Volume XXVI, Issue I
The Middle Atlantic Professional
Newsletter Date: November 2013
The e-newsletter of the Middle Atlantic PGA Inside this issue:
Rebirth of The Middle Atlantic Professional Changing of the Guard Section Direction from Executive Director Jon Guhl 2014 Award Winners & Hall of Fame Inductee Career Notes by PGA Employment Consultant Dick Bradow, PGA Player Development Discussion: Watch Your Language! New Chapter Leadership Chapter Challenge recap
Important Dates: December 24— 24—January 1 Section Office Closed January 20 Youth & Family Golf Summit Orlando, FL January 21 PGA Show Demo Day & Instructional Workshops Winter Garden, FL January 2222-24 2014 PGA Merchandise Show Orlando, FL
Rebirth of The Middle Atlantic Professional magazine, or book published online. We’re downloading said goodbye to its printed apps on our smartphones and newsletter The Middle tablets to have news right at Atlantic Professional. Fast our fingertips (literally). forward nine years and we find ourselves searching the We’re not quite to the age of internet for our favorite the Jetsons, but we are in a time when convenience is critical, time is sacred, and information is king. And thanks to computer programs like Adobe and websites like Issuu.com, the MAPGA is able to bring our coveted newsletter back to life in electronic form.
In June of 2004, the MAPGA
Consultant, Chapter Leaders and our PGA Player Development Regional Manager. Each issue will also feature MAPGA Sponsors. The new goal of the MAPGA Professional is to deliver information that is different from the weekly News & Notes email message. Articles in The MAPGA Professional are geared toward keeping you connected with the Section, with your peers and with the golf industry.
The e-newsletter will be published bi-monthly and will ENJOY! include messages from the MAPGA President, Executive Director, Employment
President’s Perspective: Changing of the Guard many fronts as I leave the Presidency and I want to thank the members of the MAPGA Board of Directors for their service and dedication in making sure that our Section continues to thrive. We are financially strong and getting better. Our tournament program is healthy and continues to improve, the by Honorary President John MAPGA Jr. Tour continues to Malinowski, PGA g r ow , an d o u r P lay e r programs are I am happy to report that the Development solid. MAPGA is in great shape on Under the leadership of John
Madden, the Section will continue to thrive and improve. He is a great ambassador for golf in the Mid-Atlantic region and a great representative for the MAPGA. He will always have time to hear your thoughts and concerns about our section and the golf industry as a whole. I wish him the best of luck these next two years and offer him my full support in his endeavors. Cont. on page 2...
Page 2
The Middle Atlantic Professional
President’s Perspective: Cont.
MAPGA Board of Directors OFFICERS President John Madden, PGA River Bend Golf & CC Vice President Matthew Schulze, PGA Richmond CC Secretary J.P. Lunn, PGA Holly Hills CC Honorary President John Malinowski, PGA Ocean Pines Golf & CC DIRECTORS Jim Bennett, PGA Mark Beran, PGA Brice Busse, PGA Butch Butler, PGA Peter Gardner, PGA Lynne Hunter, PGA John Lyberger, PGA Jeff Maynor, PGA Sean Taylor, PGA Mike Thomas, PGA Josh Tremblay, PGA Andy Weissinger, PGA
I do ask that you continue to support the sponsors of the Section as their support enables all of our programs, tournaments, and events to be successful. I also ask that you help to find sponsors for our programs and events. It gets harder each year for our Sponsorship Committee to secure funding for our by MAPGA President John events. We can all benefit Madden, PGA from having more of our professionals searching for It is an honor to have been elected as your 45th president sponsors. of the Middle Atlantic PGA. My It has been a very rewarding experience to be able to goal over the next two years is to make sure the Section represent you in many continues to provide you with avenues over the past six all the resources and tools years. I thank you for all of that will make you successful your support, conversations, at your facility. and phone calls about issues or concerns each year. I One resource everyone should look forward to continuing to take advantage of is the support the MAPGA and its services of our own Player professionals in any way I D e v e l o p m e n t R e g i o n a l can in the future. Please feel Manager Mike Aldrich, PGA. free to contact me at Ocean Now is the time to make your Pines at (410) 641-6057 if I Player Development Plans for 2014. An effective, well can help you with anything. designed instructional program can be the fuel for the activities and drive revenue for your entire facility. If you need help, Mike Aldrich, PGA can be reached at (703) 7 2 8 - 9 0 3 3 o r
maldrich@pgahq.com I ask each one of you to get involved in our Section or Chapter programs and/or governance. This is as easy as joining a committee, playing in tournaments, attending an educational seminar, or volunteering to mentor an apprentice. You will be amazed what returns you will get from this involvement. Speaking of involvement… this week, your officers and executive director will be attending the 97th PGA Annual meeting in San Diego, California. We will be taking care of normal national business plus voting on two resolutions (visit PGAlinks.com to review these two resolutions). Please don’t hesitate to contact me about these resolutions or any other comments or concerns you might have regarding the Section. My contact information is jmrbgcc@aol.com or (703) 759-2640 I look forward to working for you with the board and staff over the next two years.
Download the 2013 PGA Annual Meeting App
Volume XXVI, Issue I
Page 3
Section Direction by Executive Director Jon Guhl: W elcome
to the first electronic edition of our Middle Atlantic Professional! In this space, I hope to keep you informed about the plans of the MAPGA—highlighting notable achievements and letting you know what’s next.
SHOUT OUTS
- Congratulations to the newly elected officers of the Section and Chapters! I look forward to working with you on behalf of your constituent members to grow the game and to make the Section and Chapters more efficient and better for George Bernard Shaw said, its members. “The single biggest problem with communication is the - Congratulations to our 2013 illusion that it has taken Players of the Year! Faber place.” This newsletter is Jamerson (Falling River CC) another step in trying to won the Regular Men’s communicate m o r e Division, Rick Schuller effectively with our members (Swaders Sports Park) won the and the golf industry. We Senior Men’s Division, Ashley know you all receive and Grier (Columbia CC) took the process communications Ladies crown, and Brice Busse differently. Some of you read (Woodmont CC) took APA our weekly News & Notes honors. Well done, and start emails religiously. Some practicing now to defend in prefer our text club, or our 2014! Facebook page, even our WHAT’S NEXT? Twitter feed. Regardless, our -The MAPGA Board will be goal is to provide enough meeting on December 9-10 for communication vehicles that its annual Board Planning at least one will work for your Session. This is the time when schedule and lifestyle. the Board takes a critical look Maybe this bi-monthly back at 2013, then focuses newsletter will be your forward on 2014 and beyond method of choice. on how it can improve in all
- Are you going to the PGA Merchandise Show? The official dates are January 2224. While you can certainly get updated on the latest lines in equipment and apparel, I urge you to take advantage of the world class educational opportunities that are offered during that time. Nothing shows that you continually want to improve yourself more than continuing education. -Town Hall Meetings. I am currently working on the 2014 schedule. In February, I will travel to all parts of the Section to facilitate discussions on any topics you desire, encourage pro-to-pro interaction, and perhaps share some Section news as well. I hope to see many of you at one of these sessions! May your off-season prove not only restful, but fruitful in planning and programming for the upcoming season. Very respectfully, Jon Guhl
areas.
“...our goal is to provide enough communication vehicles that at least one will work for your schedule and lifestyle.” -Jon Guhl MAPGA Staff (540) 720-7420 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jon Guhl, ext. 125 DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Stacey Smith, ext. 121 TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR Jeremy Greiner, PGA, ext. 124 JUNIOR GOLF DIRECTOR Bob Heintz, ext. 128 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR Kelly Lawson, ext. 126
Register today for the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show (PGA Show Demo Day NOW Tuesday Jan. 21, Orange County National Golf Center and PGA Show Days NOW Wednesday – Friday, Jan. 22-24, Orange County Convention Center).
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Stephanie Jennings, PGA, ext. 116
Page 4
The Middle Atlantic Professional
2014 Middle Atlantic PGA Award Winners & Hall of Fame Inductee
The MAPGA Board of Directors and Awards Committee are proud to announce the 2014 Middle Atlantic PGA Hall of Fame inductee and award winners. All the nominees are recognized by their peers as being exceptional role models. Each recipient will be honored on March 3, 2014 at the Section Spring Meeting and on March 8th at The Jefferson Hotel in All award winners and the Richmond, Va. for the annual awards banquet. Congratulations to the following honorees:
Hall of Fame Class of 2014 2014 Hall of Fame Class of 2014 will be honored at the MAPGA Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet
Jefferson Lakeside club
When: March 8, 2014 Where: The Jefferson Hotel Richmond, Virginia
Tom Barry, PGA
Richmond, Virginia 2014 Award Recipients Springfield Golf & Country Club Springfield, Virginia
PGA Professional of the Year
Josh Tremblay, PGA
MAPGA President’s Award
To be announced at Spring Membership meeting
Teacher of the Year
Bernie Najar, PGA
Caves Valley Golf Club Owings Mills, Maryland
Horton Smith Award (Education)
J.P. Lunn, PGA
Holly Hills Country Club Ijamsville, Maryland
Bill Strausbaugh Award (Club Relations & Community Service)
Jim Fitzgerald, PGA
Chevy Chase Club Chevy Chase, Maryland
Junior Golf Leader
Linda Gaudi, PGA
Country Club of Fairfax Fairfax, Virginia
Player Development
Steve Greiner, PGA
Fort Belvoir Golf Club Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Merchandiser of the Year Resort
Nick Spinnato, PGA
Turf Valley Ellicott City, Maryland
Merchandiser of the Year Public
David Finocchiaro, PGA
Augustine Golf Club Stafford, Virginia
Merchandiser of the Year Private
Marc Kimminau, PGA
Talbot Country Club Easton, Maryland
Assistant PGA Professional of the Year
Trish Gates, PGA
River Bend Golf & Country Club Great Falls, Virginia
David Wortman Citizens of the Year
HITT Contracting & Title Sponsors of the Lindsay Automotive Group MAPGA Junior Tour
Earle Hellen Sports Media Award Michael Williams
Radio Host—“The 19th Hole” 106.7 The Fan
Salesperson of the Year
Peebles Golf Cars (Club Car)
Michael Pastirik, PGA
Volume XXVI, Issue I
Page 5
Eyes on Employment: Career Notes by PGA Employment Consultant Dick Bradow, PGA
I
am pleased to announce that Don Sweeting, PGA has been selected as the new Employment Consultant for the Middle Atlantic and Carolinas Sections. Don has been a PGA Member since 1988 and has served in numerous leadership roles in the industry, most recently as PGA General Manager/ Executive VP for Pinehurst Resort & Country Club. I will continue as the Eastern Regional Director, and encourage you to reach out to Don for you career and employment needs, including utilizing the variety of employment services and tools available to PGA Professionals. Thoughts for Fall With the arrival of fall, many PGA Professionals will be faced with contract negotiations, performance evaluations, and possible thoughts about a job change. With this in mind, ask yourself the following questions about your current job and career situation: •Do I know how my employer measures my performance? •How did I improve my facility’s operational or
financial performance in the college classes, past year? education, etc.
online
•Is my current job meeting my If you have some issues with expectations? your current job arrangement, work with your •Is my career where I would employer and try to find like it to be? solutions to resolve your •Do I need to improve my major concerns. If you feel skills for my current job or for there is no resolution future opportunities? possible, then it may be time •If my dream job suddenly to begin formulating a plan came along, would I be ready to search for another to go after it? position where you can If you don’t already have a achieve your career goals. regular evaluation process in Here are some things you place, ask your employer to can do to get started: give you an annual or semi- •Develop a “wish list” about annual performance review. your ideal next job – position With regularly scheduled type, job priorities, facility reviews, you can find out if you type and amenities, location, are meeting your employer’s compensation, ownership or expectations, learn what areas management structure, etc. and skills you need to Having a clear picture of improve, and address job and what your next job will look performance issues before it’s like can help narrow your too late. You can find focus when multiple jobs performance r e v i e w become available. information and evaluation •Review the resources forms on the PGA Employment available to you on the Center on PGALinks.com. PGALinks Employment If there are areas where you Center. Two of the most need to improve your skills or valuable tools are the Job knowledge, develop a self- Hunter’s Tool Kit and the improvement plan. This can PGA Career Fitness Manual, include the PGA Certified comprehensive guides to a Professional Program 2.0, variety of career and education programs at the employment topics. 2014 PGA Merchandise Show, Continue to page 7... PGA Section seminars, local
Dick Bradow is an Employment Consultant for the PGA of America and a PGA Certified Professional. He can be contacted at (502) 458-2002 or by e-mail: dbradow@pgahq.com.
“With regularly scheduled reviews, you can find out if you are meeting your employer’s expectations, learn what areas and skills you need to improve, and address job and performance issues before it’s too late.” - Dick Bradow, PGA
Page 6
The Middle Atlantic Professional
Player Development Discussion: Watch Your Language! By Mike Aldrich, PGA
I magine
the following scenario: Your friend invites you to join him in a new sport. Your friend works at a place where the game is played. Not only that, but your friend organizes playing opportunities, is looked at as a leader, and is one of the best players in the state. Then he describes his game to you: it is really hard, expensive, and it takes a Mike Aldrich, PGA is the Play- long time. Would you feel er Development Regional enticed to join him? Probably Manager for D.C., MD, & VA. not, yet, many of us repeat these three obstacles to He can be contacted at entry in golf as if they were (703) 728-9033 or by the only characteristics of our e-mail: game. Let’s take a closer maldrich@pgahq.com. look at golf and compare it to other recreational activities to see if we can’t find a better way to describe our game. 1) Golf is hard. Compare the recreational play of golf with another popular activity, fishing, which has 42 million annual participants in the U.S. You have several decisions to make BEFORE approaching the water. Where are you going to fish? Fresh water, salt, or brackish? Cold water or warm? Will you hit a stream, a river, a pond, a lake, a bay or deep water? What type of tackle will you use? Fly fishing bait or artificial lures. What species will you pursue? The options are
endless and confusing and will also vary greatly depending on the weather, season and water levels. Even the most seasoned and knowledgeable fishermen get “skunked” and go fishless for entire days on the water. However, you can get your start by borrowing a rod and reel combo and a digging up a couple of earthworms and heading to a local pond to catch whatever will bite. Please allow your golfers to enjoy golf on their terms. There are beginners who keep score by the number of “riders” that they hit (a shot that is long enough to warrant getting in the golf car) or by counting smiles, holes where they hit a shot (or two) that made them smile. A person can enjoy a lifetime of fishing for bluegills without ever feeling like they missed out by not landing a blue marlin.
have private clubs with initiations in excess of $100,000 and monthly dues of $1,000. We know that the two places will be different, but the game is the same and the fun factor can be just as high at a 2,700-yard ninehole muni as at a 7,400-yard private club that hosts majors. 3) Golf takes too long. Isn’t that really the point of recreation? Whether you are heading to the movies, hitting the coral reef for scuba diving or heading to an amusement park, you usually want the experience to go on for as long as it can. Most fun activities take a long time, and we often wish they took longer. Golf actually has an advantage over many other forms of recreation because golfers can customize the amount of time that they experience the game. A quick trip to the practice green can be enjoyed during a 15 minute lunch break, a bucket of balls can be hit in 30 minutes, a twilight round of six holes can be played in about an hour with your kids. I recently traveled to a nice private club with seven amateurs for two days of golf, food and camaraderie. My only regret was that the experience ended after only 48 hours and 45 holes of golf.
2) Golf is expensive. Sure, it CAN be. Just like you can eat at fancy steakhouse and spend $59 on a six-ounce a la carte, filet mignon. However, you can also visit the local buffet and have unlimited steaks with all the fixings, drinks and dessert for $12. Most areas have a mix of golf experiences and prices to match. In our area, a local course offers 18 holes of golf with a cart for $22 on weekend mornings, which is far from an expensive way to spend four hours with your Cont. to page 7... friends and family. We also
Volume XXVI, Issue I
Page 7
2013 Player Development Town Hall Meetings Come to the complimentary Town Hall Meeting prepared to share your best ideas on junior golf, retaining and engaging golfers, and group instruction with your fellow MAPGA professionals. You are encouraged to bring any materials that will help you explain your best practices. 4 MSR Credits for attendees. Date
Location
Host Professional
11/22/13
Charlottesville – Spring Creek GC
Kevin Haney, PGA—(540) 832-0744
12/09/13
Northern VA – River Creek CC
Damon Aswad, PGA—(703) 779-8486
12/10/13
Eastern MD – Renditions GC
Billy Fritz, PGA—(410) 798-9798
12/11/13
Metro DC – Bethesda CC
Ted Pogorelc, PGA—(301) 365-1703
12/12/13
VA Beach— Beach—Princess Anne CC
Paul Michaelian, PGA—(757)422-3360
12/18/13
Richmond – The Foundry Club
Ralph Reahard, PGA—(804) 598-9898
12/19/13
Baltimore – Baltimore CC
Tim Bolton, PGA—(410) 561-3381
Player Development Discussion cont.: Let’s go back to the beginning of this article and change the way that your friend described his game. He says that it can be played at many different levels, and that on Day One you will start having fun. You can find inexpensive options for learning and playing, and it can take as little or as much time as you want it to. Sound better? Similar to the fisherman who takes a
cheap rod, reel and a bucket of worms to the pond, you can choose your own path to enjoyment – keep catching the bluegills at the pond or set hunt for the blue marlin in a high stakes tournament. You may love golf because it can be challenging and can be played on the most prestigious of courses, but friends and family who are looking for some simple, relaxing fun might shy away from the
challenges; costs and time they perceive are required to participate. By communicating the more welcoming aspects of golf – it’s a great way to build friendships, spend time with family and can be engaged in a variety of formats – you can help break down those perceived barriers and welcome them to our great game.
Eyes on Employment cont.: •Update your resume so it showcases your experience, skills, and accomplishments in the most favorable manner. To help you get started, there are resume and cover letter tips and samples on the PGA Employment Center.
being notified about opportunities where your profile matches an employer’s search criteria, it’s important that your profile accurately reflects your future job preferences, that your skills and experience are up to date, and that your work history is •Review and update your complete. CareerLinks profile, also on •Work on building your the PGA Employment Center. network of contacts that can To maximize your potential of help when the right job
becomes available. They may be able to assist you in learning about nonadvertised jobs, researching a job opportunity, and helping get your foot in the door with a potential employer by using their own network, writing letters of recommendation, making calls on your behalf, etc.
“...the game is the same and the fun factor can be just as high at a 2,700-yard nine-hole muni as at a 7,400-yard private club that hosts majors.” - Mike Aldrich, PGA
Page 8
The Middle Atlantic Professional
Chapter Elections
2013 marks an election year for both the MAPGA Section and Chapter Board of Directors.
In September, Chapters held their annual fall meetings to decide who will move into new board positions. Congratulations to the following MAPGA Professionals for being selected by their peers to fulfill leadership positions for the next two years: CENTRAL CHAPTER PRESIDENT
Josh Tremblay, PGA
Springfield Golf & Country Club
VICE PRESIDENT
Mike Thomas, PGA
Woodmont Country Club
SECRETARY
Lynne Hunter, PGA
Kenwood Country Club
A-8 DIRECTOR
Blake Thomas, PGA
Dominion Valley Country Club
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Phil Bowers, PGA
GolfTEC Tysons Corner
REGIONAL DIRECTOR (Central)
Jay Dufty, PGA
TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm
REGIONAL DIRECTOR (Western)
Jonathan Schoenfeld, PGA
Stonewall Golf Club
REGIONAL DIRECTOR (Eastern)
Tim Krebs, PGA
East Potomac Golf Course
PRESIDENT
Mark Beran, PGA
Woodholme Country Club
VICE PRESIDENT
Jeff Maynor, PGA
University of Maryland Golf Course
SECRETARY
Jim Bennett, PGA
Green Spring Valley Hunt Club
A-8 DIRECTOR
Brian Dix, PGA
Sparrows Point Country Club
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Mark Russo, PGA
Night Hawk Golf Center
REGIONAL DIRECTOR (Western)
Larry Ringer, PGA
Musket Ridge Golf Club
REGIONAL DIRECTOR (Eastern)
John Mlynarski, PGA
Harbourtowne Resort & Country Club
REGIONAL DIRECTOR (Central)
Erick Brock, PGA
Sparrows Point Country Club
PRESIDENT
Sean Taylor, PGA
Up to Par Management
VICE PRESIDENT
Andy Weissinger, PGA
The Pines at Fort Eustis
SECRETARY
Peter Gardner, PGA
Ashley Plantation
A-8 DIRECTOR
Mike Ferguson, PGA
Kinloch Golf Club
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Dan Capozzi, PGA
Williamsburg Country Club
REGIONAL DIRECTOR (Eastern)
Jeremy Franks, PGA
James River Country Club
REGIONAL DIRECTOR (Central)
Mike Gooden, PGA
Lakeview Golf Club
REGIONAL DIRECTOR (Western)
Gary Haught, PGA
Blue Hills Golf Course
NORTHERN CHAPTER
SOUTHERN CHAPTER
Volume XXVI, Issue I
Page 9
Central Chapter Wins Chapter Challenge
Congratulations to the Central Chapter who successfully defended their title at the 20th MAPGA Chapter Challenge supported by TaylorMade-adidas/Ashworth. After round one, the Central Chapter trailed the Northern Chapter by two and the Southern Chapter by one. This small, two-stroke deficit was only fuel for the fire as they came out in round two dominating the individual competion and winning the title by 20 strokes over the Northern Chapter. At 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2013, the outside temperature felt like 37 degrees in Gordonsville, Va., home to Spring Creek Golf Club, the 2013 host club of the MAPGA Chapter Challenge. Forty-eight players were bundled up beyond recognition and ready to play out their final round. It was one of the coldest days for golf this year, yet the Central Chapter battled through the elements and came out victorious. Steve Danielson, PGA Head Professional at Belle Haven Country Club was named MVP of the tournament and received the Tom Strange Cup (right). Complete scores for rounds one and two are below. View photos on the MAPGA's Facebook page Click here for complete results. Team members (as pictured above; L-R): standing - Lynne Hunter, Scott Shapin, Andrew Hardin, Mike Thomas, Bob Dolan, Captain Josh Tremblay, Matt Hess, Steve Danielson (Tom Strange Award - MVP), Phil Bowers, Wayne DeFrancesco, John O'Leary, Scott Purpura, and Brendan McGrath; kneeling - Jim Estes, Steve WenPetren, and Jonathan Schoenfeld.
MISSION: The mission of the Middle Atlantic PGA is to promote growth in the game of golf, to provide ongoing education and professional development for our members, and to actively improve employment opportunities for PGA Professionals across the region.
VISION:
1 PGA Dr. Stafford, VA 22554 Phone: (540) 720-7420 Fax: (540) 720-7076 E-mail: midatl@pgahq.com
The Middle Atlantic PGA‌ a member-driven association providing leadership across the golf industry.
PGA Professionals: Experts in the Game and Business of Golf
Connect with the MAPGA Facebook
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
YouTube