colorado pga march 2016 pro peak digital magazine
DESCRIPTION
ÂTRANSCRIPT
1
The Official Publication of the Colorado PGAMarch 2016
PEAKSPRO
What’s Inside?!? Check Out the Candidates Running for the Board of Directors The Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado is Officially Launched Augusta National Fast Approaching For Three Colorado Juniors and much more!
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
2
Colorado PGA OfficersLeslie Core-Drevecky, PGAPresident | 2015-2016Murphy Creek Golf Course
Ty Thompson, PGAVice-President | 2015-2016Colorado Springs Country Club
Ben Welsh, PGASecretary | 2015-2016Eagle-Vail Golf Club
Barry Milstead, PGAHonorary President | 2015-2016Valley Country Club
Board of DirectorsAndy Benson, PGA | 2014-2016 Highlands Ranch Golf Club
Jeff Carlson, PGA | 2014-2016Cherry Creek Country Club
Sam Chapman, PGA | 2014-2016 Blackstone Country Club
Rick Ellefson, PGA | 2015-2017PGA Member
Scott Erwin, PGA | 2015-2017Maroon Creek Club
Kyle Heyen, PGA | District 9 Dir.Hiwan Golf Club
Jim Hajek, PGA | 2015-2017Fossil Trace Golf Club
Charles ‘Vic’ Kline, PGA | Past District 9 DirectorIndian Tree Golf Club
Cathy Matthews-Kane, PGA | 2016-2018Country Club of Colorado
Josh Miller, PGA | 2016-2018 GolfTEC
Dave Troyer, PGA | 2016-2018CommonGround Golf Course
Independent DirectorsTheo GregorySpencer Zinn
The Official Magazine of the Colorado PGAPro Peaks is produced by the Colorado PGA
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.
Colorado PGA6630 Bear Dance Drive | Larkspur, CO 80118
P | (303) 681-0742www.coloradopga.com
West Chapter OfficersMike Mendelson, PGAPresident | 2015-2016City of Grand Junction
Ed Marzec, PGAVice-President | 2015-2016Country Club of the Rockies
Jeff Boyer, PGASecretary | 2015-2016Eagle Ranch Golf Course
Darren Szot, PGAHonorary President | 2015-2016The Club at Cordillera
Board of DirectorsEric Bradley, PGA | 2014-2016Eagle Ranch Golf Club
Ian Bruce, PGA | 2014-2016The Club at Cordillera
Jacques Deyoe, PGA | 2013-2015Aspen Glen Club
Eric Feely, PGA | 2014-2016The Bridges Country Club
Brett Gagnon, PGA | 2013-2015Red Sky Golf Club
CJ Rhyne, PGA | 2013-2015GJ Golf
Tim Tafoya, PGA | 2014-2016Bookcliff Country Club
StaffExecutive Director/CEOEddie Ainsworth, PGA [email protected] P (303) 996-1593 C (719) 761-6125
Assistant Executive DirectorFoundation ProgramsKeith Soriano, PGA [email protected] P (303) 996-1590 C (720) 841-1006
Assistant Executive DirectorSection ProgramsPatrick Salva [email protected] P (303) 996-1597 C (303) 246-1007
Tournament DirectorJustin Limon, PGA [email protected] P (303) 996-1588 C (720) 390-1160
Junior Golf DirectorKatie Ann [email protected] (303) 996-1591C (303) 668-1551
Executive AssistantAnnie O’[email protected] P (303) 996-1595
Employment Consultant Bruce Lubach, PGA [email protected] P | (623) 243-9199C | (402) 802-8241
Colorado PGA REACH TrusteesSpencer ZinnChairman
Anne Broholm CEO AHEAD
Tom Bauerle Owner Colorado Golf and Turf
Brad DombaughCEO PSA Worldwide Corp., INC.
Walter GloverFormer Chief Financial Officer USOC
Theo GregorySenior Vice President - El Pomar Foundation
George LeeManaging Director – Investments Wells Fargo
Scott McGrawCherry Creek Insurance GroupVice President of Employee Benefits
Honarable Sue PaytonPresident SCI Aerospace Inc.
Lisa PotvinCaptainUnited States Navy
LTG Ed Soriano, US Army (Ret)Director, Business Development Global Land Forces - Northrop Grumman Corporation
Bill VogeneyExecutive VP and Chief Lending Officer Ent Federal Credit Union
3www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
President’s Report5 An Exciting Spring Already!
District Director Report7 Strategic Partnerships Help Us Increase PGA Employment Exec. Director’s Report8 And So It Begins...
Section News 9 Josh Miller, PGA Appointed to Board of Directors
9 Time Running Out to Complete Compensation Survey
10 Colorado PGA Spring Business Meeting Set for Monday, March 28
11 Meet the Candidates Andy Benson, PGA
12 Meet the Candidates Sam Chapman, PGA
13 Meet the Candidates Bobby Quaratino, PGA
14 Meet the Candidates Chris Swinhart, PGA
14 Colorado PGA Section Spotlight to Air April 15, 2016
15 Industry Issues Highlighted at G4 Summit
Junior Golf News 16 It’s Time to Get JGAC’d
18 PGA Junior League Golf Success Stories
20 Augusta National Fast Approaching for Three Colorado Juniors
22 DCP Registration Open
Member News24 Route 411
24 Smigelsky Celebrates Quarter Century Membership
25 PAT Schedule Announced Tournament News26 BlueGolf How-To
28 Section Championship Registration Set for 2016 28 Setup Direct Deposit Today!
The Buzz30 What people are saying on Social Media!
Sponsors32 Colorado PGA Partners
What’s Inside
Save The DateMarch 5-8, 2016USGA-PGA Rules WorkshopMarriott - South Denver
March 28, 2016Spring Business MeetingPinehurst Country Club
April 4, 2016Columbine Country Club Stroke PlayColumbine Country Club
April 11, 2016Valley Country Club Pro-AmValley Country Club
April 13, 2016Todd Creek Golf Club Stroke PlayTodd Creek Golf Club
April 18, 2016Blackstone Country Club Pro AmBlackstone Country Club
April 27, 2017Playing Ability Test #1CommonGround Golf Course
April 28, 2016West Chapter Spring MeetingBookcliff Country Club
April 29, 2016Bookcliff Country Club Pro AmBookcliff Country Club
Things to KnowDate10
1. The 2016 Spring Business Meeting is set for Monday, March 28, 2016. Sign up today!
2. The Colorado Open Golf Foundation recently announced that their 2016 CoBank Colorado Open would have a $250,000 purse with $100,000 going to the winner!
3. The Colorado PGA will be featured on the Section Spotlight feature to be aired April 15, 2016 on the Golf Channel!
4. More than 275 juniors attended and went through the Junior Golf Experience at the 2016 Denver Golf Expo.
5. Colorado had more juniors advance to the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship than any other state.
6. All four presentations from the 2016 G4 Summit are now available to view.
7. 8,130 people attended the three-day Denver Golf Expo at the Denver Merchandise Mart.
8. The Colorado Women’s Golf Association kicked off their Centennial Celebration at their annual meeting on Saturday, February 27, 2016.
9. The 2016 Season Championship has been set for a 27-hole tournament at The Pinery Country Club.
10. The Colorado PGA Section Office will be closed on Friday, March 25, 2016 in honor of Good Friday.
5www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
Hello Fellow PGA Members and Apprentices,
I’m sure all of us are looking forward to the upcoming season which hopefully is right around the
corner.
We have had a lot of very exciting things happening within the Colorado Section recently, especially during the week of February 15! The 2016 G4 Summit which was held on Tuesday was a huge success. Millennials continue to be a hot topic of discussion among all the Allied Associations of Golf and it was great to hear the different perspectives on what needs to be done to not only attract Millennials, but all demographics into our game. The G4 Summit was followed by a terrific Teaching and Coaching Summit on Wednesday featuring numerous Colorado PGA Teachers of the Year in a new format presenting topics in a “TED TALKS” format, and culminating with a terrific presentation by former LPGA Tour Star Dottie Pepper, who is currently an Analyst for CBS & ESPN. Dottie not only shared her perspective on Teaching and Coaching, but spent almost an hour answering everyone’s questions. It was great to have someone like her spend this amount of quality time with our PGA Professionals. Be sure to mark Tuesday, February 21, 2017 on your calendars as a major event for what’s happening in Golf here in the Colorado Section.
In addition to a wonderful G4 Summit was the official unveiling of the new Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado (JGAC). The new Alliance’s name and logo were introduced for the very first time by Mr. Junior Golf himself, the very first President of the newly created JGAC, PGA Professional
Alan Abrams. Alan did a wonderful job of explaining how this new alliance will be a win, win, win situation for the juniors, the parents and for the Associations involved, and encouraged everyone to get JGAC’ed for Junior Golf!
Finally, closing out an extremely busy week was the Denver Golf Expo that Friday through Sunday. It was not only exciting to see so many people attend this year’s expo, but it was also exciting for those of us to actually have busy tee sheets because of the great weather. During the Denver Golf Expo, the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado booth had almost 300 juniors go through the Junior Golf Experience, and the Colorado Section’s “Free 10 Minute Lessons” area was at full capacity. My thanks to all of you who gave of your time to help support these efforts. We could not have been successful without your support!
In closing I want to remind all of you about our upcoming Spring Business Meeting and Pro-Pro on Monday, March 28, at Pinehurst Country Club. One very important aspect of our Spring Business Meeting will be the election of three of our PGA Members to our Board of Directors. This year we have four very accomplished and qualified PGA Members who are seeking election. I would like to challenge all of you to become familiar with each candidates’ bio and if you have any questions for any of the candidates, don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
As always, if you have any questions for any of the Section Officers, Board of Directors or Section Administration Staff, please don’t hesitate to contact any of us. We are here to “Serve the Members and Grow the Game”.
Sincerely,
Leslie Core-Drevecky, PGA
President
Colorado PGA Section
Certified Head Golf Professional
Murphy Creek Golf Course
P | (303) 739-1562
An Exciting Spring Already!President’s Message
Leslie Core-Drevecky, PGA
President
Colorado PGA
Head Professional
Murphy Creek GC
By Leslie Core-Drevecky, PGA
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
6
To the people who work to grow this great game, we salute you.To learn more about what we do, visit golftec.com
Proudly Employing
7www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
I hope everyone took advantage of adding a few rounds of golf with the unseasonable weather in February.
During the first week in March, your Board of Di-rectors, which includes your National Officers, 14 District Directors, two Independent Directors and Executive Staff, will meet for an Annual Planning Session. I look forward to my April article which will touch briefly on what occurred during this week. As we look to fulfill the two-fold mission of serv-ing the member and growing the game, we have identified key areas of focus, employment and education being at the top of those priorities. The recent announcement of our new strategic alliance with GolfTEC, a company proud to call our Section
their home, focuses in on these key areas and in turn creates more opportunities for PGA of America Professionals. Since the announcement we have received a number of positive comments from members, but also want to acknowledge and address a few important concerns that were passed along.
Specifically, we hope to clear up the following areas of misunder-standing about the alliance:
• The GolfTEC agreement is not a revenue-producing deal for the PGA.
• The instruction license is non-exclusive. This license is open to any entity that employs more than 100 PGA Professionals, has 75% or more of its staff as PGA Professionals, and is willing to commit to spending behind national advertising. We are empowering our largest employers to embrace and nationally promote that they proudly employ PGA Professionals in instruction.
• GolfTEC plan to hire 400-500 new PGA
Professionals over the next five years and will also encourage its non-PGA member instructors to pursue membership, but if the threshold of PGA Professionals working at GolfTEC were to drop, we can revoke the license.
• GolfTEC’s methodology will not become the PGA’s methodology.
• GolfTEC will help educate all PGA Professionals interested in using technology in instruction as a category expert in PGA Verified and through local and regional training sessions.
Please keep in mind that GolfTEC largely caters to an underserved audience: According to a 2014 survey, the average GolfTEC student is an 8-14 handicap who spe-cifically wants technology as part of their instruction.
Helping golfers improve their games is the No.1 way to increase rounds played. The role GolfTEC can play in sending golfers to our PGA green grass facilities is both good for business and the long-term health of the game. There is room in the instruction space for all of us to do well and continue to grow.
Forging smart alliances and partnerships with enti-ties that share our mission can accelerate growth and create new opportunities for our members. In time, we are confident you’ll see that is the case not only in our partnership with GolfTEC, but in future partnerships with other entities that help us increase PGA employ-ment.
I look forward to seeing you at the Colorado Section Spring Meeting. If you have any questions pleased feel free to give me a call. Sincerely,
Kyle Heyen, PGA
PGA Head Professional | Hiwan Golf Club
National PGA Director | District 9
Strategic Partnerships Help Us Increase PGA Employment
District 9 Director Report
Kyle Heyen, PGA
District 9 Director
PGA of America
Head Professional
Hiwan Golf Club
By Kyle Heyen, PGA
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
8
Golf Season. It is finally upon us. Are you ready? I’d ask all of us to consider this question. Are you
ready to make 2016 one of your most successful years ever? Many people may ask themselves, Can I Do This? Successful people will ask themselves, How Can I do This? A simple change in your thinking can change
your life. Let me encourage all of us to get out of the box and enjoy life. Thomas Edison once said, “There ain’t no rules around here! We’re trying to accomplish something.” Take some risks this year. Try some-thing new. Sometimes you’ll fail, sometimes you’ll succeed, but one thing for certain is that you’ll always be learning and enjoying life. Don’t be afraid to partake in the fruit of failure; Fail Fast, Learn Fast, Try Again Fast, which leads to Growth and Success.
It’s going to be an exciting year for all of us here within the Colorado Section. I’m personally JGAC’ed for Junior Golf as this alliance has been a vision for several years in the making. To partner with the Colorado Golf Association and their staff to make a concentrated effort in bringing more juniors to the game will serve all of us very well. I know that both Ed Mate and I are committed to working together
to move the needle and we also look forward to working with other golf associations and each of you in making a huge impact in the lives of our juniors and their families.
Partnerships are important and another one that we are excited about is our partnership with the Military Warriors Support Foundation. This partnership gives our Foundation, Colorado PGA Reach, the opportunity to help support the awarding of a home to one of our Military Heroes. Through the Military Warriors partnership with several mortgage lenders, they receive the titles of foreclosed homes to present to these heroes. Our partnership with them helps to raise the additional $20,000 it takes to refurbish the home to meet the needs of the hero the home is going to be awarded to. I hope you’ll consider partnering with us in some way for our Colorado PGA Reach Invitational on June 27, 2016 at the Colorado Golf Club.
It makes me very proud to be a part of a PGA Section that thinks outside the box, trying to accomplish great things, never asking can we do this, but asking how we can do this. The leadership of our Section has had great vision and has accomplished quite a lot in the past. I would ask yourself when you place your vote at the upcoming Spring Membership Meeting at Pinehurst, who is going to provide the leadership we need to continue to have a great vision for the future. We have four great candidates and I believe each of them can provide this vision. My thanks goes out to each of these for stepping up and running for the Board.
In closing, always know that we are here for each and every one of our Colorado PGA Members, Apprentices, and PGM Students. If there is ever something we can do to assist you please let me or one of our staff know.
Sometimes You Win. Sometimes You Learn.
All the Best!
Very Respectfully,
Eddie Ainsworth, PGAExecutive Director/CEOColorado PGA6630 Bear Dance RoadLarkspur, CO [email protected] – 303-996-1593M – 719-761-6125
And So It Begins...Executive Director’s Message
By Eddie Ainsworth, PGA
Eddie Ainsworth, PGA
Executive Director
Colorado PGA
P | (303) 996-1593
C | (719) 761-6125
“There ain’t no rules around here! We’re trying to
accomplish something.”-Thomas Edison
9www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
Section News
Josh Miller, PGA Director of Operations at GolfTEC has been appointed to the Colorado PGA Board
of Directors. Miller fills a role that was vacated when AC Cox, formerly a GolfTEC employee, left the section when he accepted a position as an Associate Professor of Marketing at Salt Lake Community College. Miller’s term began in December and will run to October of 2018.
“Josh has already been a great addition to the Board of Directors,” noted Colorado PGA President Leslie Core-Drevecky, PGA. “His experience at green grass facilities as well as his time as a Center Manager and now Asso-ciate Director of Operations at GolfTEC Headquarters has really helped round out our Board of Directors.”
Miller is a graduate of the PGA Professional Golf Man-agement program at New Mexico State University. Prior to joining GolfTEC, he was the Head Profession-al at Deer Creek Golf Course as well as an Assistant Professional at The Ranch Country Club and Red Rocks Country Club. He joined GolfTEC in 2010 as an Instruc-tor and later the Director of Instruction at their Golden
location. Josh current-ly serves as GolfTEC’s Director of Operations at GolfTEC Headquar-ters where he supports Improvement Centers across the country.
Josh has completed the PGA’s Certified Professional Program in Instruction, Oper-ations, Player Devel-opment and General Manager. He has served the Colorado PGA as a member of the Apprentice Re-lations and Awards Committee.
Josh Miller, PGA Appointed to Board of Directors
Time Running Out to Complete Compensation SurveyThe annual PGA Compensation Survey, known as
the industry standard for providing invaluable data on golf professional compensation and benefits levels, launched its new version in January and will close at the end of March. Generally, there are approximately 15,000 PGA Professionals (members and apprentices) completing the survey each year.
Why is completing the compensation survey so important? The Survey provides key information to assist with:
• Meaningful comparisons to improve one’s Compensation and Benefits when working with the employer
• Performance Evaluations
• Contract Renewals
• Staff Budgeting
• Employer/employee interactions providing PGA
Professionals and employers general comparable compensation, both locally and on a broader scale based on a variety of factors.
Keep in mind that:
• Completing the Survey provides up to two MSR credits
• Higher wage earners bring up averages which are critical to increase job compensation
• All information provided is CONFIDENTIAL on the Survey
Click here to access the 2016 Compensation Survey
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
10
Colorado PGA Spring Business Meeting March 28 - Click to Register
Section News
Colorado PGA Town Hall MeetingColorado PGA Officers, Board of Directors and District 9 DirectorThe Colorado PGA Officers, Board of Directors and District 9 Director will conduct a town-hall style meeting that will address the needs of our Colorado PGA Members.
Affordable Care Act and How it Pertains to Golf Facilities
Monica Denler, InTANDEM HRThe Affordable Care Act (also known as Obama Care) is a set of health insurance reforms that started in 2010 and will continue to roll out in 2014 and beyond. The Affordable Care Act includes a variety of provisions that reform the insurance market and encourage small businesses to offer health insurance. Depending on whether you are self-employed, an employer with fewer than 25 employees, an employer with fewer than 50 employees, or an employer with 50 or more employees, different requirements of the Affordable Care Act may apply to you. Learn about the key requirements of the Affordable Care Act and how they impact you and your facility.
PGA Junior League Golf Keith Soriano, PGA, Colorado PGAPGA Junior League is an exciting opportunity to create engagement between your facility, your juniors, your families, and your communities. This session is for returning coaches who want to find out what’s new for 2016 and for new and interested coaches who want to hear success stories from peers and find out how to get plugged into this opportunity.
Education Offering to Include Elective Workshops
Agenda7:00a Continental Breakfast & Registration 8:00a Welcome & Special Presentations8:30a Colorado Section Business Meeting Called to Order 8:35a Election of New Board Members9:00a Business Meeting9:50a Open Forum10:00a Break 10:15a Education Breakout Sessions12:00 Membership Meeting Concludes12:45p Pro-Pro Scramble5:45p Scoring, Food & Beverages
The Colorado PGA will host our annual Spring Business Meeting
on Monday, March 28, 2016 at Pinehurst Country Club. Attendees will hear from a number of valued partners, learn about a new Colorado PGA committee setup, and will get an update on current activities with the Colorado PGA.
The annual event will feature the election of three (3) members to the Colorado PGA Board of Directors. Each candidate biography and their reasons for running are featured on the coming pages. As a reminder, the election will be held using Text to Vote. Please be sure to bring your smart phone with you to the meeting. For those members in attendance that do not have the capability to do so, paper ballots will be available.
11www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
Meet the CandidatesThe membership in attendance at the March 28th Spring Membership Meeting will be electing three (3) new Colorado PGA Members to replace our outgoing Board of Directors this coming October.
Andy Benson, PGAJob TitleDirector of Golf – Highlands Ranch Golf Club
EducationUniversity of Colorado at Boulder – BS in Engineering
Elected to MembershipSeptember, 1994
Work ExperienceAssistant Golf Professional Castle Pines Golf Club – Castle Pines, CO (1984-1996)
Assistant Golf Professional Desert Highlands Golf Club – Scottsdale, AZ (1989-1991)
Head Golf Professional The Club at Cordillera – Mountain Course – Edwards, CO (1996-1997)
Head Golf Professional Highlands Ranch Golf Club – Highlands Ranch, CO (1998-present)
Volunteer ExperienceLocal Youth Sports Coach & Volunteer, High School Activities Volunteer
Section Experience Colorado PGA Teach-a-Thon Committee 2004-2005
Colorado PGA Awards Committee 2009-2010
Colorado PGA Apprentice Relations Committee 2014-2015
Colorado PGA Board of Directors 2014-2016
Colorado PGA Junior Golf Committee 2016
Awards/Recognition2003 Colorado PGA Public Merchandiser of the Year
What should members know about you? I enjoy spending time with my family & friends have interests in many Colorado outdoor activities. (fishing, hunting, horses, etc.)
Reason for running for the board I would like to continue being involved with the section as a Board Member to bring a unique prospective to the board as a representative from a semi-private ‘University’ owned facility. I have experience at a variety of private, resort and public courses in the state over the years and have developed many good relationships with fellow professionals, corporations, vendors and the allied golf associations in the state. I learned a lot more than I ever thought I would as a section Board Member and embrace the opportunity to grow as a Golf Professional and serve the Colorado PGA Members and the section again as a future Board Member.
Section News
As of January 2016, the Revenue Scorecard has been redesigned into a new, user friendly online survey
that should take less than 10 minutes to complete. Log onto PGA.org to complete your Revenue Scorecard today.
The PGA Revenue Scorecard is a valuable business tool designed to quantify and report additional revenue derived from your Player Development Programming.
The end calculation and output of the Revenue Scorecard is the incremental revenue generated by
your Player Development Programming on an annual basis. This number is a key business measure that can be shared with your facility ownership or supervisor to demonstrate the value you drive to your local facility. It can also be used to benchmark your programming success year-over-year.
If you need assistance completing the Revenue Scorecard, please contact Keith Soriano, Colorado PGA Assistant Executive Director of Foundation Programs at [email protected]
Revenue Scorecard Redesigned
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
12
Job Title Director of Golf ClubCorp Colorado for Blackstone Country Club and Black Bear Golf Club
Education Associate Degree from San Diego Golf Academy 88 / University of Kansas 84-85
Work Experience Assistant Golf Professional North Shore Country Club - Glenview, IL (1989-1994)
Assistant Golf Professional Bermuda Dunes Country Club – Bermuda Dunes, CA (1991-1992)
Assistant Golf Professional Maple Bluff Country Club - Madison, WI (1995)
Assistant Golf Professional Westmoreland Country Club - Wilmette, IL (1996-2000)
Associate Golf Professional The Vintage Club – Indian Wells, CA (1998-2000)
GM / Head Golf Professional Blaketree National Golf Club – Montgomery, TX (2000-2007)
GM / Head Golf Professional Canongate at Lake Windcrest - The Woodlands, TX (2008-2010)
Director Of Golf Blackstone CC and Black Bear Golf Club – Parker, CO (2010-Present)
Volunteer ExperienceGuest speaker at different rotary clubs, senior centers and VA Volunteer work
Section Experience Current Board of Director, 2016 Awards Committee Co-Chair
Elected to MembershipJanuary, 1994
Awards/Recognition 2 Time Nominee Professional of the Year (Southern Texas and Colorado PGA), Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Nominee (Illinois PGA)
What should members know about meHaving dedicated my professional career as a Golf Professional, the fulfillment has been amazing, humbling and rewarding. Being the fifth born in my family I joined a long list in my family who all played the game. I am the only one who has made a career out of the business. I look forward to continuing on in the business to promote this game of a lifetime for many years to come. I will bring my enthusiasm, experience, and knowledge, to be a steward of the game. I invite you all to join me and continue to do what we do as PGA professionals, serve our members and grow the game.
Reason for running for the board I look forward to re-running for an at large position, in the Colorado PGA Section, Board of Directors. As a 23 year PGA Member and current Board member, I want to continue serve on the board and serve our members. I have served one year when I was asked to fill a vacant position on the Board of Directors. I was both honored and humbled by the invitation.
Looking back to 1989 when I started in the golf business, I like many of us was interested in section operations. It just has taken time to figure out where and how I would be best suited to help our section in growing the game. After this first year I have a better understand what our section does. How the positions of President, Vice President, and the Secretary lead us the additional Board members to make decision that help lead and serve our section.
It makes me happy to say what a great section we have, and what a great staff our section has. This year the Board outlined what is needed from the Board to help our section be the best. With that said, my involvement the awards committee as co-chair is just a start for me in putting more time into our section.
It would be an honor to still continue to serve on the board. In closing I ask for your vote on Monday March 28th, at the annual spring meeting.
Sam Chapman, PGA
13www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
Bobby Quaratino, PGAJob TitlePGA Head Golf Professional, West Woods Golf Course
EducationBS-Business Administration Regis University
Work Experience Head Golf Professional West Woods Golf Club – Arvada, CO (2011-Present)
Assistant Golf Professional Lake Arbor Golf Club – Arvada, CO (1997-2011)
Assistant Golf Professional West Woods Golf Club – Arvada, CO (1996-1997)
Volunteer ExperienceVolunteer Tudor-Skinner Middle SchoolParent Volunteer Turnberry, Weber and Van Arsdale Elementary schools
Section Experience Junior Golf Committee 2013-2014Apprentice Relations Committee
Elected to MembershipJanuary, 2007
Awards/Recognition2011 Junior Golf Leader Award Colorado Section PGA
What should members know about meI have been a part of the Colorado Section PGA since 1997 and a member for the last 10 years. I enjoy playing in section events and still attempt to play at a high level. My wife children and I like to camp and enjoy doing things as a family.
Reason for running for the boardI am running for the Board of Directors because I see some changes that I am interested in and that I can see having a huge impact on how the section continues to grow the game. Having been on committees in the past I bring to the table experience, ideas and integrity. I am looking forward to the opportunity to share my knowledge and to work for my fellow members.
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
14
Chris Swinhart, PGAJob TitleHead Golf Professional
EducationBachelor Degree University of Northern Colorado Major Gerontology, Minor Recreation
Work Experience Golf Shop Assistant Highland Hills Golf Course - Greeley, CO (1990-1996)
Assistant Golf Professional Woodlake Resort & Golf Club – Vass, NC (1996-1999)
Head Golf Professional Legacy Ridge Golf Course – Westminster, CO (1999-2014)
Head Golf Professional Thorncreek Golf Course - Thornton, CO (2014 – present)
Volunteer ExperienceDucks Unlimited State Golf Chairman (2001-2004)George Ralston Memorial Golf Tournament (ALS)Volunteer Soccer Coach WAFC Soccer Club (Golf Event and FOOTGOLF Event)
Elected to MembershipJuly, 2002
What should members know about you?I am a family man, we have 4 great kids that are all soccer players. My oldest is attending The University of Northern Colorado. My wife Inessa has been a real trooper during the transition from Legacy Ridge Golf Course to Thorncreek Golf Course. Golf is the only thing that I have done. I started working at Indian tree at age 11, and never looked back. Golf has been my life from a young age. I have been blessed to have learned from some great professionals in our section. I would not be where I am today without all the guidance those professionals have given me over the years.
Reason for running for the board I have watched all my mentors serve on the board, become secretaries, junior golf leaders, presidents, golf professionals of the year and even golf professional of the century. I am at a time in my life where I will have the time to serve and make a difference in our section.
Section News
Colorado PGA Section Spotlight to Air April 15, 2016The PGA Section Spotlight Series, highlighting a different
PGA Section for 41 days on Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive” program, kicked off during the PGA Merchandise Show.
Each profile features a “Get to Know the PGA Section” fact box and the Section’s signature program, which focuses on charitable, social and educational endeavors enrich the lives of others.
The North Florida PGA’s inspiring “Putting on Smiles” program, where PGA members give instruction to patients in a network of children’s hospitals, launched the Centennial campaign. The series concludes May 4 with the Metropolitan PGA Section’s Met PGA HOPE program, which is conducted at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
The Colorado PGA Spotlight focuses on the six year old Golf in Schools program. Be sure to check out Golf Channel on April 15, 2016!
15www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
Section News
Industry Issues Highlighted at G4 Summit
Rhett Evans - CEO, The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (53:21)
Rhett Evans focused on the industry and how each part of our business can and should work together. Using his background as the son of biology teacher, Evans described the relationships in the industry much like those seen in Mother Natue.
Dottie Pepper - TV Analyst, ESPN and CBS Golf (23:02)
Dottie Pepper presented her take on the game of golf in the context of a former Major Champion turned Golf Analyst. She focused on her upbrining in the game and how it correlates to what is going on today at her home club in Saratoga Springs, NY.
David Lorentz - Senior Research Manager, National Golf Foundation (45:15)
David Lorentz presented on the facts and findings the NGF has collected regarding the participation of Millenials. He touched on nine key points that set millenials apart and are key to getting them involved in the game of golf.
Rand Jerris - Senior Managing Director, Public Relations - United State Golf Association (44:35)
Rand Jerris presented on what the United States Golf Association is doing to continue building the game of golf through science, research and innovation.
G4 Summit Presentations Available
Almost 225 people showed up for the third annual G4 Summit on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at The
Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. The event aligns the allied golf associations of Colorado -- representatives of the Colorado PGA, Colorado Golf Association, Colorado Women’s Golf Association, the Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents and the Mile High Chapter of the Club Managers Association, among others -- in an effort to unify our industry and address ssues facing the game of golf.
The Summit featured a number of industry experts who hit on a number of topics such as “Golf and the Millenial Generation” presented by David Lorentz to “Building a Sustainable Game: USGA Science, Research and Innovation,” presented by Rand Jerris.
Plans for the 2017 G4 Summit are already under way. The tentative date is set for February 21, 2016 with the Teaching and Coaching Summit to follow the next day.
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
16
Katie Ann Lehman
Junior Golf Director
Colorado PGA
P | (303) 996-1591
Junior News
Details of the new Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado (JGAC) were announced on Tuesday to more than
200 industry leaders at The Broadmoor for the annual G4 Summit, taking another huge step forward in Colo-rado junior golf.
The Colorado PGA and the Colorado Golf Association, whom announced their plans to join forces and strengthen the state of junior golf in Colorado last November, unveiled their new name – Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado – logo and tagline (#jackedforjrgolf) as well as their new social media sites (@JGAColorado).
The JGAC also opened tournament registration for the 2016 season. For the first time, the tournament schedule features four major championships, spring and fall series events and more than 75 tournaments overall. Full schedules can be found at www.juniorgolfcolorado.org.
“This is going to be huge,” said Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Alan Abrams, the first president of the alliance. “This is going to be great for our juniors, parents and grandparents. It’s going to be great for the game. And it’s going to be a win-win for all those in golf. “This is very historic for the state of Colorado. ... I’m jacked for junior golf.”
Junior golfers must be a member of the JGAC to sign up for events. Players from the ages of 6 to 18 can register today and enjoy a number of membership benefits including a GHIN Handicap number, college preparation counseling, volunteer opportunities, and more than 30 rounds of free golf (age dependent). They will also be able to play events in partnership with AJGA and the PGA Junior Series, as well as compete in national qualifying events like the US
Junior Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur Championship, IMG Junior World Championship, Optimist International Junior Championship and Big I Junior Classic. A JGAC membership costs $100.
The JGAC offers junior development series and competitive tour events for kids of all ages and playing abilities. The tournament schedule includes multi-day events on the Junior Tour for kids with a maximum handicap index of 8.1 for boys and 14.1 for girls, and single-day events on the Junior Series for kids in three different age divisions – 14-18, 11-13, and 10 & Under.
Members of the JGAC will be able to compete in four Major Championships at some of the most famed courses in the state. Exemptions into these events will be based on the player’s previous year’s finish at the event or their final position in the 2015 CJGA official points list. Those not automatically exempt will have the opportunity to earn a berth in qualifying events. More information for these events can be found in their respective Tournament Information Pages found on the official tournament schedule.
2016 Major Championships Schedule
Colorado Junior Amateur Championship – Eisenhower Golf Club | June 13-15, 2016
Colorado Junior PGA Championship – Indian Tree Golf Course | July 13-15, 2016
Colorado Junior Match Play Championship – Ridge at Castle Pines North | August 1-3, 2016
Junior Tour Championship – Cherry Hills Country Club | October 8-9, 2016
The JGAC will also offer a Player Development Pathway which helps each junior identify opportunities to find where they fit into the golf world. It is comprised of nationally and locally recognized junior golf programs including Golf in Schools, PGA Junior League, Drive Chip and Putt, instructional camps, clinics and more.
An official website is scheduled to launch in March 2016, but more information can be found on the placeholder site at www.juniorgolfcolorado.org.
It’s Time To Get JGAC’ed!Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado Launched at G4 Summit
17www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
18
Junior News
PGA Junior League Golf Success StoriesCombine Multiple Partner Facilities and Create a “House” Developmental League as well as a traditional “Travel-ing Team”
Keith Soriano, PGA
Assistant Executive Director - Foundation Programs
Colorado PGA
P | (303) 996-1590
C | (720) 841-1006
The PGA Professionals at the City of Westminster were early adopters of the PGA Junior League Golf
(PGAJLG) program and have seen a direct impact on their facility’s mission thanks to PGA JLG.
Heritage at Westmoor and Legacy Ridge Golf Course have leveraged the City of Westminster’s recreation programs to create two outstanding opportunities for
Westminster residents around PGA JLG. Their programing will be open to 48 participants this year and the participants will be divided into 4 teams. Three of the teams (B, C, & D) will be a developmental “house” league and will compete against each other in matches held at The Heritage and at Legacy Ridge. Team A will be comprised of the top 12 golfers identified following team tryouts and player eval-uations and will represent Golf Westminster in the Denver West PGA Junior League and play
against other courses in the area.
Legacy Ridge PGA Head Golf Professional Joe Carlton encouraged his assistants to find a way for PGA JLG to be more inclusive and to fit into the City of Westmin-ster’s existing Junior Golf Development Pathway. PGA Junior League fits into the “Tier 3” programming of-fered at both facilities that is designed for junior golfers who are ready to take their skill sets to the golf course. In addition, the creation of the developmental versus traveling team dynamic will help encourage junior golf-ers who aspire to move from one level to the next to seek out the coaching of the PGA Professional staff.
Creating partnerships within your organization or even within your region to provide engagement and ad-vancement opportunities through PGA Junior League is certainly a best practice we can all learn from.
To share YOUR best practices, or to schedule a time to discuss opportunities for growth at your facility, contact Keith Soriano, PGA at [email protected] 720.841.1006.
19www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
20
Junior News
Augusta National Fast Approaching For Three Colorado JuniorsEighty junior golfers representing 30 U.S. states and
two Canadian provinces have earned an invitation to Augusta National Golf Club to compete in the third annual Drive, Chip and Putt Championship National Finals. The event will be held April 3, 2016, prior to the start of the 80th Masters Tournament. Check out the three kids representing the state of Colorado!
An Opportunity of a Lifetime for KeatingThe countdown has officially begun for three Colorado natives who scored a trip to the famed Augusta National for the Drive Chip and Putt Championship. Arielle Keating (Girls 14-15), Luke Trujillo (Boys 14-15) and Caitlyn Chin (Girls 7-9) took first in their respective age divisions at the regional qualifier at Torrey Pines Golf Course in California last September and they all agree that it simply can’t come soon enough.
“With a month to go, I wish I could put school on hold to just go golfing all day,” said Keating, who is the daughter of Brad Keating, a PGA Professional at Springs Ranch Golf Club.
Keating punched her ticket to Torrey Pines after taking second in the girls’ 14-15 division in the sub-regional qualifier at CommonGround Golf Course with a total score of 130 points – 49 in driving, 50 in chipping and 35 in putting.
Stakes were high at the regional qualifier as nine fellow competitors in the girls’ 14-15 division took to the course. Keating was one of the first to hand in her scorecard, feeling extra confident after holing her second chip shot from 15-feet. But knowing eight other scores had to be posted, Keating was feeling anxious.
“It was very difficult being one of the first ones who
had their scores posted,” said Keating. “I felt so helpless at that point.”
The Colorado Springs native won her division by 17 points, posting a total score of 118 – 33 in driving, 40 in chipping and 45 in putting. With a victory at Torrey Pines, Keating, her dad and sister, Stacy, will head to the national finals and compete the Sunday before Masters tournament week.
“My dad has been my number one fan,” said Keating. “The Masters is the one big golf event that my dad and I watch every year so being able to actually go there in person is unbelievable.”
For the 15-year-old sophomore, the Drive Chip and Putt journey has helped to take her game to a whole new level. She now dreams of becoming a professional golfer.
“Competing in Drive Chip and Putt has helped me to see that there are a lot of opportunities in golf,” said Keating. “It wasn’t
until I qualified at the sub-regional that I really
started to enjoy practicing and taking golf a lot more seriously.”
No Time to Waste for Chin Family The Chin family does not waste a single minute of the day playing with electronics or watching television. With a packed schedule of extracurricular activities, 12-year-old Alyssa, 10-year-old Ben and 8-year-old Caitlyn spends much of their time practicing piano, studying for school and playing nearly every sport possible.
But when it comes to golf, the Chins make it a family affair.
PGA Professional Brad Keating and his daughter Arielle Keating pose after Arielle punched her ticket to Augusta National Golf Club
21www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
“I put them into golf because I wanted them to have the skill that I wish I had,” said their father, Benjamin. “I started playing way too late in life.”
Starting at age five, the Chins began taking lessons and practicing at Meridian Golf Club and the Family Sports Center. Over the years, they’ve proven to be tough competitors in almost every junior golf event they participate in, including the Drive Chip and Putt Championship.
For the 2016 qualifying year, the Chins competed against a stacked field of 240 Drive Chip and Putt Championship hopefuls at the Country Club at Castle Pines, the final local qualifier. Ben and Caitlyn took top honors in their age divisions and advanced onto the sub-regional at CommonGround Golf Course.
With a score of 84 points and a second place finish, Caitlyn was the only Chin to earn a bid to the Torrey Pines regional qualifier.
“I was really excited to go to California,” said Caitlyn. “I was definitely more nervous at Torrey Pines so I practiced like three hours before. At CommonGround I only practiced like an hour before.”
Caitlyn was one of the final competitors in her age division. As the final score was posted, she was preparing for defeat but to her surprise, her final score of 78 was enough to take first in the Girls’ 7-9 age division.
“When I saw the last score I was thinking that she would beat me,” said Caitlyn. “But then she didn’t beat me and I was like ‘yay’ and my dad was so happy that he picked me up.”
With a month left to go before the national finals, the Chin clan has played a huge role as Caitlyn prepares to compete on one of the biggest stages in golf history.
“I’m trying to put myself under pressure so that I can hit better when I’m under pressure at Augusta,” said Chin. “I have my sister and brother play against me, and my mom and dad are like ‘come on, you can do it!’”
For Caitlyn, a trip to the Masters will be an unforgettable experience.
“I think I am going to be more encouraged to be a professional golfer because I would think back to this time when I went to the Masters,” said Chin. “If I could do this, I can do anything.”
The Lowest of Lows to the Highest of Highs for TrujilloIn the matter of minutes, Luke Trujillo went from feeling ultimate defeat to utmost victory at the Torrey Pines regional qualifier last September.
The final competitor in the Boys’ 14-15 age division, Luke
started off strong as he nearly holed two of his three putts, carding 55 total points in the first leg of the competition. He went on to score 35 points in chipping.
The 15-year-old was feeling confident as he stepped onto the tee box for the final event, but a missed fairway on his second drive deflated his dreams of going to Augusta National for the Drive Chip and Putt National Finals.
“He thought it was over after he missed that fairway,” said Luke’s father, John, a PGA Professional who teaches at Eisenhower Golf Club.
Posting 39 points in the drive category gave Luke a total score of 129, a 35-point difference from his qualifying score of 164 at the CommonGround sub-regional in Aurora, Colo.
“It was a long walk down to the scoring tent,” said John. “We had started to hug everyone goodbye thinking that it was over but then Luke came running up to us and said, ‘Dad, I’m tied for first!’”
Luke was tied with Caden Christopherson, a participant in the 2014 Drive Chip and Putt National Finals.
The tiebreaker fared in Luke’s favor as the winner was decided on the highest points in the putting category – Luke carded 55 points while Caden carded 40 points.
“Winning in a playoff made it that much more
Caitlyn Chin of Aurora talks with a reporter after she qualified for the National Championship of the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship.
Junior News
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
22
surprising and unbelievable,” said Luke. “I can’t believe that I get to drive, chip, and putt where the greatest golfers in history have played.”
But the week wasn’t quite over for the high school sophomore.
Upon his return to Colorado, Luke joined his high schools boys’ golf team at Shining Mountain Golf Club to compete in the 4A Southern Regional tournament.
Luke found himself in a familiar position as Discovery Canyon tied with Pueblo West for first place with a score of 238.
In a 4 vs. 4 sudden death playoff, Luke sunk a 25-foot, downhill putt for birdie on the first hole to secure the
victory for the Discovery Canyon Thunder.
“It was so much fun to sink a putt for my team like that,” said Luke.
The Colorado Springs native has been able to carry this momentum through the snowy months of winter as he travels around the country to compete in various junior golf events.
In his final year of eligibility for the Drive Chip and Putt Championship, Luke hopes to make the most of the opportunity.
“I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to be at Augusta National,” said Luke. “I know I’m going to have to bring my ‘A-game.’”
Junior News
DC&P Registration OpenRegistration for the 2017 Drive Chip and Putt is now OPEN! Boys and girls ages 7-15 are now able to sign up for
one of our six local qualifiers at drivechipandputt.com. This FREE youth golf initiative aims to help younger generations begin their lifelong connection with golf by providing a fun, interactive platform for participants of all ages and skill levels.
The top-3 performers in each age division and gender (boys and girls 7-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15) at these local qualifiers will advance on to the Sub-Regional staged at CommonGround Golf Course on Saturday, August 13. From there, the top-2 in each age division and gender will move on the Regional Qualifier in Pacific Palisades, Calif. at the Riviera Country Club.
The top 80 performers - 40 boys and 40 girls - across the country will earn an invitation to the National Finals at Augusta National on Sunday April 2, the eve of the 2017 Masters. This is an event you don’t want to miss! There is a limited number of spots available at each of these qualifiers, so get registered TODAY at www.drivechipandputt.com.
Local QualifiersColorado National Golf Club | Erie, COMonday, June 6, 2016Entry Deadline - June 1, 2016 at 3:00pm MST
Fort Collins Country Club | Fort Collins, COWednesday, June 15, 2016Entry Deadline - June 10, 2016 at 3:00pm MST
The Club at Flying Horse | Colorado Springs, COTuesday, June 21, 2016Entry Deadline - June 16, 2016 at 3:00pm MST
Murphy Creek Golf Course | Aurora, COThursday, July 7, 2016Entry Deadline - July 2, 2016 at 3:00pm MST
Heritage at Westmoor | Westminster, COMonday, July 11, 2016Entry Deadline - July 6, 2016 at 3:00pm MST
Lincoln Park Golf Course | Grand Junction, COThursday, July 21, 2016Entry Deadline - July 16, 2016 at 3:00pm MST
Sub Regional QualifierCommonGround Golf Course Aurora, COSaturday, August 13, 2016
Luke Trujillo of Colorado Springs poses with his family after qualifying for the 2016 Drive, Chip & Putt National Championship.
23www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
PUTTWHEN YOU TEACH YOUR KIDS TO LOVE GOLF,
THEY WIN FOR A LIFETIME.
LEARN MORE AT DRIVECHIPANDPUTT.COM @DriveChipPutt DriveChipandPutt DriveChipandPutt
IT’S PLAYTIME
CHIPDRIVE
How does it work? Drive, Chip & Putt is conducted in four stages:
LOCAL QUALIFYING — 256 sites in 50 states and Puerto Rico • SUBREGIONAL QUALIFYING — 50 sites in 31 states
REGIONAL QUALIFYING — 10 sites, featuring many PGA and USGA championship venues
NATIONAL FINALS — 80 junior golfers competing at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters Tournament and broadcast live on Golf Channel
How do we get started? A parent or guardian should register each child for one local competition
at DriveChipandPutt.com.
Have fun learning and practicing golf skills.
Tell your friends to join.
What is it?Drive, Chip & Putt is a free, nationwide junior golf program
for boys and girls ages 7-15 that focuses on the three fundamental skills of the game — DRIVING, CHIPPING and PUTTING.
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
24
Section News
Route 411An update on our Colorado PGA Members
Smigelsky Celebrates Quarter Century MembershipDale Smigelsky is
very blunt when it comes to his career. “I’ve been doing this a long time” he noted when asked to com-ment on his election to the Quarter Century Club of the PGA of America.
Smigeslky, the PGA Director of Golf at Collindale Golf Course in Ft. Collins, Colorado and the 2012 PGA of America Public Merchandiser of the Year, grew up in Central Florida after his father retired from the Air Force and became an air traffic controller. It was there that he took up the game of golf.
“I started playing because I had buddies that played at the little executive public course at the end of my street,” Dale noted. “We could entertain ourselves all day in the summer.”
His passion for the industry grew after he enrolled at the University of Central Florida. He spent two years there before the game pulled him away and he turned professional. “At that time, school was not as important in the golf business,” he re- calls. “I fell in love with the business and knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
“I started in the golf business at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley in Cashiers, North Carolina. After two years there, I took the first assistants job at Happy Hollow Club in Omaha, Nebraska in 1981. There he worked under John Frillman, a 25-year industry veteran who taught him many important lessons about what it means to be a golf professional. “I learned about over-the-top customer service, club repair, tournament operations, club operations, employee management,
merchandising – every aspect of the business,” Smigelsky says. “I also learned what it was to work 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. six days a week. I’ll never forget the long hours. It’s what instilled a good work ethic in me.”
“I moved to Boulder Country Club in 1985 for one year and then got out of the business for 9 years to get myself in a better financial position. Then in 1994, I got back into the business at Collindale Golf Course as the Golf Shop Manager and regained my Class A status late that year. Since that time, I’ve been in the City of Fort Collins system as a contracted golf professional, having been the Head Professional at all three courses in town; Collindale Golf Course, Southridge Golf Course and City Park 9 Golf Course. I’m the only one who has done that!”
Dale is no slouch when it comes to the game of golf either. Locally, Dale won the 2003 Colorado PGA Section Championship and just recently won the 2015 Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship. Prior to that Dale notched wins in the 1982 Nebraska Assistants Championship, 1985 Nebraska Open and several Florida Mini Tour events.
When reflecting on his career, Smigelsky notes that it isn’t the tournament wins or accolades that he is most proud of. “I’m extremely proud of former staff that has gone on, in many different venues, to be successful people.”
Like many in the golf industry, simply being outside is where you can find Dale when he isn’t running the operation at Collindale. “I love anything outdoors. I bow hunt elk, shoot pheasants and don’t get out and fish as much as I’d like,” Dale noted. “When it’s cold in Colorado, I love to head for warmer climates. My wife, Anne, and I love the Caribbean but we’re not able to get there enough.”
Congratulations to Dale Smigelsky for his 25 years of membership and his dedication to the game of golf.
25www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
3/1 Stuart G. Bruening, PGA3/2 JP Hachey Mark Kizzire, PGA3/3 Michael W. Allen James M. Dargis, PGA Val R. Heim III, PGA3/4 Eric M Schaupeter, PGA3/5 Thomas Carricato, PGA Dale Douglass, PGA Bill Poirot, PGA Kevin D. Sauer, PGA Chance R. Semones, PGA3/6 Matt D Hardy Gerard C Lanser Jeffrey R. Wilcinski, PGA3/7 Alan R. Abrams, PGA Craig C. Palmer, PGA3/8 Charles V. Kline, PGA Ryan D Treptow Zane T. Zwemke, PGA3/9 Thomas A. Krause, PGA Randall L. Meyers, PGA3/10 Michael F. Fengler, PGA Cathy Matthews-Kane, PGA3/11 Anthony P Barbo Prim Ivan, PGA Thomas C. Wight, PGA
3/12 Charles E. Curtis, PGA Matthew B. Henderson, PGA Reggie J. Sanchez, PGA3/13 Dick A. Dierker, PGA Larry Murphy, PGA Dan O’Shaughnessy, PGA3/14 Clayton Cole, PGA John P. Gazaway, PGA John Merrihew, PGA3/15 Jim Fiala, PGA Ian J. Parham, PGA3/16 Bob J. Persichetti, PGA3/17 William T. Lollar, PGA3/19 Stacy A. Kleve, PGA Phillip J. McCarthy, PGA Amy R. Nordeen, PGA Jordan F. O’Keefe Bob J. Stallman, PGA Kenneth J. Thayer III, PGA Nicholas S. Warner3/20 Jeff L. Meeker, PGA3/21 Michael W. Kramer, PGA Mark R. Pfingston, PGA Jack Sommers, PGA3/22 Ted Apostolos, PGA3/23 Donald Allen, PGA
3/24 Mark E. Bazley David R. Hagan, PGA Shawn Wilcox, PGA3/25 Stephen P. Bauerle, PGA Kendall T. Carson, PGA Justin A. Cirbo, PGA Adam M. Finch, PGA3/26 Thomas L. Nosewicz, PGA3/27 Charlie Cobb, PGA Gary W. Hoffman, PGA Christopher J Hyten Cobie J. Lunsford, PGA Patrick M. Reidy, PGA David Troyer, PGA3/28 Paul D Schmeling3/29 Kenneth R. Anderson, PGA Timothy J Ausec, PGA Ann Finke, PGA David A Gapp3/30 Shane T. Bertsch, PGA James D. Hayden, PGA Justin W. Limon, PGA Cyrus C. Twete, PGA3/31 Dick Dorn, PGA Kirby E. Lee, PGA
Happy Birthday!
Section NewsNew MembersJames A. Edfors, PGA | A-8 | Inverness Golf Club and HotelMarcus A. Gillmor, PGA | A-8 | Eaton Country ClubEric D. Schmedeman, PGA | A-23 | TopGolf - Centennial
New ApprenticesAlexander C Gough | B-8 | Red Rocks Country ClubShane S Sutherland | B-8 | Cheyenne Shadows GC at Ft. Carson
Welcome WagonTyler L. Ferratti, PGA | A-8 | Columbine Country Club | previously in the Philadelphia SectionPhillip J. McCarthy, PGA | A-9 GolfTEC Headquarters | previously in the South Florida SectionJason L. Witczak, PGA | A-14 | Green Valley Ranch Golf Club | previously in the Southwest Section
2016 PAT Schedule AnnouncedWednesday, April 27 | PAT # 1 | CommonGround GC
Thursday, May 19 | PAT # 2 | Indian Tree GC
Wednesday, June 8 | PAT # 3| Riverdale GC - Knolls
Tuesday, July 12 | PAT # 4 | Fitzsimons GC
Wednesday, August 10 | PAT # 5 | Plum Creek GC
Wednesday, September 7 | PAT # 6 | Cheyenne Shadows Golf Course
Friday, October 7 | PAT # 7 | Valley Hi GC
Wednesday, October 26 | PAT # 8 | Collindale GC
Click here to access the online PAT Schedule and to register for events. To register by phone, please contact the Member Service Center at 1 (800) 474-2776.
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
26
The Colorado PGA Tournament Department
utilizes BlueGolf Tournament Software to provide all of our tournament services including registration. With that in mind, I’d like to help you navigate your way through the BlueGolf registration process.
To begin, login on the Colorado PGA website (www.coloradopga.com) with your BlueGolf login. This can be done on the homepage or by selecting ‘Tournaments’ on the left side of the website.
Once you have successfully logged in, select the white button labeled ‘Tournaments’ across the top of the Players Club Page.
Check the box of the event (s) that you would like to register for. If you could like to register for more than one event at this time, simply check all of those events and select the ‘Register’ button.
Please read over and confirm that you agree to the Tournament Waiver.
You will now be required to enter your name, member id number, email address, and indicate if you are 60 or over. Select ‘next’.
If the event you are registering for is a team event, select the ‘select’ button to the right of each partner and enter their information. Though it is not required that each partners GHIN number is entered at this time, entering it now will save it for future use.
For team events, you have until the Friday before the event at 10 AM to update your team and enter the GHIN numbers for each member. If an amateur uses a different Handicap Service that is verified by the USGA, please contact the Justin Limon at the Section Office.
Once all of your partners’ information has been entered you will be asked to provide payment. Select ‘next’.
After completing the payment information and selecting ‘next’, you will now be entered into the event.
Along with registration, BlueGolf will also provide you a way to view upcoming events that you have signed up for as well as viewing the results of events that have been completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
I see three different options, what is the entry fee for a Pro-Am?
All Pro-Ams are $380 for the team, however this can be confusing as it looks on the TIP:
You will see 3 options; Pro, Pro+ 50 for 50 contest and Amateur.
• PLEASE DISREGARD THE AMATEUR OPTION. You will add Amateurs to your team using one of the other two options in the registration process.
• The Pro+50 for 50 option is an optional Bonus Purse for those Professionals age 50 and over. This option adds the $50 entry fee for 50 for 50 contest to the entry fee for the Pro-Am. Total cost of entry is $430.
• Otherwise, please use the Pro option to register for a Pro-Am.
Upon completing registration, you will be charged a deposit of$65 ($105 for Pro+50 for 50) to secure your team in the event. The remainder of the entry fee will be charged to the designated credit card no more than 96 hours and no less than 72 hours prior to the first scheduled starting time for the event.
How do I change the players on my team?
This is the most frequently asked question. To change the players on your team:
Login to BlueGolf with your BlueGolf login information.
Once you have successfully logged in, select the white tab labeled ‘Tournaments’ across the top of the Players Club Page.
Under the ‘Tournaments’’ tab that you just selected, select ‘Upcoming.’
This will generate the list of events that you have signed up for but have not been played. Under the event that you wish to change your partners, select ‘My Partners.’
It is noted that this option will be available to you up until 72 hours prior to the first tee time of the event. If you have a team change after this point, please contact Justin Limon at the Section Office with your player change.
BlueGolf How-ToA Refresher on All Things Tournament SoftwareBy Justin Limon, PGA
27www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
When is the deadline for an event?
The registration deadline for each Colorado PGA event will be 11:59 pm of the day 5 days prior to the start of the event. If this deadline has passed, please contact Justin Limon at the Section Office to inquire about the availability of entry into the event.
When will my payment be processed?
Payment for Colorado PGA events will be handled differently based on the type of event, Pro-Am or Professional Only, that you are registered for. Pro-Am events are setup with Deposit and Balance transactions. You will be charged an entry fee deposit of $65, at the time of registration with the remainder of the entry fee charged to the designated credit card no more than 96 hours and no less than 72 hours prior to the first scheduled starting time for the event.
How do I cancel out of an event and what is the cancellation policy?
To cancel out of an event, login to BlueGolf with your BlueGolf login information. Once you have successfully logged in, select the white button labeled ‘Tournaments’ across the top of the Players Club Page. Under the ‘Tournaments’’ button that you just selected, select ‘Upcoming.’ This will generate the list of events that you have signed up for but have not been played. Under the event that you wish to cancel out of, select ‘Cancel.’ You will then have to confirm your cancellation.
If you do cancel out of an event, per the Tournament Rules and Regulations, refunds will be granted in the full amount of the entry fee for any cancellation made prior to the stated entry deadline.
Refunds will be granted in the amount of the entry fee, less a $25 administration fee for any cancellation made following the stated entry deadline and prior to the seventy-two (72) hours to the start of the event.
No Refund will be granted for any cancellation made within seventy-two (72) hours prior to the start of the event. The start of the event is defined as the time of the event’s first scheduled starting time.
How do I get a receipt for my registration for an event?
To view and print a receipt, login to BlueGolf with your BlueGolf login information. Once you have successfully logged in, select the white button labeled ‘Tournaments’ across the top of the Players Club Page. Under the ‘Tournaments’’ button that you just selected, select ‘Transactions.’ This will generate the list of events that you have signed up for and either competed in or cancelled out of. You may now view each transaction separately by selecting the date of
the event and scrolling down to the printable receipt.
How do I pay my West Chapter Tournament fee?
The one time, $50 West Chapter Tournament fee, will be added as a line item to the first registration fee that you will pay when you register for a West Chapter event.
How to Login/Re-set Password?
Log on to ColoradoPGA.com and select the tab Login, then select BlueGolf Login
To Login you can use either your PGA member ID # or use the e-mail address you have associated with your BlueGolf account and then enter password
If you cannot remember your password and need to recover or reset, enter your PGA member ID # or e-mail address associated with your BlueGolf account and your password will be sent to your email address.
Also by logging in a player can view their transactions, see and compare tournament stats, and much more. If you have any questions about logging into BlueGolf and Tournament Registration in general, please contact Justin Limon, Tournament Director, at the Colorado PGA Section Office.
Is there a BlueGolf App?
If you have not downloaded the Colorado PGA BlueGolf App, give it a try. It has been updated in recent months to greatly enhance appearance and navigation. Key tournament information is displayed on one page. You also have 1-tap access to Registration, Results, Sponsors and more. It is available for Apple, Android and Google Play Devices.
I hope that this has answered any questions that you may have regarding navigating BlueGolf. If you do come upon a problem please feel free to contact Justin Limon at [email protected] or at (303) 996-1588.
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
28
Tournament News
Time to Setup Direct Deposit For Tournament WinningsEasiest, Fastest Way to Get Paid is Just a Few Click AwayBy Justin Limon, PGA
Section Championship Registration Set for 2016
The PGA of America Board of Directorshas approved a new policy allowing Sections the opportunity to
establish their own registration deadline for all Section National Championships (Section PGA Professional Championship, Senior PGA Professional Championship & Assistant Championship.) Also, the time of the dead-line will be local time of each section at 11:59 PM. As Sections will have the opportunity to select their own deadline, a five-year averaging system will be imple-mented to determine “entries” utilizing the most recent 5 years of participation. Registration will continue to be processed through the National office.
The Colorado PGA Section has set a deadline two and a half weeks prior to the start of each Championship. This change is intended to allow less fluctuation between eligible entries and actual number of players with the deadline closer to the actual Championship dates.
The following registration dates have been set for each Championship.
National Car Rental Colorado PGA Assistant Championship
Event Date | Monday & Tuesday, August 1-2, 2016
Registration Opens | Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Registration Deadline | Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 11:59 PM (MST)
Colorado Senior PGA Championship
Event Date | Monday & Tuesday, August 15-16, 2016
Registration Opens | Tuesday, May 17, 2016 |
Registration Deadline | Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at 11:59 PM (MST)
Colorado PGA Professional Championship
Event Date | Monday - Wednesday, September 12-14, 2016
Registration Opens | Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Registration Deadline | Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 11:59 PM (MST)
More Timely Deadlines Coming This YearBy Justin Limon, PGA
As the tournament season approaches, for those of you that don’t have Direct Deposit setup for
your tournament winnings, you are missing out! Direct Deposit direct deposit is not only beneficial to you, the member, but also to the PGA of America because it saves them time and resources printing and distributing paper checks.
Here are a few reasons to setup Direct Deposit before the season begins:
It Saves You Time - With direct deposit, your money is automatically deposited into your checking account. You don’t have to find time to drive to the bank and
stand in line waiting to cash your check. The days of hurrying to the bank before it closes are over. Your money will already be in your account, available to you, three days after the event has finished.
Helps Save You Money - With direct deposit, you can have some money go to your checking account and you can have some funneled directly to your savings account and/or a retirement account.
To access the Direct Deposit form and get this setup prior to the beginning of the tournament season, please click here. If you already have this setup, you are good to go!
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
30
Did @Love3d just say he was
#jackedforjrgolf?!
@The BuzzA monthly recap of the Colorado PGA Twitter and Facebook World
Tell us how your PGA Pro has impacted your life with #ThxPGAPro
Thanks @HomelessHubbs @
KJacquesgolf and @beccahuffergolf for
supporting junior golf in Colorado!
@ColoGolfCGA, Colo. PGA Take Next Step With Newly-Named
‘Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’. #jackedforjrgolf
Who’s joining us for the first event
of the year?! Junior Tour plays @
CountryClubofCO April 16-17
Introducing the @jgacolorado! #jackedforjrgolf
31www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
@The BuzzA monthly recap of the Colorado PGA Twitter and Facebook World
By The NumbersColorado PGAFacebook Fans | 734Twitter Followers | 659
Colorado PGA Junior GolfFacebook Fans | 375Twitter Followers | 273
Colorado PGAHave you missed all that we’ve been up to at the Denver Golf Expo this weekend? Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @jgacolorado!
And, of course, go like Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado before this page disappears!
Colorado PGACheck out PGA Professional Kelly Plaiser from the Trent
Wearner Golf Academy wrapping up our Swing Seminars at the 2016
Denver Golf Expo!
Colorado PGA Junior GolfOur page will be deactivated soon, so please head on over to Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado and “Like” us
there!
Colorado PGA Junior GolfTournament registra-tion is now open! Go to the tournaments page at www.junior-golfcolorado.org, click on your age division’s schedule and get to
registering!
Colorado PGA Junior GolfNothing says #jackedforjrgolf quite like practicing in 2-feet of snow! Way to go Camden!
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
32
PGA Tour
Colorado Chevy DealersColorado Golf and Turf
Tom Bauerle
C&M Golf and Grounds EquipmentJeff Mathis
Brett Walton
Infinium SpiritsMike Horan
Denver Golf ExpoMark Cramer
Masek Golf CarsJason Masek
KBS Shafts
Presidents Club | $20,000 and above
Platinum | $10,000
Gold | $5,000
National Car Rental
OMEGA
Imperial Headwear Jamie Zabolio
Colorado AvidGolferAllen Walters
Platinum | $7,500
Fairway PromotionsJames Schlatter, Nick
Porter Greg Norman - Dunning
Mike Giarratano
2UNDRMary Mahoney
33www.coloradopga.com
March N
ewsletter
GPS IndustriesKevin Carpenter
Silver | $2,500
Golf MD’sAlex Weber
PTE GolfMatt Pollitt
Bronze | $1,000
Club Prophet SystemsTom Robshaw
Sun MountainKevin Neff
GolfTECJoe Assell, PGA
Adidas/AshworthMike Bryant
AHEADZach Ledvina
TaylorMade GolfMike Mendoza
Co
lora
do
PG
A P
ro P
eaks
Dig
ital
Mag
azin
e
34
10491885_GMMM5665000_Inner Beauty.indd GMMM5665000
1--
8” x 10.875”8” x 10.875”
7.5” x 10.375”8.25” x 11.125”100%
GM-Commonwealth DetroitNone
12-18-2015 7:03 PM12-18-2015 7:04 PM
Luca.Sanguigni
NoneNone
Tim MattimoreJohn FiebkeNone
1Page - due 12/21
Louis
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
NoneJen SamraJeff WilsonLilian SooHoo
Jenine RhoadesEric Singer
Molly Fox
CH-BRND-
Tiffany.Punnett
InStyle------------
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 charging2 station for compatible smartphones, an 8-inch diagonal color touch-screen and Bose® 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 $22,5001
As shown $36,5501
INNER BEAUTY HAS FOUND ITS OUTER MATCH.
1 MSRP. Tax, title, license, dealer fees and other optional equipment extra. 2 The system wirelessly 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.
THE ALL-NEW 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU
1ST Assembly 12/18/15187192A01g swop
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
S:7.5”S:10.375”
T:8”T:10.875”
B:8.25”B:11.125”
GMMM5665000__187192A01.indd 1 12/18/15 11:34 PM