the course. All of their products adhere to the highest quality printing standards and each order comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Fairway Promotions also provides co-branded sponsorship campaigns that create a true win-win scenario for courses, players and sponsors. In addition, they are happy to work directly with your tournament clientele to ensure that all their event signage needs are met.

Spring Meeting

Thank You to Our Sponsors! Please support our Colorado PGA Partners who support you. Our Colorado PGA partners

Eisinger-Smith Bob Eisinger p 303-279-832 bob@eisingersmith.com www.eisingersmith.com Since 1980 Eisinger Smith has been providing the golf industry with innovative and quality golf accessories and tournament gift ideas. We offer two distinct lines of golf accessories: Eisinger Smith Custom Golf and GolfPro Collection, with both lines offering contemporary styling and accents. Eisinger Smith's signature golf items can be found at pro shops throughout the world as well as at the most prestigious tournament events. Our full grain leather bag tags, money clips, leather canvas travel items are just a few of the exciting accessories that await you on our web site. We invite you to experience our complete selection of golf accessories and tournament gifts as you browse our online presentation Golf Scorecards, Inc. Mike Suckling p 800-238-7267 Mike@golfscorecards.com GolfScorecards.com Golf ScoreCards, Inc. is happy to announce that 2014 marks the 8th consecutive year that our company sponsors the Colorado Section. We are proud to support you. We also want to take this opportunity to thank the many Section members who print their scorecards with our company. If you do not currently print your scorecards with our company consider asking us for samples and a quote. Turnaround on design is fast - - just two days. Our prices are competitive. If you are thinking about redesigning your card, check out our portfolio of samples at www.golfscorecards.com.. Hole-in-One USA David C. Nelson, CPA, President p 800-383-7273, dcn@hiousa.com www.hiousa.com Are you looking for an exciting way to increase player participation at your next golf event? With Hole-in-One U.S.A., you can offer exciting — and enticing — prizes for a nominal fee. The prize is up to you — cash, trips, cars, boats, jewelry, you name it. Best of all, Hole-in-One U.S.A. provides secondary prizes at no extra cost for the remaining Par 3’s. Hole-in-One U.S.A. also provides a per-

Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Newsletter

sonalized tee sign for each of the par 3’s at no additional charge. The signs include the sponsor’s name and the prize description. We’ve hand-picked each member of our team for the qualities we value most: a positive attitude and a dedication to customer service. Contact one of our Hole-inOne U.S.A. team members for your next event. Jani-King Mike Biggs p 972-991-0900 or 303-294-0200 mbiggs@janiking.com www.janiking.com Jani-King is the Official Cleaning Company of The PGA of America. They deliver results you can count on. Experience how consistent service keeps members and guests on the course and out of your office. Their cleaning services include: lobby and clubhouse; restaurant and kitchen; villa and condo unit; locker room; pro sho; customized floor programs and kitchen steward personnel. KBS Shafts Conrad Miller p 303-444-2226 ext. 22 conradmiller@fstshafts.com Player Driven – Tour Proven. From renowned shaft designer Kim Braly, the KBS TOUR Series incorporates the most advanced steel shaft technology, forged from tour player feedback, for achieving better performance and control of your golf game. Introduced in early 2008, KBS sets the new standard in steel shafts evidenced by our quick ascension within the premiere golf shaft industry. Since 2008, KBS shafts have been utilized in multiple top iron programs, accepted in every manufacturer’s custom department, and adopted by over 70 top tour professionals including many of the best players on the planet. At KBS we’re focused on innovating steel shaft technology that maximizes the performance of your golf clubs while making every shot more enjoyable. To learn more, check out our online community featuring remarks from your peers why they choose KBS. Go to www.kbsgolfshafts.com PTE Golf Matt Pollitt, CEO p 561-630-5205 matt@ptegolf.com www.ptegolf.com PTE Golf has been an industry leader since 2004 in “helping professionals look more professional” in their jobs. We strive to provide the highest quality products with excellent customer care for each clinet as if they were our only client. Our employees will embody the highest standards of courtesy and professional communication. Sheraton Steamboat Springs Kristal Eckley Director of Sales & Marketing Sheraton Steamboat Resort and Villas p 970.871.6528 www.sheratonsteamboatresort.com Sheraton Steamboat Resort guaranteed an unforgettable getaway. Enjoy your stay at our Steamboat ski resort - the perfect winter or summer playground. Ski straight onto Champagne Powder® with ski-in/ski-out access, or tee off at the award-winning Steamboat golf course. Discover a great place to meet with Sheraton Steamboat Hotel dining and Sevens Mountain Grill, an upscale restaurant at the base of the ski area next to the Gondola. Upgrade your room to our condos in Steamboat Springs for the ideal vacation experience.

Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Newsletter

ORLANDO – Jan. 21, 2014 – National Car Rental, the Official Rental Car of the PGA of America, and the PGA today announced the launch of the National Car Rental PGA ProAm Series at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show. Keegan Bradley, the winner of the 2011 PGA Championship, and his father, PGA Professional Mark Bradley, will serve as ambassadors for the Series. The father-son team will also promote the National “Go Like A Pro” mobile experience, a customized, golf-themed tour bus that will travel to events throughout the ProAm Series. National has created the ProAm Series to help further the PGA’s mission to grow interest and participation in the game of golf at local levels by, for the first time, linking together 82 new and existing amateur tournaments across the 41 PGA of America Sections nationwide. The series will run February through October, and one of the 82 winning teams will be randomly selected to receive a VIP golf experience with Keegan and Mark Bradley. The National Car Rental PGA ProAm Series will be supported by print, social media and digital marketing campaigns, featuring Keegan Bradley.

The Colorado PGA will incorporate portions of the National Car Rental Pro Am Series in all of the Pro Ams throughout the year.

National Car Rental

PGA of America, National Car Rental Launch National Car Rental PGA ProAm Series at 2014 PGA Merchandise Show

The following two events will however be the official Colorado PGA National Car Rental Pro Am Series Events: Columbine Country Club Pro Am Monday, April 28, 2014 Lakewood Country Club Pro Am Monday, March 3, 2014

“Many of our business travel customers have a passion for the game of golf, so we wanted to create a tournament series that would draw excitement and participation nationwide among amateur golfers at the local level,” said Rob Connors, assistant vice president of brand marketing, National Car Rental. “Also, as an Official Partner of the PGA of America, one of our goals for the ProAm is to celebrate the hard work and talents of the PGA membership. We are thrilled that Keegan and Mark Bradley will be working with us to spotlight the efforts of local PGA Professionals across the country.” National’s “Go Like A Pro” mobile experience will be managed by IMG Live and will provide on- site activities for golf fans at select ProAm Series tournaments and events. The traveling tour bus will feature state-of-the-art Trackman swing analysis, allowing participants the opportunity to see how their swing compares with Keegan’s, some of the golf indus-

Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Newsletter

try’s newest demo clubs, a club re-regripping service, and a Keegan Bradley replica golf bag. Mark Bradley will lend his years of experience as a PGA professional by offering participants online golf tips for common swing flaws at www.nationalcargolf.com. “The National Car Rental PGA ProAm Series provides an exciting opportunity for PGA Professionals and thousands of amateur golfers across the country to experience high-profile events at the grassroots level,” said PGA President Ted Bishop. “We are delighted to partner with National Car Rental and are pleased to have the support of the father-son PGA Professional team of Keegan and Mark Bradley.” "Practically all my life I've been proud that my father is a PGA Professional," said Keegan Bradley. "Now I'm really excited to partner with National Car Rental and be a part of the effort that he and 27,000 teaching pros are making to grow the game on such a massive scale." Keegan Bradley is currently ranked 22nd in the official World Golf Ranking, while Mark is the PGA director of instruction at Jackson Hole (Wyo.) Golf and Tennis Club. National is the Official Rental Car of the PGA Championship and the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, and an Official Partner of the 2014 Ryder Cup. Additionally, National is the title sponsor of the National Car Rental PGA Assistant Championship. For more information about the National Car Rental PGA Pro-Am Series, please visit www. nationalcargolf.com. Fans can follow the Series on Instagram and Twitter @NationalCarGolf and participate in the conversation using #proamseries.

Justin Limon, PGA Hired as New Tournament Manager The Colorado PGA recently welcomed Justin Limon to the staff to fill the role of Tournament Manager. Orginally from Oklahoma, Limon is a 2012 graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma PGM program. Prior to joining the Colorado PGA, Limon served as Tournament Director for the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association and as the Co-Tournament Director for the Oklahoma Golf Assoication. In that role he was involved in administering a wide range of events from USGA Local and Regional qualifiers to High School State Championships and Junior Tour Events. Justin will be responsible for adminstering the Colorado PGA Tournament Department as well as conducting Playing Ability Tests. Justin will begin fulltime with the Colorado PGA on Monday, March 10, 2014. He can be reached at jlimon@pgahq.com or at (720) 390-1160.

By Erin Diegel PGA | Junior Golf Director

2013 was a tremendous year of planning and learning and we are proud to announce the 2014 Certified Junior Facility Program. We are committed to helping you and your facility market your first-class junior golf program to a consumer who is trying to decide â&#x20AC;&#x153;where they fitâ&#x20AC;? on the Colorado PGA Junior Golf website. By filling out an application and financially committing $250 for the calendar year, your facility will receive the following benefits: - Preferred search results on www.coloradopgajuniorgolf.com - The ability to offer the Colorado PGA Junior Membership to your juniors at $30 instead of $50 - Kids Play Free Package - Color or Etched Glass Decal to display at your facility To access the 2014 Application, please contact Erin Diegel at ediegel@pgahq.com To process your payment of $250, please CLICK HERE

Junior Golf Corner

If you have any questions about becoming a Certified Junior Facility, please contact Erin Diegel at ediegel@pgahq.com.

Take a Moment to Fill Out Junior Golf Survey

Colorado PGA Inflatable Equipment Rental Offered Looking for a way to add some excitement and color to your Junior Golf program or Family Fun event? The Colorado PGA now has a rental program for the Inflatables, Birdieball and SNAG equipment. The calendar is filling up fast so if you are interested in getting something set up for your next event, contact Erin Diegel at ediegel@pgahq.com.

We are committed to serve you in the fullest capacity and want you to have all the tools and education necessary to create or enhance the Junior Golf Programs at your facility. To help us better serve you, we ask that you complete a quick survey by clicking here. Erin Diegel will contact you to set up an in-person meeting or phone call to assist you in whatever area of programming you are wishing to implement or gain more information about.

Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Newsletter

Junior Golf Schedules Finalized After months of planning and preperation all of the Colorado PGA Junior Golf Schedules have been finazlied. These schedules include Team Golf, Junior Tour, Girl Power Golf, and PGA/YMCA Summer Camps. To access each of the schedules, please click on their logo below.

Drive Chip and Putt Events Announced The Drive, Chip and Putt Championship, a free nationwide junior skills competition open to boys and girls ages 7-15, is an initiative created by the Masters Tournament Foundation, United States Golf Association and PGA of America. In April 2014, 88 junior golfers age 7-15 will compete for the National Championship Sunday prior to The Masters in Augusta and the event will be televised on the Golf Channel. The Championship was piloted by 11 sections in 2013 but will expand to all 41 section is 2014. Colorado will be hosting 5 Local qualifiers and 1 Sub Regional. Promotional material will be available soon and registration will begin April 6, 2014 on www.drivechipandputt.com. If you have any questions about participation or signing up to be a volunteer please contact Erin Diegel at ediegel@pgahq.com. Local Qualifiers CommonGround Golf Course (Central Denver)-June 9, 2014 Tiara Rado/Lincoln Park (Grand Junction)- June 23, 2014 Collindale Golf Club (Ft. Collins)- June 30, 2014 Hiwan Golf Club (Evergreen)- July 7, 2014 Cheyenne Shadows Golf Course (Colorado Springs)- TBD Sub-Regional Qualifier Common Ground Golf Course (Central Denver)- August 4, 2014

www.DriveChipandPutt.com 14

The journey to

Augusta National Golf Club starts with one swing...

chip drive The 2014 DRIVE CHIP & PUTT CHAMPIONSHIP

is open to boys and girls ages 7-15* competing in separate divisions in four age categories. Local qualifying will be conducted throughout June and July. There is no entry fee for the DRIVE CHIP & PUTT CHAMPIONSHIP *Age determined as of April 5, 2015

putt

For more information or to register your junior please visit:

DRIVECHIPANDPUTT.COM Registration Opens:

Sunday, April 6, 2014 15

Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Newsletter

Player Development Corner Keith Soriano, PGA | Player Develeopment Director

Four Members Earn CPP Player Development Certification

Congratulations to the four Colorado PGA members listed below for completing the requirements for cbecoming certifed in Player Development through The PGA of America Certified Professional Program. These members join an elite group of PGA Professions - 3 percent of the entire membership - who have committed themselves to the advanced career path specific eduction. These four members refelct the very essence of PGA Professionals being “The Experts in the Game and Business of Golf.” Dan O’Shaughnessy, PGA | A-1 | Fitzsimons Golf Course January 27, 2014 Tom Buzbee, PGA | A-1 | Gypsum Creek Golf Course February 13, 2104 Will Panella, PGA | A-8 | Buffalo Run Golf Course February 13, 2104 Casey Schiel, PGA | A-11 | 911 Golf February 13, 2104

Golf Operations Certified Professional Program Wraps up 2014 Class March 4th marked the conclusion of a professional development journey that began on December 3rd for 12 of Colorado PGA Members. These 12 PGA Professionals were the latest class to participate in the Colorado PGA’s industry leading in-class delivery of the PGA of America’s Certified Professional Program in Golf Operations. Meeting on Tuesday mornings at the Englewood, Colorado headquarters of one of our Section’s valued partners, Ouray Sportswear, these PGA Professionals navigated through the 14 online classes in a dynamic, roundtable environment. Motivated by a desire to improve their operations, garner new knowledge, and enjoy the fellowship and networking provided by the class; these Members engaged in 10 in-class sessions where they discussed best practices, daunting challenges, and used collective problem solving based on years of experience and the program content to help each other grow as PGA Professionals. A structured environment that encouraged open discussion and learning provided an opportunity to increase their skill set and to network with fellow PGA Professionals in a mutually supportive manner. The Colorado Section will continue to offer these Association Leading opportunities to our Members. Stay tuned for more information throughout the season.

One of the most important aspects of Player Development Director Keith Soriano’s position is to provide our members with one-on-one consultations on your Player Developement Programs. Please take advantage of this and schedule a time for Keith to come and visit with you and your staff to evaluate and get an outside perspective on your programs. You can contact Keith at ksoriano@pgahq.com.

Bruce Lubach, PGA | PGA Employment Consultant

The above picture shows a driving range in the middle of Tokyo, Japan. Many of Japan’s golfers utilize the driving range as their only means of playing. How many time do you hear, “I was hitting it so well on the range and once I got on the course “it” left me”! Many of these so-called “range-players” cannot execute when it comes time to test their game on the course. Obviously, so many variables enter into their inability to execute. I am not going to write about those variables as my ability to discern the causes may be way off base. Where do you stand in your readiness as the golf season of 2014 is approaching? Have you planned, prepared and put into motion some new and exciting changes for this year? All the good intentions, all the laid out plans are meaningless without execution. The plan you have must be realistic. Do not try to do too much without the proper resources (dollars, staff, time, etc.) but do SOMETHING! Status quo is not what your board, owner, superior is looking for out of you. I dare bet they are looking for someone who can provide leadership; someone who can execute and deliver results. One area you can help me in my execution is by completing the 2014 PGA Compensation Survey. The five sections I cover usually rank very high in completing this survey- why change that for 2014?!? Honestly, this tool is so valuable for me and for you! I have a plan when I meet or talk with an employer and that is to make the job I post the best I can financially for you. The more data available for each category of the survey makes the survey that much more legitimate and valuable for me and for you. I have had the privilege of spending time with some of you going over this survey and assisting you as you get ready to meet with your owner, board, etc., to show them the compensation figures. PLEASE do your part as a PGA member/apprentice and fill this survey out today! Complete this survey by March 23 and receive 2 MSR! You are helping me in the EXECUTION of my plan! THANK YOU!! Bruce Lubach, PGA, is the PGA of America Employment Consultant for the Colorado, Iowa, Midwest, Minnesota and Nebraska Sections. He can be reached at: blubach@pgahq.com or (402) 261-3604.

Player Development and Employment Update

Employment Update

Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Newsletter 18

Member Update

New Apprentices Kevin Kilnes | B-8 | Legacy Ridge Golf Course William Bernhardt | B-13 | Four Mile Ranch Golf Club Derek Eley | B-8 | Legacy Ridge Golf Course Jeffrey Bader | B-8 | Saddle Rock Golf Course Edward Knowles | B-8 | Silver Spruce Golf Course Salvatore Larosa | B-8 | Aurora Hills Golf Course Dillon Evert | B-8 | Meadow Hills Golf Course Brandon Roedder | B-8 | Country Club of Colorado Clement Michel | B-8 | Aspen Glen Club Newly Elected Members Miles E. Hains, PGA | A-8 | Kennedy Golf Course Kirby E. Lee, PGA | A-8 | Red Rocks Country Club Shaun P. Degnan, PGA | A-1 | Spreading Antlers Golf Course Brian E. Gott, PGA | A-8 | Green Valley Ranch Golf Club Shad A. Johnson, PGA | A-6 | The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa Philip M. Linares, PGA | A-6 | Trent Wearner Golf Academy Half Century Members Dale Douglass, PGA | A-3 Quarter Century Members Jim Nodurft, PGA | A-13 Lonnie Reed, PGA | LM Members Transferring to the Colorado PGA Kyle A. Voska, PGA A-8 | The Links Golf Course | Southern Ohio Section Michael J. Petrisko, PGA | A-6 | GolfTEC - Boulder | South Florida Section

Happy Birthday! 3/1 3/2 3/3 3/4 3/5 3/7 3/8 3/9 3/10 3/11

Stuart Bruening, PGA JP Hachey Mark Kizzire, PGA Michael W. Allen, PGA Jim Dargis, PGA Val R. Heim III, PGA Eric M Schaupeter, PGA Tom W. Carricato, PGA Dale Douglass, PGA Andrew C. Hedrick, PGA Chad V Novak Bill Poirot, PGA Kevin D. Sauer, PGA Chance R Semones Alan R. Abrams, PGA Salvatore Larosa Craig C. Palmer, PGA Vic Kline, PGA Zane T. Zwemke, PGA Thomas A. Krause, PGA Randall L. Meyers, PGA Michael F. Fengler, PGA Cathy Matthews-Kane, PGA Prim Ivan, PGA Thomas C. Wight, PGA

3/12 3/13 3/14 3/15 3/16 3/17 3/19 3/20 3/21 3/22 3/23

Reggie J Sanchez Dick A. Dierker, PGA Larry Murphy, PGA Dan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Shaughnessy, PGA Clayton Cole, PGA John Merrihew, PGA Jim Fiala, PGA Ian J. Parham, PGA Bob J. Persichetti, PGA Tim Lollar, PGA James J. Schanzenbaker Patrick D Walker Stacy A. Kleve, PGA Bob J. Stallman, PGA Kenny Thayer III, PGA Jeff L. Meeker, PGA Melissa M Ward Michael W. Kramer, PGA Mark R. Pfingston, PGA Jack Sommers, PGA Ted Apostolos, PGA Caleb S Blass Donald Allen, PGA

3/24 3/25 3/25 3/26 3/27 3/29 3/30 3/31

Mark E. Bazley, PGA Todd A Nickoley Shawn Wilcox, PGA Stephen P. Bauerle, PGA Kendall T. Carson, PGA Justin A. Cirbo, PGA Adam M. Finch, PGA Tom Nosewicz, PGA Charlie Cobb, PGA Gary W. Hoffman, PGA Christopher J Hyten Patrick M. Reidy, PGA David Troyer, PGA Chris Wilkins, PGA Kenny Anderson, PGA Timothy J Ausec, PGA Ann Finke, PGA Ben R. Tremayne Shane T. Bertsch, PGA James D. Hayden, PGA Justin W. Limon, PGA Cyrus C. Twete, PGA Gabriel T. Beronja, PGA Dick Dorn, PGA Kirby E. Lee, PGA

Complete the 2014 Compensation Survey Today, Receive 2 MSR Credits Complete the compensation survey and receive two MSR points for doing so. The data is vitally important and hopefully you will take the time to complete it. You can access it on PGALinks.com on the employment page. Thank you very much for participating. The information gathered from the survey will assist you and your fellow professionals, improve compensation and benefits in all classifications. All information provided is confidential and used for statistical averages. To access the Compensation Survey, visit PGALinks.com today!

PGA Creative Resource Center Available for You

Take your marketing to the next level with the PGA Creative Resource Center. This user friendly tool lanuched in mid-2013 allows members and apprentices the ability to create their own professionally designed materials for print, web and email, at not cost. Some items included in the center include: custom email newsletters, posters and flyers, web banners, program specific products, and the ability to create your own, custom cart signs. The center also houses all TV and Radio PSAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and existing logos. The PGA Creative Resource Center is available via pgalinks.com.

Member Update and Chip Shots

Chip Shots

2014 Colorado PGA Directories The 2014 Colorado PGA Directories are at the printer as we speak. For those of you attending the Colorado PGA Spring Meeting or the Colorado PGA West Chapter Spring Meeting, you will be able to pick one up then. If you are not attending either Meeting, please contact Diane Plassmeyer (dplassmeyer@ pgahq.com) at the Colorado PGA Section Office and she will send one to you.

Louisville approves $5M fix for flood-ravaged Coal Creek Golf Course The city of Louisville recently announced that the City Council has approved $5.15 million dollars to make emergency repairs to Coal Creek Golf Course. The contract with Landscapes Unlimited, LLC calls for improvements to all 18 holes- including greens, tee boxes, fairways, roughs, bunkers, cart paths, the driving range and putting greens. Additionally, funds will be allocated to upgrade the drainage on holes 3, 8, 10, 11, 12, and 15 as well as the property line of the facility. The plan moving forward according to the city would be to re-seed the course in the summer of 2014 with a tentative re-opening of spring 2015.

Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Newsletter

West Chapter

Tournament Schedule Coming Together

The 2014 Colorado PGA West Chapter Tournament Schedule is coming along. Below you will be able to access the schedule and will see a few highlights of the 2014 season: •The Links at Cobble Creek and the Bridges Golf and Country Club will come together to host back to back Pro Ams on July 28 and 29 respectively. •The Club at Crested Butte will again host a Pro Am for the first time in a few years. Be sure to put Sunday, August 24, 2014 down on your schedule to visit Mike Swan, PGA and The Club at Crested Butte. •The West Chapter Championship and Fall Meeting will retunr to Aspen Glen Golf Club on Monday and Tuesday, September 22-23, 2014.

West Chapter Award Winners Announced

Each spring the West Chapter Board of Directors gets together and honors those West Chapter Members that exemplify what is means to be a PGA Professional. In all thirteen West Chapter Awards will be awarded at the upcoming West Chapter Spring Meeting, Thursday, May 1, 2014 at Bookcliff Country Club Golf Professional of the Year Mike Mendelson PGA Lincoln Park Golf Course

Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Ian Bruce, PGA The Club at Cordillera

Horton Smith Award Ben Welsh, PGA Eagle Vail Golf Club

Warren Smith Award Jim Cook, PGA Meeker Golf Course

Bill Strausbaugh Award Don Buchholz, PGA Aspen Junior Golf Foundation

President’s Award Darren Szot The Club at Cordillera

Junior Golf Leader Alden Richards, PGA River Valley Ranch Golf Club

Senior Player of the Year Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA Ironbridge Golf Club

Merchandiser of the Year | Private Greg Bryan, PGA Roaring Fork Club

Apprentice of the Year Andrew Buchholz Haymaker Golf Course

Merchandiser of the Year | Resort Dave Lopez, PGA Bearvercreek Golf Club

Player of the Year Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA Ironbridge Golf Club

Merchandiser of the Year | Public Brandon England, PGA The Bridges

A monthly recap of the Colorado PGA Twitter World

“Whaaaat? @suzywhaley and @MalaskaGolf under the same roof? Thank you for making me a better Pro @ ColoradoPGA” RealCourtneyRudolph

“@HunterDouglas health fair. Go where the consumers are & drive them to your facility. Today, they're in a warehouse.” pic.twitter.com/ OnXUT1TYHs - Colorado PGA @ColoradoPGA

@CourtneyGolfs

“Time for a refresher on the Rules! At the USGA-PGA Rules Seminar with @DanaLehner @ColoJrGolf @ColoGolf @eaglediegel @NickGeyer” - Colorado PGA @ColoradoPGA

“Special thanks to @suzywhaley @MalaskaGolf for an awesome day! Thank you to @ColoradoPGA for bringing them in. Great stuff.” - The Senator @JODaCOKid3

West Chapter and @The Buzz

@The Buzz

“Teaching and Coaching Summit today courtesy of @ suzywhaley, @MikeMalaska and the @ColoradoPGA all working together to make you better! Fossil Trace @FossilTrace

Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Newsletter

Apprentice Relations Spring Membership Meeting

The Section Spring Membership Meeting marks the traditional start to the golf season in Colorado. Like all avid golfers, PGA Professionals and Apprentices are chomping at the bit to get back in the swing of things by the time late March rolls around. That eagerness to engage, and the importance of the fraternal aspects of our Association, make our Spring and Fall Meetings the most highly attended events on our calendar. At the March 24th Spring Meeting, to be held at Pinehurst Country Club, the Apprentice Relations Committee will be hosting an Apprentice Only breakfast networking opportunity from 7:00am-8:00am immediately prior to the start of the Membership meeting. All Apprentices are invited to attend the Spring Meeting and are especially encouraged to come early to spend time with your fellow Apprentices. Our former Employment Consultant, Jeff Bueadry, PGA, as well as members of the Apprentice Relations Committee will be in attendance at the breakfast to facilitate the discussion and answer any questions you may have about the Association, the Colorado PGA, or your career goals. The hallmark of our Association is the relationships we build amongst our brother and sister PGA Professionals. You would be hard pressed to find a PGA Professional who does not count other PGA Professionals amongst their close circle of friends and confidants. The relationships you build as you climb the ranks provide you not only a network of experts to call on for advice, encouragement, and counsel, but a lifelong bond with brothers and sisters who share the same passion as you. Together we make a stronger Section, so come join us, March 24th for this unique Apprentice Only networking opportunity. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Colorado PGA Foundation Growth of the Game Grants Available If you are interested in being considered for a 2014 Colorado PGA Foundation Growth of the Game Grant, please submit an application to the Colorado PGA Foundation by Friday, April 18, 2014. Please click here to access the Application. A PGA Member or Apprentice in good standing must submit the application on behalf of the facility in which the PGA Member or Apprentice is employed. Facilities are required to be registered on the Play Golf America website with the program in which funding is desired. Follow-up programs for program participants and Get Golf Ready Programs are strongly encouraged and must be listed on the Play Golf America website, as well. The Growth of the Game Grant Program will provide funding to assist with the costs of providing instruction and course/facility access. It is the mission of the Colorado PGA Foundation Growth of the Game Grant Program to provide financial assistance to facilities within the geographic boundaries of the Colorado Section PGA, that employ PGA Members or Apprentices in good standing, to develop and/ or significantly enhance Growth of the Game programs that will attract and retain new golfers. Please complete online application by Friday, April 18, 2014. For questions contact Colorado PGA, 303-681-0742, kgrant@pgahq.com or dplassmeyer@pgahq.com

Graduating high school seniors and college students who are the children or grandchildren of PGA members are invited to apply online at the home page (before you log in) of PGALinks.com to be considered for financial support for college through the PGA Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship Program. The scholarship program is an academic based scholarship program that takes into account the following depending on the class level of the student: High School Graduating Senior - High School Cumulative Grade Point Average â&#x20AC;&#x201C; must be at least 3.4 (60% of the scholarship weighting scale). This number is to be an unweighted GPA based on a 4.0 scale. - ACT and/or SAT test scores (30% of the scholarship weighting scale) - Extracurricular activities in high school such as sports, clubs, student government, community service, part time employment, etc. (10% of the scholarship weighting scale). Current College Student (has not reached their senior year in college) - College Cumulative Grade Point Average â&#x20AC;&#x201C; must be at least 3.4 (60% of the scholarship weighting scale) - Most recently completed college semester or quarter GPA (30% of the scholarship weighting scale) - Extracurricular activities in college such as sports, clubs, student government, community service, part time employment, etc. (10% of the scholarship weighting scale) 2 New Changes for 2014!!! 20% of funding will take in to account financial need, please see details in Financial Need Section of application AND beginning with 2014 graduating high school seniors (incoming Freshman in Fall of 2014) the total number of scholarships a student can receive will be limited to 2 total scholarships over the 4 years of undergraduate college attendance. The amount and number of scholarships is determined by the availability of funds, and may vary from year to year based on these factors and IRS guidelines. Scholarships are awarded at the discretion of the PGA Scholarship Committee. The scholarship is for accredited Universities or Colleges in the United States only. The application process is live online (www.PGALinks.com) between November 15, 2013 and March 17, 2014 and students are asked to wait until they are in possession of their most current grade report (first semester) or transcript before applying. The applicant must enter the students Social Security number and the PGA affiliated parent or grandparents PGA ID number to gain access to the application. After submitting the online application, the applicant must have postmarked by March 17,2014 to the below address a sealed official school grade transcript that shows their GPA information and ACT/SAT test scores (if a high school applicant) to: PGA Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship Program Attention: Linda Bennington at lbenning@pgahq.com Grant and Scholarship Specialist 100 Avenue of the Champions Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418

Appnretice Relations and Grants and Scholarships

PGA of America Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship Deadline March 17, 2014

PGA members can check out the Scholarship Search Tips for additional listed websites to help you with your scholarship search by visiting the homepage of PGALinks.com/Personal Benefits/PGA Scholarship Program.

Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Newsletter

Colorado PGA Financial Assistant Scholarships For those graduating high school seniors and college students who are the children or grandchildren of PGA members must apply for the PGA of America Financial Assistant Scholarship. Once a qualified student applies for a National Scholarship, their information will be given to the Colorado PGA Section Office to prepare for the Colorado PGA Foundation Board of Directors to review and allocate 2014 Scholarships. For those of you with questions, please contact Diane Plassmeyer at dplassmeyer@pgahq.com.

United States Golf Association and Chevron Announce New Scholarship Program Announce a new scholarship program for qualified high school seniors who are pursuing college careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines. The scholarships are available to students who plan to attend an accredited four-year college or university as a full-time student with a focus in STEM-related courses. Applicants must also possess a demonstrated interest in golf.

LPGA Announces Three Scholarships for 2014 The PGA of America is pleased to announce information on three scholarships offered through The LPGA Foundation: - The Marilynn Smith Scholarship -- ten in the amount of $5,000 each - The Dinah Shore Scholarship -- one in the amount of $5,000 - The Phyllis G. Meekins Scholarship -- one in the amount of $1,250 All three scholarships are for female high school seniors who play golf and are planning to attend a college or university in the fall. Please note that The Dinah Shore Scholarship is for an individual who will not be playing on a competitive collegiate golf team; whereas, The Marilynn Smith Scholarship is for an individual planning to play competitive golf in college. The Phyllis G. Meekins Scholarship is also for someone playing collegiate golf but additionally they need to be from a recognized minority background and demonstrate financial need. The deadline for all three scholarships is May 15, 2014. Information can also be found at www.lpgafoundation.org.

A few weeks ago you were asked to take a second to fill out a quick communications survey. In less than 10 days 210 Colorado PGA Member and Apprentices replied and in doing so provided insight on how to effectively communicate with you. Moving forward it is our goal to incorporate the results from this survey into our Communication Strategies to provide direct, consistent communication to all of our Members and Apprentices. This newsletter will be one of the key features in our plan moving forward. This newsletter will be published and delivered electronically to you on the first Wendesday of each month. It will serve as an all encompassing resource for a recap of events, an update on the schedule ahead, and any other information we feel will benefit you. Another important piece of this communication plan is the development of a weekly video message. This message will catch you up on timely material and will contain a direct message: no more than 120 seconds. It will be delivered every Wednesday morning throughout the season. Additionally, based on the information from the survey, we will be incorporating daily messaging into a number of social platforms; Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. This is just a small snapshot of our communication plan moving foward. If you have any thoughts or opinions moving forward please let us know as our number one goal is to better server you, our member.

Scholarships and Grants and Communication Plan

Colorado PGA Communication Plan

Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Newsletter

If you are looking for a faster, easier way to make shaft recommendations when fitting your clients, we have an answer. MyGolfShafts Tour is an Apple iPad app that allows you to create profiles for your students or clients and save multiple shaft recommendations for driver, woods, hybrid and iron shafts. You enter eight inputs and the program analyzes your golfer’s unique swing attributes to give a recommendation specific to his/her needs for better distance, control, or both. Launch monitor data can be input directly (FlightScope X2, TrackMan IIIe, Foresight GCC2) or manually entered. Once the inputs are received the app selects an ideal shaft weight, flex, trajectory, and spin characteristic for the user. You can even select one of four price ranges. The app then recommends the five best shafts in rank order by selecting from over 1,500 shafts from multiple manufacturers. If you are using a manufacturer’s fitting cart, the app allows you to select a particular manufacturer’s custom shaft option list (like Callaway, TaylorMade, Titleist) so that only those shaft options are shown. This makes the selection process simpler and more specific. The Tour version delivers additional detail about the shafts including shaft profiles and allows comparisons of multiple shafts. This allows the instructor or fitter to more accurately recommend after-market or custom shaft offerings to their clients.

Communications and Sponsors

Fast, Easy, Accurate Shaft Fitting Recommendations – MyGolfShafts

“With the emphasis in the last couple of years on club fitting and specialized aftermarket shafts, the goal is to assist instructors and clubfitters in determining what shafts may best fit their students games”, says Dan Sueltz, CEO and Founder of D’Lance Golf Performance Center and Executive Officer, MyGolfShafts.” MyGolfShafts apps utilize data from the BGF Fitting SystemTM and the D’Lance Golf Performance Center shaft testing process. Personal versions of the app designed for use by individual golfers include MyGolfShafts LITE and MyGolfShafts Pro. MyGolfShafts Tour offers multiple client profiles, more recommendations, shaft profiles, regular updates, detailed archives and integration with certain launch monitors. The LITE and Pro apps are available now at www.mygolfshafts.com. The MyGolfShafts Tour app will be available for iPad the end of March, 2014. For more information about MyGolfShafts Tour and all MyGolfShafts apps, visit www.mygolfshafts.com or call 303-3784591.

Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Newsletter 28

Imperial Headwear to Continue Sponsorship of Colorado PGA BOURBON, MO – March 5, 2014 – Imperial Headwear announced their 2014 sponsorship of the Colorado PGA Section. As part of the agreement, Imperial Headwear will be the title sponsor of the “Imperial Cup,” a season-long points accumulation competition open to the 800 members and apprentices within the Section. Points will be awarded to Colorado PGA Professionals for playing in Section tournaments, participating in Section initiatives and purchasing Imperial Headwear products. “Imperial is proud to continue a great tradition in working closely with the Colorado PGA,” said David Shaffer, Director of Marketing at Imperial Headwear. “Our Company has tremendous history and heritage with the state of Colorado and its PGA Section.” “Imperial Headwear is a strong supporter of the Colorado PGA Section,” said Eddie Ainsworth, Executive Director & CEO of the Colorado PGA. “We are happy to have Imperial back on board again this year as an important sponsor of our organization.” About Imperial Headwear Founded in 1916, Imperial Headwear is the leading manufacturer and marketer of premium quality headwear for the golf market. Imperial is committed to style, functionality and perfection in fit and comfort. It is this commitment that has allowed the creation of a wide variety of headwear with quality that is second to none. Renowned for its superior customer service and art customization capabilities, Imperial offers its products using the most innovative digital design, logo, and embroidery technologies. For further information please visit imperialsports.com or call (800) 950-1916. Contact David Shaffer Director of Marketing Imperial Headwear dshaffer@paifashion.com

Colorado Golf and Turf Tom Bauerle

Colorado Chevy Dealers

PGA Tour