PGA REACH Colorado Board Chairman’s Message
2023 PGA REACH Colorado Accomplishments
As fall fast approaches and golf season slows down for many of us, it provides a great opportunity for us to reflect on some of the remarkable accomplishments achieved this year across our PGA REACH Colorado Foundation!
Our new Player Pathway proves to be a resounding success! Providing over 90 tournaments to more than 1,100 junior golfers this season almost doubled the growth in both tournaments and junior golf members compared to 2022. This establishes a great foundation as we continue to prioritize the growth opportunities in our junior golf space. Our Colorado PGA REACH pillars go from strength to strength: PGA H.O.P.E, PGA Junior League, and Golf in Schools all continue to experience tremendous growth this year. Our Pillar Grants and Financial Aid Grants afforded our PGA Professionals numerous ways to positively impact our local communities and provided affordable, easy access to anyone interested.
Foundation. A special thank you to Spencer Zinn, our PGA Colorado REACH Trustee Chairman, to all our Trustees, and those PGA Professionals, Associates, and Students who have invested time and energy leading and delivering our PGA REACH Colorado programs in 2023! Steven and I will be heading out to a workshop at our new Home, PGA Frisco, this offseason in support of our Association’s national effort of continuous improvement in how we advocate and deliver best practices within our Section REACH Foundations. Lastly as always, to our PGA Members, Associates, Students, Trustees, and Partners - thank you for everything you do on a daily basis in support of your fellow PGA.
Congratulations once again to the outstanding recipients of our 2023 Colorado PGA Special Awards, who help drive our REACH Programs. These PGA Professionals and industry leaders, nominated by their peers for exemplifying the very best in their The success of our REACH Foundation continues to inspire further respective categories, have clearly demonstrated what right support. Please join me in welcoming our new Trustees - Tai looks like and will be celebrated for their accomplishments at Palacio, Mike Connelly, Carl Lansing, Peter Maiurro, and Mike the beautiful and newly renovated Cherry Hills clubhouse on Wamsganz. Their willingness to become Trustees in support of our Friday, October 27th. REACH pillars will certainly add to the influence and impact we so greatly appreciate from this incredible group of dedicated Professionals and our golfing communities! Your hard work and volunteers. dedication continue to drive awareness and We continue to receive incredible support from all our Sponsors and Partnerships and are very excited to have welcomed several new ones in 2023 including Corona Premier, Red Rooster Gloves, Mizuno, and Jr. Golf Hub. We raised a record-setting $116,000 for REACH Programming at our REACH Invitational this year and were able to donate our tenth set of keys to a mortgage-free home to Retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Zachary Ruttman. Thank you to all who participated and helped make this year such a tremendous success, especially our PGA Professionals who stepped up and offered auction items. Our Colorado PGA REACH Foundation continues to be a driving force behind promoting the great work our PGA Professionals are doing to grow the game and positively impact the lives of our local communities – thank you all for investing time and prioritizing the importance of our
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advocacy for our industry as we, “Serve the Member and Grow the Game!” Very Respectfully,
Michael J O'Donnell, PGA PGA REACH Colorado Board Chairman Cheyenne Shadows Golf Club at Fort Carson
The SUMMIT
