From The President

With virtually no off-season this year, Spring has sprung and the season is upon us. Ready or not here it is. This year we will be faced with many of the same challenges that we see year after year. I hope you had the opportunity to attend some of the great education and networking that was offered in the past few months. No matter if it was a virtual seminar, online education, the MAPGA Super Meeting, or an in-person offering I am sure the chance to apply what you learned with come sooner rather than later.

Andy Weissinger, PGA Section President

Don’t forget about taking care of each other in the business of your season. We have friends and colleagues facing many of the same challenges. So when you have one of those days join me in taking that as a reminder to reach out to another PGA Member to see how they are doing. A small gesture of a phone call to touch base, share an experience, or ask a question can show you care and really can make a difference in someone’s day. Sometimes all we need is to know we are not alone. Don’t let isolation get you down. This business is hard, but you are trained, you are educated, you are experienced and you are networked. Use all of that to make the most of a tough situation. You have, you can and you will in 2023.

Together we are stronger. You can make a difference.

The Professional Volume VIII, Issue I

Editor: Ben Smith

Contributing Writers:

Ben Smith

Mastro Communications

Jon Guhl

Please continue to do all you can to make yourself better. Better at your craft, better at your job, better with your family, better with your self-talk…it will all make you a stronger person…and that is a good thing. Keep up the hard work and please let us know if you need help with anything. Each and every one of our board members serve with you. If you have an idea for a good success story or just want to provide some feedback please reach out to a member of the board.

Thank you for all you do for the great game and business of golf!

Serving

Proudly,

Andy Weissinger, PGA President, Middle Atlantic PGA

Dear MAPGA Professionals,

Happy New Year! Although it is almost the end of March, the timing of this first newsletter and the start of our Chapter Meetings always feels like the true start of the year for me. Of course, with the mild weather, you all have been operating at close to full capacity for a while now! I hope you were able to attend the MAPGA Super Meeting in February. Again, it is our attempt to reduce your travel time by putting a bunch of events together (HOF/Awards, Section meeting, Teaching Summit, and this year a Vendor Showcase). Regardless of whether you attended or not, we would like to get your input on the meeting (or why you didn’t attend). Please CLICK HERE for the survey.

One big change this year is in our Foundation space, with PGA HOPE. The Veteran’s Administration put out an article about the wonderful things PGA HOPE can do for our veterans, and there was an immediate onslaught of interest through phone calls and emails. EVERY ONE of our 20 HOPE chapters Spring sessions is 100% full. We are trying to create more HOPE sessions, as we have almost 200 veterans on a waitlist. Thus, we need more trained instructors! Please get trained to be a PGA HOPE instructor! You don’t need to commit to every session of the chapter, we just need the help. Not only will you feel great about doing it, but you will get compensated as well.