SCPGA PROgram Magazine - November Issue

VOLUME 42 | ISSUE 5 | NOVEMBER 2015

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPION IS

CHAD SORENSEN

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA

A L W A Y S

D R I V E N

STORIES

SUCCESS

IS A

“PRECEDENT i3’s CONNECTIVITY

MUST

TO ATTRACT AND KEEP GOLFERS.”

Jeff Diehl, PGA Head Golf Professional • The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort & Golf

Don’t ask Jeff

scoring and car tracking on a daily

distinguishes his course in the

Connected™

and cars from hazardous areas or

market. “This system makes us

promotions to specific groups on

It’s an important tool we use to

Diehl which

Technology feature in the Precedent i3 is his favorite. “We use them all,”

said the head professional at The

Dye Club. “We’re engaging action

zones, geo-fencing, tournament

basis.” Whether protecting golfers

sending special greetings and

the course, Diehl

has seen how

the technology

super-competitive Myrtle Beach look good.

keep golfers coming back.”

Learn more and see Jeff Diehl’s

video at clubcar.com.

CONTENTS

08 YOUR EDUCATION LEADS TO

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

ASSISTANT CHAMPIONSHIP 24 CORREA CONQUERS LA

SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT

PURISIMA

NEW MEMBERS

PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANT 26 SORENSEN BROTHERS CLAIM

09 WELCOME SOUTHERN

10Things TO K N OW. . .

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

1. DID YOU KNOW? SCPGA HAS AN APP AVAILABLE IN YOUR APP STORE? DOWLOAD TODAY FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON EVENTS AND TOURNAMENTS. IT EVEN HAS A COURSE DIRECTORY!

SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP 12 CHAD SORENSEN CLAIMS

DRIVE, CHIP & PUTT 29 DRIVE, CHIP & PUTT RESULTS

THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

2. NEED A MENTOR? CALL TOM ADDIS OR JEFF JOHNSON AT THE SECTION OFFICE.

PGA MEMBER REACH 30 ONCE IN A LIFETIME

2015 SPECIAL AWARDS 14 THE 2015 SPECIAL AWARD

3. PAST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION, JIM VERNON, IS THE RECIPIENT OF AN HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA.

CALIFORNIA PGA NEW MEMBERS

SENIOR SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP 27 PARUN CAPTURES SCPGA

SECTION REPORT 10 LOTSA THINGS...

HONOREES

EMPLOYMENT CONNECTION 16 FRESH EMPLOYMENT LOOK ON PGA.ORG

PGA MEMBER REACH 19 Q&A WITH BRIAN F. POWERS,

BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMINEES 20 REVIEW THE NOMINEES

OLIVAS LINKS

CLUB CAR

CHAPTER CORNER 36 SCPGA CHAPTER UPDATES &

PGA

SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT 31 GOLF SCORECARDS, TGA,

FOR THE 6TH CIRCUIT PUTS

CLEAN WATER RULE ON HOLD NATIONWIDE

THOUGHT

JUNIOR GOLF

EXPERIENCE AT SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES FOR SCPGA SECRETARY

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS 35 U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

TEACHER’S FORUM 17 SIMPLIFY GOLF WITH A SIMPLE

THE TITLE

UPCOMING EVENTS

LEADERSHIP COLUMN 37 IT’S A SMALL WORLD...

22 TOYOTA TOUR CUP VISITS

TOURNAMENT RECAP 38 SCPGA TOURNAMENT RESULTS

PGA PLAYER DEVELOPMENT 23 CONTINUING THE SUMMER

SECTION NOTES 39 NOTES FROM THE SCPGA

OFFICE

SUCCESS INTO THE OFFSEASON

SAVE

the DATE

NOTABLE UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SECTION

APPRENTICE ORIENTATION November 10 | SCPGA Headquarters

SCPGA PRESIDENT’S DINNER December 6 | Westin Mission Hills

WOMEN’S SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP November 11-12 | La Jolla Country Club

SCPGA CLUB CAR ANNUAL MEETING December 7 | Westin Mission Hills

SCPGA CRACKER BARREL November 19 | SCPGA Headquarters

SCPGA/WSCGA WOMEN’S CUP MATCHES December 10-11 | Mission Hills C.C.

PROFESSIONAL-LADY CHAMPIONSHIP November 23 | Glendora Country Club

THE CALIFORNIA PGA CUP MATCHES December 10-11 | Bayonet & Black Horse

www.scpga.com

PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

4. SECTION MEMBER MARK WILSON, PGA WILL RECEIVE THE ASSOCIATIONS HIGHEST HONOR AT OUR ANNUAL MEETING, GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR. 5. THE FIRST SHORT COURSE FOUR-BALL WAS HELD AT EMERALD ISLE AND WAS A ROARING SUCCESS…LOOK FOR MORE SHORT COURSE EVENTS COMING SOON. 6. THE FIRST SCPGA/SCGA JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP WAS HELD AT INDUSTRY HILLS. THE GIRLS DIVISION WINNER IS IN 8TH GRADE AND MADE 8 BIRDIES IN HER ROUND. 7. JOHN MASON, PGA AND WIFE JACKIE WITH THE SAN DIEGO TEAM ARE FINALISTS IN THE PGA JUNIOR LEAGUE MATCHES IN FLORIDA. 8. THERE ARE 7 CANDIDATES VYING FOR A POSITION ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT THIS YEARS ANNUAL MEETING. 9. 22 SECTION MEMBERS WERE NAMED IN GOLF DIGESTS “BEST TEACHERS IN CALIFORNIA” FEATURE. 10. THE FIRST CALIFORNIA CUP MATCHES WILL BE PLAYED IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NEXT MONTH.

03

ABOUT US THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA VOLUME 42, ISSUE 5 2015 NOVEMBER ISSUE THE PROGRAM IS PRODUCED BY THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PUBLISHER AND EDITOR

SCPGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS

PRESIDENT | JOHN MCNAIR, PGA JC RESORTS VICE PRESIDENT | TODD KEEFER, PGA WILSHIRE COUNTRY CLUB SECRETARY | TONY LETENDRE, PGA FIRST TEE OF ORANGE COUNTY HONORARY PRESIDENT | JASON TAYLOR, PGA LORENA OCHOA FOUNDATION

AT-LARGE DIRECTORS BILL HULBERT, PGA PGA TOUR SUPERSTORE

JOE GROHMAN, PGA NAVY GOLF COURSE

|

BREANNE MITCHELL

SCPGA SECTION STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO | TOM ADDIS III, PGA TADDIS@PGAHQ.COM COO | JEFF JOHNSON, PGA JJOHNSON@PGAHQ.COM TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR | MAX DESPAIN MDESPAIN@PGAHQ.COM JUNIOR GOLF DIRECTOR | KEVIN SMITH KSMITH@PGAHQ.COM MEMBERSHIP MANAGER | SHARON CURFMAN SCURFMAN@PGAHQ.COM COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER | BREANNE MITCHELL BMITCHELL@PGAHQ.COM MEETING & PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS MANAGER | NICOLLE QUICK NQUICK@PGAHQ.COM

SCOTT HEYN, PGA OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB

OFFICE MANAGER/ACCOUNTING | KRISTY CUSTER KCUSTER@PGAHQ.COM

ERIC LOHMAN, PGA MONARCH BEACH GOLF LINKS

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT MANAGER | MATT GILSON MGILSON@PGAHQ.COM

ROBIN SHELTON, PGA MOUNTAIN MEADOWS GOLF COURSE RANDY CHANG, PGA JOURNEY AT PECHANGA & TALEGA GOLF CLUB

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS SUSAN ROLL, PGA CARLSBAD GOLF CENTER

STEVE PLUMMER, GCSAA CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF SERVICES

CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES

DESERT | KENDALL PALU, PGA WESTIN MISSION HILLS

INLAND EMPIRE | BRYON SMITH, PGA GOOSE CREEK GOLF CLUB METROPOLITAN | MIKE VAN DER GOES, PGA TPC VALENCIA NORTHERN | MARK WILSON, PGA NORTH RANCH COUNTRY CLUB SAN DIEGO | ROSS MARCANO, PGA BARONA CREEK GOLF CLUB

PGA OF AMERICA EXECUTIVES DISTRICT 11 DIRECTOR

BILL HULBERT, PGA, PGA TOUR SUPERSTORE | SCPGA INCOMING DIRECTOR: SCOTT ASHWORTH, PGA ALOHA SECTION

OFFICERS & CEO PRESIDENT | DEREK SPRAGUE, PGA MALONE GOLF CLUB VICE PRESIDENT | PAUL LEVY, PGA TOSCANA COUNTRY CLUB SECRETARY | SUZY WHALEY, PGA SUZY WHALEY GOLF CEO | PETE BEVACQUA PALM BEACH GARENS

FOUNDATION PROGRAMS & EVENTS ADMINISTRATOR | DANIEL HALE, PGA DHALE@PGAHQ.COM HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATOR | TAYLOR VERMILLION TVERMILLION@PGAHQ.COM MEETING & PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS ADMINISTRATOR | ARIANA GOMEZ AGOMEZ@PGAHQ.COM TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATOR | STEPHEN MONDAY SMONDAY@PGAHQ.COM TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATOR | MARSHALL GERLACH MGERLACH@PGAHQ.COM JUNIOR GOLF MANAGER | TRAVIS CUTLER TCUTLER@PGAHQ.COM JUNIOR GOLF MANAGER | EDDIE RODARTE, PGA ERODARTE@PGAHQ.COM JUNIOR GOLF MANAGER | JUSTIN SANDOVAL JSANDOVAL@PGAHQ.COM JUNIOR GOLF COORDINATOR | BRYCE SEIVER BSEIVER@PGAHQ.COM GOLF IN SCHOOLS TERRITORY MANAGER | JUNKO SUZUKI PGA JSUZUKI@PGAHQ.COM GOLF IN SCHOOLS TERRITORY MANAGER | ANTHONY LEONE ALEONE@PGAHQ.COM SECTION ADMIN/JUNIOR GOLF | KRISTINE LORENCZ KLORENCZ@PGAHQ.COM

PGA OF AMERICA STAFF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT REGIONAL MANAGER NIKKI GATCH, PGA 760.534.1370 | NGATCH@PGAHQ.COM

EMPLOYMENT CONSULTANT

KEN FERRELL, PGA 951.894.5024 | KFERRELL@PGAHQ.COM

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA 3333 CONCOURS STREET BUILDING 2, SUITE 2100 ONTARIO, CA 91764 PHONE 951.845.4653 | FAX 951.769.6733 SCPGA.COM | SCPGAJRTOUR.COM

THE PROGRAM IS DISTRIBUTED FREE TO MEMBERS AND AFFILIATES OF THE SCPGA SEVEN TIMES A YEAR. THE ARTICLES AND OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS PUBLICATION ARE INFORMATIONAL AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OR OPINIONS OF THE SCPGA. THE SCPGA ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR CLAIMS MADE FOR OR BY ANY PRODUCT IN THIS PUBLICATION WHETHER REPORTED OR ADVERTISED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE SCPGA IS PROHIBITED.

04

PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

www.scpga.com

THE NEW

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T HA N K YOU TO THE FO L LOWING COMPANIES FOR SUPPORTING T HE G OL F P R O F E SSIO N A LS OF THE SOUTHERN CALI FORNI A PGA !

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

SECTION | PRESENTING SPONSORS

SECTION | SUPPORTING SPONSORS

SECTION | PRODUCT SPONSORS Official Radio of the Southern California PGA

速

NATIONAL | SPONSORS

JUNIOR GOLF | PRESENTING SPONSORS

JUNIOR GOLF | SUPPORTING SPONSORS

JUNIOR GOLF | PRODUCT SPONSORS

速

USA

FOUNDATION | SPONSORS

www.scpga.com

PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

07

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

YOUR EDUCATION LEADS TO

SUCCESSFUL

EMPLOYMENT

By Southern California PGA President, John McNair, PGA

As we go through the year, we attend many leadership and governance meetings and one of the discussion points that comes up regularly is how important education is to the success of our employment at our facilities.

Just like working on and improving your golf game, you should know what areas related to your job you need to work on and to improve to get better on a day-today basis. In that regard, you must also know what skills employers are looking for from you in your job.

In our many discussions, and according to our PGA Employment Consultant, Ken Ferrell, employers are looking for: • • • • • • • •

Budget and financial management Staff management, leadership and team building Marketing the facility and membership programming for the facility Member retention strategies Being the “rainmaker” of the golf facility and generating revenues New program development and player development A strong golf instruction program Knowledge about food and beverage management

The Southern California Section provides many opportunities for selfimprovement and business related education programs. In 2015 alone, the Section has conducted three Business of Golf Workshops and a Leadership workshop with subject matter based on the points above.

We will continue the workshops into 2016 as well.

08

The Section also conducts our popular Golf Industry Business Summit in March that provides a variety of business oriented subjects throughout the day. Of course, there are our two teaching summits, one in April and one in October that are oriented to teaching the game at every level. Education at our two membership meetings each year, June and December, are now regularly scheduled immediately following the meeting that day.

One of the newer, interactive and individualized programs the Section provides is the One-on-One Marketing Individual Workshops.

These sessions are face-to-face with Chris Locke, a marketing and interactive consultant; who will determine what needs you have for your golf facility, or your individual programs, and set up websites, marketing materials and social media opportunities with you and your staff.

If time and travel is an issue, the Section conducts our Catalyst Webinars on a variety of subjects such as conservation and the environment, merchandising, tournament operations, rules of golf and many others. These programs are online, bi-weekly and offer one MSR credit once you’ve completed the attached quiz for the program.

Add the Section’s Chapter education programs and we have a full schedule each year of programs that will help you improve and help you become that valuable asset at your golf facility.

John McNair, PGA, is the Southern California PGA President, and Vice President at JC Resorts. John can be reached at jmcnair@jcresorts.com PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

www.scpga.com

NEW MEMBERS

WELCOME SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA

NEW MEMBERS Southern California

www.scpga.com

Drury Blair, PGA Classic Club A-8 To further my career with Troon golf and my personal career in the golf industry.

David Jacobo, PGA A-21 Oak Creek Golf Club The love of the game.

I enjoy learning everything about the game and sharing what I have learned with others.

Roxanne Mueller, PGA Warner Springs Ranch Resort A-4 To grow the game and create accessibility for all demographics, and to continue growing personally and professionally.

Thomas Chu, PGA Los Coyotes Country Club A-8 Aspire to grow the game one player at a time and share my love and passion for the game of golf.

Aaron Kelm, PGA Andalusia Country Club A-8 To continue to be involved in the game of golf, do what I love to do, and be a positive influence in people’s lives.

Kenny Pigman, PGA A-8 Goose Creek Golf Club To grow the game and become a member of the largest sports organization. And to connect with people that share my love of the game.

Petra Cole, PGA Torrey Pines Golf Course A-6 To instill the valuable life lessons associated with the game and to teach golf with simplicity.

Eric Mitchell, PGA A-8 Anaheim Hills Golf Course My motivation is to pay it forward and help mentor others. I truly love helping people grow and reach their dreams. To quote US Kids, “I am the future.”

Jonathan Waddington, PGA Primm Valley Golf Club A-13 I wanted to become a PGA professional so I can do what I love the rest of my life.

Harley Hylton, PGA Mission Viejo Country Club A-8 Always had a passion to play and teach the game of golf and becoming a PGA member allows me to better myself and my career.

Brett Mormann, PGA The Los Angeles Country Club A-8 To enjoy a career involved in the game I love.

Gavin Witzer, PGA Henry Brunton Golf Academy at Strawberry Farms A-6 To inspire a new generation of golfers and help people enjoy the game more.

PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

09

SECTION REPORT

LOTSA THINGS…

By Southern California PGA CEO/Executive Director, Tom Addis III, PGA

Your Section is involved in many, many programs and activities as you probably know.

We have one of the most popular and outstanding junior golf tournament programs in the Country and our member tournament program is also outstanding (we hope you agree) with over 150 events, including the five Chapters. The Section’s education offerings are plentiful and provide outstanding and innovative subject matter, such as our Business of Golf Workshops and the Leadership Workshops, both high quality business improvement programs. Needless to say, our two teaching summits we conduct each year are cutting edge and very popular.

Some of the other programs we do, or promote, and are very proud include: PREFERRED FACILITIES The Preferred Facilities Program, through the SCPGA Foundation, purpose is to drive new golfers to the SCPGA’s PGA member golf facilities throughout Southern California. Through this program we hope to provide a source of incremental revenue to a facility by pushing our, for example, Neighborhood Golf participants, our Junior Development Program participants or our TGA/SCPGA Golf in Schools Program participants to 10

the nearby PGA facility where they would be provided with a twenty minute golf lesson or a small bucket of practice balls or a twilight 9-hole round of golf late in the afternoon

during the week. By the participant giving the game a try through these means, and working through the facility, giving the participant incentive to return to the game or that facility as a full-fledged customer and golfer. If a golf facility is in the SCPGA’s Preferred Facility Program, the priority is to push the customers to the facility to enhance revenue and sustain golfers. Visit scpga.com for more information on Preferred Facilities.

INDUSTRY HILLS AND SCPGA’S HOST GOLF COURSES The Section recently announced our partnership with the Pacific Palms Resort and Industry Hills Golf Course as the “home of the Southern California PGA” for multiple days of events. The SCPGA will conduct multiple Section tournament events, junior golf events, seniors and PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

womens tournaments at Industry Hills. The Section currently conducts multiple events at Industry Hills and those tournaments will not be affected by the agreement. The Section is proud and pleased to be associated with such a wonderful golf and lodging facility. The SCPGA looks forward to outstanding golf events throughout the year.

The Section sends a huge “thank you” to the host golf courses where our tournaments are contested.

The Section’s tournament program and the SCPGA junior golf program wouldn’t be as successful as they are without the support of the many golf facilities in Southern California.

TOURNAMENT PROGRAM The SCPGA tournament program is one of the strongest in the PGA with over 150 events each year. The SCPGA Chapters are quite busy with their schedules as is our Apprentice and Assistant’s Association (AAA), the SCPGA women’s tournament program, the SCPGA Senior program, charity events, customer events, PGA Tour local events www.scpga.com

qualifiers and the Section regular schedule of tournaments. The Section also conducts the California State Open and the Southern California Open, as well as team events throughout the year such as the Chapter Challenge, the Honors Matches, the California Cup Matches, the Women’s Team Matches, the Senior Challenge Matches and the AAA North & South Matches.

SHORT COURSE GOLF In the Southern California Section, there are over fifty golf courses we might term “short courses”... par 3 golf courses, 9 holers or “executive” length golf courses or less yardage than 6,000 yards, that would have one or more par fours or par fives included in the hole rotation. Short courses are an outstanding means to push and bring people into the game of golf, not just as introductory golf course, but places one can play always and at any time or any age.

The Section’s goal is to include many of the short courses in the Preferred Facilities Program. In fact, the Section is starting to identify the short courses in Southern California on a map located on scpga.com, and the Section conducted its first “Short Course Shootout Tournament” at Emerald Isle Golf Course.

EDUCATION PGA member education continues at the highest priority for SCPGA professionals. As mentioned earlier, we conduct fine business seminars and over the past two years have added two on-line programs – the LAUNCHPAD for apprentices and the CATALYST Webinars, both huge successes. A brand new program in 2015 is the One-on-One Marketing Workshops for PGA professionals and their staff. The One-on-Ones are to help a PGA professional and their facility develop a marketing www.scpga.com

program through websites and social media. The One-on-One has been hugely successful this year.

Contact the Section office and Chris Locke, the Section’s consultant, will make contact, analyze current programs and suggest and set-up new programs for the facility.

JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM The SCPGA’s JDT is one of the pieces of the Section’s Player Pathway that begins with Neighborhood Golf, Golf in Schools and progresses and climbs to college or the highest level of competitive golf. The JDT is an introductory junior golf “tour”, for any age, that provides a young junior golfer with the opportunity to learn how to play the game of golf, and to learn how to play some competitive golf in a learning friendly environment on short golf courses with PGA professional supervision. The SCPGA Junior Golf Association has nearly 2500 junior members and over 500 are enjoying the JDT program. A huge majority of the JDT juniors move on to the SCPGA Player’s Tour and ultimately the Toyota Tour Cup events, all combined leading the junior golfer to college and beyond.

SPONSORS & PARTNERS The SCPGA continues to enjoy, and appreciate, great involvement from our sponsors and partners.

Our events and purses are outstanding thanks to the support of the many partners we enjoy working with. Sponsors also enact and support the SCPGA Foundation that PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

provides scholarships and grants for less fortunate families to enable those children to participate in the SCPGA junior events.

Spend some time reviewing the sponsor logo grid in this magazine, as well as on scpga.com. Please contact and thank our sponsors and partners whenever possible, as they are integral to our many programs.

INVESTMENT PROGRAM Many of the activities and programs the Section enjoys today should be credited to the rewards of the SCPGA Investment Program that was established when the Section sold the PGA of Southern California Golf Club in late 2007. Through the efforts and guidance of the SCPGA Investment Committee and Canterbury Consultants, the Section has been very successful with the program. As everyone may know, the Section was able to purchase a building in 2012 that houses the SCPGA headquarters. The program also provides annual allocations that allow the Section to conduct our membership general meetings at no charge to PGA professionals. It also allows the SCPGA to subsidize education along with our sponsors and to support the SCPGA’s Golf in Schools Program, Neighborhood Golf and all of the Section’s player development programs. The allocation also allows us to produce one of the finest Association magazines in print today, and a consumer advertising program that promotes the PGA professional and their facilities – including the popular video program that we partnered with the SCGA. The allocation also enables the Section to support various Chapter programs, such as the Chapter Technology Program where the Chapters are provided with funding over a period of time to acquire computers or cameras as well as the Chapter Annual Meeting subsidy to offset costs for annual meetings for members.

Lotsa things going on in the Southern California Section.

Tom Addis, PGA, is the Southern California PGA CEO/Executive Director and Past President of the PGA of America. Tom can be reached at taddis@pgahq.com.

11

SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP

CHAD SORENSEN CLAIMS THE

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

T

he Southern California PGA crowned their 90th Section Champion on September 14th – 16th at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club with PGA Professional Chad Sorensen of Buena Vista Golf Course taking the honors. Sorensen posted rounds of 73 – 68 to secure a three shot victory and be the only player under-par for the two days.

Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club was a fabulous host to the Southern California PGA Professional Championship and served as the perfect test in determining the 2015 Champion. The Max Behr design was established in 1929 and was 12

setup to play at a par 71 and roughly 7,000 yards. The full field of 156 PGA Professionals got a taste of one of the top golf courses in the Section and having some of the purest greens in Southern California, along with top notch staff that make up the treasured Club.

The first round got underway on Monday, September 14th as one of the more decorated players in the Section took the early lead. Michael Block lead the way after the first round posting a 2-under 69 followed

by Barry Mahlberg’s 70. Block was the winner of the 2014 PGA Professional Championship and put PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

himself in prime position to claim his first Section Championship.

The second round became dicey as the rain moved in and began falling early in the round. As the rain continued, and conditions worsened, play was suspended. During the two hour suspension, the course conditions continued to degrade and became unplayable due to standing water and heavy rains resulting in a devastating cancellation of the second round. The rain stricken second round lead to an 18-hole cut and reduced the Championship to 36-holes, with the cut being the top 60 and ties. www.scpga.com

Sorensen was four shots back coming into the final round and knew it would take red numbers to carve away at the lead, which he did carding four birdies and one bogey, chasing down the leaders en route to posting his three under round of 68. Michael Block maintained the lead throughout the front nine and stood on the 12th tee with a three shot lead, but it slipped away on a tough four hole stretch. Sorensen remained steady to take over the leaderboard and remain positioned in the lead till the final putt dropped.

The champion Sorensen’s 68 in the final round was the low round of the tournament and set him apart from the field. Sorensen also earns an exemption into the 2016 CareerBuilders Challenge PGA TOUR event hosted in La Quinta, CA with this win.

Sorensen stated “this is the greatest win, because in this event you are competing against the best of the best in your Section. I’ve wanted this one so badly.”

Three players tied for second place at 144, three shots behind Sorensen. Mark Madson of Lakeside Golf Club, Scott Heyn of Oakmont Country Club and Matt Gibbens of Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club.

The Section Championship also serves as the PGA Professional Championship qualifier where the top 12 finishers earned a spot into the National tournament. The following 12 PGA Professionals will represent the SCPGA next year in New York: Chad Sorensen, Mark Madson, Scott Heyn, Matt Gibbens, Pete LaCoursiere, Blair Harkins, Don Littrell, Gary Sowinski, Jeff Munak, Chris Starkjohann, Eric Evans and Barry Mahlberg. In additional, the following players are previously exempt into the National tournament: Michael Block, Austin Peters and Ryan Kennedy. Best of luck to all of the Professionals in the PGA Professional Championship in 2016.

The coveted Championship features the top PGA Professionals in Southern California with a field of 156 players in this year’s event.

The 54-hole Championship was shortened this year due to a rainout in the Second Round. The 18-hole cut was 60 and ties playing in the www.scpga.com

final round.

A very big Thank You goes to the host facility, Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club. PGA Director of Golf Derek Lane and CCM General Manager Al Castro were instrumental in the success of the Championship.

Thank you to their entire staff and the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club membership for being welcoming and for opening their doors. A big thank you goes to CGCS Course Superintendent Tim Barrier and his entire crew. The conditions were fantastic and to recover from the downpour of rain that occurred, making the course playable in such a short turnaround was quite impressive. Kudos to all the personnel that make up Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club.

Thank you to all the sponsors of the Section Championship! National Sponsors Mercedes-Benz, Club Car and OMEGA; Supported by PGA TOUR, TaylorMade, Nike and Titleist and donated product by Pepsi.

Finally, a thank you goes to all of the individuals that dedicated their time in assisting. The Rules Officials play a large role and they deserve to receive all the praise: Ron O’Connor, PGA, Gary Albin, Gary Wilson, Lee Wortman, Keith Reinking and John Cochran. Thank you to those who served as announcers on the tee: John McNair, PGA, Todd Keefer, PGA, Robin Shelton, PGA, Tony Letendre, PGA and Steve Frank.

Thank you to Walt Willows, PGA, for his great penmanship in making the scoreboards look fantastic!

The 2016 Southern California PGA Professional Championship will be held on September 12-14 at TPC Valencia.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 1 Chad Sorensen, Buena Vista G.C., -1, $13,600 T2 Mark Madson, Lakeside G.C., +2, $7,033.33 T2 Scott Heyn, Oakmont C.C., +2, $7,033.33 T2 Matt Gibbens, Rancho Santa Fe G.C., +2, $7,033.33 PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Live Refined

Kerry Walker,

PGA Sales Representative

760-861-3700 13

d r a w A l a i c s e e p e r S o n o H

2015 SPECIAL AWARDS NEW MEMBERS Alvin Sohn, PGA; Petra Cole, PGA; Harley Hylton, PGA HELLO AGAIN! Todd Zinni and William Shea NEWLY REGISTERED APPRENTICES Erik Agnew, Steven Bendt, Travis Britt, Michael Brown, John Caballero, Soonwoo Chae, Peter Cho, O’Neill Cowan, Thomas Duggan Jr, Robert Faber, Annelise Frederiksen, Ashley Huizing, Aaron Hunsaker, Kody Idland, Anthony Kim, John E. Lee, David Matich, Michael Mendoza, Benjamin Mills, James Moreno, Ronald Naus, Evan Notos, Jennifer Parker, Kevin Ruby, Jimmy Sonefelt, Hideya Terashima, Justin Wilcock and Derrick P. Williams.

NEW HALF CENTURY MEMBERS Tag Merritt, PGA; Tony Manzoni, PGA; Paul Lemcke, PGA NEW QUARTER CENTURY MEMBERS Mark Greenslit, PGA; Richard Stegall, PGA; Mike Landry, PGA and Drew Hudgens, PGA; David Foster, PGA; Jeff Michealson, PGA DECEASED Zach Kanny, PGA Apprentice; David MacKenzie, PGA; Howie Johnson, PGA; Ben King, Life Member; Ed Coleman, PGA MOVING UP Rick Adams, PGA Western Golf Properties, Inc

A-9

John Birchard, PGA Palm Royale Country Club

A-4

Steven Butler, PGA Sinaloa Golf Course

A-1

Tucker RB Campbell, PGA Toscana Country Club

A-1

Chi Choe Meadow Lake Country Club

B-13

Thomas Gardner, PGA Los Angeles Country Club

A-4

Chris Gilley, PGA La Quinta Country Club

A-1

Darrin Harn, PGA PGA West Tournament Course

A-4

Anthony Holder, PGA Westin Mission Hills Resort

A-4

Todd Massucci, PGA Palm Desert Resort & Country Club

A-4

David Menke, PGA PGA West Private Course

A-4

Clayton Moe, PGA Stone Eagle Golf Club

A-1

Steve M. Rust, PGA Rancho Maria Golf Club

A-1

Michael Setchell, PGA Rams Hill Golf Course

A-4

Jon Strecher, PGA Monarch Dues Golf Club

A-4

WELCOME WAGON Dale Abraham, PGA Aaron Caverley, PGA Dylan Hunton, PGA Laura Luethke Colin McMahon David Menke, PGA Travis Nelson, PGA Joseph J. Reilly, PGA Brian Smith, PGA 14

Colorado Michigan Sun Country Colorado Pacific Northwest Colorado South Texas Northern California New England

The 2015 SCPGA

MARK WILSON, PGA NORTH RANCH GOLF CLUB GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

MICHAEL BLOCK, PGA ARROYO TRABUCO GOLF CLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR

JIM VERNON USGA PAST PRESIDENT HONORARY LIFE MEMBER

KENNY PIGMAN, PGA GOOSE CREEK GOLF CLUB AAA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

BRADY RIGGS, PGA WOODLEY LAKES GOLF CLUB TEACHER OF THE YEAR

THE FOLLOWING ARE YET TO BE DETERMINED AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE CEREMONY:

ROBIN SHELTON, PGA MOUNTAIN MEADOWS GOLF COURSE BILL STRAUSBAUGH

HALL OF FAME WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR SUPER SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

BILLY MCKINNEY, PGA MARBELLA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB HORTON SMITH AWARD CHRIS EIKENBERG, PGA DESERT HORIZONS COUNTRY CLUB ASSISTANT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR HOLLY KENNEDY, PGA KENNEDY GOLF, LLC PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AWARD

Join us for the

SCPGA CLUB CAR ANNUAL MEETING Monday, December 7, 2015 Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort 71-333 Dinah Shore Drive Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 760.328.3198 | westinmissionhills.com

RANDY CHANG, PGA JOURNEY AT PECHANGA TALEGA GOLF CLUB YOUTH PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 7:00am - Registration and Breakfast 8:00am - Annual Meeting & Election 11:30am - Education 11:45am - Pinehurst Championship

DON GATCH, PGA EMERALD ISLE GOLF COURSE CLUBFITTER OF THE YEAR

ATTIRE Men: Coat and Tie Women: Business Attire

JOHN KULOW, PGA LA MIRADA GOLF COURSE MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR - PUBLIC

MSR Up to 4 MSR meeting credits and 2 MSR Education credits

MIKE GOODCASE, PGA BIRNAM WOOD GOLF CLUB MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR - PRIVATE

Two spots are available on the SCPGA Board of Directors. Voting will take place during the SCPGA Club Car Annual Meeting as well as via absentee ballot, included in the center of magazine.

ANTHONY HOLDER, PGA PGA WEST MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR - RESORT PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

VISIT SCPGA.COM TO SIGN UP! www.scpga.com

SPRING 2016 Annika Golf Collection

ED BUDZ 951-595-0268 ed.budz@cuttersales.com Available at pro shops and fine golf retailers.

www.cutterbuck.com

EMPLOYMENT CONNECTION

Fresh

Employment look on PGA.org

By PGA Employment Consultant, Ken Ferrell, PGA

While all of the employment information has transferred over from PGALinks.com, PGA.org provides a fresh look and enhanced information.

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the new employment page on PGA.org. As a reminder, whenever looking for something on PGA.org, you can always use the “Search” area at the top right hand side of the page to find your subject.

HERE IS A QUICK TUTORIAL ON THE EMPLOYMENT PAGE ONCE YOU LOGGED INTO PGA.ORG:

1) Click on the word Employment. At the top of the employment page, you will see the word CareerLinks (CL). By clicking on CL, you can Edit your CL Profile and review CL’s jobs that have been sent to you. Remember, your profile must be up to date to receive postings.

Additional information is also available here.

2) The next tabs reference PGA Jobfinder. Click on these tabs to post non-management positions, review resumes, or review the Jobfinder job board. You can also access the Courses for Sale or Lease area here.

3) Next is a tab listing PGA Employment Consultants, their contact information, and the regions they serve. Any questions on jobs in their area should be addressed directly to them. If you would like your resume reviewed regardless of the area you wish to send it to, please reach out to your local Employment Consultant for that service.

By scrolling down further, you will note ten (10) titles you can click on. When accessing these, a host of information will become available.

THEY INCLUDE:

• Applying for a Job - Provides information on what employers look for and tips on the application process.

• For Employers - Information on how to hire a PGA intern, resources for hiring PGA professionals, and additional job information. When searching for resources, view the tabs on the left hand column.

• Retirement Planning - Job Transition, Exit Strategies, Severance.

• Legal Resources - Department of Labor, Agencies, ADA, Wage and Hour, Independent Contractor.

• PGA Jobfinder - Anything related to Jobfinder including posting, searching for jobs, career paths in golf, and the PGA employment brochure.

• Job Performance - Employment 16

Communication, Executive Summary sample, business and growth tips.

• Help- Additional employment resources.

• CareerLinks - Overview of CareerLinks and FAQ. • Career Planning - Career Fitness Manual, Job Exit Strategies, Associations.

• Research - Compensation Survey and Reporting Tool, PGA PerformanceTrak, Resume , Cover Letter, Reference Samples, Interview questions, etc..

PGA.org is a live site and will continue to change with new updates, information, and tools and resources. Please spend some time familiarizing yourself with the Employment page on PGA.org.

Ken Ferrell, PGA, is the PGA Employment Consultant for the Southern California, Northern California and Aloha Sections. Ken can be reached at 951.845.4653 or kferrell@pgahq.com.

PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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www.scpga.com

SIMPLIFY GOLF Spotlight SIMPLE THOUGHT

WITH A

TEACHER’S FORUM

PGA MEMBER

SEAN LANYI, PGA BLACK GOLD GOLF CLUB

By Teaching Professional at Barona Creek Golf Club, Tim Parun, PGA

Golf is a difficult enough game as it is. Many golfers make it more so with the way they think. Most golfers can improve when you teach them to think simply, and properly.

THIS IS WHY I EMPHASIZE HAVING A GOOD SWING THOUGHT. A swing thought is what the golfer focuses their attention on while making a swing. To me it has nothing to do with their swing, but to guide their swing in a direction.

The game of golf is unique, and mental, for two main reasons.

1. The ball is stationary and the game is not in motion.

2. The golfer is not looking at the target.

When you understand how humans operate, you see the importance of teaching golfers how to think properly.

THREE THINGS WITH HOW HUMANS OPERATE: 1. Everything you do in life is a reaction to a target.

2. Whatever you think about becomes the target.

3. Whatever direction you are thinking is where your body wants to move to.

When you look at these three facts about humans, a golfer should never be told, “keep your head down and keep your eyes on the ball”. This only gets the golfer to focus on the ball, making the ball the target and creating a movement at the ball. If you work on the player’s golf swing but never address how they are thinking, the mind will always override everything else. THE MIND CONTROLS THE BODY. I have started to be a mind-reader in watching golfers swing the club and knowing what they are thinking about.

A GOOD SWING THOUGHT gets the golfer to swing the club in the direction they want the ball to go. It is a command from the mind that the body will react to. It gets the golf swing to be a reaction towards the target. It gets the golfer not to hit an object but to swing a club.

The golf ball becomes something www.scpga.com

in the way of the golfer swinging to the target. This becomes a game where we are looking at the ball but have no thought on the ball. We must teach golfers to add direction to their thinking.

When you teach golfers a proper swing thought, you teach them how to play this game thinking simply.

One thought, and they know what to think about to hit a golf shot. Their game-plan to play golf is their swing thought. They react, not attempting to create an action.

I love when I can teach a golfer how to think properly and watch them improve, and never have to talk about their golf swing. You see an improved swing, with improved results, all coming from a better swing thought.

Then they turn to you and say, “why hasn’t anyone told me this before?”

(A baseball player thinking of hitting it up the middle or to centerfield.

A placekicker thinking of hitting it through the uprights).

I have found that most humans have good golf swings in them, but never allow their swing to come out.

Getting golfers to think direction lets natural swings come out of the golfer and it’s a beautiful thing.

Example: Place a club on the ground. Tell a player to swing down the line. They now are swinging a club in a direction. If they can visualize a line going through the ball towards their target, they could be focused on swinging a club, not hitting the ball.

The over-the-top, out-to-in swing so common in golf stems from the golfer having most of their mind on the ball. It’s just that simple. *IMPORTANT – Only hit shots thinking swing thought. Learn to practice away from a ball and do all other thinking and changes there. You learn to think simply in front of a ball.

Tim Parun, PGA, is a teaching professional at Barona Creek Golf Club. Tim can be reached at poonergolf@sbcglobal.net PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Sean Lanyi has a clear direction and passion for teaching golf. Sean continuously creates new programs and brings in new golfers. He has spread his knowledge of the game from his position as first Assistant Golf Professional at Oak Creek Golf Club, working under Glen Deck, Alan Ochiai and Jim Petralia, to his current position as Teaching Professional at Black Gold Golf Club.

Sean is best known for his most recent accomplishments with junior players. He has partnered with Tiny Tees and currently has the responsibility of the growth and expansion of the program throughout Southern California and Hawaii. His plan is to launch the program across the country to grow the game of golf and generate interest and excitement from juniors as well as their families. Sean’s efforts in junior golf have not gone unnoticed. In 2014 he received several awards including U.S. Kids Top 50 Teacher, SCPGA Junior Golf Leader of the Year, and runner up SCPGA Teacher of the Year. Sean has continued to increase his teaching knowledge by becoming a certified Aim Point Express instructor and taking on the position of Tour Director for the U.S. Kids of Orange County.

Sean is not just focused on the junior players. He currently works with Symetra, LPGA and PGA Tour players. He uses the latest technology to help his students, including V1 Golf high speed cameras, BodiTrak Sensor Systems and FlightScope.

Sean recently expanded from his home base of Black Gold Golf Club to Big Canyon Country Club where he introduced the Tiny Tees program and launched AimPoint Express.

If past performance is any indication, look for Sean to continue bringing people to golf and being a leader in our industry.

25 17

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REAL STORIES. REAL RESULTS.™ 7th Hole, Pebble Beach Golf Links® ©2015 E-Z-GO Division of Textron Inc. All rights reserved. Pebble Beach,® Pebble Beach Resorts,® Pebble Beach Golf Links® and its distinctive images are trademarks, service marks and trade dress of Pebble Beach Company. Used by permission.

Scott Stevens 760.936.7530 sstevens@textron.com

Q&A

PGA MEMBER REACH

WITH BRIAN F. POWERS, PGA TELL US ABOUT YOUR FOUNDATION AND MISSION. Our foundation is a nonprofit 501c3 called Reach Out A Hand U.S.A. Our mission is to provide computer aided access to serve the fundamental food and shelter related needs of homeless and/or food deprived people in their local areas throughout the United States.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO EXPECT AS A RESULT OF YOUR FOUNDATION HELPING SOMEONE? I would hope to expect that as a result of our foundation helping others that those people who were positively affected by Reach Out A Hand U.S.A. would go out and help someone else or pass along the word about the help they found through our websites to somebody else in need.

AS A PGA MEMBER, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOU? As a PGA member it affects me because we are fortunate enough to have the many privileges we do as PGA members and can't forget about those who are not quite as fortunate.

Thus, I believe we should try to give back as much as possible just for the general good.

HOW DID YOU DEVELOP YOUR INTEREST IN HELPING OTHERS, SPECIFICALLY THE HOMELESS AND NEEDY? I developed my interest in helping the homeless and needy because I have always had a heart for the poor and wanted to do something that could contribute to helping that population. I really came up with the idea out of the blue one day while working on my computer. I thought www.scpga.com

(surprising to many) the homeless do sign on quite a bit more often than one might think.

about how I could use my web design skills (which I taught myself from running a golf instructional business) to help the poor and came up with an idea. I decided to create two websites that would both be like a one stop, all inclusive place for helping the hungry and homeless in America. So I took the research aspect out of it for them to eliminate any hassle and did the research myself. I came up with a number of links to (what I found to be) the best providers to help people in that predicament and listed them on both websites. And now since the inception of the idea I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to help thousands of people find homeless shelters, food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the country.

It is my hope and ultimate goal for our websites to eventually be known as the ‘go to resources’ for food or shelter related services for the hungry and homeless in America because they truly are.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL PATH YOU WOULD TAKE TO HELP SOMEONE? The typical path I would take to help someone who is homeless or hungry is to get them to either or both of my websites by signing on at a library, shelter or social service agency.

Then they can navigate our sites to find homeless shelters, food pantries, or soup kitchens throughout America and in their local areas. The fact is that PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

DO YOU FOLLOW UP, OR "TRACK", THEIR PROGRESS? I follow the progress of our websites by checking the website statistics periodically throughout my day. Actually August had been our busiest month this year (in terms of visits) to the homeless shelter website.

Typically we get around a thousand views a year to the related links pages of both websites, where all of our relevant information is to guide people to food or shelter related services, but the potential is really in the millions.

We just need the funding to make our services more known and visible to the populations we serve.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL RESULT WHEN YOU HELP SOMEONE? Oftentimes people will call me needing help navigating our websites and I will point them in the right direction, showing them how they work and they will be very grateful.

Otherwise I just follow the website statistics and the numbers to see how many people are using the database as a resource and if someone submits a contact form I usually get back to them the same day. It's rewarding to see and hear of people finding these life saving resources.

Brian F. Powers, PGA is a teaching professional at Lake Lindero Country Club. You can contact Brian through the contact page of his golf instruction website at www.learn2golfgr8.com. If you'd like to make a donation to Reach Out A Hand USA, you can do it directly online through the donate page at Findahomelessshelter.com. All of your help is greatly appreciated and will not go unrecognized.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMINEES

REVIEW THE NOMINEES

The following PGA Professionals are running for the two at-large 2016-2018 Board of Directors positions. Voting will take place December 7th during the SCPGA Club Car Annual Meeting or through the absentee ballot.

ERIK EVANS, PGA - THE CLUB AT QUERENCIA

After traveling quite a bit as a youngster, the Evans’ family settled and found their home in an area of Pennsylvania just outside of Philadelphia. Erik spent most of his childhood around sports, soon to fall in love the game of golf. Introduced to the sport at the age of 12, he has enjoyed and played the game ever since.

Erik began his professional career in 2001, after earning a specialized degree in golf course management, Erik joined the golf staff at Lakeside G.C., where he served as an apprentice golf professional. After four great years, he was presented an offer to become the First Assistant Golf Professional at The Los Angeles C.C. in 2005. It was in this stretch of his career he developed the most and successfully completed the PGA’s Professional Golf Management Program, and elected to Membership in 2007.

During his time at LACC, Erik served for many committees within the SCPGA including the Metro Chapter Board of Directors Tournament Chairman from 2007-2009. Erik was also instrumental in re-establishing the Apprentice Assistants Association for the section providing education opportunities for aspiring golf professionals.

With full support of his peers at LACC, June 2009 became a defining moment in his career as Erik took a leap of faith and accepted a position as Director of Golf to open a new facility in Los Cabos called Diamante. After three successful years at Diamante, he felt the urge to continue growing in his career and slowly move closer to reaching his goals.

In 2012, Erik was very fortunate to have the stars align, and take advantage of a special opportunity as the Head Golf Professional at The Club at Querencia located in Los Cabos. As Erik begins his 4th season at Querencia, in addition to growing the game at his own club, he feels at this time in his career he is ready to start giving back again in order to assist aspiring golf professionals find the right path for success.

Erik has also been very fortunate in his personal life to have met the girl of his dreams in Los Cabos. Erik and Alexia were married in April 2013, and soon after giving birth to Sienna Sofia Evans. The Evans’ family cherishes the opportunity to have a fruitful life raising a family and enjoying the Baja lifestyle, surrounded by their family, friends & loved ones.

ROB OOSTERHUIS, PGA - MONTECITO COUNTRY CLUB

I have been a Member of the PGA for over 12 years and have seen experience in private, public, municipal and resort golf operations, as well as instructional facilities. Currently I am employed as the Director of Clubs at Montecito Country Club in Santa Barbara, after working as the Director of Golf Operations in San Diego for JC Resorts. Having worked in the Northern and San Diego Chapters for almost a decade, it is very important to me to represent the SCPGA and work closely with the other Directors and section Members to share ideas and develop action plans and strategies to position ourselves for not only long range success, but success and stability in these uncertain economic times.

Beyond the planning and financial aspects of our business, I feel that I can also assist in playing a role in continuing the development of our Member education and enhancing any and all the efforts that have been set forth to engage Members with one another. To that end I am proud to have served this past year as a contributor to both the SCPGA Education and Communications Committees, while at the same time expanding my own education as I earned my Certified Club Manager status through the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) this year. Besides my service on the Education and Communications Committees, I was also a part of the Code of Ethics Panel this past year, as a means to continue to uphold the core values and principles of our membership.

Not only must we grow our membership with strong Member programs, but we need to continue to unearth new and relevant ways to retain all of our Members by demonstrating the true value of their membership. As with any business, the development of our membership as a whole is critical to not just sustain the achievements of previous Boards, but to build upon them and create a model that future Boards can utilize to grow the game and increase the Section membership. Knowing a number of the current Directors as I do and the caliber of golf professionals that they are, it is with great humility that I seek to be chosen for one of the 2016 at-large Director positions by my peers and to represent them in all Section matters.

ERIC REDD, PGA - REDD GOLF

I would like to be considered for one of the available at-large positions on the SCPGA Board of Directors. I have been a PGA Member for over 25 years and a member of the Desert Chapter since 1984. I began my career as an assistant golf professional at Ironwood Country Club and Mission Hills Country Club. In 1989, I took a different path than most in golf and created Redd Golf, a full service corporate golf event planning firm.

Redd Golf has been successful in attracting companies from a wide variety of business segments. Each is different in the way in which they entertain their customers. We are constantly adapting to changes in regulation, economic conditions and other business challenges. As a result, Redd Golf continues to develop new creative ways to enhance their golf experience while always honoring the traditions of the game.

I have been an entrepreneur my whole career. I have the discipline, the work ethic and the skill set that would be an asset to the Board of Directors. I am an “expert in the game and the business of golf.” I would be honored to serve as a representative of the membership.

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PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

www.scpga.com

SHARON FLETCHER, PGA - SHADOW MOUNTAIN GOLF CLUB

After graduating from Furman University with a degree in Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology, I entered the PGA apprentice program in 1991 in Myrtle Beach and became a Class A professional in 1994. Having experienced working in both a Resort and a Semi-Private golf course and learning all aspects of a fully developed golf professional, I was more certain that my vocation was teaching. I was offered a position as a teaching professional at a private club in Dusseldorf, Germany. I worked in Germany as a teaching professional for six summers where I became fluent in German while overseeing the construction and completion of a private club which included a championship course with a state of the art practice facility. During the winters, I returned to the states where I gained experience and knowledge while working with John Jacobs golf schools and finally with Mike Adams. I decided to stay with Mike Adams and continue to learn from one of the best. I taught at PGA National G.C. in Palm Beach Gardens for six winters while working at Old Westbury Golf and Country Club in Long Island during the summer.

At the encouragement of Mike Adams and several of my fellow teaching professionals, I took my savings and went off to finally try to play the game professionally. I played on the Futures Tour for one year and was voted leading money spender.

I am eternally grateful for the experience of playing professionally for a year because it helped me to realize that all of my experiences were assisting me with the pursuit of my true vocation- teaching. I love learning and have continued to develop my teaching and playing skills. I am a natural born leader because of my desire to serve. I knew that all of my life experiences were preparing me for a life of service. Having lived in the Southeast, the Northeast, Germany and the Carolinas, I had a desire to grow some roots and to become a contributing member of my community.

My desire to serve as a Director for the SCPGA stems from my natural leadership qualities coupled with my innate sense of duty and self giving. Having officially passed the quarter of a century marker, it is time that I give back to the organization which has given me and countless others a dream job.

BILL HULBERT, PGA - PGA TOUR SUPERSTORE

Four years ago, I was selected by our Section Board to serve as the District 11 Director on the PGA of America Board of Directors. It has truly been an honor and a privilege to represent the Northern California, Aloha and Southern California Sections. My term ends November 13th at the 2015 annual meeting in Palm Beach Gardens.

During my term as a PGA Director I have also been a member of the SCPGA Board of Directors. On December 7th, I will conclude my 25th year on our board. Over that time I have served as Secretary, VP, and President of the section. I have served on and chaired nearly every committee we have, and I currently am a member of our Teaching committee and chair the Patriot Pro-Am committee.

While considering whether or not to run again, I considered many factors and consulted friends and leaders of the Section. My decision to seek the opportunity to continue to serve our great Section was based on three things. I am very passionate about the PGA and specifically the Southern California Section. I have and will continue to have a desire to give my time and effort on behalf of the Section. And I have gained even more experience, serving on a national level, to bring to our boardroom.

As a Section member you have the important responsibility to vote in the upcoming Board election. Thank you for being involved in the process, and thank you for your consideration.

ERIC LOHMAN, PGA - MONARCH BEACH GOLF LINKS

I have been an active participant in governance for the SCPGA (both at the Chapter and Section level) since becoming a PGA member in 2000. I enjoy supporting my fellow golf professionals and providing guidance and assistance to our apprentices. Over the years I have enjoyed supporting the Tournament Committee, where I helped develop the Chapter Challenge and brought back the Southern California Open as well as assisting the Education Committee as a presenter at the previous three springtime GIBS education events. I have also participated with the finance, communications and fundraising committees as well as being a board member of the Metro Chapter. To also give back and participate I have hosted numerous Chapter and Section events at the clubs I have managed (currently I am the PGA General Manager of Monarch Beach Golf Links) and will continue to support our fellow professionals. Currently I am a SCPGA board member and would like to continue working on behalf of the members and apprentices supporting them where best needed. I appreciated your consideration and more importantly your vote. Eloh

JAMES ROCCO, PGA - BEL-AIR COUNTRY CLUB

I would like to express my interest in being nominated for a position with the SCPGA Board of Directors where I can use my skills to help our organization reach its objectives. I currently hold the position of First Assistant Professional with Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, where I have worked for one year. In my first year, I was able to manage a vast tournament schedule, manage tournament budgets exceeding $500,000 dollars all while adapting to a new environment.

I have administrative experience and excellent leadership skills that I would like to put to use for the SCPGA. I am computer literate with extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office Programs. I have the ability to multi-task to ensure everything is done on time, while still maintaining a high level of efficiency.

www.scpga.com

PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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JUNIOR GOLF

TOYOTA TOUR CUP VISITS OLIVAS LINKS

The Toyota Tour Cup Series traveled north to Ventura at the beautiful Olivas Links. Day one had absolutely perfect weather in the low 80’s with mild wind. Scoring conditions were optimal and the players took full advantage which was a good thing because day two called for cold and rainy conditions.

The current course record (64) was in jeopardy on day one with Matthew Giombetti and Jack Biwer in the house at 65, and 2014 champion Matthew Wolff just one shot behind. Giombetti was a staggering 8-under par through 15 holes! However, the highlight for the boys division came on the 8th hole, a 169yd par-3, when Rowland Heights native Ethan Han recorded his first career hole-in-one. The girls division also saw some low 22

scores with five players at even par or better led by Vera Markevich of La Quinta, shooting a 5-under 67!

Day two began with cold wind and cloudy skies with the threat of rain at any moment’s notice.

Players who teed off early got lucky and avoided the rain as it began to lightly fall around noon and increased as the day went on.

Scores unexpectedly were much higher on average on Sunday, but several players were still able to get under par. The low round of the day went to Spencer Soosman shooting a solid 68 to jump him up the leader board to T4 finish. The only other round in the 60’s went to Matthew Giombetti following up his 65 with a 3-under 69 to earn his first career Toyota Tour Cup win. The scores for the girls division were also higher as expected with Kimberlee Tottori recording the only round under par shooting a marvelous 3-under 69!

This also put her in a tie for first and earning a spot in a playoff vs first round leader, Vera Markevich who also finished at 3-under 141.

The rain was at its heaviest during the playoff, but both players were able to overcome the elements and reach the green in regulation. Vera PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Markevich was able to come away with a two-putt par and win her first career Toyota Tour Cup event.

Congratulations to our 2015 TTC Olivas Links champions: Matthew Giombetti and Vera Markevich!

Thank you to our rules officials: Ron O’Connor, PGA, Keith Reinking, Gary Albin, Terry Startzel, Steve Frank and our team leaders: Jake Ellison and Andrew Wohlgamuth.

Special thanks to our title sponsor Toyota, this event couldn’t have taken place without their support. Also thank you to our product sponsors, Deuce Brand Watches & Stater Brothers.

Lastly thank you to our host facility, Olivas Links & PGA professional Carl-Van Villier. The course was immaculate, and the players enjoyed the facility!

www.scpga.com

PGA PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

“PGA Junior League Golf shouldn’t just be a program that happens once a year” - Josh Alpert, PGA

By PGA Player Development Regional Manager, Nikki Gatch, PGA Josh Alpert of The Lakes at El Segundo and Robert Krasemann of Terranea Resort experienced great success this summer with PGA JUNIOR LEAGUE GOLF. So much so, that they are continuing into this offseason, by offering the “SOUTH BAY JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE”. They have modeled the South Bay League after PGA JLG, but added their own share of twists. With each of them nearly doubling the amount of kids participating that did this summer (many have continued playing, and most recruited additional friends to join them!), they decided to modify the league slightly to accommodate the number of kids, as well as their differing skill levels and ages.

SOUTH BAY JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE AT A GLANCE SIX-WEEK PROGRAM, $189 ONCE A WEEK MATCH (3 HOME, 3 AWAY) UNIFORMS 9-HOLE, 6-HOLE, 3-HOLE DIVISIONS SKILLS CHALLENGES SIMILAR TO DRIVE, CHIP & PUTT

The older and more experienced kids play 9-hole matches, mirroring the 2-person scramble match play format of PGA JLG. Younger and less experienced kids play the same format, only 6-holes, and the youngest kids play all together in a scramble format for 3-holes, earning points as a team, working together.

To further enhance the juniors’ experience and to fill a time void for the juniors waiting for their tee time, Josh and Robert have included a skills challenge that becomes part of the match. Juniors arrive 40 minutes prior to their scheduled tee time, and complete various chipping and putting skills challenges prior to heading to the course. The skills challenges www.scpga.com

are set up to reflect the short game elements of Drive, Chip & Putt, further exposing the juniors to another great program. Juniors complete the skills challenge within the group they will be playing with, to enhance the social and camaraderie aspect of PGA JLG. Statistics of the juniors chipping and putting skills are recorded weekly, so that the juniors can easily see their progression, and Josh and Robert can easily see where someone may need some additional instruction or guidance to improve. This charting of progress has been conducive to creating instructional opportunities for both Josh and Robert, and increases in Junior Academy participation and individual lessons has been beneficial.

But, this is much more than increasing instruction revenue. As Josh states, “We are not only teaching these kids golf skills, but we are helping to raise the next generation of kids”.

They are learning sportsmanship, leadership skills, and creating lifelong friendships through the game of golf.

As Robert explains, “The relationships that have been created among these families is truly special. Before we would see juniors come out to the course by themselves, or only with mom or dad. Now they are starting to come out with friends they have met on the team. Junior League is showing them the bigger vision of what golf really is.”

PGA Junior League Golf has seen an increase in participation of over

50% over the last year. The typical six-week season begins in early June, and is complete by the end of July.

But facilities have the flexibility of their season start date, as long as the season is completed before August 1, when post-season play begins.

The South Bay Junior Golf League is just one example of how facilities and professionals have capitalized on the success of their summer Junior League program, and have easily implemented it, or a version of it, into their comprehensive yearround junior program. Offering year-

round opportunities and structured instructional and play for juniors is what will help us not only attract them to the game, but keep them in the game. As Josh and Robert have found, parents are looking for a fun, structured, well-rounded activity for their children. What better game than golf to provide that?

Nikki Gatch, PGA, is the PGA Player Development Regional Manager for Southern California. Nikki can be reached at ngatch@pgahq.com.

PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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ASSISTANT CHAMPIONSHIP

CORREA CONQUERS LA PURISIMA The beautiful, and always challenging, La Purisima Golf Course played host to the 2015 National Car Rental Southern California Assistant Championship on August 31 through September 1. The field for this year’s event was a strong one; which included the likes of the 2014 Assistants Champion Kenny Pigman (PGA) and 2006 Southern California PGA Section Champion Ross Marcano (PGA). However it was the hometown boy, Larry Correa that proved that not only good golf but home course knowledge is the right combination to winning.

The first round of the event was a challenging one, with constant winds of 20 mph blowing throughout the afternoon.

According to the majority of the players the theme for this round was to “just hang around” and almost all would have been happy with a score around even par. Only three players were able to post that score, Larry Correa 71, Kenny Pigman, PGA 72, and Kenneth Pineo 73, leading to a three man race heading into the final day.

Round two’s conditions were the exact opposite of the first; little to no wind was blowing in the morning. These conditions, along with his knowledge of the course, set Larry Correa up for a day full of birdies. The front nine on Correa’s card was spectacular, which included 5 birdies, to card an impressive 31.

This front nine score, along with his closest competitors stumbling, 24

was what allowed Correa to cruise on the back nine for the eventual win. Correa’s remarkable two day score of 140 (-4) was good enough to win the 2015 National Car Rental Assistant Championship by 5 strokes. Congratulations, and great playing Larry!

The event also served as a qualifier for the 39th PGA Assistant Championship at PGA Golf Club, Wannamaker Course, in Port St Lucie, Florida. Congratulations to these players who will be making the trip, and representing the SCPGA: Larry Correa, Kenny Pigman (PGA), and Joshua Rider.

A big thank you to National Car Rental for sponsoring the Southern California PGA’s Assistant Championship.

A special thank you to Stacy Correa, and the staff at La Purisima for their hospitality. Also to our rules officials, Ron O’Connor and Keith Reinking, who dedicated their time to officiate the event.

NATIONAL CAR RENTAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSISTANT CHAMPIONSHIP 1 Larry Correa, La Purisima Golf Course, -4, $1,000 2 Kenny Pigman, Goose Creek Golf Club, +1, $750 3 Joshua Rider, The Santaluz Club, +2, $550 PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANT

This year, 170 players from more than 45 golf courses competed at The Westin Mission Hills – Pete Dye Resort for the annual Southern California PGA’s Professional – Assistant Championship. This is one of the more popular events of the year, where managers and their staff get an opportunity to play golf with one another in a unique, fun, and social tournament environment. The format is a two-person better ball where the highest ranking member of each club is the “wheel,” in which every other employee from competes with the wheel as the second member to their two-player better ball score.

Following the round is a fishing derby where participants get to enjoy a cold beverage, some snacks, and see who the master angler is. With such an incredible setting, the 2015 Pro-Assistant was poised for another successful week!

Temperatures remained hot, as they’ve been all year in most of Southern California as round one commenced at 12:30 PM Monday afternoon. With their clubs, fishing rods, sunblock, and lots of cold beverages to combat the heat, players kicked off the first round as their favorite tunes lightened the mood for this fun packed week! Chad Sorensen continued his hot play, fresh off his win from the Section Championship just two weeks prior, as he and his brother/ partner shot an impressive 10 under par 60 to take the lead after day one.

For the second year in a row, Bass Pro Shops teamed up with the Southern California Section to 26

sponsor a fishing Derby following the first round’s play. “On the line” was a brand new rod and reel for whomever could reel in the largest fish. The Dye course was the perfect setting for the fishing derby, with its many lakes and ponds winding throughout the course, filled with Bass and some enormous Carp. The pace of play was surprisingly good given the sweltering conditions and enormous field size but participants took advantage of the wait time between holes by throwing a line into the nearby watering holes in hopes of hooking the next “lunker” for the mantle place! Two prize Bass were reeled in by Random Turner from Torrey Pines and Tom Burley from Indian Wells. It was just too close to call so Random and Tom split the grand prize, one accepting the reel and the other the rod.

The second and final round began promptly the following day at 8:30 AM Tuesday morning, giving the contestants a temporary break from the scorching heat to follow later that afternoon! Director of Golf for the host facility Anthony Holder and partner David Curtis made the most impressive turnaround between rounds with an impressive 9 under 61 on Tuesday, 10 shots better than their previous round.

Matt MacConnell, DOG of the Madison Club and Assistant Professional Dillon Dougherty did their best to close the two shot gap on the Sorensen brothers by shooting another 8 under par 62. But the brothers refused to be denied, shooting a pair of 10 under par 60’s to win by 4 shots over MacConnell and Dougherty. Section PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

standout Michael Block from Arroyo Trabuco and Assistant Professional Bobby Nickell rounded out the top 3 with rounds of 63 and 62 for a two day total of 15 under par.

The Southern California PGA would like to thank all those who participated in this year’s Professional – Assistant Championship. Congratulations to Chi Choi of Monterey Park and Spencer Knightstep of the Madison Club who won trips to Ireland and Scotland respectively, courtesy of Garmany Golf & Travel. Thank you to supporting sponsors KBS Shafts, New York Life, and Garmany Golf & Travel and product sponsors Cutter & Buck, Ahead, NYX Sunglasses, Sterling Cut Glass, Pepsi, and Bass Pro Shops for their continued support of the Southern California PGA. Thank you as well to Anthony Holder, The Westin Mission Hills Resort, and their staff involved in hosting this year’s championship.

PROFESSIONAL-ASSISTANT CHAMPIONSHIP 1 Chad & Alan Sorensen, Buena Vista Golf Course, -20, $2,100 2 Matt MacConnell & Dillon Dougherty, The Madison Club, -16, $1,500 3 Bobby Nickell & Michael Block, Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, -15, $1,100 www.scpga.com

SENIOR SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP

PARUN CAPTURES SCPGA SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP The 2015 edition of the Southern California PGA’s Senior Championship was held on August 24th and 25th at Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, CA. The field at this year’s event was comprised of some strong players throughout the Section, ranging in age from 50 to 85 years old. The course was playing firm throughout the two day Championship and with warm temperatures in the upper 90’s made for a true test for the stacked field. The group of “experienced golfers” proved that tough conditions nor age is not factor in playing good golf. This statement was more than true for Tim Parun, PGA of The Loma Club who at the age of 55 shot back to back rounds of 69. Being two strokes down coming into the final round, Parun’s came out firing on the front nine of the final round, carding six birdies for a 31 and allowed him to climb back to the top of the leaderboard. The 6-under 138 total for the two days put Tim a mere stroke ahead of Starkjohann, who posted rounds of 70-69. Parun proved to be a birdie machine, knocking in 12 birdies over the 36 holes, with the most important coming on the final hole of the Championship. The victory was Tim’s second in the last five years at the Senior Section Championship, with his first coming in 2011. Congratulations and impressive playing Tim! The event also saw 11 SCPGA members successfully qualify for the 2015 Senior PGA Professional National Championship.

Congratulations to these players who competed at Bayonet and Black www.scpga.com

Horse on October 15-18: Tim Parun, PGA; Chris Starkjohann, PGA; Kurt Donahoo, PGA; Gary Sowinski, PGA; Joe Johnson, PGA; David Podas, PGA; Bruce Nakamura, PGA; Mike Miles, PGA; Gregory Casagranda, PGA; Roger Gunn, PGA and Eric Evans, PGA. Tim Parun, Chris Starkjohann, Mike Miles and Bruce Nakamura have qualified for the Senior PGA Championship on May 24-29 at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores.

A big thank you to the sponsors of the 2015 SCPGA Senior Championship: Mercedes-Benz, Yamaha, PGA Tour and Pepsi.

A special thank you to Huey Yu, Paul Hjulberg, PGA, and the rest of the staff at Oak Valley Golf Club for their gracious hospitality. Finally, we appreciate the time and dedication the Rules Officials give for each event and thank you to the following who assisted in the Senior Section Championship: Ron O’Connor, PGA, Ron Robinson, PGA, Gary Albin, Keith Reinking, Lee Wortman and John Etz.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SENIOR PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 1 Tim Parun, Barona Creek G.C., -6 2 Chris Starkjohann, Life Member Active, -5 T3 Kurt Donahoo, TaylorMade Golf Company, -3 T3 Gary Sowinski, The Hodges Golf Learning Center, -3 PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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25

DRIVE, CHIP & PUTT

DRIVE, CHIP & PUTT The 2015 Drive, Chip, and Putt Qualifying season has come to an end, as 80 participants competed at Torrey Pines Golf Course for the opportunity to qualify for a spot in the National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 3, 2016. Competitors traveled from California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, and Japan in order to fulfill the dream of a lifetime of competing at the legendary Augusta National Golf Club.

Eight (8) juniors from throughout the Western United States successfully shot their way through a series of Local, Sub-Regional, and Regional Qualifiers in order to earn their spot at the Bobby Jones masterpiece on Magnolia Lane. The champions included the following competitors: Adriel Luis Abaoag (Burbank), Nathan Sampson (Temecula), Eric Doyle (San Diego), Luke Trujillo (Colorado Springs), Caitlyn Chin (Greenwood), Leigh Chin (Irvine), Kayla Sam (Anaheim Hills), and Arielle Keating (Colorado Springs).

www.scpga.com

The once-in-a-lifetime experience was truly special for all involved, as The Golf Channel and Getty Images broadcasted their every move throughout the afternoon competition. Don’t miss out on next year’s Qualifying Season. Stay tuned to DriveChipandPutt.com for 2016 registration information. If you are interested in hosting a 2016 Qualifier, please contact Matt Gilson, SCPGA Section Office at MGilson@pgahq.com or 951-845-4653.

QUALIFIED

FOR 2016 DRIVE, CHIP & PUTT BOYS BOYS BOYS BOYS

7-9 Adriel Luis Abaoag: 108 pts 10-11 Nathan Sampson: 138 pts 12-13 Eric Doyle: 153 pts 14-15 Luke Trujillo: 129 pts

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS

7-9 Caitlyn Chin: 78 points 10-11 Leigh Chien 141 points 12-13 Kayla Sam: 133 pts 14-15 Arielle Keating: 118 pts

PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

GETTY PHOTOGRAPHY

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ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE AT SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES FOR SCPGA SECRETARY

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Ray Cutright, PGA

KBS Advisory Board Member 2014 PGA Golf Professional of the Year

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O

ne of the things I love about serving our Section is being asked to represent the SCPGA at local community events. In this case however, I never imagined the scope of what I was about to do. Any event that brings the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum’s caldron out of dormancy (last lit 31 years ago for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games) must be big! This was the Special Olympics World Games and it was truly special!

I was privileged to participate in the Unified Golf Experience at Griffith Park Golf Course. Unified Sports teams athletes with intellectual disabilities with other athletes in a friendly competition to promote inclusion and acceptance.

Unified Golf was the warm-up to the actual competition, but had no shortage of excitement. And as luck would have it, I was paired with two of the favorites to win their respective divisions; United States athletes Scott Rohrer and Garrett Stortz. I was truly impressed with their ball striking ability and their general outlook on, well, everything!

Just how good were they? Scott set a Special Olympics World Record by shooting 69 (-3) in the second round of competition. He followed it up with a third round 66 (-6), shattering the record he shot the day before. Obviously he won the gold with a 9-shot victory over a golfer from Sweden. Garrett won bronze in his division, carding a personal best 78 in round 2, tying it in round three and closing with PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

a final round 77‌another personal best! Both of these young men were truly an inspiration.

After playing with these athletes on Monday and getting daily updates from their parents following each round all week, I was asked to come back to be a presenter at the medal ceremony. My son Cooper and I had the privilege of presenting many athletes their medals, including some of the gold medals!

The most memorable moment was when the director of the Alaska Special Olympics Program told me that Garrett would like to receive his bronze medal from me; what an honor. To celebrate all the athletes was very touching, but having a personal connection with one of them made it truly remarkable. I made friends for life!

The week ended with the opportunity to attend the closing ceremonies. As the athletes marched in, they celebrated one another. You could feel the sense of accomplishment; their smiles said it all. Whatever their disability, they were there to do their best and they did. There was a true sense of sportsmanship, unlike anything I had ever experienced. Both Cooper and I felt lucky to have been part of this memorable competition. And as the flame was brought down to return it to its home in Athens we both felt what we were a part of; a special week for 6,500 remarkable athletes representing 177 countries who converged on Southern California to participate in the 2015 Special Olympic World Games. www.scpga.com

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

GOLF SCORECARDS

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Golfing in Gorilla Hair: Redefining a “Normal” Golf Course

By Nils Holst, Golf Scorecards

What does a golf course look like?

Ask ten random golfers and you’ll get a pretty good sense of what a “normal” golf course is supposed to look like: vibrant green grass punctuated by water hazards, flower beds and sand bunkers, all surrounded by a border of pristine deciduous trees.

On some level, this is what golfers are expecting when they play a course.

Here’s the problem: if you live in an area with little water, living up to this ideal is becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible.

The solution?

Redefine “normal.”

Brandon Delgado is the Head Professional at Carmel Mountain Ranch, an upscale public course about 30 minutes north of San Diego.

Surrounded by the bone-dry foothills of coastal Southern California, nobody needed to tell Delgado that California has a water problem.

“We’ve been in a drought for a few years,” said Delgado. “We knew something had to change.”

Carmel Mountain Ranch started working on a plan to reduce the amount of irrigated and maintained areas and give the course a more “desert-scape” appearance. The $4.4 million renovation, started in September 2014, didn’t touch the greens or fairways, but majorly altered other aspects of the course.

Their timing was impeccable: Governor Brown announced a mandatory 25 percent water reduction in April of this year, four months after they finished their renovation.

The course removed over 52 acres of turf, mostly rough, replacing it with decomposed granite and what Delgado calls “gorilla hair” – shredded redwood bark. The end result plays a lot like a waste bunker, Delgado said, and saves on both maintenance and www.scpga.com

water. The course also ripped out over 600 trees, replacing them with over 1,000 drought-tolerant plants.

Delgado said the changes will save over 40 million gallons of water per year, a 40 percent reduction from the course’s water usage in 2012.

Although Delgado wouldn’t phrase it as such, Carmel Mountain Ranch is helping to redefine what a “normal” golf course looks like. In an age of mandatory water restrictions, is it

reasonable to expect a New Englandstyle golf course in the middle of the desert?

The problem we run into is that many golfers connect the appearance of the course to their playing experience, when in most cases the two aren’t necessarily related. Part of our job is to convince golfers that you can have a good round of golf on a facility that isn’t traditionally maintained. Convincing golfers that gorilla hair is cool, or that perhaps they could enjoy a round on a course with a little less rough, will go a long way toward their acceptance of this new “normal.” And that acceptance, that new normal, benefits both you and the industry as a whole.

Fit Fix Studio is a personal training studio in Newport Beach, CA offering expanded servicing focusing on health, movement and Golf fitness.

The face of Golf is changing! To be a competitive golfer nowadays you must be Athletic as well as Skilled on the golf course.

Fit Fix Studio was founded by Roy Khoury, Titleist Performance institute, Level 3 Golf Fitness Instructor. Roy has been involved in the fitness industry for over 10 years focusing on injury prevention, strength and conditioning for athletes of all fitness levels.

"At Fit Fix Studio, we take our athletes and make sure they move well, have a solid base of strength and power, and address the physical skills needed to build great golf athletes.”

Roy expanded and has teamed up with more PGA Professionals in throughout Southern California including Glenn Deck, PGA of Pelican Hill GC, Tim Mitchel, PGA of Pelican Hill, Eric Lohman, PGA of Monarch Beach Golf Links, Sean Lanyi, PGA of Black Golf GC, Marc Marini, PGA of SeaCliff CC, etc. to collaborate and improve the quality of their shared athletes.

Fit Fix Studio is located at 3700 Campus Dr, Suite 100 in Newport Beach, CA. Our goal is to improve athletic functional and strength for golfers of all ages and skill levels.

Current programs offered include: 1 on 1 Golf Fitness for Men, Women and Juniors (by appointment only) o Titleist Performance Institute Movement Assessments and Strength and Power testing o K-Vest Swing Assessments o Injury Prevention o Increase Distance o Improve Accuracy Fit Fix Junior Fitness Programs (Starting in 2016) o Fit Fix Juniors focuses on developmental strength, balance, flexibility while reinforcing the principles of Golf o Spaces are limited so please call to reserve your space For More information contact Roy Khoury 562.316.6766 email fitfixstudio@gmail.com or visit www.fitfixstudio.com

PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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CALLING ALL YOUTH SPORTS COACHES! It's time for you to swing into action with TGA Premier Junior Golf and the SCPGA. We are looking for part-time coaches who love working with kids and have a passion for golf! You do not need to have prior golf teaching experience to apply, TGA provides all training necessary to teach classes and be successful.

TGA (Teach Grow Achieve) and the SCPGA run introductory programs at elementary schools, middle schools, and community centers, and recreational programs such as leagues and camps at golf courses. Opportunities are available throughout Southern California including the greater Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and Coachella Valley areas.

We offer part-time positions from 5-20 hours a week from $12$15 an hour. Coaches must pass a background and fingerprint check to teach classes and high school students can receive community service credits.

TO START GROWING GOLF WITH TGA AND THE SCPGA CONTACT: Greater Los Angeles: Matt Silver – silver@playtga.com Orange County: Anthony Leone – aleone@pgahq.com North County San Diego: Junko Suzuki – jsuzuki@pgahq.com Central San Diego: Kat Schwendeman - kschwendeman@playtga.com Coachella Valley: Ross Kvinge – rkvinge@playtga.com Conejo Valley: Branden Kornmaier – bkornmaier@playtga.com 32

PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

www.scpga.com

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

CLUB CAR

Golf cars enhancing the game, improving efficiencies, lowering overhead — welcome to the Connected™ future.

What’s happening at Club Car can only be described as revolutionary as the company now engineers a customizable solutions platform directly into its flagship golf car, the Precedent i3. Called Connected™ Technology, the cloud-based system streams information about your Connected fleet for access 24/7 from any device — pro shop PC, smartphone or tablet. For the first time, course personnel can tap into this information stream to know the location and condition of every car. And that’s just for starters.

Imagine being able to set cart pathonly access while watching your daughter’s soccer game, or spotting bottlenecks on the course before they begin to affect pace of play, and immediately messaging the slow group to pick up the pace. Action zones, cart control, geofencing, messaging and much, much more is possible.

Every Precedent i3 fleet arrives with standard Connected features included. Courses can customize their fleets by selecting from suites of features like Car Control, Car Tracking and Golfer Experience. Operators only pay for the features they need.

“We use all the features on a daily basis,” said Jeff Diehl, head golf professional at The Dye Club in North Myrtle Beach. “Car Tracking is a way for us to monitor many different things in our daily operations from pace of play to adherence to cart path rules and so on.

“Geo mapping allows us to keep people from some of the high mounding areas that Pete Dye has created, which has been invaluable in preventing injuries and damage,” Diehl continued. “When it’s wet, we block carts from entering Dye’s waste areas. That keeps the cars clean and saves us a ton in cleanup at the end of the day.”

The system records and stores operation data and mechanical conditions of each car, so courses can make informed business decisions to increase revenue, manage www.scpga.com

assets, reduce expenses and deliver a better experience. Diehl said he relies on the Car Control feature to monitor everything from rounds played to battery usage. “That information is vital to getting the proper rotation of the fleet so we don’t overuse some cars and underuse others.”

For the golfer, the system offers a full suite of game enhancement features— distance to the pin, food and beverage ordering, full-motion 3D flyovers and more.

Operators can directly message a single car, a group or the entire fleet. “We love the Tournament Scoring and Live Leader Board features,” Diehl said. “We actually use them a number of different ways like creating action zones with specific logos if it’s a corporate outing or live scoring for stroke play events. Many of our customers have begun requesting the Live Leader Board.”

Instead of waving goodbye on the first tee, operators can maintain contact with golfers for the full four to five hours of their rounds.

Courses choosing to market to the golfer have seen increases in food and beverage, merchandise sales and repeat rounds. “We have a number of bars and restaurants at Barefoot (Resort),” Diehl said. “We’ve found that by promoting specials to the golfer we can keep them on property after the round for drinks and meals. It’s wonderful.”

Courses that distinguish their product offering are finding they can thrive in today’s super-competitive business landscape. The Connected Technology in Precedent i3 is proving to be just the right tool for the job. “It’s a must if you want to give your members and guests the best possible product,” Diehl said. “This technology allows me to operate in such a way that it enhances the players’ experience, and that’s what keeps them coming back.”

PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE 6TH CIRCUIT PUTS

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

CLEAN WATER RULE ON HOLD NATIONWIDE

By GCSAA Southwest Regional Representative, Jeff Jensen, GCSA

On June 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) jointly released a rule to clarify protection under the Clean Water Act (CWA) for streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation’s water resources.

This new rule redefined “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) and what surface waters come under federal jurisdiction vs. state jurisdiction. For the golf industry, the rule potentially meant more permits for land management and spraying activities and increased costs and potential course management delays, as well as course operations coming under the umbrella of citizen action lawsuits.

The rule, which went into effect Aug. 28, lacked clarity and consistency and has been opposed by the golf industry since its inception (The final rule is available at http://www2.epa. gov/cleanwaterrule/final-clean-waterrule for anyone wishing to view the 75-page document in its entirety).

On Oct. 9, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit put on hold the implementation of the Clean Water Rule that went into effect on Aug. 28 (otherwise known as “WOTUS”). The stay is effective nationwide.

Legal activity has occurred simultaneously at the district and appellate court level on the validity of the WOTUS rule. The decision by the 6th Circuit does not change that. It does however stop – at least temporarily - any further implementation of the WOTUS rule until a final decision on its merits. In this latest filing, 18 states including OH, MI, TN, OK, TX, LA, MS, GA, WV, AL, FL, IN, KS, KY, NC, SC, UT and WI petitioned the 6th Circuit for a nationwide stay of the rule, citing the need to preserve the status quo as the merits of the rule are decided.

Following the process of making a full ruling, it can be appealed up to the Supreme Court.

The 6th Circuit ultimately made its decision on this fact:

"What is of greater concern to us, in balancing the harms, is the burden—potentially visited nationwide on governmental bodies, state and federal, as well as private parties— and the impact on the public in general, implicated by the Rule’s effective redrawing of jurisdictional lines over certain of the nation’s waters. Given that the definitions of “navigable waters” and “waters of the United States” have been clouded by uncertainty, in spite of or exacerbated by) a series of Supreme Court decisions over the last thirty years, we appreciate the need for the new Rule. In one sense, the clarification that the new Rule strives to achieve is long overdue. We also accept that respondent agencies have conscientiously endeavored, within their technical expertise and experience, and based on reliable peer-reviewed science, to promulgate new standards to protect water quality that conform to the Supreme Court’s guidance. Yet, the sheer breadth of the ripple effects caused by the Rule’s definitional changes counsels strongly in favor of maintaining the status quo for the time being."

GCSAA will continue to monitor the legal developments impacting the Clean Water Rule and update the industry at gcsaa.org. We will also continue to push for passage of legislation in Congress (S. 1140) to permanently stop the rule.

Jeff Jensen has served as the GCSAA Southwest Field Staff Representative since 2012 covering Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada.

Jeff’s responsibilities include serving as a liaison between GCSAA and its affiliated chapters, assisting chapters with developing and implementing best practices, expanding the superintendent’s role as being a leader in the golf community and government relations and advocacy.

www.scpga.com

Jeff Jensen, GCSA is the Southwest regional representative of the GCSAA. Jeff can be reached at 800.472.7878.

PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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The past two months have been nothing short of spectacular for the Northern Chapters own Chad Sorensen of Buena Vista Golf Course. On August 10th, he won the Chapter Championship by 10 shots at Rustic Canyon Golf Course with a two round total of -12 under. Then he won our Section Championship in September with a -1 total to win by 3 shots. As if that wasn’t enough Chad and his brother Alan just won the ProAssistant at The Westin Pete Dye with a -20 to win by 4. What a great run of golf for Chad and we are proud to have a Northern Chapter Member winning our Section Championship.

Desert Chapter

Summer in the Desert Chapter has come to a close and we are gearing up for another great season of golf. Many facilities are over-seeding their courses in preparation for our winter visitors.

The Desert Chapter Board would like to wish Jon Vesper, PGA a very successful move to the Northern Section as director of golf operations for Silverado Resort in Napa, California. Equally, we would like to congratulate Kendall Palu for being named our new Desert Chapter President. We’d like to welcome John Birchard, PGA as our new Board Member.

We have concluded our Callaway Summer Golf Series and we’d like to thank Kirby Pert, PGA for his sponsorship of our series.

Desert Willow Golf Resort will host the SCPGA Fall Teaching Summit on October 26-27, 2015.

For more information or to signup, go to SCPGA.com 36

Pinehurst Championship Date: December 17, 2015 Location: Indian Springs Golf Club Time: 12PM shotgun For more information about activities in the Desert Chapter, go to our Desert Chapter page on SCPGA.com

Dietsche! Paul defeated Randy 3 & 2 to capture this year’s title.

Congratulations Paul on your terrific play!

The Inland Empire would like to thank all the volunteers and rules committee members who take valuable time out of their lives to help make our events special.

Without your help our tournament schedule would not be what it is today… thank you so much!

The Inland Empire has had a terrific summer and we look forward to ending the year strong!

San Diego Chapter

Metropolitan Chapter

Chris Gilley has accepted the Head Golf Professional position at La Quinta Country Club. He will begin his new position on Oct. 1st.

Chris has been an integral part of the Chapter as well as the Board and we wish him and his family the best of luck.

Michael Block won the Chapter Championship held at South Hills C.C. Michael shot 13 under par in the 36-hole event to win by a convincing 9 shots.

Inland Empire Chapter

The Match Play Championship featured some terrific matches.

Twenty-One professionals entered the Championship looking to capture the prestigious title. After some very close matches the final four was determined. Randy Shannon vs Tyler Pritkin was one featured match while Paul Dietsche vs Andrew Cortez was the other.

Randy defeated Tyler while Paul defeated Andrew. The final match was set. The 2015 Inland Empire Match Play Champion is... Paul PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

The San Diego Chapter was a proud host to this year’s Section Championship and congratulations to the champion, Chad Sorensen.

We are also proud of our fellow chapter member, Tim Parun, for his Senior Section Championship victory!

We will have some team championships coming up this fall with a couple of ProfessionalAmateurs mixed in as we wind down for the year. Our Annual Meeting will be in November where we will hand out our Special Awards.

2015 CHAPTER CHAMPIONS

Northern Chapter

This year’s Tournament schedule will begin at our Annual Meeting Scheduled for December 2, 2015.

Annual Meeting & Pro-Pro event Date: December 2, 2015 Location: PGA West - Nicklaus Tournament Course Time: 12PM shotgun

METROPOLITAN CHAPTER Michael Block Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club

DESERT CHAPTER

Brent Smith Ivey Ranch Country Club

INLAND EMPIRE CHAPTER Kenny Pigman Goose Creek Golf Club

NORTHERN CHAPTER Chad Sorensen Buena Vista Golf Course

SAN DIEGO CHAPTER Grant Strobel Woods Valley Golf Club

www.scpga.com

LEADERSHIP COLUMN

small world... its a

By General Manager at SeaCliff Country Club, Robin Shelton, PGA As residents of Southern California, we have probably all seen the billboards and commercials to celebrate Disneyland’s 6oth anniversary. This diamond celebration provides a great excuse to make a return trip to “The Happiest Place on Earth.”

One of the most storied and popular rides (and also most crowded on a hot day) is It’s a Small World. The music, the relaxing boat ride, the colors, and celebration of different cultures and people draw some of the longest rides in the park.

As I was standing in line, I received a text from a friend saying ‘it’s a small world’ referring to a mutual colleague that we shared.

Standing in line with two ‘small world’ references did not lose its impact on me.

Our “small world” is filled with connections to other people and opportunities to improve professionally.

Studies have suggested that up to 80% of jobs are filled through networking and without getting posted. At the same time, our need to be better and more knowledgeable with a broader skill set and posses more abilities is greater than ever.

Increasing the size of ‘small world’ can be difficult, but here are some great options: • LinkedIn – Sales Author Jeb Blount says LinkedIn is “the most effective sales tool” in the market today. It also allows you to see who you know, that may know someone you want/need to know.

• Members and Guests – Many of our members and guests are extremely smart and successful people. I’ve asked to meet with many of them over coffee to ‘interview’ www.scpga.com

them. Some of the notes from those discussions have shaped my leadership strategy.

• Peers – Many of our peers are extremely smart and successful people – AND have been through some of the same exact things we are going through. Consider meeting with them, calling them while in the car, having coffee or forming a group.

• YouTube – One of my mentors told me that all “Leaders are readers.” If you’re not a reader (which is probably not true if you’ve made it this far in this article), consider TED Talks which have great inspirational messages.

• Other Organizations – The PGA has great educational opportunities and expanding your knowledge from other organizations such as the CMAA, GCSAA, USGA and LPGA provide great opportunities to network and increase your knowledge in related fields.

• Other Industries – Looking at other industries and people from other industries is a great way to get ideas that can be relevant to your Club. There are nearly 16,000 golf courses; and there are 51,000 hotels, 320,000 churches, and nearly 10 million domestic flights per year.

Consider increasing the size of your ‘small world’ to be more successful and in the ‘big world.’

JOIN THE

UNDER WEARNESS MOVEMENT

SUPPORT THE BLUE RIBBON

Robin Shelton, PGA, is an Southern California PGA Board Member and the General Manager at SeaCliff Country Club. Robin can be reached at rjshelton80@hotmail.com PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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TOURNAMENT RECAPS

SENIOR NORTH/SOUTH CUP MATCHES

August 3-4 | Santa Maria C.C. & Rancho Maria G.C. Day 1: Four-Ball Matches North: 8 South: 4 Day 2: Single Matches North: 12.5 South: 11.5 Total: North: 20.5 South: 15.5

WOMEN’S WOOD RANCH PLAY DAY August 3 | Wood Ranch Golf Club 1 Alison Curdt, Wood Ranch G.C., -3 2 Jennifer Bermingham, LPGA, E 3 Wendy Wisbon, Annandale G.C., +1

October 7-8| Crystalaire C.C. First Place Team Jerry Crowell, Goose Creek G.C., Todd Edwards, Dale Shaw, 261, $220 First Place Age Divisions Age 50-59 Jerry Crowell, Goose Creek G.C., 135, $450 Age 60-64 Jon Fiedler, Las Posas C.C., 143, $450 Age 65+ Fred Wood, Oceanside G.C., 146, $450

AAA CHAMPIONSHIP

AAA FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

August 13 | Vista Valley Country Club 1 Cavin McCall, Steele Canyon G.C. & Travis Gerrish, El Camino C.C., $600 2 Tyler Jeansonne, Pauma Valley C.C. & Josh Rider, The Santaluz Club, $340 3 Bobby Nickell, Arroyo Trabuco G.C. & Kenny Pigman, Goose Creek G.C., -7

WOMEN’S MATCH PLAY

September 22 | Palos Verdes G.C. Champion Reina Rogers, River Ridge G.C. Runner-Up Julie Wells Semi-Finalists Junko Suzuki, SCPGA, Bari Brandwynne, Los Angeles C.C.

Dear RO: In the second round of the recent Inland Empire Amateur Championship at Goose Creek Golf Club, I received a ruling on the dog-leg left par-4 sixth hole which was very confusing. In an effort to cut the corner across a portion of the lateral water hazard, I pulled my drive and it headed for the hazard. Upon reaching the area where I last saw the ball and seeing where the hazard margin was, there was no doubt in my mind my ball was in the hazard and decided to drop another ball behind the hazard, keeping the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard between me and the hole.

While walking to the green after playing my next shot, my fellow competitors gave me my original ball which they found outside the hazard 30 or 40 yards closer to the green. By the time we reached the green, we were quite perplexed as to what exactly to do – complete the hole with the dropped ball or go back and play out the hole with my original ball? Fortunately, there was a Rules Official nearby and we called him for assistance. He was very thorough in his questioning, particularly in regards to whether I was virtually certain my original ball was in the water hazard. Our discussion and his consulting with other Officials on his radio resulted in the decision my dropped was “my ball in play!”

A lengthy scenario but it justifies my question, “since my original ball was found outside the hazard, why couldn’t I play that ball?”

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SENIOR HIGH DESERT 2-DAY

October 8 | Candlewood Country Club 1 Micheal Nimtz, The Crosby, +1, $1,000 T2 Donald Pawloski, Rustic Canyon G.C., +2, $556.25 T2 Larry Correa, La Purisima G.C., +2, $556.25 T2 Cavin McCall, Steele Canyon G.C., +2, $556.25 T2 Raj Samra, Friendly Hills C.C., +2, $556.25

WOMEN’S TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

October 22 | Monarch Beach Golf Links 1 Jackie Kazarian, Monarch Beach Golf Links & Petra Cole, Torrey Pines G.C., -8, $450 2 Lee Huntley, Birman Wood G.C. & Bari Brandwynne, Los Angeles C.C., -5, $250 T3 Petra Cole, Torrey Pines G.C. & Alison Curdt, Wood Ranch C.C., -4, $72.50 T3 Kim Falcone, La Jolla C.C. & Julie Wells, -4, $72.50 Well R.M.: Thank you for your excellent explanation because it actually answered your question without you knowing it! USGA Decision 26-1/3.5 Ball Dropped Under Water Hazard Rule with Knowledge or Virtual Certainly; Original Ball Then Found Q. A Player’s ball is struck towards a water hazard. It is known or virtually certain that the player’s ball is in the water hazard, and he drops a ball under Rule 26-1b. Before he plays the dropped ball, his original ball is found within the five-minute search period. What is the ruling?

A. As it is known or virtually certain that the ball was in the water hazard when the player put the substituted ball into play, that ball was correctly substituted and he may not play the original ball. (second paragraph in this Decision discusses finding the original ball in the water hazard and how to proceed if it affects the reference point for proceeding under Rule 26-1) In the unlikely event that the original ball was found outside the water hazard, the player must continue with the dropped ball under penalty of one stroke (Rule 26-1).

In other words, although its unlikely, this happened and because of your virtual certainty you were allowed to play the dropped ball rather than proceed under USGA Decision 26-1/3 Ball Played Under Water Hazard Rule; Original Ball Then Found Outside Hazard (second paragraph under answer) In the absence of knowledge or virtual certainty that the original ball was in the water hazard, the player was required to put another ball into play under Rule 27-1 (Ball Lost).

PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

www.scpga.com

AAA SOUTH TEAM ANNOUNCED Kenny Pigman, PGA Michael Nimtz Raj Samra Donald Pawloski Cavin McCall Kyle Mendoza Larry Correa Michael Finney Bobby Nickell Travis Gerrish Josh Rider James Schacht 2-Day Ryder Cup style format at Hunter Ranch Golf Course on November 23 & 24.

MICHAEL BLOCK, PGA COMPETES IN THE PGA CUP The PGA Cup took place at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, CA September 18-20, 2015.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL SCPGA PROFESSIONALS NAMED

BY GOLF DIGEST – BEST TEACHERS IN CALIFORNIA: Dave Stockton, Stockton Golf Dave Phillips, TPI, Oceanside Phil Rodgers, The Grand Del Mar Carl Welty, The Grand Del Mar Derek Uyeda, The Grand Del Mar Kip Puterbaugh, Aviara Golf Academy Bob Knee, Aviara Golf Academy Bruce Nakamura, Aviara Golf Academy Jamie Puterbaugh, Aviara Golf Academy Jason Puterbaugh, Aviara Golf Academy Jamie Mulligan, Virginia C.C. Brady Riggs, Woodley Lakes G.C. Gregg McHatton, Vista Valencia G.C. David Wright, Wright Balance Bryan Lebedevitch, PGA West Academy Josh Myers, PGA West Academy Eddie Merrins, Bel-Air C.C. Tom Sargent, Mesa Verde C.C. Glenn Deck, The Resort at Pelican Hill Don Parsons, Don Parsons G. Instruction Don Brown, Harbor Golf Practice Center Chris Smeal, Stadium Golf Center Tom Wischmeyer, Stadium Golf Center Justin Hicks, Stadium Golf Center Roger Gunn, Tierra Rejada G.C. Ryan Kennedy, Oakmont C.C. Bob Madsen, Sycuan Golf Resort

VIEW 2016 CALENDAR! TO VIEW TOURNAMENTS AND EVENTS FOR THE 2016 YEAR VISIT SCPGA.COM -> CALENDAR www.scpga.com

ALISON CURDT IS NAMED SECTION NOTES 2015 LPGA TEACHER OF THE YEAR Alison Curdt of Wood Ranch G.C., congratulations from the SCPGA on this prestigious Award!

SAN DIEGO’S PGA JUNIOR LEAGUE TEAM AT MAKES IT TO NATIONALS

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

STAFF HIGHLIGHT STEPHEN MONDAY Stephen Monday grew up in La Verne, California and had a golf club in his hand at a very young age. His father, Dan, has been a PGA member since 1985 and it was his influence that got him started in golf and the golf business. Stephen has said from a young age that he has wanted to “follow in his father’s footsteps”, and pursue a career in golf. He has been fortunate to work in a broad array of areas within the business; starting off as an outside service employee at Sierra La Verne Country Club, to a club fitter at Roger Dunn Golf Shops, to assistant golf professional at Redlands Country Club and Menifee Lakes Country Club, and outside service manager at Friendly Hills Country Club. He joined the SCPGA staff in March 2015, and is looking forward to working with all the professionals in the section. When not in the office; you can catch him on the golf course, watching his favorite sports teams (Red Sox and Patriots), or spending the day with his fiancé, Brittlyn, at Disneyland.

PROGRAM MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE SCPGA FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS

YOUR LOCAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE

DAN HORNIG, PGA

WE HAVE THE RIGHT SUNGLASSES TO FIT YOUR GOLF SHOP NEEDS

FREE DISPLAYS SPECIAL SCPGA PRICING TOURNAMENT PRIZES BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

NYX AND KELE EYEWEAR DIRECT 800.505.4699 WWW.NYXEYEWEAR.COM DAN HORNIG, PGA 951.741.7265 25

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3333 CONCOURS ST, BLDG 2, STE 2100 ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA 91764 scpga.com scpgajrtour.com

SWAGGER?

That’s a gimme.

Between its sports-inspired styling, cockpit-like driver’s seat, and available 3.5-liter V6, the 2015 Sienna is sure to get the gallery gawking. Check one out at your SoCal Toyota dealer today.