Summer is a time when the Met PGA professionals invest the most hours and make the greatest impact in their communities. Here’s a glimpse of how the MET section has been making a difference:
Birdie Bash Success: if there’s one event that highlights what Met PGA professionals do it’s the Birdie Bash! 73 Met PGA Professionals enjoyed a day of camaraderie to produce over 1,700 birdies to help raise awareness and raise funds for our Foundation and the Play Yellow initiative.
Met PGA Junior Tour: Thank you to all the clubs that avail themselves to the Met PGA Junior Tour. With a membership of over 1,300 juniors, we couldn’t support this program without your much needed help. Special thanks to Dave Stevenson and his team at Lake Isle for their ongoing dedication to the Pro-Junior tournament, and to Tim Garvin at South Fork CC for facilitating greater participation by providing a Long Island venue.
PGA Hope Classes: Once again, this spring and early summer, we had four successful PGA Hope classes with a memorable graduation event at Bally’s Ferry Point. This late summer and fall, we’re excited to offer another slate of PGA Hope classes at Mosholu, Spook Rock, Woodside Club, and Rolling Hills in Connecticut.
Tournament Triumphs: Our members’ exceptional performances in tournaments reinforce the Met PGA’s reputation for excellence. Congratulations to Chris Trout of Golf Club of Purchase for triumphing in the Met Pro Championship amidst the challenges of storm Debby. Kudos also to Peter Ballo for his remarkable achievement in winning both the New York State Open and the Met Open!
Thank you to all of our members and also to our staff at the Met PGA for your hard work and dedication this summer. Your efforts are what make the Met PGA Professional an important leader in the golfing community.
Sincerely,
Stuart Waack
PGA MEMBER HUB
Deferred Compensation
For many years the PGA of America has searched for a way to develop some kind of retirement plan for members. As we all know, there are tax rules that prevent the Association from directly giving money to members. But the basic principle is that we can reasonably compensate a member for performing services that advance our exempt purpose; specifically for growing the game of golf. Therefore we created a plan whereby members that participate in programs that meet specified performance objectives can earn a contribution towards a deferred compensation fund.
The aim is that over the years these investments will grow and provide a supplemental income for the member upon reaching the age of 65. Because of the power of compounding over time, clearly younger members will benefit most from the program, but everyone can participate.
In addition to all our programs and other benefits this is now a very real and accessible vehicle to accumulate wealth towards a more comfortable retirement. We further hope that this can serve as a truly significant lure and recruiting tool to attract new talent to our great and growing industry.
Benefits include:
• Tax-deferred growth
• Ability to choose your investment allocation from a wide variety of funds
• Supplement your future retirement income
• Contributions come directly from the PGA
• PGA Coach is the ultimate coaching resource, designed to bring the education, tools, and resources you need to revolutionize your coaching business. With a better work-life balance that allows you to focus on coaching, PGA Coach has the tools to help you grow and manage your business, and the expert training designed to help you better engage, inspire and retain golfers.
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• Let’s maximize each athlete’s potential; create well-rounded athletes and develop principles that create life-long golfers and athletes for generations. Your journey starts with PGA Coach.
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• As a PGA Coach you can use the power of a profile and marketing on PGA.com to show the world who you are and why your students love to connect with you.
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special TICKET pre-sale for met section members!
Met PGA Members, look for an additional email from the Met PGA at 9:00 AM ET on September 23, 2024, when Met Section PGA Members will have an advance ticket sales opportunity before the offer goes nationwide on September 25, 2024.
KEEPING UP WITH THE PROS
Individuals in the Section making an impact on local and national levels.
Jason Caron Finishes Top 4 at KitchenAid Senior Championship
Jeff Williams Newsday
“Jason Caron, the club professional at the Mill River Club in Oyster Bay, got plenty of airtime on the national broadcast of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship last Sunday...” READ
Jim McCann Featured in “Tina Makes Golf Her Thing” Video Series
Latin Biz Today
Latin Biz Today
Latin Biz Today (Latin Business Today, LLC) and the PGA of America have collaborated on “Tina Makes Golf Her Thing,” a twist on #MakeGolfYourThing...” READ
Kyra Cox Featured in CBS Special
CBS aired a special highlighting PGA REACH Met PGA staff member, Kyra Cox! Click Here to Watch PGA of America
Bensel Makes Back-to-Back Holes In One!
CBS News
Frank Bensel Jr. made history Friday morning when he turned up a pair of aces — on back-to-back holes...” READ CBS
Peter Ballo Wins Met Open Championship
It took a three-hole aggregate playoff to decide the winner of the 109th Met Open Championship...” READ MGA Golf MGA Golf
Upcoming Tournaments
Summer and Fall Tournament Schedule
SEPTEMBER
NATIONAL CAR RENTAL MET
ASSISTANTS CHAMPIONSHIP
SEPTEMBER 4 - 5
Bethpage Red
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
SEPTEMBER 10 - 11
Cold Spring CC
“THE AUGIE” MET PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
PRO AM
SEPTEMBER 16
Noyac GC
MET PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
SEPTEMBER 17 - 19
Noyac GC
ASSISTANTS TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
SEPTEMBER 23
The Connecticut GC
“THE MITCH”
SEPTEMBER 24
Innis Arden GC
OCTOBER
MET PGA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
OCTOBER 7 - 8
Monster GC
SILVERCREST CUP
OCTOBER 9
Tamarack GC
HOFFHINE MEMORIAL
OCTOBER 15
Westchester CC
PRO LADY CHAMPIONSHIP
OCTOBER 16
Round Hill Club
WHITEY VOIGHT PRO AM
OCTOBER 17
Sunningdale CC
ATLANTIC CITY PRO AM
OCTOBER 21 - 22
Gallaway National & Blue Heron Pines
SQUIRE CUP
OCTOBER 24
Fishers Island Club
ASSISTANTS TOUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
OCTOBER 28
Quaker Ridge GC
FALL MEETING
OCTOBER 29
North Hills CC
NOVEMBER
CASA DE CAMPO PRO AM
NOVEMBER 16 - 18
Casa de Campo’s The Links, Teeth of the Dog, & Dye Fore
LONG ISLAND & WESTCHESTER
PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS
The start of tournament season saw new, but familiar faces, finishing at the top of the leaderboard. Early in our schedule are two established major match play events: The Long Island and Westchester PGA Championships. The four-day match play events were held respectively at Colonial Springs Golf Club on Long Island, and Patriot Hills Golf Club in Westchester. Both events consisted of highly decorated fields including multi-time Met PGA Players of the Year, and past PGA Championship and US Open competitors. In the end, it was a duo of Assistant Professionals who would find success and finish atop the brackets.
Connor Costello, Assistant Professional at Garden City Golf Club, has had a few close calls in Met PGA majors. Costello finished runner-up at last year’s Silvercrest Cup at Meadow Brook Club, along with a top five finish at the 2023 Met PGA Championship at Nassau Country Club. Costello would finally get his name on a trophy and find success at Colonial Springs. Costello would best Colin McConchie of Hempstead Golf Club to meet his home club’s Head Professional, Bob Rittberger. It took 19 holes for Costello to get the job done, moving on to face Mike Meehan of Old Westbury Golf and Country Club. It would take 20 holes to complete the match, where he would perhaps face his toughest challenge yet against the defending Champion, Paul Dickinson of Atlantic Golf Club. Costello would grind his way to the final match, beating Dickinson 1-up to face 2020 PGA Club Pro Player of the Year, Jason Caron of Mill River Club, on the final day of competition. A clutch par save on the 18th hole would find Costello winning his first major Met Section victory of his career.
In Westchester, it was Craig Hocknull of Westchester Country Club who would best the field at Patriot Hills. Hocknull’s consistent and dominant play throughout the week would find him hoisting the Kirk & Matz Match Play Bracket plaque. Hocknull would beat the likes of Winged Foot Assistant Professional, Brett Gerbec, Burning Tree Head Professional, Todd Wingerter, Mount Kisco Head Professional, Kevin Ausserlechner, and Metropolis Country Club Head Professional, Craig Thomas, to meet dominant Met Section competitor, Peter Ballo of The Connecticut Golf Club in the semifinals. Hocknull would beat one Ballo brother, just to face older brother and Tamarack Head Professional, Michael Ballo Jr. in the final match. In the end, Hocknull’s incredible back nine play would propel him to beat the defending Champion in Ballo Jr., and claim his first Met Section trophy.
Thank you to match play tournament sponsor, Kirk & Matz, for their support of the event and our professionals!
POLO HEAD PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
& WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2024 POLO Head Professional Championship and Met PGA Women’s Championship sponsored by POLO Ralph Lauren and XXIO were held at Garden City Country Club in Garden City, NY. Head Golf Professional, John Kuntz, and his staff, along with Superintendent, Russ MacPhail, and General Manager, Az-dine Boucetta, welcomed two very competitive and decorated fields for two days of stroke play competition.
In his first year as a Head Professional, Mike Ballo Jr. of Tamarack Country Club earned a gritty win at the 2024 POLO Met PGA Head Professional Championship. The start of final round play saw a see saw battle between Ballo, and two-time Head Professional Champion, Danny Balin of Fresh Meadow Country Club. After a double on the 11th hole, Ballo managed five birdies in a row to gain a 2-shot lead on Balin that would inevitably lead to him taking home the William A. Mitchell trophy. After returning from KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship play in Michigan where he would earn low club pro honors with a T-4 finish, Jason Caron would continue his success earning the top spot in the senior division at 1-under par.
Southampton Golf Club Assistant Professional, Cindy LaCrosse, had her foot on the gas pedal in final round play at the Met PGA Women’s Championship. With a final round 68 highlighted by four birdies, LaCrosse would hoist the Championship hardware for the first time in her career. Barbara Shipley of Bonnie Briar Country Club would finish atop the senior division leaderboard with a two-day total of 154.
Thank you to POLO Ralph Lauren for their long tenured title sponsorship of these two great events. As we part ways and look ahead to the 2025 tournament season, we appreciate all the support they have shown our Section Professionals over the years.
SENIOR-JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
OVERALL CHAMPIONS
Bill Van Orman & Shea Wolfle
The Meadow Brook Club
OVERALL CHAMPIONS
John DiPilato & Andrew Lipman
The Connecticut GC
CHAMPIONSHIP
WESTCHESTER OVERALL CHAMPIONS
Team Winged Foot
Assistant Professional, Brett Gerbec
LONG ISLAND OVERALL CHAMPIONS
Team Meadow Brook
Head Professional, Matt Dobyns
Team Piping Rock
Assistant Professional, Nick Defalco
LENOX ADVISORS/NFP NEW YORK STATE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
The test of New York State’s finest professional and amateur golfers returned in exciting fashion. The 47th annual New York State Open Championship was once again hosted at Bethpage State Park’s famed Black Course, host of the 2019 PGA Championship and future host of the 2025 Ryder Cup. This year’s New York State Open is once again sponsored by Lenox Advisors and National Financial Partners, two of the country’s leading wealth advisory firms.
The final round saw a see-saw battle between two highly decorated players in the MET Area, Josh Goldenberg of Atlantic Golf Club and Peter Ballo of The Connecticut Golf Club. Both players would get off to hot starts with birdies on Holes 2 & 4, but Goldenberg’s bogey on Hole 3 meant the two were tied at the turn.
Ballo quickly opened a four-shot lead after playing Holes 10 & 11 in one-under par with Goldenberg struggling with a bogey and double bogey on the same holes. However, fortunes flipped for Goldenberg as birdies on Holes 12, 13 & 16 helped him catch and pass Ballo on the leaderboard at 10-under par after Ballo’s bogeys on Holes 12 & 14 dropped him to 9-under par. A bogey on Hole 17 for Goldenberg to Ballo’s par saw the pair level once again, setting the stage for an eventful final hole.
After their drives found the fairway, Ballo struck first, nearly holing his approach shot which settled a foot from the cup. Knowing what was at stake, Goldenberg hit his approach to 12 feet. Needing to make the putt to force extra holes, Goldenberg’s effort just slid past the hole and he settled for par. With one hand on the trophy, Ballo tapped in his birdie putt and claimed the 47th annual New York State Open Championship. This is Ballo’s first win in the event after a number of close calls. He joins his brother, Mike Ballo Jr., winner in 2019, as a proud champion of this great event.
Senior Match Play Championship
Frank Bensel Earns Back-to-Back Senior Match Play Championships
The 2024 Met PGA Senior Match Play Championship presented by Kirk & Matz culminated in a thrilling final match at Aspetuck Valley Country Club between two highly decorated senior PGA Professionals, both equally familiar to knowing what it takes to put their name on a trophy: Frank Bensel of Century Country Club and Greg Bisconti of The Saint Andrew’s Golf Club.
Bensel, the defending champion at Spook Rock GC, would look to seek out his fourth tournament win but knew it would take all 18 holes against Bisconti to see it come to fruition. Bisconti, who recently competed on golf’s biggest stage at the 2024 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in Michigan, has numerous Met Area wins, but would be looking for his first Senior Match Play victory.
After an errant tee shot on the par 4 1st hole by Bensel, Bisconti would capitalize with a par and go one up, but the advantage didn’t last long. Bensel would find his swing and exploit a Bisconti bogey on hole two to bring the match back to even where it would remain until a bogey on the par 4 7th hole by Bensel would find Bisconti back on top again. Bisconti, unable to keep his advantage, would bogey the par 3 8th hole, but would find his way ahead again after a bogey from his opponent on the 10th. Bensel managed a much-needed birdie on hole 11 to tie the match but would be bested on the 15th hole by Bisconti who would birdie and find himself one up with three holes to play. Unwavering, Bensel would capitalize on Bisconti’s bogey on 16 and would follow with a clutch birdie on 17 to take his first lead of the match. A par on 18 would seal the deal for Frank Bensel, entering the clubhouse with another Senior Match Play Championship win under his belt.
MADE FOR GOLF
WOMEN’S MET OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Claire Lu Earns First Major Met Victory
The highly anticipated Women’s Met Open Championship was welcomed to Innis Arden Golf Club in Old Greenwich, CT. The event featuring the best Professional and Amateur female golfers in the section, would be interrupted by weather as the tournament would inevitably move to a one-day 36-hole Championship. The Women’s Met Open showcases top talent from around the Met Area as they compete for a $20,000 prize purse and the opportunity to be named Champion.
The field included a slew of past champions, led by four-time champion and decorated PGA and LPGA competitor, Becky McDaid of Friars Head, as well as three-time overall Champion and coveted senior division champion, Jean Bartholomew of Engineers Country Club. Although both highly experienced players would find shining moments on the course, it was the Lu sisters, amateur golfers out of Plainfield Country Club, who would find themselves at the top of the leaderboard after round one at 5-over par. Although older sister, Grace, would outperform her sister at the turn, it was younger sister, Claire, whose birdies on the par 4 14th hole, and par 3 18th hole, would propel her to best her sister and claim her first ever Women’s Met Open victory.
Alicia Dibos of Winged Foot Golf Club’s consistent play in both rounds would leave her comfortably at the top of the senior division leaderboard, followed by three-time Senior Women’s Player of the Year, CJ Reeves of Century Country Club.
ASSISTANTS CORNER
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
The Met PGA Assistants are in the midst of a busy summer season. We have had more Assistants Tour events and venues this summer than in previous years. These offerings have built comradery across the section.
Many Assistants competed, played, and raised a record breaking amount in fundraising efforts for Play Yellow and local Children’s Hospitals in the 3rd Annual Met PGA Birdie Bash at two sites including Bethpage Yellow and Silvermine GC which took place on August 12th.
Carly Newman Assistants President
OFFICERS
Carly Newman, PGA President
Chris Gabriele, PGA Secretary
Brian Williams, PGA Treasurer
Rob Baynard, PGA 1st Vice President
Chris Paulino, PGA 2nd Vice President
We have a fantastic fall tournament lineup ahead, the most anticipated being the Squire Cup. This year’s Squire Cup will be held at Fishers Island Club as we look to retain the trophy once again! The event will be held on October 24th. This is a phenomenal day to be surrounded by some of the best professionals in our section based on leadership, playing ability, and involvement/professional performance throughout the season. We will be honoring exceptional Head Professionals and Assistants at the same time as promoting the values, history, and traditions that make our section unique.
The Assistant’s Board including myself, Chris Gabriele, Brian Williams, Rob Baynard, and Chris Paulino, have all been working hard, meeting regularly on Zoom to discuss scheduling, new ideas, and networking with other sections to become the best representation of the Metropolitan Section Assistants we can bestow.
Your Assistant’s President, Carly Newman
NATIONAL CAR RENTAL METROPOLITAN ASSISTANTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Wolfle Victorious at Bethpage
Two days of consistent dominance for Shea Wolfle leads to victory at Bethpage State Park’s Red Course. The Meadow Brook Assistant Professional held nothing back at the 2024 National Car Rental Met Assistant PGA Championship. Wolfle’s front nine of final round play was nothing short of special. 5 consecutive birdies had him 5-under for the day at the turn. A birdie on 10 would be his last with three consecutive pars to follow before his first bogey of the day on the par 4 14th hole. Wolfle would finish with a bogey on 18, carding a final 10-under 130 to win the biggest Assistants of event of the year by three strokes over his opponents.
With the win, Wolfle earns himself a spot into the 2024 National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida in November, along with the following Assistants (in order of qualification) Chris Gabriele of Quaker Ridge GC, Casey Pyne of The Stanwich Club, Erik Easton of The Bridge, Paul Dickinson of Atlantic GC, Matt McAdow of Wheatley Hills GC, Preston Shortell of Rye GC, Andre Chi of Deepdale GC, Dylan Newman of Meadow Brook Club, Ben Franjione of Fresh Meadow CC, and Mitch Gray of The Saint Andrew’s GC. Peter Ballo of The Connecticut GC has already earned an exemption after his top 4 finish in the National Assistants event last year.
THE SAINT ANDREW’S GC
WINNER: CRAIG HOCKNULL
Westchester CC
REDDING CC
WINNER: CASEY PYNE
The Stanwich Club
METROPOLIS CC
WINNER: ERIC HARTSTEIN CC of Darien
WESTCHESTER HILLS GC
WINNER: CASEY PYNE
The Stanwich Club
FOUNDATION
Youth Pillar
Championship Season Excitement
Our 2024 Junior Tour Championship week was a rousing success. Thanks to some of the most exclusive and highly respected clubs not only in the Met Section but far beyond that, our juniors were able to experience golf courses that many of them would never have the opportunity to play and compete at otherwise.
Our Tour Championship took place at three different venues. Unfortunately, both events were shortened due to weather but that did not stop these kids from having the time of their lives. The Boys Tour Championship took place at Nassau CC in Glen Cove, NY (Round One) and Meadow Brook Club (Round 2). Starting the day 3 strokes back in the second round, Joseph Dolezal was motivated and passionate about defending his title and put up a blistering -4 68 to earn his way into a playoff against first round leader and reigning Metropolitan Junior PGA Champion Liam Moloney. The atmosphere for the playoff was electric as the 9th hole of Meadow Brook lends itself to be a natural draw located close to the clubhouse and having an amphitheater like setup. Dolezal parred the first playoff hole to defend his title in dramatic style. A perfect ending to an illustrious junior career before beginning his Division I golf journey at Saint John’s University this fall.
The Girls Tour Championship took place at Innis Arden GC to allow the best girls on our Junior Tour to also compete in the Women’s Met Open. Jade Zhao was victorious, being the only one in the Tour Championship field to break 80 with a 79 in extremely challenging conditions.
From the Tour Championship we were on to the Match Play Championship at the magnificent Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, NY which has hosted the event nearly every year since 2011. Winning his first major championship on the Junior Tour was number 14 seed Nicholas Prosa 3&2 over the number 5 seed Evan Fulgieri who both played remarkably all week. On the girl’s side, number 2 seed Yasmina Oralkhan continued her dominant season winning 6&5 in the finals over number 8 seed Blake Zarkowsky.
Joseph Dolezal Tour Championship Winner
Jade Zhao Tour Championship Winner
Nicholas Prosa Match Play Championship Winner
The season did not end here for all four of these powerhouses as they went on to represent their respective teams in the Junior Tour’s more prestigious Invitational, the Tommy Kuhn Cup, the following week.
This year’s Tommy Kuhn Cup took place at the incomparable Deepdale GC in Manhasset, NY. While on paper, based on the Player of the Year standings, Team Long Island seemed to be on their way to a 5th straight victory, Team Westchester had other plans. Motivated to take back the cup they had not touched since 2018 the Westchester Team fought hard dominating in the four
ball matches which helped to land them a 16 to 13 victory for the 11th time in the 19-year history of the event. Westchester team captain, Art Armento was over the moon happy and is extremely motivated to hold on to the cup again next year.
Now that Championship Week is over, we could not be more thrilled to springboard into fall golf with some extremely competitive events coming up at Bethpage, Eisenhower and Beekman GC. We can’t wait to see what unfolds at these upcoming events!
Yasmina Oralkhan Match Play Championship Winner
Eisenhower Blue played host to the 2024 National Car Rental Jr League All-Star Championship and PGA Jr. League Met Section Championship. The All Star Championship allows 13U and 17U teams to vie for a spot in the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Regional Championships, with hopes of moving on to Nationals! Nearly 200 All-Star teams of junior golfers will compete at 12 facilities nationwide during the first three weekends in September.
Congratulations to Bethpage 17U team who not only moved on to the Regional, but will be representing the Met Section in the National Finals in November!
17U
Drive, Chip & Putt Qualifiers Complete
13U
Our six local qualifiers and Sub-Regional Qualifier have been conducted for the 2024 Drive, Chip and Putt season. Congratulations to all paticipants moving on to the Regional Championship at The Ridgewood Country Club on September 21st. See below for results from the events.
PGA HOPE Family Grows
Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point opened their doors to 104 graduates of the Met PGA HOPE program for a day of celebration, camaraderie, and memories. Graduation Day was sponsored in large part by Northwell Health, the official healthcare partner of the Metropolitan PGA and Foundation. With our shared commitment to serving those who served us, Northwell Health, New York State’s largest health care provider, will sponsor all Metropolitan PGA HOPE programming, and in addition, will support the section’s Military Golf League.
Met Section Professionals from all four programs (Mosholu Golf Course, Spook Rock Golf Course, Sunken Meadow Golf Course, and our newest program, Long Island National Golf Course) joined us for the day to continue coaching and teaching our new graduates on the course, helping them break in their brand-new set of Callaway Golf clubs!
Kickpoint Golf provided our graduates with the ultimate patriotic polo, and additionally, presented a $5,000 check in support of the Met PGA Foundation. Our PGA HOPE family continues to grow, and it could not be made possible without the support of our PGA Professionals who take the time out of their busy schedules to teach our veterans the game, our PGA HOPE alumni who show up and support on all levels, and our sponsors who help us in our mission of growing the game to those who are underserved.
GET TO KNOW OUR PGA WORKS FELLOW
ZOE ROGERS PGA WORKS Fellow
Q. What got you interested in the PGA Works Fellowship Program?
I was interested in the PGA Works fellowship because of the opportunity to gain experience in the golf industry and learning about all the different programs the PGA offers. They have been very proactive offering programs to underrepresented backgrounds and promoting golf to communities that don’t normally have access to the game. I was nervous about not coming from a golf background but have quickly realized it is much more than that. I am so honored the PGA allowed me the opportunity in the golf industry and I want to be able to give people that same opportunity to experience such a wonderful sport.
Q. What have you enjoyed the most so far about the program and being involved in the Met PGA?
I have enjoyed all the wonderful people I have met so far. I look forward to going into the office and seeing everyone, everybody has been so welcoming and have become my friends. At all the different courses in the Met Section the staff there is always so helpful and going above and beyond to make sure we have everything we need. For the fellowship aspect, it is nice to know there are 38 other people going through the same thing as you so you can connect with them, talk about your experiences and ask for advice. We also have scheduled developmental calls with people in the golf industry or another sports industry that tell us about their story, give us advice, and allow us to ask any questions we might have. I have already learned so much and have gotten the opportunity to work with Junior golf, PGA HOPE, section tournaments, and much more. Looking forward to what comes in the rest of my fellowship!
Q. What are some things you would like to learn during your time here?
I would like to learn about all the different aspects of golf. Not only the administrative side, but also the operations and on course details. Golf is a unique sport that can be confusing to understand at first. I have only watched golf on the television and played a few times before my fellowship. So, I knew the basics but not the details of rules needed to successfully run a tournament. I have already learned so much about the planning, preparation, and day of aspects of tournaments at different levels and looking forward to continuing to grow my knowledge on all aspects of the game.
Q. Who would be your dream foursome?
Bryson DeChambeau, Kyra Cox, and Brooks Koepka. With Brooks’ social media presence and Kyra’s personality we would have a great vlog to highlight our day on the course. Maybe we would be the group to finally break 50 for Bryson.
Q. What is your favorite hobby?
My favorite hobby is skiing. Although it can only be done in winter, I try to make the most of it and go as often as I can. Last year while living in VT and working at a ski resort I was able to ski 100 days!
2024 Fundraising Initiatives
Poker Showdown Success
The Jeff McNeil and Hank Azaria Poker Showdown at CitiField, held on May 9, 2024, was a starstudded charity event that brought together celebrities, sports figures, and poker enthusiasts for a night of fun and fundraising. Hosted by New York Mets All-Star second baseman and Met PGA Foundation Ambassador, Jeff McNeil, and Emmy Award-winning actor Hank Azaria, the event aimed to raise significant funds for two deserving causes: the Metropolitan PGA Foundation and The Soul Focused Group.
The evening featured a blend of competitive poker, cocktails, dinner, and entertainment, creating an unforgettable experience for attendees. The showdown was held at CitiField, adding an exciting sports venue backdrop to the event. Participants included a mix of McNeil’s teammates, other athletes, and entertainment industry personalities, all competing at the poker tables to support the charitable causes. The funds raised will go a long way in supporting the missions of both organizations, making a meaningful impact in their respective communities.
This inaugural Poker Showdown marked the beginning of what many hope will become an annual tradition, blending sports, entertainment, and philanthropy in the heart of New York City. The event not only highlighted the importance of giving back but also showcased the power of collaboration between sports and entertainment to make a difference.
3rd Annual Met PGA Birdie Bash
The 3rd Annual Met PGA Birdie Bash was held at not one, but two locations this year, leaving a lasting impact on the golfing community and the lives of countless children. This extraordinary one-day fundraising event brought together 37 teams of top Metropolitan Section PGA Professionals who competed in a marathon of golf to support the Metropolitan Section PGA Foundation and Play Yellow for Children’s Hospitals.
With the goal of maximizing birdies, professionals teed off at Silvermine Golf Club in Norwalk, CT and Bethpage Yellow in Farmingdale NY to play 72 holes. Each birdie translated into vital funds for the chosen Play Yellow Children’s Hospital beneficiaries: Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Westchester and Cohen Children’s Medical Center on Long Island.
The event was a resounding success, surpassing previous years in both participation and fundraising. Our Professionals tallied 1,729 birdies and raised over $270,000.
Beyond the competitive spirit, the Birdie Bash fostered camaraderie among the professionals and showcased the power of golf as a force for good.
The Metropolitan Section PGA Foundation extends its heartfelt gratitude to the participating professionals, sponsors, and donors whose generosity made this event possible. Their commitment to making a difference in the lives of children is truly inspiring.
2024 PARTNERS & SPONSORS
The Metropolitan PGA Sponsorship program offers companies a variety of levels to gain exposure to those who play, teach, and sell the game in the Metropolitan Section. Our sponsorships provide us with the ability to conduct the strongest tournaments and programs in the country for PGA Professionals. Our Sponsors are our true allies in making our game and our association better and we strongly emphasize the value of thinking ‘Sponsor First’ when making business decisions.
