PROPEAKS The Official Publication of the Colorado PGA August 2016
Core-Drevecky Named Golf Professional of the Year
AUG MONDAY
15
AUG TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY
PGA OUTDOOR DEMO EXPERIENCE & INSTRUCTIONAL WORKSHOP
CASCATA GOLF CLUB | LAS VEGAS, NV
16-17
PGA FASHION & DEMO EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION CONFERENCE
THE VENETIAN HOTEL | LAS VEGAS, NV
DRIVE YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD See golf’s top fashion brands, preview new apparel & test the latest equipment
Network in a relaxed setting focused on the business of golf
Build meaningful industry connections to move your business & career forward
Register for your complimentary badge PGALASVEGAS.COM STAY CONNECTED The PGA name, logos, and marks are a trademark of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America
5
President’s Report Congratulations to our Special Award Winners
District Director Report 6 2016 PGA Championship Recap 7 Woodard and Worthington: Pioneers for the Next Generation of African American Golfers Exec. Director’s Report 8 We Want to Hear From You! Sign up for a Round Table Today!!! Section News 9 Core-Drevecky Named Colorado PGA Golf Professional of the Year, Patterson PGA Teacher of the Year 11
Fall Meeting to Feature PGA President Derek Sprague
12 14
Colorado PGA HOPE Program to Benefit from LIFT23 Partnership
15
PGA of America News New Overtime Rule Will Impact PGA Members and the Golf Industry
16
Wisconsin’s Helminen a Stroke Shy of Goal
18
Member News Route 411 – Member Update
20
Quarter Century Feature CJ Parry, PGA Head Professional Glenoor Country Club
21
Pentti Tofferi, PGA General Manager-COO Country Club of the Rockies
22
Junior Golf News Pedal to the Metal Ott Puts Pedal to the Medal
23
Weinstein is on a Roll!
24
PGA JLG Wraps up Season
25
The Road to Augusta is a Family Affair
31
Fitzgerald Posts Fourth Pro Am Victory at The Club at Pradera
32
Keffer Double Dips at Pro-Lady Championship
35
Player of the Year Update
37
The Buzz Social Media Update
Section Partners 39 Partners
Tournaments 28 Grady Wins Assistants Championship in First Ever Section Event Last Chance to Register for the Colorado PGA Professional Championship
Save The Date August 8, 2016 Eisenhower Golf Club Pro Am Colorado Springs, CO
Keffer Wins Rain Shortened National Car Rental Pro Am Series
25 Drive, Chip and Putt Sub-Regional Championship Preview
29 TopGolf’s Secrets to Reaching Millenials, Women
August 1-2, 2016 National Car Rental Colorado PGA Assistant Professional Championship Legacy Ridge Golf Course Westminster, CO
31
JuSumne Newsletter
What’s Inside
August 8, 2016 West Chapter Stroke Play Eagle Ranch Golf Course Eagle, CO August 15-16, 2016 Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship Indian Peaks Golf Course Lafayette, CO
www.coloradopga.com
August 22, 2016 Cheyenne Country Club Pro Am Cheyenne, WY August 29, 2016 Greeley Country Club Pro Am Greeley, CO August 29, 2016 Aspen Glen Club Pro Am Carbondale, CO
3
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
The Official Magazine of the Colorado PGA Pro Peaks is produced by the Colorado PGA
Colorado PGA Officers
West Chapter Officers
Ty Thompson, PGA Vice-President | 2015-2016 Colorado Springs Country Club
Ed Marzec, PGA Vice-President | 2015-2016 Country Club of the Rockies
Ben Welsh, PGA Secretary | 2015-2016 Eagle-Vail Golf Club
Jeff Boyer, PGA Secretary | 2015-2016 Eagle Ranch Golf Course
Barry Milstead, PGA Honorary President | 2015-2016 Valley Country Club
Darren Szot, PGA Honorary President | 2015-2016 The Club at Cordillera
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Andy Benson, PGA | 2014-2016 Highlands Ranch Golf Club
Eric Bradley, PGA | 2014-2016 Eagle Ranch Golf Club
Sam Chapman, PGA | 2014-2016 Blackstone Country Club
Ian Bruce, PGA | 2014-2016 The Club at Cordillera
Rick Ellefson, PGA | 2015-2017 PGA Member
Jacques Deyoe, PGA | 2016-2018 Aspen Glen Club
Scott Erwin, PGA | 2015-2017 Maroon Creek Club
Eric Feely, PGA | 2014-2016 The Bridges Country Club
Kyle Heyen, PGA | District 9 Dir. Hiwan Golf Club
Brett Gagnon, PGA | 2016-2018 Red Sky Golf Club
Leslie Core-Drevecky, PGA President | 2015-2016 Murphy Creek Golf Course
Colorado PGA REACH Trustees
Mike Mendelson, PGA President | 2015-2016 City of Grand Junction
Spencer Zinn Chairman
Jim Hajek, PGA | 2015-2017 Fossil Trace Golf Club
CJ Rhyne, PGA | 2016-2018 GJ Golf
Charles ‘Vic’ Kline, PGA | Past District 9 Director Indian Tree Golf Club
Tim Tafoya, PGA | 2014-2016 Bookcliff Country Club
Cathy Matthews-Kane, PGA | 2016-2018 Country Club of Colorado Josh Miller, PGA | 2016-2018 GolfTEC Dave Troyer, PGA | 2016-2018 CommonGround Golf Course
Luke Brosterhous | 2016-2018 Catamount Ranch and Club
Anne Broholm CEO AHEAD Tom Bauerle Owner Colorado Golf and Turf Brad Dombaugh CEO PSA Worldwide Corp., INC. Walter Glover Former Chief Financial Officer USOC Theo Gregory Senior Vice President - El Pomar Foundation George Lee Managing Director – Investments Wells Fargo Scott McGraw Cherry Creek Insurance Group Vice President of Employee Benefits Honarable Sue Payton President SCI Aerospace Inc. Lisa Potvin Captain United States Navy LTG Ed Soriano, US Army (Ret) Director, Business Development Global Land Forces - Northrop Grumman Corporation
Staff
Executive Director/CEO Eddie Ainsworth, PGA eainsworth@ pgahq.com P (303) 996-1593 C (719) 761-6125 Assistant Executive Director Foundation Programs Keith Soriano, PGA ksoriano@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1590 C (720) 841-1006 Assistant Executive Director Section Programs Patrick Salva psalva@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1597 C (303) 246-1007 Tournament Director Justin Limon, PGA jlimon@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1588 C (720) 390-1160 Junior Golf Director Holly Champion, PGA hchampion@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1591 C (217) 232-1790 Executive Assistant Annie O’Donnell adonnell@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1595 Employment Consultant Bruce Lubach, PGA blubach@pgahq.com P | (623) 243-9199 C | (402) 802-8241
Bill Vogeney Executive VP and Chief Lending Officer Ent Federal Credit Union
Independent Directors Theo Gregory Spencer Zinn
Colorado PGA 6630 Bear Dance Drive | Larkspur, CO 80118 P | (303) 681-0742 www.coloradopga.com Pro Peaks is distributed free to members and affiliates of the Colorado PGA twelve times per year. The articles and other information contained within this publication are informational and do not necessarily represent the view or opinions of the Colorado PGA. The Colorado PGA 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 written permission of the Colorado PGA is prohibited.
4
Congratulations to Our Award Winners! By Leslie Core-Drevecky, PGA
Hello Fellow PGA Members & Apprentices, It’s hard to believe that August is already here and school is getting ready to start! I hope all of you have had a wonderful season so far! First of all, I would like to congratulate all the 2016 Colorado PGA Section Award winners! It’s truly an honor to be nominated by your peers and to receive recognition for all your hard work and dedication to not only your facility but to the Colorado Section as a whole. Please take time to read about all the award winners in the portion of this newsletter dedicated to them. I would like to wish all your Drive, Chip & Putt participants “good luck” if they qualified for the Sub Regional Qualifier that will be held at CommonGround Golf Course on Saturday, August 13th. It’s wonderful to see this program continue to grow in participation each and every year.
Leslie Core-Drevecky, PGA President Colorado PGA Head Professional Murphy Creek GC LCore@auroragov.org
Colorado Section Championship season is just getting underway. If you’re not playing, watch for tournament results for the National Car Rental Colorado PGA Assistant’s Championship at Legacy Ridge Golf Course on August 1st & 2nd, the Colorado Senior PGA Championship at Indian Peaks Golf Course on August 15th & 16th and the Colorado PGA Professional Championship at Cherry Creek Country Club on September 12th – 14th. Registration for the Section Championship closes on August 24th so don’t miss this important deadline. As always, we would love to hear from you. If you have any questions for the Section Officers, Board of Directors or Section Administration Staff, please don’t hesitate to contact any of us. Sincerely,
Leslie Core-Drevecky, PGA President – Colorado Section PGA Certified Head Golf Professional - Murphy Creek GC lcore@auroragov.org Direct Line -- 303-739-1562
www.coloradopga.com
10
Things to Know
1. The 2016 Fall Membership Meeting is set for Monday, October 17, 2016. Sign up today!
August Issue
President’s Message
2. Neil Johnson, a mini-tour verteran won the $100k first place prize at the CoBank Colorado Open. 3. The Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado, the joint junior golf initiative between the Colorado PGA and Colorado Golf Association, has more than 820 members in the first year of operation. 4. The West Chapter Championship is set for Monday and Tuesday, September 26-27, 2016 at Aspen Glen Club. 5. The Colorado PGA will host the Drive, Chip and Putt Sub-Regional Qualifier at CommonGround Golf Course on Saturday, August 13, 2016. 6. All four presentations from the 2016 G4 Summit are now available to view. 7. The registration deadline for the 2016 Las Vegas Pro Am is set for August 14, 2016. Sign up early as spots are filling up quickly! 8. The 2016 Colorado Junior Match Play Championship will take place at The Ridge at Castle Pines North the first week of August. 9. Sherry Andondian, PGA Instructor from Valley Country Club became the first female to compete in the CoBank Colorado Open when it was held at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, July 21-24, 2016, 10. adidas Golf is a presenting sponsor of the 2016 Pro Assistant Championship set for the Sanctuary on Monday, September 19, 2016.
5
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
District 9 Director Report
2016 PGA Championship Recap Woodard Joins Worthington at Baltusrol By Kyle Heyen, PGA
P
art of my role as a PGA Board Member is to represent our PGA Members at the PGA Championship, which was held at historic Baltusrol Golf Club, in Springfield, New Jersey, July 28 – Aug. 1. Upon checking in with the PGA Office on Tuesday morning, after a red-eye, cross-country flight, I walked out of the office, and to my surprise, I saw Tom Woodard, a legendary member of the Colorado PGA Section. It is always great to see a Colorado Section member at major PGA event, especially someone like Tom, who has made an incredible impact on the game.
Kyle Heyen, PGA District 9 Director
Tom Woodard, PGA Director of Golf at the Foothills Park and Redcreation District with Wyatt Worthington III, PGA. Worthington was the second African-American Club Professional to compete in the PGA Championship; Woodard was the first.
Tom explained to me that he was invited as a guest of the PGA of America. A true trailblazer, Tom was the first African-American Club Professional to earn a berth in the PGA Championship (1991), by advancing from the PGA Professional Championship to meet with the second African-American ever to do so, Wyatt Worthington II.
PGA of America Head Professional Hiwan Golf Club
Worthington qualified by finishing in the top 20 at the PGA Professional Championship at Turning Stone Resort in June. Tom followed Worthington during his practice round, offering insight on playing the course from when Woodard competed in the 1993 U.S. Open at Baltusrol. A little history from when Tom knocked down the door a generation ago…The PGA of America was a year removed from Shoal Creek, a watershed moment in golf’s own Civil Rights history, which would propel the PGA of America (and later, all major championships) to declare from that day forward that it would only conduct its Championships at courses that promoted and practiced policies of inclusion. This would serve as the turning point for diverse
6
policies to begin to be woven into the fabric of the game. As Woodard competed in 1991, John Daly rose from the ninth alternate slot at Crooked Stick, to capture America’s heart and the PGA Championship. Woodard, a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, University of Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame and the National Black Golf Hall of Fame, competed on the PGA Tour and is now the PGA Director of Golf at Meadows Golf Course in Littleton, Colorado. Tom, the Colorado Section and the PGA of America are proud of your accomplishments both on and off the golf course. I hope everyone has had a great summer of golf, your tee sheets are full, and you are getting a few rounds of golf in for yourself. If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call or email me at kah5@me.com. Sincerely,
Kyle Heyen National PGA Director, District 9 Head Professional, Hiwan Golf Club kyle@hiwan.com
Woodard and Worthington II: Pioneers for the Next Generation of African-American Golfers by Michael R. Abramowitz PGA of America
I
t was a meeting 25 years in the making . . . and one for the ages.
On Wednesday morning, Tom Woodard—the first African-American Club Professional to earn a berth in the PGA Championship (1991) by advancing from the PGA Professional Championship—met with the second African-American ever to do so, Wyatt Worthington II. Worthington teed off in the opening round of the 98th PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, today. When Woodard knocked down the door a generation ago, the PGA of America was a year removed from Shoal Creek, a watershed moment in golf’s own Civil Rights history, which would propel the PGA of America (and later, all major championships) to declare from that day forward that it would only conduct its Championships at courses that promoted policies of inclusion. This would serve as the turning point for diverse policies to permanently be woven into the fabric of the game. As Woodard competed in 1991, John Daly rose from the ninth alternate slot at Crooked Stick to capture America’s heart and the PGA Championship. Grip it and rip it was born. And so was a path for future African-American PGA Club Professionals, which Woodard was quietly paving. After all, he knew how to blaze trails—he was already the first African-American to gain NCAA All-American honors (honorable mention), while playing at the University of Colorado in Boulder. One of the first African-American Evans Scholars, Woodard graduated in 1977, with a stroke-play average that was the second lowest in school history at the time (just over 75), behind three-time U.S. Open Champion Hale Irwin. Woodard is the proud owner of the low round at City Park Golf Course in Denver, where he delivered an 11-under par 61, in 1988. And then he was the co-founder of The First Tee in Denver. “Pioneer!” Worthington, 29, a PGA Teaching Profes-
sional at The Golf Depot at Central Park in Gahanna, Ohio, repeatedly exclaimed in Woodard’s ear shot Wednesday. “Pioneer!”
Woodard, a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, University of Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame and the National Black Golf Hall of Fame, competed on the PGA Tour and is now the PGA Director of Golf at Meadows Golf Course in Littleton, Colorado.
August Issue
PGA of America News
He followed Worthington during his practice round, offering insight on playing the course from when Woodard competed in the 1993 U.S. Open at Baltusrol. “I shot 72 in the U.S. Open (first round),” said Woodard. “It was one of my best rounds ever, but the course has changed. Basketball and football, the arenas are the same, but in golf it’s different.” Meanwhile, Worthington credits a lesson he received from Tiger Woods during a golf clinic in Columbus, Ohio, exactly 15 years ago Friday, for inspiring him to a career in golf. “That clinic changed my life for the better,” said Worthington. “Here I am, now. The proof is in the pudding. Meeting Tiger was such a positive experience. He has such an influence on people.” The host PGA Professional of that clinic, Gerry Hammond, remains Worthington’s golf coach today. Hammond is happy for Worthington’s sudden fame, with features on CBS, Golf Channel, CNN World Sport, New York Times, Golf Digest, et all. Yet, he wants Worthington to remain focused on competing in the PGA Championship. “He’s getting enough practice in,” conceded Hammond, as he waited for Worthington on the practice green Wednesday. “He’ll be ready.” In fact, the day before, while recording a putting tip that will air on TNT’s PGA Championship broadcast on Friday (in commemoration of the seminal moment when Tiger unknowingly inspired Worthington to dream about a career in the game), Worthington aced his “tee drill” from seven feet out – sinking a remarkable 15 putts in a row, during the taping. Woodard believes that Worthington is ready to serve as a role model for the next generation. Continued on next page.
www.coloradopga.com
7
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
Executive Director’s Message
We Want to Hear from You! Sign up for a Round Table today!!! By Eddie Ainsworth, PGA
My Fellow Colorado PGA Professionals, I can’t believe that it is already August! Hopefully the season has been a great one for you, your family, and your facility. For your Section Staff it has been one very busy season up to this point with the addition of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado, an increased participation in PGA Junior League and the Drive, Chip, Putt Championship, and now is the time that our Section Championships begin.
Eddie Ainsworth, PGA Executive Director Colorado PGA eainsworth@pgahq.com P | (303) 996-1593 C | (719) 761-6125
I’m certain that many of your operations are like us in already focusing on 2017 with scheduling tournaments, programs, budgeting, etc., and most importantly meeting the needs of your membership and customers. Serving you, our PGA Members is always our highest priority in all we do. That is why we need your assistance in insuring that we are meeting your needs as a Colorado PGA Member and Apprentice. Recently, many of you took the opportunity to complete Section Operations Survey which has provided us with quite a lot of useful information. As a follow up to this survey we would welcome the opportunity to meet with as many of you in-person to hear from you on a more personal level on how best we can serve you as a Section. That is why we have put together a far reaching Section Roundtable schedule from August through October. I hope you will take the opportunity to meet with your Section Staff, Officers, Section Leaders,
and fellow Colorado PGA Professionals during one of these roundtables to network with your fellow Colorado PGA Professionals and discuss together how we can better support you as a Member of the Colorado Section PGA. These meetings, along with the Membership Survey will go a long way in providing our Board of Directors the necessary input in shaping our direction for 2017 and beyond. In closing, I would like to congratulate all of our 2016 Colorado Section PGA Award Winners. Each and every year our Special Awards Committee does an outstanding job in selecting the best of the best in Colorado, and this year’s list is no exception. These outstanding men and women make us all so very proud of what all of our Colorado PGA Professionals do each and every day. Lead the way!!! I hope that all of you are doing well and look forward to hopefully seeing you at either a Section Championship, Section Roundtable, or our upcoming Fall Meetings. Please let us know how we may be of assistance to you. All the Best! Very Respectfully,
Eddie Ainsworth, PGA Executive Director/CEO Colorado PGA 6630 Bear Dance Drive Larkspur, CO 80118 eainsworth@pgahq.com O – 303-996-1593 M – 719-761-6125
Continued from previous page “He’s a good guy,” said Woodard. “And he’s got good odds of making it one day as a Tour pro. He’s got the personality and golf game, so the sky is the limit. A good golf game with a good personality can take you a long way.” By advancing to the PGA Championship, Worthington also became the first African-American graduate of the PGA Golf Management University Program (Methodist University) to compete in the major championship. So, the pioneer’s undeniable heir appears ready for his defining moment in the PGA Championship sun, a clear passing of the torch that Worthington has readily embraced. “I’m proud of it,” declared Worthington.
8
Core-Drevecky Named Colorado PGA Golf Professional of the Year, Patterson PGA Teacher of the Year Recipients to be Honored at November 4, 2016 Awards Gala
L
eslie CoreDrevecky, the PGA Head Professional at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado has been named the 2016 Colorado PGA Golf Professional of the Year. The highest honor given annually by the Colorado PGA, the Golf Professionals of the Year award goes to a member for overall performance including leadership, service and promotion of the game of golf.
Core-Drevecky, a PGA Member for 23 years and a Certified PGA Professional in Golf Operations and General Management, has a long history of service to both the Colorado PGA and the PGA of America. In 2014 Core-Drevecky became the first woman elected President of the Colorado PGA after having served six years on the Board of Directors where she chaired the Finance and Foundation Committees as the VicePresident of the Section. She earned recognition as a two-time recipient of the Colorado PGA Horton Smith Award for outstanding and continuing contributions in developing and improving educational opportunities for the PGA golf professional. In addition to her success on the section level, Leslie has served two terms on the PGA of America Education Committee. During her time as President of the Colorado PGA the section has taken strides forward when it comes to growing the game. In 2015 she led the re-organization of the Foundation to include a Board of Trustees that includes a number of prominent business people, all dedicated to supporting the three pillars of the organization; Youth Development, Supporting Our Military and Diversity and Inclusion. In 2016 she helped foster the development of the Junior Golf Alliance of
Colorado, an initiative between the Colorado PGA and Colorado Golf Association that embraces the core programs of each association including Golf in Schools, PGA Junior League, Drive Chip & Putt Championship, partnerships with in-state national qualifying events, instructional camps and clinics and much more. And this past year she helped launch the Colorado PGA Women’s Championship which drew PGA and LPGA Professionals together for not only 36 holes of championship golf but also two days of networking and comradery.
August Issue
Section News
Steve Patterson, PGA Instructor from Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, Colorado was named the 2016 Colorado PGA Teacher of the Year for his “outstanding services as a golf teacher, innovator and coach.” Patterson, a PGA Professional since 1993, became a PGA Certified Professional in Golf Instruction and Golf Operations in 2008. Patterson focuses a majority of his time on junior golf and uses the philosophy that improving his student’s game begins with establishing goals with each student regarding an approach that encompasses a mutual commitment to the learning process. Winning a Section Award isn’t new to Patterson. In 2000, while serving as the Head Professional at Winnetka Country Club, he earned the Illinois PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award for outstanding integrity, commitment to mentoring PGA Professionals and for having made a significant impact on the careers of PGA Professionals. And in 2001 he earned the Illinois PGA Youth Player Development Award. “The Colorado PGA is proud to recognize the 2016 Section Award Winners. These amazing men and women have separated themselves as this year’s top
www.coloradopga.com
9
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
Section News
professionals in our esteemed section given their dedication to the game, the players and service to their community and fellow PGA Golf Professionals,” said Colorado PGA Special Awards Committee Chair Jim Hajek, PGA. “The awards committee was challenged this year once again with a remarkable group of deserving candidates making the selection process that much more difficult,” finished the Fossil Trace Golf Club Head Professional. The 12 recipients of the 2016 Colorado PGA Special Awards includes: Golf Professional of the Year Leslie Core-Drevecky, PGA Murphy Creek Golf Course, Aurora, CO Teacher of the Year Steve Patterson, PGA Hiwan Golf Club, Evergreen, CO Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Brad Gannaway, PGA Colorado Springs Country Club, Colorado Springs, CO Bill Strausbaugh Award Dale Smigelsky, PGA Collindale Golf Course, Ft. Collins, CO Horton Smith Award Mark Bacheldor, PGA UCCS PGA-PGM, Colorado Springs, CO
Warren Smith Award Craig Parzybok, PGA Fox Hollow Golf Course, Lakewood, CO Player Development Award Trent Wearner, PGA Trent Wearner Golf Academy, Englewood, CO Youth Player Development Award Katie Milstead, PGA The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch, Denver, CO Private Merchandiser of the Year Greg Bryan, PGA Roaring Fork Club, Basalt, CO Resort Merchandiser of the Year Rich Parker, PGA Kissing Camels Club, Colorado Springs, CO Public Merchandiser of the Year Mark Pfingston, PGA The Golf Club at Bear Dance, Larkspur, CO
President’s Award Ed Mate Colorado Golf Association, Denver, CO Look for more details on each award winner in the weekly ChipShots email.
Susie Wargin to Serve as Awards Gala Emcee S
usie Wargin, former emmy-winning 9News Sportscaster will be the emceee for the 2016 Colorado PGA Special Awards Gala, set for Friday, November 4, 2016 at Colorado Golf Club. Wargin, who these days makes her living as a real estate professional, was the 2007 Todd Phipers Media Award winner for the Colorado PGA. A 4th generation native of Colorado, Susie was born in Denver and grew up in Broomfield. She graduated from Broomfield High School in 1988. Two years after graduating from Colorado State University in 1992, Susie met her husband Mike. From their first date in Fort Collins, they were hooked and have been together ever since.
Susie and Mike have lived in Douglas County since 1999. They have two children, Justin and Samantha and stay very busy between a multitude of kid activities, Susie’s passion for triathlon and Mike’s love for playing cards. There is never a dull moment in their house.
10
Fall Meeting to Feature PGA President Derek Sprague Dow Finsterwald to be Guest of Fireside Chat
P
GA of America president Derek Sprague will attend the 2016 Colorado PGA Fall Membership Meeting. Sprague is the Managing Director of Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was formally elected as PGA President at the 2014 PGA Annual Meeting. Previously, Sprague served as PGA Vice President and PGA Secretary. For 27 years, Sprague served as General Manager and Director of Golf at Malone (N.Y.) Golf Club, his hometown course, where he was involved with all aspects of the facility’s operations. In 2016, Sprague was named Managing Director of Liberty National and is now a member of the New Jersey PGA Section. Since 1998, Sprague has held leadership roles at both the national and Section levels. He was a member of the PGA Board of Directors from 2007-10, and well as a number of key PGA Committees. Sprague began service on the Northeastern New York PGA Board of Directors in 1998, and served as Section President from 2003-2004. Sprague will offer a “state of the industry’’ update on the current mission and vision of a national organization with nearly 28,000 members. In addition to Sprague, Dow Finsterwald, the 1958 PGA Champion and longtime Director of Golf at The Broadmoor will be the featured guest during a fireside
August Issue
Section News
chat following the meeting. For 28 years Dow Finsterwald served as director of golf at The Broadmoor, succeeding Ed Dudley. Dow won 12 PGA Tour events, including the 1958 PGA Championship the first year it went to medal play. Finsterwald lost in the finals of match play the year before to Lionel Hebert. Dow won the Vardon Trophy (70.30 stroke average) in 1957, was 1958 PGA Player of the Year, and lost the 1962 Masters title in a playoff to best friend Arnold Palmer. Dow made the Ryder Cup teams of 1957, ‘59, ‘61 and ‘63; captained the 1977 Ryder Cup team; was a member of the PGA Tournament Committee 1957-59; was a PGA of America vice-president 1976-78; served on the USGA Rules of Golf Committee 1979-81; and has been a member since 1979 of the Masters Tournament Rules Committee. All of that underscores the respect in which he is held for his judgment and playing abilities. In 2006, Dow was inducted into the PGA of America Golf Professional Hall of Fame, and two years later he went into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. For more information or to register for the event, please click here.
www.coloradopga.com
11
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine 12
Colorado PGA REACH News
Colorado PGA HOPE Program to Benefit from LIFT23 Partnership
T
he Colorado PGA and the Colorado PGA REACH Foundation are happy to announce a new partnership with Lift 23. LIFT23, a premium sock and apparel company, is partnering with Colorado PGA REACH, the philanthropic arm of Colorado PGA, to promote and support the Supporting Our Military pillar of Colorado PGA REACH. LIFT23, whose motto is “Performance with Purpose,” develops sport-specific merino wool blend performance socks and is committed to furthering a social mission specific to each sport. LIFT23 recently rolled out its golf socks and has partnered with PGA Reach to promote and support PGA HOPE – Helping Our Patriots Everywhere, a therapeutic program to aid in the rehabilitation process for disabled Veterans. For every pair of golf socks sold, LIFT23 alternates between donating a pair of socks to a Veteran recovering in a local VA hospital, and donating a portion of its profits to the PGA HOPE program. LIFT23 launched this program in the NY Met section one month ago, and their socks are already being sold in over 30 golf shops (Winged Foot, Westchester CC, Wykagyl, Century, Garden City, etc).
LIFT23 was started by Ed Del Guercio in 2014, a former PGA assistant at Westchester Country Club and an avid golfer and skier. LIFT23 began by selling ski/snow socks, and for every pair of those socks sold, it donates a pair of socks to one of the 23,000 homeless children in the NYC shelters. (Hence the name “Lift” to lift the spirits of homeless children, and “23” for the 23,000 children.) You can learn more about LIFT23 at www. lift23.com Locally, LIFT23 is represented by Zach Ledvina and he can be reached at Zachary.Ledvina@aheadsales.net About LIFT23 LIFT23 is a premium sock and apparel company that is committed to a social mission. The goal is to lift the spirits of those in need. For every pair of socks purchased, LIFT23 will donate a pair of socks to a charity. LIFT23 has established partnerships with many great charitable organizations including the New York Department of Homeless services, PGA Hope, EAC Network and many others.
Did You Know...
Yamaha LIFT23’s golf socks are made from a light-weight me-has the highest retention rate of any rino wool that is triple washed for golf car vendor? unmatched softness and comfort. They are naturally moisture wickDid You Know… ing and anti-microbial. LIFT23 As verified by a recent National Golf Foundais happy to send you a pair to Yamaha is the only golf car manufacturer to offer 4 different tion survey, 91% of the car custry for yourself. The company models? Yamaha Yamaha offers an ACretains and DC powered electric and offers 6 different peds, 3 men’s who utilize their product. atomers carbureted and fuel injected gas car. This ensures we will have a and 3 women’s. All orders will fleet car to fit your course’s needs. be accompanied by a framed point-of-purchase display. To place an order online, please click LIFT23’s very easy online order form LIFT23 ONLINE STORE.
August Issue
FOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION.
www.hiousa.com 800.383.7273 dcn@hiousa.com
ANY DAY IS A GREAT DAY FOR PATRIOT GOLF DAY, SO YOU CAN RUN THIS PROMOTION ON ANY DAY OR OVER MULTIPLE DAYS. YOU CAN RUN THIS PROMOTION DURING REGULAR PLAY TEE-TIMES, AT A CLUB EVENT OR DURING AN ORGANIZED TOURNAMENT. WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOUR CLUB RAISE MORE MONEY FOR THE FOLDS OF HONOR!
BACK
FRONT
SIGN YOUR CLUB UP FOR THE BAG TAG PROMOTION Any golfer that donates $25 or more will receive a Commemorative Folds of Honor Bag Tag and also have the opportunity to win $5,000 in a Hole-in-One Contest. Hole-in-One U.S.A. will donate the cost of the Hole-in-One Contest to any club that signs up with a minimum order of 50 bag tags. You are responsible for the initial investment of the bag tags, but you will make that money back through the donations that you accept. The promotion is designed to have zero cost for your club, while making it easy for you to raise almost $1,000 for the Folds of Honor Foundation.
www.coloradopga.com
13
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
PGA of America News
New Overtime Rule Will Impact PGA Members and the Golf Industry While the rule is to formally take effect on Dec. 1, legal challenges could delay it from the new rule. And while it can raise income levels
T
he U.S. Department of Labor delivered its highly anticipated final rule on the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) on May 18, which redefines eligibility standards for overtime. The rule increases the pay ceiling under which salaried executive, administrative, and professional workers can earn overtime pay for working more than 40 hours per week. The new rule slightly more than doubles the threshold to $47,476 ($913 per week) from $23,660 a year ($455 per week) for non-exempt employees, which the Department of Labor established in 2004. The new threshold also can be adjusted every three years for wage growth over time. The rule partially addresses concern from groups, including the golf industry, that bonuses and incentive payments can count up to 10 percent of the new salary level. According to the PGA’s Research Department, 33.6 percent of active PGA Class A members and 84.3 percent of apprentices earn less than $47,500 in total compensation. In addition, as encouraged by the golf industry, the “white collar duties test” was left intact, meaning that workers above the salary ceiling cannot become eligible for overtime by performing hourly-type wage duties. This part of the rule comes as relief to many small businesses, which were concerned that high salaried workers could gain access to overtime wages. The rule will formally take effect on Dec. 1. However, there are several legal challenges expected that could delay the rule from implementation or overhaul it entirely. The potential implications for both employees and small businesses are dramatic, as the Labor Department says approximately 4.2 million people will benefit
for hourly workers who work more than 40 hours a week (at time-and-a-half for the excess hours), it can also put a tremendous burden on a business to account for these extra expenses.
For example, the ruling could cause businesses to closely monitor hours of employees or eliminate staff to pay for the extra expenses. Theoretically, consumers who would benefit from higher pay— including salary increases higher than the overtime threshold—could also simultaneously feel a hit in the form of higher prices to keep pace with pricing pressures. Consequences of the Ruling Last September, the PGA of America, Club Managers Association of America, National Golf Course Owners Association, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and the National Club Association issued a joint letter to the Department of Labor. The golf industry stated then that the rule would reshape the compensation structure for PGA Professionals and could harm their employment opportunities. Many PGA Professionals earn a salary of less than $47,476, yet their club allows them to retain fees from lessons, junior golf, and other golf programs. If all commissions and outside fees are not included in salary, the concern is that clubs will need to reconsider how they compensate their employees. The rule could also force clubs to increase golf fees. This will impact access to golf and harm growth of the game. Golf clubs will need to consider the impact of the rule when they prepare their budgets for the end of the year and 2017. Thus, it is important to educate PGA Professionals now about the rule, so they can consider it in their strategic and budget planning.
Overtime Rules Highlights Beginning Dec. 1, 2016, the rule guarantees time-and-half pay to any salaried employee earning under $47,476 a year ($913 a week) and who works more than 40 hours in a week. That’s double the current salary threshold of $23,660 ($455 a week). Bonuses and incentive payments can count up to 10 percent towards salary level determination. There was no change in the “white collar duties test.” Workers who earn more than $47,476 cannot earn overtime, due to them performing duties of an hourly worker. Automatically updates the salary threshold every three years, tying it to the 40th percentile of full-time salaried workers in the lowestincome Census region (currently the South). The first update would be Jan. 1, 2020. Based on current wage trends, the DOL projects a salary threshold of $51,000 by Jan. 1, 2020. Legal challenges are expected.
14
Topgolf’s Secrets to Reaching Millennials, Women by Jeehae Lee, Topgolf Director of Business Strategy
The golf industry has watched the meteoric growth of the golf entertainment company, Topgolf, with hopeful interest and excitement. With 27 venues worldwide including the new flagship venue in Las Vegas and more to open in 2016, Topgolf expects that over 12 million guests will visit and play in 2016. Perhaps most exciting for the growth of golf is the fact that Topgolf has been able to attract two demographics that have been identified as primary growth areas for golf: millennials and women. According to the National Golf Foundation and its 2015 U.S. Golf Participation Report, only 24 percent of the 24.1 million golfers are female and fewer than 30 percent are millennials. Onboarding more women and millennials to golf and keeping them engaged in the game would have a major impact on the current and future participation in golf. With 57 percent millennial and 32 percent female guests, Topgolf has clearly removed barriers that have kept these groups from traditional golf. Further, according to a recent study by the NGF, more than 50 percent of all Topgolf guests have expressed that interest in playing traditional golf has been positively influenced by their Topgolf experience, demonstrating the company is an ideal access point through which people are experiencing golf. However, to truly grow the game of golf, these casual visits and first swings need to convert to golfers who will develop their skills and potentially play traditional golf. To address this challenge, Topgolf recently reinvented its instructional program, Topgolf U. Topgolf looked to trends outside the golf industry to innovate in the golf instructional space and found inspiration from group fitness classes popular among women and millennials. The result of months of research and incubation was a new product called the Topgolf U Class, which combines the convenience and flexibility of regularly scheduled group classes open for drop-ins and a social atmosphere that removes the intimidation or tedium of 1-on-1 lessons, all at a price point of $29 per class. In less than three months, the new Topgolf U has been wildly successful in reaching women and millennials. In the last year, classes and group lessons have experienced organic growth of 650 percent. Preliminary data shows that almost all — 90 percent — of its class and group lesson students are new to golf or considered beginners, and 65-70 percent of those students are women. This year, Topgolf is expected to teach more than 15,000 students through classes and group lessons and more than 60,000 students through all types
June Newsletter
PGA of America News
of lessons. So, what can others learn from Topgolf U’s success? 1. Make it affordable. Create an entry-level instructional product with a price point that appeals to the masses. Reach out to people who may be interested but aren’t yet committed to learning the game. Learning should be as easy and accessible as possible. 2. Make it fun. Women, especially, are less intimidated by the game when they can learn with others in a social environment accompanied by music, food, and beverage. 3. Make skills development its own game. Build a “game outside the game” to keep beginners motivated. Think of ways to gamify skill development, tracking students’ progress outside of 18 holes. Topgolf has a unique advantage with its game system, but there are ways to create skills challenges that can be more motivating than breaking 100 — a goal that may take players years of practice to achieve. Jeehae Lee is Topgolf’s Director of Business Strategy and will be speaking on this topic at the 2016 Golf Inc Summit, Sept. 14-16 at Barton Creek Resort in Austin, Texas. Prior to Topgolf, she spent five years as a player on the LPGA Tour, competing in 25 U.S. states and 17 countries while averaging about 25 tournaments per season. Follow Jeehae on Twitter at @jeehaeda.
15
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
PGA of America News
Wisconsin’s Helminen a Stroke Shy of Goal by Bob Denney - PGA of America SPRINGFIELD, N.J. – Ryan Helminen of Menasha, Wisconsin, had an eerily similar stretch run, in an attempt to make the cut in a PGA Championship. In 2014, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, Helminen needed a birdie on the 18th green in the twilight. On Friday, as twilight approached Baltusrol Golf Club in the 98th PGA Championship, Helminen needed an 18th hole birdie to make the 36-hole cut of 2-over-par 142. His 50-foot birdie putt came up just short of the mark in his third consecutive PGA Championship appearance, and as one of 20 PGA Club Professionals in the 156-member world-class field, tied for the strongest assembled in 30 years with the 2012 PGA Championship. A total of 86 players made the cut. “I got off to a good start, but my ballstriking wasn’t very good today. I hit everything left, and it put too much pressure on my short game,” said Helminen, a 41-year-old PGA Teaching Professional at Ridgeway Country Club in Neenah, Wisconsin. “I got in a bunker on 6, and left it in the bunker. I made some great up-and-downs to get the round going. I had a great birdie putt on 14, missed that. A two-footer to save par on 15, missed that. Bogeyed 16, and then made a great birdie on 17. Had a chance on 18 for birdie, but snapped the second shot. I wanted it too bad.”
For Helminen, it was little consolation that he once again barely lost out on his dream of being Low Club Professional in the PGA Championship. “It’s definitely doable, but it’s too bad I make the same mistakes,” said Helminen. “It’s hard not to think about it. It was something I wanted to accomplish.” Ben Polland, a PGA Assistant Professional at Deepdale Golf Club in Manhasset, New York, endured the best and worst of times during his 3-over-par 73, to miss the cut by two strokes. Beginning play on the back nine, Polland cruised along with three consecutive birdies on Holes 16, 17 and 18, which vaulted him to 1-under par for the Championship. Then, his momentum came to a halt with bogeys at Holes No. 1 and 3. His chances to make his first cut in a major championship effectively ended with a triple bogey 7 on the seventh hole. “I guess I had more of an awareness of where I was, and a little nervous, and the tee shots got a little shaky,” said Polland. “I was driving the ball great up to making the turn. The putting and short game was pretty good, but l let a few tee shots get the best of me.” It was Polland’s second consecutive PGA Championship appearance. “I look at it as another check in the experience column for me,” said Polland. “I feel that I’m learning a lot being out here.” Continued on page 23
He finishes with some impressive company, just one stroke over the cut line, in a group that included 2012 and 2014 PGA Champion Rory McIlroy and 2009 PGA Champion Y.E. Yang, as well as Victor Dubuisson, Luke Donald, Chris Kirk, Scott Piercy and Chris Wood. Twenty PGA Professionals competed in the 98th PGA Championship held at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey.
16
August Issue Davis Love Jr. PGA Professional
There is no typical day for a PGA Professional, but it all adds up to thanks. In honor of our centennial year, the PGA of America celebrates PGA Professionals everywhere – for everything they do. Say thanks to your PGA Pro at PGA.com/ThxPGAPro.
www.coloradopga.com
17
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
Member Update
Route 411
An update on our Colorado PGA Members
Happy Birthday! August 1 Daniel C Counts Tim Richardson Eloy W. Vendegna, PGA
August 11 Eddie Ainsworth, PGA Nathan J. Erickson, PGA Anthony W. Panella, PGA
August 22 Don A. Buchholz, PGA Brian K. Erickson, PGA Gary Marsh, PGA
August 2 Laura R. Beuhring, PGA Brandon D. England, PGA Kenneth Everett, PGA Jim E. Eyberg, PGA Jonathan A. Kaye, PGA
August 12 Robert A Lytikainen Grant R Miller Tyler G. Parsloe, PGA Dan H. Sommers, PGA Sonny Williams, PGA
August 23 Michael T. Clinton, PGA
August 3 Adam L Cronk Wayne D. Leighton, PGA Amy M Stubblefield, PGA
August 13 Brian E. Gott, PGA Joseph D Kamby, PGA Douglas E Mallon
August 4 Christopher R. Murzyn, PGA
August 15 Dennis McLaughlin, PGA Katherine K. Milstead, PGA Michael J. O’Donnell, PGA Adam N. Perko, PGA Darryl J. Wilson, PGA
August 5 Ryan M. Bakken, PGA Joseph Herbert, PGA August 6 John M. Dunlop, PGA Scott R. Matthews, PGA Michael E Weingartner, PGA August 7 Bradley F. Alston, PGA Michael Goff, PGA Robert G. O’Hara, PGA August 8 Ryan R. DeHaan, PGA August 9 Scott Hart, PGA Garrett T. Hoffman William R. Loeffler, PGA Mark W Mobley, PGA Terra L. Shehee, PGA August 10 Joseph L. Assell, PGA Eric P. Feely, PGA Shannon E. Hanley, PGA Steven B. Kurtz, PGA
18
August 16 Stephen Glowacki, PGA Adam Johnson, PGA August 17 Kyle R. Daniell Robert M. O’Neill, PGA Joshua B Pitchford, PGA Christopher R Swinhart, PGA August 19 Gary V. Allacher, PGA Angelo J. DeJulio Kenneth B. Gannaway, PGA Robert K. Trowbridge, PGA Joshua R Woodworth August 20 Miles E. Hains, PGA Bryan Heim, PGA Nicole T. Poulos, PGA August 21 Seth H. Jamison, PGA Jesse W. Weeks, PGA
August 25 Geoff M. Greig, PGA Craig Hatch, PGA Charles Huckaby, PGA Geoffrey M. Keffer, PGA Michael E Maestas Jeff K. Ulvedal, PGA August 26 Willard J. Benner, PGA Douglas F. Wherry, PGA August 27 Jim Johnson, PGA August 28 Michael T Kahler, PGA Daniel J. LaRouere, PGA Michael D. Ritter, PGA Courtney L. Rudolph, PGA Todd R. Schafersman, PGA August 30 Brian M. Brown, PGA August 31 Casey Brittain, PGA Brad E. Keating, PGA Ty Walker, PGA
Brady R. Jones, PGA | A-20 | KBS Steel Shafts by FST | previous at Coal Creek Golf Course Geoffrey M. Keffer, PGA | A-8 | PGA Learning Center @ Park Hill Golf Club | previous at Aurora Hills Golf Course Tyson C. Schalock, PGA | A-8 | Pelican Lakes Golf & CC | previous at Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club
Happy Trails to You... Trace Kea, PGA | currently at Carney Park Golf Course in Naples, Italy | previously at Silver Spruce Golf Course
New Members
August Issue
On the Move
Member Update
Christopher R. Hamilton, PGA | A-8 | City Park Golf Course Steven M. Sullivan, PGA | A-8 | The Heritage at Westmoor GC
New Apprentices Luke A. Lucero | Aqua Golf | B-13 Brandon S. Roedder | The Club at Crested Butte | B-8 Scott W Sperry | Haymaker Golf Course | B-8
continued from page 20 Meanwhile, two-time PGA Professional Champion Matt Dobyns, of Glen Head, New York, who suffered from a stomach virus during the week, finished with a 72 and 145 total. “The nice part was I could look outside the ropes and see friends and family, versus anonymous faces. They were smiling, encouraging me. They wanted me to play well,” said Dobyns, who was making his third PGA Championship appearance.
Rob Labritz of Pound Ridge, New York, who led the PGA Club Professional contingent with a first-round 71, skied to a 76. Rick Schuller, 53, was the second oldest player in the field, by a day, to 2016 Senior PGA Champion Rocco Mediate. Schuller, a PGA Teaching Professional at Stonehenge Golf and Country Club in North Chesterfield, Virginia, made his third PGA Championship appearance and first since 2003.
“I felt like I had the game to do it but I got a little sloppy around the bunkers,” said Dobyns. “I didn’t have those par-saving putts. No momentum-type putts. I was under the weather all week and just didn’t get the practice in I wanted to, but to be frank, I didn’t think that was a big deal. The thing about golf is there is not a lot of time to feel sorry for yourself.”
Schuller and fellow PGA Professional Brad Lardon, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, have the distinction of completing a PGA Member Championship “trifecta” this year. They each competed in the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, the PGA Professional Championship and the PGA Championship. Schuller tied for 68th in the Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Rod Perry, the 2013 PGA Professional Champion from Port Orange, Florida, finished with a 71, and 144 total, while reigning PGA Professional Champion Rich Berberian Jr., of Derry, New Hampshire, and Mark Brown, of Oyster Bay, New York, each had a 146 total.
“This is a big golf course. It was a true test,” said Schuller. “It’s a testament to the Tillinghast design. It tested every part of your game. I think I’m fortunate that I hit it long enough, where I can compete with these young guys.”
www.coloradopga.com
19
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
Quarter Century Feature
Each month a select few Colorado PGA Professionals are elected to the Quarter Century Club of the PGA of America. In this section we will highlight those PGA Professionals who have been members of the Association for 25 years to get to know them a little better.
CJ Parry, PGA Head Professional Glenmoor Country Club
Where did you grow up? Tupper Lake, NY. A small town 25 miles from LakePlacid. I was fortunate in my early years to have some success ski racing and I am in my home towns Hall of Fame as well as the University of Wyoming Hall of fame for our NCAA championship in 1985. What was your first introduction to the game of golf? My dad took me on the towns nine hole course when I was 6. By the time I was an early teen I was the kid riding his bike with a bag over his shoulder to the club. The pro finally started bag storage!
CJ Parry, PGA Head Professional at Glenmoor Country Club was an All-American Ski racer before becoming a PGA Professional.
Why did you choose to become a PGA Golf Professional? I worked my home town course thru high school and did an Internship working for Roger Prenzlow at Jacoby Golf Course during college in Laramie. I really liked being at the facility and thought the golf business might be a good fit. What makes you most proud about being a PGA Professional? PGA Members positively affect thousands of lives by providing quality recreation time and character development of the Jr players. The older you get the more you realize the impact you have had. What golf facilities have you been employed at and in what capacity? 1987 Intern Red Jacoby Laramie, WY 1988-89 Assistant Country Club of Ithaca, Ithaca, NY 1990 Head Professional Skaneateles Greens Golf Club, Skaneateles, NY
Many careers can be left at the office when you exit for the day or week. One of the things I have lived by, whether benefit or curse, I am always, 24/7, the Head PGA Professional at Glenmoor. Whether at the club or not. It is an interesting and prestigious badge we carry. What hobbies do you have outside of golf? My background was in ski racing so I still ski quite a bit. I do a lot of cycling now. We have also done a lot of work on our house now that we are empty nesters.
1991-94 Head Professional Teugega CC, Rome, NY
I have been involved over the years with my three amazing kids activities who have all been great students and doing great things as young adults.
1995-96 Director of Golf, Links at Erie Village, Syracuse NY
If you could have a dream foursome, who would it be and why?
1997-present Head Professional, Glenmoor, Cherry Hills Village
Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Bobby Jones. Learn how the best do things. Originally that’s why I got involved with PGA Section governance. Wally Armstrong said something at my PGA Business school that stuck. If you want to be a good putter, go to dinner with good putters. If you want to be a good pro, go to dinner with good pros!
What do you feel is the most meaningful contribution to the game of golf you have made? As PGA members we really don’t understand how
20
many people we touch with the game. At Glenmoor we have over 1,000 kids right now under the age of 18. It is staggering to think that of all of our Jr Programs right now now many of those kids in the future will remember the jr program they started in and the four PGA members that were teaching them. Last summer one of my young (8 y.o.) golfers was out with his parents on a Friday morning in the group in front of me. What a beautiful swing, impeccably dressed, and excellent etiquette and pace of play. I saw them in the restaurant at lunch and complimented him on all of the above. His parents sent me the nicest email and what an impact our conversation had on him. Hooked on the game and his PGA pro noticed!
General Manager - Chief Operating Officer Country Club of the Rockies Where did you grow up? Finland, Vermont, and Vail Colorado, in that order. The full story is that I was born in Seivi, Finland in 1950 and moved to the United states at age 3 with my mother. It was a typical immigrant story; my mom wanted to move to the land of opportunity. We had relatives in Andover, Vermont, who I lived with for three years while my mother worked in Manhattan as a maid. She would make the long drive to Vermont as frequently as she could. In 1956, she married a Finnish gentleman she met from Ludlow, VT. Ludlow was a small mill town in the southern part of the state with a population of about 2,500. But it also which had a ski area, Okemo Mtn., which has since become one of the most popular ski areas in New England. We lived on a farm in the hills about 3 miles out of town. Skiing, baseball and soccer were my sports growing up. What was your first introduction to the game of golf? I first took up golf after I graduated from college in 1972. My cousin was an incredible athlete and we started playing together at a small 9-hole public course in Ludlow called Fox Run. That course was later purchased and rebuilt into a very nice 18-hole club called Okemo Valley Golf Club. Jim Remy, past President of the PGA, is an old ski pal of mine from Okemo. We taught skiing together at Okemo in the early years. Jim then got into the golf business, became a Class A Professional and was the PGA Head Professional at Killington Golf Resort before he became the Director of Golf, VP and General Manager of Okemo Valley Golf Club in 1997. Why did you choose to become a PGA Golf Professional? I evaluated by skills and felt they were a good fit for the profession. Moving to Vail in 1973, golf became even more of a passion of mine and I played Vail Golf Club as much as possible, I worked on my game and became a reasonable player. I learned carpentry from a Finnish uncle who I worked with during summers in high school and college. When I moved to Vail, I continued to work as a carpenter in the summer and a ski instructor in the winter. In 1984, Arrowhead at Vail, home of Country Club of the Rockies (CCR), hired me as a real estate salesman. The 1980’s were a difficult economic time in the US, and sales were slow. Tom Apple was hired as the PGA Head Professional at CCR in 1984, and he hired Mike Steiner as his first assistant. CCR opened 9 holes that year and in 1985 opened the back 9 and the clubhouse. In 1987 Mike Steiner was hired as the PGA Head Professional at Singletree Golf Club, now known as Sonnenalp Golf Club. At 37 years old, I continued to reevaluate my future and felt I had the social skills and a reasonable golf game to pursue a career in the golf business. I was very fortunate to be offered a position with Mike at Singletree as an
assistant. Along with Steve Lind and Doug Wall, Mike had three knucklehead assistant professionals! We had a great time working together and playing together. What makes you most proud about being a PGA Professional?
August Issue
Pentti Tofferi, PGA
Quarter Century Feature
I am very proud to be a member of the Colorado Section, one of the best in the country. The golf industry is teeming with wonderful people and I am proud to be associated with them. The game of golf is a teacher of life and for life, humbles the heck out of all of us, making us better people. What golf facilities have you been employed at and in what capacity? Singletree/Sonnenalp Golf Club as an assistant professional Club at Cordillera as a Head Professional, Director of Golf, Membership Director Country Club of the Rockies as General Manager and COO What do you feel is the most meaningful contribution to the game of golf you have made? I feel I contribute to the game each day in helping our members build relationships with other members and staff. What a joy it is to help people enjoy each day they spend at our club around the great game of golf. Also, touching the lives of younger staff is a privilege. What hobbies do you have outside of golf? I love skiing. I was a ski professional for over 40 years at Okemo and Vail. Chad Hansen, our Head Professional at CCR and I ski with our members each Wednesday throughout the winter. In addition to that, I enjoy motorcycling, woodworking, photography and fly-fishing. If you could have a dream foursome, who would it be and why? I played in a dream five-some years ago in the Jerry Ford Invitational. What a wonderful memory that is! It was myself, President Ford, Bob Hope, David Graham and Charlie Pride.
www.coloradopga.com
21
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
Junior Golf News
Pedal to the Metal By Gary Baines
Ott Puts the Pedal to the Metal
J
ust like a fellow lefty who’s doing quite well playing tournament golf this week, AJ Ott of Fort Collins rode rounds of 63-69 on Thursday and Friday to the top of the leaderboard. For Phil Mickelson, that was good for the halfway lead in the British Open. For Ott, it meant the boys title in the Colorado Junior PGA Championship, the second major in the inaugural season of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado. “Lefties are making a comeback, I’ll tell you what,” Ott said with a smile. A day after he tied the course record at Indian Tree Golf Club by holing out from 138 yards for eagle on 18 en route to the 7-under-par 63, Ott maintained a big advantage all day on Friday and posted a seven-stroke victory. It was a welcome win for the Colorado State University-bound golfer, who has finished runnerup in the 2015 CGA Junior Stroke Play, the 2015 5A state high school meet and this year’s AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior and PGA Junior Series event at the Air Force Academy. During that stretch, Ott claimed the title in the CJGA Tournament of Champions.
“I shot 67-71-67 and played well for three days,” Solem said. “Obviously I didn’t accomplish what I wanted to, but it’s hard to beat how AJ is playing right now so I’m pretty satisfied with how I did.
“It felt good,” Ott said of the breakthrough. “I was trying not to really think about it. I was trying to keep it one shot at a time. My coach at CSU helped me a lot with my pre-shot routine. I texted him last night and he had some good words that helped me out today. But it’s anyone’s game at the start of the week, so I was trying to keep it in play and hopefully get some putts to drop. Thankfully they dropped.”
Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch, the 2015 CGA Junior Player of the Year, placed third at 207 after a 69 on Friday. Welch will begin his University of Northern Colorado golf career this fall.
At Indian Tree, the 18-year-old left nothing to chance with his three-day total of 12-under-par 198. For the week, he finished with one eagle, 13 birdies and three bogeys. The victory Friday gave Ott an automatic berth in the national PGA Junior Championship, set for Aug. 9-12 in Rumford, R.I. Jackson Solem of Longmont, the reigning 4A state high school champion, finished a distant second on Friday at 5-under-par 205. Solem, who has committed to play his college golf at the University of Denver beginning next year, closed with a 67.
22
“I played with him yesterday (during Ott’s 63) and it was fun to watch. He’s a good friend of mine so it was really cool to see him succeed.”
Ott, who tied his best score ever with Thursday’s 63, took a nine-stroke lead into Friday’s final round. But he was careful not to become complacent. “I wanted to stay aggressive,” said Ott, whose three birdies Friday included a chip-in on No. 13. “That was my mindset the whole day. I knew I couldn’t go out there and shoot a couple over on the front because (Solem and Welch) were both going to shoot a couple under. I needed to stay aggressive and make some putts too. The putts hadn’t really dropped the last couple of tournaments, but they did this week, which was really nice.”
A
fter nearly a decade of playing junior golf tournaments in Colorado, Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch in all likelihood came to the end of the line on Friday. But while there may be some mixed feelings about leaving the junior ranks, she certainly went out on a high note. Weinstein, who almost always has found her way to the top of the leaderboard in major Colorado girls tournaments over the last 13 months, did it again at Indian Tree Golf Club. The 18-year-old Regis Jesuit High School graduate clawed her way back from an opening-round 77 to win the girls title Friday in the Colorado Junior PGA Championship, the second major in the inaugural season of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado. “I think this is my last Colorado junior tournament,” Weinstein said. “That’s really crazy because I’ve been playing in them for nine years -- NINE YEARS. So it’s really special to end up champion, to go out with a bang. That’s super cool.” Friday’s result means that Weinstein’s victories since June of last year have included the 2015 CWGA Junior Stroke Play and CJGA Junior Series Championship, and the 2016 5A state high school tournament, the Colorado Junior Amateur and now the Colorado Junior PGA Championship. She also placed 15th in the prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships last year, marking the best finish ever by a Coloradan in the girls 15-17 age group there. Weinstein has won both of the girls JGAC major titles in 2016, though it’s unlikely the Regis University signee will play in the last two junior majors of the year. “I’m just glad that all my hard work has finally paid off because I had a really rough time before (the state high school tournament) last year,” she said. “I worked really hard and got through it. Now I’m here. To have that year of success makes me really happy and really proud of how I worked hard.”
August Issue
Weinstein is on a Roll
Junior Golf News
“My putting was on point today,” said Weinstein, who noted she put in several hours on the practice green during tournament week. “I didn’t miss a putt except for the last hole (a three-putt). Everything was just working for me.” The victory Friday earned Weinstein an automatic berth in the national PGA Junior Championship, scheduled for Aug. 9-12 in Rumford, R.I. Delaney Elliott of Superior, a Montana State signee, played her final six holes in 1 under par on Friday to make a run at the title. The Monarch High School graduate closed with a 71 to check in at 219, one back of Weinstein. “I’d rather be first,” Elliott said of her performance, one of the last of her junior career. “I played pretty well today, but I missed a few putts (including two 4-footers), which kind of hurts, knowing I had a couple of short ones I could have made. “But I thought I gave it a good run. I played well down the stretch (getting up and down for pars on 15 and 18 and making a 4-foot birdie on 16). And (Mary and I) have been friends for a long time. We’ve been playing together since we were about 10.” Fourteen-year-old Charlotte Hillary of Englewood finished third at 224 after carding a 75 on Friday.
On Friday, Weinstein rallied from a two-stroke deficit by shooting a 4-under-par 31 on the front nine. And despite a double bogey on the final hole, she posted a 1-under-par 69 for the day, giving her an 8-over-par 218 total.
www.coloradopga.com
23
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine 24
Junior Golf News
PGA Junior League Season Ends, Post Season in Full Swing 1188
junior golfers donned PGA Junior League jerseys in Colorado this year, playing for their Team Captains made up of 80+ PGA Professionals and Apprentices at the 72 golf courses that embraced PGA Junior League this year. Playing in 21 regional leagues, regular season champions have been decided and All-Star teams from each league have begun single elimination match play. The four regions of the bracket, named after Colorado PGA luminaries Warren Smith, Nobel Chalfant, Vic Kline, and Dow Finsterwald, will culminate in a “Final 4” match day hosted by PGA Professional Randy Meyers and his team at Foothills Golf Course on September 11th. From there, the All Star team of 10 juniors who are crowned the champion of the Colorado Section will move on to face All-Star teams from around the Southwest in a Regional matchup at New Mexico State University Golf Course in Las Cruces October 1st & 2nd. One of 8 regional sites, the champion will then move on to the 2016 PGA Junior League National Championship to be contested at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, AZ from November 19th-21st.
From 2015 to 2016, the Colorado PGA experienced the following explosive growth and impact with PGA Junior League: •
98% growth in youth participation
•
180% growth in Member/Apprentice participation
In 2016, the Colorado PGA saw the following bottom line impacts of PGA Junior League at facilities across the Section: • $284,600 committed by parents for their children to participate in PGA JLG in Colorado • $195,600 direct revenue to PGA Members and Apprentices from player registration fees alone (not including residual lesson, facility fees, retail, and food & beverage revenue!) Congratulations to all the Junior League Golfers and the Colorado PGA Professionals who have committed their time and talent to these junior golfers throughout the season, and best of luck in the post season! Captain registration for the 2017 PGA Junior League Season will begin shortly after the National Championships – stay tuned for details!
The Road to Augusta National a Family Affair CommonGround Golf Course to Host Sub-Regional Qualifier on August 13, 2016
T
he Road to Augusta will continue for 144 golfers who won their respective divisions in local qualifiers of the 2017 Drive, Chip & Putt Championship. They are set to compete on August 13, 2016 at Common Ground Golf Course in Aurora, CO.
August Issue
Junior Golf News
In all there are eight children of PGA Professionals who will be competing at the Sub-Regional Qualifiers. They are: Hailey Schlak, daughter of Matt Schalk, PGA General Manager at Colorado National Golf Club, Cale Starkey, daughter of Curtis Starkey, PGA Head Professional at Douglass Community Club, Macy McCleave, daughter of A junior comes up just short at the Drive, Chip and Putt local qualifier at Dave McCleave, PGA Head Lincoln Park Golf Course. Professional at Southridge Golf Course, Trey Kahrhoff, son of Springs, CO. Also going to compete are John Stevens George Kahrhoff, PGA Director of Golf at The Club at and Charlotte Hillary, the two highest point earning Ravenna, Kellen O’Donnell, son of Mike O’Donnell, PGA juniors from local qualifying this past year. Stevens Professional from Cheyenne Shadows Golf Course at totaled 165 points in the boy’s 14-15 division at Ft. Carson (and son of Colorado PGA Section Staff Colorado National Golf Course while Hillary posted member Annie O’Donnell), Emma Bryant, daughter 161 points in the girl’s 14-15 division at The Heritage at of Matt Bryant, PGA General Manager at Green Westmoor. Valley Ranch Golf Club and Jack and Grace DeJulio, The Sub-Regional Qualifier will be held at son and daughter of Angelo DeJulio, an Apprentice CommonGround Golf Course on Saturday, August 13, Professional from the Golf Club at Redlands Mesa. 2016. The event is open to the public and will begin at Speaking of the DeJulio’s, the event really is a family 8:00am. affair. In all there are eight sets of brothers and sisters The top two finishers in each age group will advance that are going to compete in the event. In addition to the Regional Qualifier which will take place on to the DeJulio’s the following siblings qualified for the Sub-Regional Championship: Jacob and Nicole Fatovic, Saturday, September 24, 2016 at Riveria Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA. Brynn and Sydney Rothstein, Ryan and Greg Woodley, Emily and Christina Cheng, Caitlyn and Alyssa Chin, Volunteer positions remain available for the event. For Rylan and Jadyn Petree, and Luke and Gracie Olkowski. more information on these opportunities or to sign up, please click here. Other notable qualifiers include Caitlyn Chin, a finalist of the 2016 National Drive, Chip and Putt competitor who laid footprints at the Masters this past year. She qualified at The Club at Flying Horse in Colorado
www.coloradopga.com
25
26
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
August Issue
www.coloradopga.com
27
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
Tournament News
Grady Wins Assistants Championship in First Ever Section Event
University of Colorado Assistant Coach Fires 10-Under 134 at Legacy Ridge GC
P
at Grady, an Apprentice Professional and the Assistant Coach of the University of Colorado Men’s Golf team won the 2016 National Car Rental Colorado Assistant Professional Championship at Legacy Ridge Golf Course. Grady, a two-time Colorado Golf Association Player of the Year, posted back-to-back rounds of five-under-par 67 to earn his Colorado PGA victory. “The key really was just playing really consistent golf,” noted Grady after his victory. “I birdied a lot of the par-5’s and the drive-able par-4’s this week. I really didn’t do anything special so it was a pretty boring victory.” Grady posted twelve birdies over the 36-hole tournament and only two bogies.
Pat Grady, Apprentice Professional accepts the Championship trophy from Leslie Core-Drevecky, Colorado PGA President.
While this is his first victory in a section event, Grady is no stranger to winning since turning professional as he won a number of mini-tour events after turning professional in 2009. Since becoming an Assistant Coach at CU he hasn’t had much time to play. “I haven’t had the chance to play much this year because we do a lot of recruiting on Monday and Tuesday,” he noted. “I played in the Wyoming Open and finished in 8th I think and then tried to qualify for the Colorado Open but lost out in a playoff.”
While his schedule won’t allow him to compete in many more events this year, Grady looks forward to being part of the Colorado PGA in the future. “This being my first tournament I just want to say that I am super appreciative of all of the PGA Professionals in the section,” he said. “All the support that we as a team get from PGA Professionals has been great. The team really relies on PGA Professionals and we wouldn’t be where we are with PGA Professionals and all of their hard work.” Coming in second place was Brian Zeigler, PGA Assistant at Red Sky Golf Club. Ziegler closed out the tournament by firing a five-under-par 31 on his closing nine to post a final round 67 and finish at five-under-par for the tournament. Finishing tied for third was Derek Rush, PGA Assistant Professional at Cherry Hills Country Club and Somin Lee, Apprentice Professional at Valley Country Club. Both players finished as threeunder-par 141. The four players all qualified for the 2016 National Car Rental Colorado Assistant Professional Championship to be held at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL, October 27-31, 2016.
Brian Ziegler, PGA Assistant Professional at Red Sky Golf Club tees off on the par-4 9th hole during the final round of the National Car Rental Colorado PGA Assistant Professional Championship
28
Click here to access the full results.
Last Chance to Register to Colorado PGA Professional Championship
Cherry Creek Country Club September 12-14, 2016 Registration Closes | Wednesday, August 24, 2016 - 11:59 PM MDT Entry Fee | $250 Click here to register Eligibility Eligibility is limited to PGA members who meet all of the following criteria: 1. Must be eligibly employed in and classified in one of the following active membership classifications at the time of entry and as of July 7, 2015. The PGA of America headquarters records must reflect this status at time of entry and as of July 7, 2015. *MP Master Professional A-1 Head Professional at a PGA recognized golf course A-2 Head Professional at a PGA recognized golf range A-4 Golf Directors at a PGA recognized golf course *A-5 Past PGA Presidents A-6 Self-employed teaching professionals A-7 Director of Golf or Head Professional at a PGA recognized golf facility under construction A-8 Assistant Professional A-9 Executives or managers of golf properties A-10 Golf Clinicians A-11 Employees of Go f Associations A-12 College Golf Coaches A-13 General Managers/Directors of Club Operations A-14 Directors of Instruction A-15 Retail A-16 Golf Course Architect/Builder A-17 Golf Course Superintendents A-18 Golf Media A-19 Golf Manufacturer Management A-20 Golf Manufacturer Sales Representatives A-21 Tournament Director A-22 Rules Official A-23 Golf Club Fitting/Golf Club Repair A-24 PGA members primarily employed within the golf industry who are not eligible for another Active classification
August Issue
Tournament News
*Must be eligibly employed in one of the above mentioned active membership classifications or must be eligible for the following Life Member classifications (LM, LMA, LMM or LMMA). 2. Must not have played in more than ten (10) combined Adams Golf Pro Tours, Asian Tour, Australia/New Zealand Tour, Champions TOUR, Dakotas Tour, eGolf Gateway Tour (eGolf Professional Tours and All-American Gateway Tours), European Challenge Tour, European Senior Tour, European Tour, JPGA Senior Tour, JPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour (LET), LPGA Futures Tour (Symetra Tour), LPGA Tour, LPGT, SwingThought.com Tour (NGA Pro Golf Tours), PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Canada, PGA TOUR LatioAmerica, The Safari Tour, The Sunshine Tour and web.com TOUR tournaments between July 7, 2014 and July 6, 2015. The U. S. Open, U. S. Senior Open, PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championship are not included in the 10-tournament count. PGA Tournament Corporation, Inc., reserves the right to determine whether or not any player is so employed and to reject any player who does not meet these requirements. A PGA member will not be eligible to participate if: a) the member is serving a suspension from membership; b) the member is suspended from tournament participation for National tournaments; or c) the member is classified as Class F, LM, LMM, LMC, RM, Inactive, A-3, or Honorary.
www.coloradopga.com
29
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
Fitzgerald Makes Colorado Open Cut Once Again
PERFORMANCE
BY
DESIGN
GREGNORMANCOLLECTION.COM
30 ©2014 Greg Norman Collection. All Rights Reserved. Greg Norman and the Greg Norman Collection logo are registered trademarks of Great White Shark Enterprises Inc.
Keffer Wins Rain Shortened National Car Rental Pro Am Series T
he National Car Rental Pro Am Series made a stop at Inverness Golf Club on Monday, July 18, 2016 where Geoff Keffer came out victorious. Keffer, an Assistant Professional at the PGA Learning Center at Park Hill Golf Course fired a six-under-par 66 for the victory. Keffer’s round was highlighted by a stretch of four straight birdies to start his round after beginning on the par3 third hole.
August Issue
Tournament News
Coming in second was Legacy Ridge Golf Course Assistant Professional Visanu Tongwarin. Tongwarin posted five birdies in firing a three-under-par 67. Rounding out the top three was a trio at two-under-par 68: Kyle Voska, PGA Instructor from The Links Golf Course, Sherry Andonian, PGA Instructor at Valley Country Club and Dave Troyer, PGA Director of Colorado at CommonGround Golf Course. In the two low gross team event, two teams tied for the win. Host PGA Professional Dave Steinmetz partnered with Mike Steinmetz, Buzz Snodderly, and Steve Mueller to post a ten-under-par 130. They were tied by the team of Ron Vlosich, PGA Life Member and Kary Kaltenbacher, Rod Walters, and Pat Bowe.
The event was originally scheduled for a morning and an afternoon shotgun start but the afternoon start was cancelled due to inclement weather. The 2016 National Car Rental Pro-Am Series runs from February through mid-December, offers the opportunity for eight fully-enrolled Emerald Club teams to win a VIP golf experience with the PGA Tour star Keegan Bradley and his dad, PGA Professional Mark Bradley, PGA. Click here for the final results
Fitzgerald Posts Fourth Pro Am Title at The Club at Pradera C
aine Fitzgerald, PGA Assistant Professional at Meadow Hills Golf Course posted a one stroke victory in the Club at Pradera Pro Am on Monday, July 25, 2016 to post his fourth outright Pro Am victory of the year. Fitzgerald posted seven birdies during his bogey-free round. Fitzgerald had come off a string of five straight days of golf. He was the lone Colorado PGA Club Professional to make the cut at the CoBank Colorado Open where he competed in the La Salle Pro Am the day prior to
the championship starting. In all, Fitzgerald played a competitive round of golf on 7 of 8 days dating back to the National Car Rental Pro Am Series at Inverness Golf Club. In second place, just a stroke behind Fitzgerald was Gregg Jones, PGA Instructor at Sand Creek Golf in Colorado Springs, CO. Jones, 2014 Colorado Senior PGA Professional Champion and one-time Section Player of the Year fired a six-under-par 66 in the afternoon round. Jones, like Fitzgerald, didn’t record a single
www.coloradopga.com
31
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
Tournament News
Keffer Double Dips at Pro Lady Championship G
eoff Keffer pulled off two victories at once during the 2016 Pro Lady Championship at The Ranch Country Club. Keffer, a PGA Assistant Professional at the PGA Learning Center at Park Hill won the PGA Professional event as well as the team event during the annual event that partners a PGA Professional with three female amateurs.
In the PGA Professional content, Keffer fired a four-under-par 67 at the Dick Phelps designed course. His round included five birdies and a lone bogey at the par-4 11 hole. Finishing tied for second was Caine Fitzgerald, PGA Assistant Professional at Meadow Hills Golf Course and Doug Perry, PGA Head Professional at City Park 9 Golf Course in Ft. Collins, CO. Both players fired two-underpar 69. In fourth place was at one-under-par 70 was Kyle Voska, PGA Instructor from The Links Golf Course in Highlands Ranch, CO.
Rochelle Keffer, and Sue Hopkins to fire a 39-underpar 103 in the two low net shamble event. The team posted under-par scores on 16 of 18 holes during the event. Just like in the PGA Professional contest, Caine Fitzgerald led his team to a second place finish at 33-under-par 109. Fitzgerald partnered with Karin Rivale, Kelli Poppenhagen and Jody Miller for post their second place finish.
In the team event, Keffer partnered with Wendy Veto,
Fitzgerald Posts Fourth Pro Am Title at The Club at Pradera bogey and made six birdies during his round. Rounding out the top three was Mike Northern, PGA Life Member who fired a five-under-par 67. In the Low Net/Low Gross Shamble event, Geoff Keffer, PGA Assistant Professional at the PGA Learning Center led his team to a one shot victory after posting a 31-under-par 113. They beat out the team led by Dan Sniffin, PGA Director of Instruction at the Omni Interlocken Golf Club and Resort who fired a 30-under-par 114. For the complete results, please click here.
32
August Issue
www.coloradopga.com
33
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
Vegas Am Las VegasPro Pro Am Ad Back and Better Than Ever!
2016 Colorado PGA Las Vegas Pro Am November 14-16, 2016 - Paiute Golf Resort
34
New for 2016 Teams of 5 (4 Amateurs and 1 Pro) 56 team maximum playing on two courses each day! More prizes, more fun, more Vegas! Team entry - $3,900 includes breakfast each day, Colorado PGA gear and a chance to play for more than $28,000 in prizes!
Player of the Year
As of August 3, 2016 Dow Finsterwald Colorado PGA OMEGA Player of the Year 1 Caine Fitzgerald Meadow Hills Golf Course 4,789 2 Geoff Keffer PGA Learning Center 3,520.03 3 Blake Sharamitaro Lake Arbor Golf Club 2,828.20 4 Kyle Voska The Links Golf Course 2,465.67 5 Ken Krieger Cheyenne Country Club 1,873.33 6 Sherry Andonian Valley Country Club 1,803.83 7 Mike Northern Life Member 1,770.50 8 Barry Milstead Valley Country Club 1,685.83 9 Doug Rohrbaugh Ironbridge Golf Club 1,571.67 10 Jonathan Kaye Web.com Tour 1,400
August Issue
Tournament News
Click here to see the full list
Senior Colorado PGA OMEGA Player of the Year 1 Ken Krieger Cheyenne Country Club 2,538.33 2 Doug Rohrbaugh Ironbridge Golf Club 2,491.67 3 Mike Northern Life Member 2,416.50 4 Doug Wherry Jake’s Academy 2,378.50 5 Rick Cole Eaton Country Club 2,141.25 6 Sherry Andonian Valley Country Club 2,040.83 7 Dale Smigelsky Collindale Golf Course 1,940.50 8 Ron Vlosich Life Member 1,806.70 9 Patrick Reidy Inverness Hotel & Golf Club 1,557.50 10 Doug Perry City Park Nine Golf Course 1,538 Click here to see the full list
Colorado PGA Apprentice Player of the Year 1 Patrick Grady University of Colorado 1,600 2 Daniel Augustine Colorado Golf Club 1,328.50 3 Kyler Booher River Valley Ranch Golf Club 1,206.50 4 Somin Lee Valley Country Club 900 5 Brandon Bingaman The Bridges Golf and Country Club 835 6 Christopher Hyten Sanctuary 813 7 Andrew Hebert Indian Peaks Golf Course 741 8 Garrett Froggatte The Flying Horse Club 649 9 Gerard Lanser The Links at Cobble Creek 51 10 Jeramy Curry The Links Golf Course 370.50 Click here to see the full list
www.coloradopga.com
35
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
@The Buzz
A monthly recap of the Colorado PGA He did it! Ron Vlosich is heading back to the @USGA US Senior Open at Scioto Country Club! #hesgood #fivetimes @ColoGolf @NationalCarGolf ProAm today at @ InvernessGolf. PGA Professional Michael Weingartner with the approach on #4. @CarolinasPGA Happy Golf Month! Show us those photos and tell us why you love golf. #GolfMonthCarolinas
36
@scottwalterPGA @CaineFitz @ ColoradoOpen play well this morning @ ColoradoPGA
@GoNoles67 Great day for final practice round. Tomorrow it all begins! Good luck to all the Colorado Section guys!#PGAProChamp
Colorado PGA Four Colorado PGA Professionals start the second round inside the projected cut line at the CoBank Colorado Open today! Good luck to Caine Fitzgerald, Geoff Keffer, Doug Rohrbaugh, Micah Rudosky and the rest of our Colorado PGA Professionals!!! Colorado PGA
Check out our very own Tom Woodard who was included on a CBS feature during the Late Night Highlights Show last night! By The Numbers Colorado PGA Facebook Fans | 808 Twitter Followers | 716 Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado Facebook Fans | 189 Twitter Followers | 158
August Issue
A Twitter and Facebook World
Colorado PGA
A special round of golf today at the Colorado Junior PGA Championship.
Colorado PGA
Geoff Keffer is the leader after the morning wave of the National Car Rental Pro Am Series event at Inverness Golf Club. Can anyone in the afternoon wave catch his six-under-par 64?!
Colorado PGA
Ron Vlosich, PGA Life Member and already a four-time U.S. Senior Open qualifier, punched his ticket to the 2016 US Senior Open to be played at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, August 11-14, 2016. Congrats to Ron!!!
www.coloradopga.com
37
Colorado PGA Pro Peaks Digital Magazine
Presidents Club | $20,000 and above C&M Golf and Grounds Equipment Jeff Mathis Brett Walton
Colorado Chevy Dealers
National Car Rental
PGA Tour
Platinum | $10,000 OMEGA
Platinum | $7,500 Colorado AvidGolfer Allen Walters
Gold | $5,000
Denver Golf Expo Mark Cramer
KBS Shafts
38
Colorado Golf and Turf Tom Bauerle
Imperial Headwear Jamie Zabolio
Fairway Promotions James Schlatter, Nick Porter
Infinium Spirits Mike Horan
Greg Norman - Dunning Mike Giarratano
Masek Golf Cars Jason Masek
Adidas/Ashworth Mike Bryant
GolfTEC Joe Assell, PGA
PTE Golf Matt Pollitt
AHEAD Zach Ledvina
Golf MD’s Alex Weber
Sun Mountain Kevin Neff
Club Prophet Systems Tom Robshaw
GPS Industries Kevin Carpenter
August Issue
Silver | $2,500
TaylorMade Golf Mike Mendoza
Bronze | $1,000
www.coloradopga.com
39
INNER BEAUTY HAS FOUND ITS OUTER MATCH.
As shown $36,5501
Introducing amazement at every angle. The all-new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu brings an unexpected new look to everyday driving with windswept bodylines and an agile stance that commands attention. Cutting-edge technology offered includes a wireless charging 2 station for compatible smartphones, an 8-inch diagonal color touch-screen and BoseŽ premium speakers. With dramatic design, exceptional efficiency and advanced technology, it’s the all-encompassing experience you never expected in a midsize car.
STARTING AT $22,500 1
THE ALL-NEW 2016
CHEVROLET MALIBU 1 MSRP. Tax, title, license, dealer fees and other optional equipment extra. 2 The system wirelessly
40
charges one PMA- or Qi-compatible mobile device. Some devices require an adaptor or back cover. To check for phone or other device compatibility, visit my.chevrolet.com/learn for details.