JIM SALINETTI, PGA JIM SALINETTI, PGA

Winchester CC

The New England PGA Section is excited to announce the 2023 Section Award Winners and the 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees

The 2023 Awards are headlined by Jim Salinetti, PGA (Winchester Country Club) who was named the NEPGA Golf Professional of the Year He was also named the 2023 Massachusetts Chapter Golf professional of the Year earlier this month

Salinetti is the Head Golf Professional at Winchester Country Club, a position that he has held since the 2011 season Jim comes from a playing background where he took his work ethic and love of tournament golf and applied it to become a standout Golf Professional His knowledge of the game, it’s rules and traditions, are noticeable as he conducts his daily activities In addition to overseeing the overall operation at Winchester, Jim is also a talented merchandiser and teacher

“Being named the NEPGA Professional of the Year is the greatest honor of my professional career I consider most Section awards as team victories And I am so lucky to be a part of a tremendous Winchester CC golf staff Together we create an incredible golf experience and I am sure this is the main reason why WE are being recognized with this great honor,” said Salinetti

“I wouldn’t be half the PGA Professional I am today without the invaluable guidance from so many. It all started with the late Tom Sullivan. He taught me how to be a PGA Professional. Now, I do my best to interact with people the way he did. Always with a smile and ending every conversation with a ‘thank you’. So many other NEPGA Professionals have helped me along the way; Steve Napoli, Barry Westall, Chris Carpenter, and Brendan Walsh, just to name a few. And of course, I am so grateful to all those wonderful individuals who have been a part of our WCC team throughout the past 12 years,” he continued.

“I feel that in our business, if you treat others the same way you would like to be treated, you will be successful. Respect your staff. Be appreciative of their hard work. Listen to your membership, customers and students. And maybe most importantly, do whatever you can to help others accomplish their goals. Whether that is helping a student break 90 for the first time or mentoring an assistant to advance his or her career.”

Salinetti has served the Section on several occasions, first on the Membership and Communications committees from 2011-2013. He then served as the Chair of the Junior Golf committee from 2013-2017 and played a large role in the creation of the New England PGA’s Junior Tour Scholarship. He has hosted and led PGA Junior League educational events, NEPGA Junior Tour Banquets, college golf seminars, and Section Junior Golf Summits showing his dedication to growing the game.

Jim has also garnered award recognition at the Chapter and Section level in 2014, 2016, and 2020. He was the recipient of the 2014 Massachusetts Chapter Junior Golf Leader, 2015 New England Section Youth Player Development Award, 2016 Massachusetts Chapter Golf Professional of the Year, and the 2020 New England Section Bill Strausbaugh Award.

Salinetti is one of 12 individuals to earn recognition of their service and dedication to their profession as the NEPGA announced its full slate of 2023 award winners. The 2023 NEPGA award winners will be recognized at the annual Awards Dinner on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, Mass.

35 New England PGA teams came out of winter hibernation ready to take on the best that Pinehurst had to offer for four rounds of golf from Sunday, March 26 through Wednesday, March 29. The 2023 Pro-Am featured the Donald Ross Masterpiece, and centerpiece of Pinehurst Resort, No. 2 course. The tournament also featured course No. 4, a Gil Hanse's innovative design which offered dramatic vistas and a stunning test to golf. Home to the Cathedral Hole, No. 5 is home to one of the most beautiful holes and was on the list of sites for the weekend. Lastly, No. 8 offered a private club experience which combines a classic Donald Ross concept with the whimsical snarls that have become Fazio's calling card. No. 8 was designed to celebrate Pinehurst's centennial.

LeBaron Hills Country Club Winners:

With lodging at the famous Carolina Hotel and the premier line-up of courses, including an additional round at The Cradle short course, our Professionals and Amateurs were provided the full experience and it did not disappoint.

Congratulations to Ae Cahill, PGA and his team from LeBaron Country Club who took home first place. They took home the title by a 3-stroke margin to Shawn Warren, PGA and his team from Falmouth Country Club.

Led by PGA Professional Ae Cahill, Don Ward, Abizer Rangwala, and Rohan Fernandes fired a 32-under par across four rounds to win by three shots Thank

David Wilson, PGA Career Consultant

With the Masters behind us another golf season in the Northeast is officially underway. As you look around your operations as trees and allergies begin to bloom, friendly faces show themselves once more. The season is upon us with all the signs of a new beginning and the opportunity to implement new skills and ideas learned over the winter months.

Just like at the beginning of the New Year this is a time of optimism and hope for the season ahead. This past January I, like many of you, set out some New Year’s Resolutions determined to have a different outcome this time rather than the crash and burn of years past. I was introduced to a book by James Clear titled, Atomic Habits

I had seen the cover countless times before but was afraid of picking up this book. Could this really work, and even scarier for me, if it does can I hold myself accountable to continue on this path that I say I want to accomplish.

The book was amazing, the more than 10 million copies sold were apparently another endorsement I had failed to observe. The book introduced me to slow consistent progressions instead of jumping in at full speed, as I would tend to do in the past. While reading this book and seeing the ways in which I was impacted I thought how can I share this message with others.

For those of you who I have seen at Spring Meetings this year you have heard me talk about investing 1% in yourselves each day. Over the course of a day 1% equates to roughly 15 minutes. Find something that inspires you to want to get better and continue to commit 15 minutes to yourself, just 1% of your day. Over the course of a year that 1% better each day will make you 37 times better! Just like the new PGA Deferred Compensation Program, the power of compounding is real!

The Valley of Disappointment is something to be aware of as you start this journey. Compounding interest is not something that is linear and consistency is important to reach your true potential. Many people lose motivation on their journey when they do not feel as though the results are worth the time. Consistency and small wins will repay you many times over down the road.

Taking an additional 1% a day with a staff member to help them better understand the operation may not seem like much in April but come August that individual will be able to run the operation for a day in August so you can spend the time with your family and friends. Making small consistent investments in yourself and those around you will come back to repay you when you least expect it.

Best of luck with the season ahead and please remember to take 1% back for yourself and if you can give 1% each day as well.

Cape Cod Chapter

The Cape Cod Chapter is excited to kick off its 2023 tournament season on April 27th at Pocasset Golf Club. In what is annually one of the Chapter’s most popular event, the Pocasset Pro-Am has a sold out field of 25 teams as our Cape Cod PGA Professionals will start competing for the 2023 Dutch Wessner Player of the Year Award.

The Chapter held its Spring Meeting on April 13th at Holly Ridge Golf Club where the Chapter shared exciting updates regarding Senior Professionals. Starting in 2023, PGA Professionals aged 70 or over may play from the Rule of 70 tee markers in Chapter Pro-Ams and Pro-Pros. Additionally, there will be a new 18-hole Senior Division of the Chapter Championship available to anyone aged 50 or over Participants will have the option to compete in the Senior Division only from a forward tee, or they can compete in the Senior Division and Championship Division while playing from the back tees.

After a successful Spring Meeting, 13 Chapter members participated in an 18-hole skins game on what was a beautiful afternoon. Thank you to Jennifer and Joe O’Connor for hosting the Chapter.

Click HERE to see a complete 2023 Cape Cod Chapter Schedule.

Massachusetts Chapter

TPC Boston once again played host as the Massachusetts Chapter’s annual 6,6,6 Tournament kicked off the New England PGA’s 2023 season. 76 Professionals from across the Section teed it up in this fun, early season format. Rich Berberian, PGA & James Scales, PGA both representing Vesper CC, shot a round of 5-under 67 to win the event. The Chapter would like to thank TPC Boston and Don Baldassare, PGA for their continued support. Click HERE for the tournament recap.

The following week, the Chapter held its Spring Meeting at Marshfield Country Club along with a Pro-Pro tournament It was a great meeting as our Chapter members embraced the new interactive format revolving around round table discussions.

On the golf course, Brockton CC’s Rob Bradley, PGA and LeBaron Hills CC’s Tom Rooney, PGA fired a 7-under 63 to secure a 5-shot victory over the remainder of the field. The duo carded nine birdies on the day, an impressive feat for the early season round. Click HERE for the tournament recap.

Click HERE to see a complete 2023 Massachusetts Chapter Schedule.

Rhode Island Chapter

The Rhode Island Chapter is thrilled to have a trio of Spring tournament offerings! First up is the Chapter’s most popular event, the Sakonnet GC Pro-Pro, which will be held on May 23rd Callaway Golf and Derek Travers will once again be on-site supporting this great event.

Next on the schedule is a Section Championship preview as Agawam Hunt will host a Chapter ProAm on June 6th. We anticipate a sold-out field for this event so please make sure to register soon And lastly, the Acoaxet Club will host a Pro-Am on June 21st

The Chapter will also host a bracket style Match Play tournament once again. Registration is now live, make sure to sign up now to secure your spot in the field!

Vermont Chapter

The Vermont Chapter 2023 Spring Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 10th at Woodstock Country Club. The day will consist of a 9:00am meeting followed by a partner luncheon, and will conclude with a 1 BB of 4 tournament. Teams will be comprised evenly of Juniors, Seniors, and Chapter Partners. We look forward to a productive meeting and a fun day of golf and celebrating with our partners

The remainder of May will be a busy one for the Chapter. Vermont National CC will be hosting the Hadley Cup which is held annually in memory of longtime Vermont Chapter member Jeff Hadley. Spots are still available for interested PGA Professionals.

The Quechee Club will host the Chapter’ first Pro-Am on May 22nd and, in a new addition to the schedule, Haystack Golf Club will host a Pro-Am on May 30th From then on the Chapters Pro-Am series will be in full swing throughout the summer months.

The Chapter is proud to provide a robust tournament schedule, check it out HERE and plan out your 2023 season!