Turn! Turn! Turn

The Byrds 1965

To PGA Professionals, the word “turn” means a great deal of things. If asking Leighton Smith, PGA, Colorado PGA Teacher of the Year, you will certainly get one response. Inquire with Warren Smith Award winner Rick Cole, PGA, from a golf course operations point of view and you receive several others.

In the 1965 classic song you hear that “there is a season … to gather” and this October, we can once again do just that as we come together for the CPGA Fall Meeting on October 11 at Heritage Eagle Bend. This will be the first time we, as the Colorado PGA Membership, have been able to gather together for such an occasion since October of 2019 – yes, that was two interminably long years ago.

Not only has the world dramatically changed but so too has the golf world including our own Colorado PGA Section. Since our last in-person fall meeting: Patrick Salva has become the Executive Director in Southern Ohio A good portion of our amazing section staff have changed positions yet continue doing exemplary work Private clubs once again have waiting lists Public courses once again have sold out tee sheets There is more demand for instruction and club fitting than there is time, space, or professionals to conduct them What once was 5-7 business days turn around for custom clubs is all too often 10 weeks or more Orders for any or all product may, or may not arrive Our 50-year partnership with the Colorado Golf Association has come to an end If someone were to have shared this information two years ago, predicted what is now the present, we would have considered them crazy at best and slowly backed away from them. Yet here we are and through the amazing effort of our PGA Professionals, Members, Associates and Staff – we have come through with flying colors. What you and our fellow professionals have done is nothing short of extraordinary and worth celebrating! That is exactly what we will do in October at HEB – once again, together.

As the summer season turns to fall with winter fast on its heels, I look forward to seeing you, hearing your unprecedented stories and celebrating your experiences these last two years. “There is a season, and a time to every purpose… ” What we have learned the last two years should serve us well into the future – I look forward to the journey.

Be safe, be well, be kind - in the spirit of the game,

Jim Hajek, PGA

President

Colorado PGA Head Professional Fossil Trace Golf Club jhajek@cityofgolden.net P (303) 277-8752 C (303) 746-7416