The SUMMIT - Colorado PGA Magazine - August 2019 by Colorado PGA

The

SUMMIT

RUSS MILLER, PGA

2019 Golf Professional of the Year

The SUMMIT is the official digital magazine of the Colorado PGA - August 2019

The Official Magazine of the Colorado PGA The SUMMIT is produced by the Colorado PGA

Colorado PGA Officers

West Chapter Officers

Jim Hajek, PGA Vice-President | 2019-2020 Fossil Trace Golf Club

Brett Gagnon, PGA Vice-President | 2019-2020 Red Sky Golf Club

Ben Welsh, PGA President | 2019-2020 Frost Creek Club

Cathy Matthews-Kane, PGA Secretary | 2019-2020 Country Club of Colorado Ty Thompson, PGA President | 2019-2020 Crosshairs Consulting

Board of Directors

Andy Benson, PGA | 2017-2019 University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch Jeff Boyer, PGA | 2019-2020 Eagle Ranch Golf Course Bob Doyle, PGA Past District 9 Director Life Member Kyle Heyen, PGA Past District 9 Director Hiwan Golf Club Charles ‘Vic’ Kline, PGA Past District 9 Director Ed Marzec, PGA | 2019-2021 Red Sky Golf Club Jim Miller, PGA | 2018-2020 Sonnenalp Golf Club Josh Miller, PGA | 2019-2021 GOLFTEC Dennis Murray, PGA | 2018-2020 Valley Country Club Mike O’Donnell, PGA | 2018-2020 Fort Carson Bobby Quaratino, PGA | 2017-2019 West Woods Golf Course Chris Swinhart, PGA | 2017-2019 Thorncreek Golf Course Dave Troyer, PGA | 2019-2021 CommonGround Golf Course

Independent Directors Theo Gregory Spencer Zinn

Dr. Stephen Davis Cheyenne Mountain Dental Group

Jeff Boyer, PGA President | 2019-2020 Eagle Ranch Golf Course

Brad Dombaugh CEO - PSA Worldwide Corp. Maj. Gen. Barbara Faulkenberry, USAF, Retired Corporate Director: Callon Petroleum; USA Truck

Luke Brosterhous Secretary | 2017-2019 Catamount Ranch and Club Ed Marzec, PGA Honorary President | 2019-2020 Red Sky Golf Club

West Chapter Board of Directors

Walter Glover EVP/COO - United States Olympic Endowment Theo Gregory Senior Vice President - El Pomar Foundation Tom Gunnerson Vice President of Investments, Wells Fargo Advisors

Tom Apple, PGA | 2019-2021 Country Club of the Rockies Jacques Deyoe, PGA | 2017-2019 Maroon Creek Club Alice Plain, PGA | 2018 - 2020 Vail Golf Club

Dominic Karaba President - Specialty Lending and Business Banking - UMB Bill Keller Lieutenant Colonel USAF, Retired

Kenny Thayer, PGA | 2019-2021 Beavercreek Golf Club

Bob Lally Navy Captain, Retired

Steve VanDyke, PGA | 2018-2020 River Valley Ranch GC

George Lee VP - Ameriprise Financial Services

Colorado PGA REACH Trustees

Adam McDiarmid Regional Manager - Business Banking - UMB

John Andrew Brigadier General USAF - Retired

Scott McGraw VP of Employee Benefits Cherry Creek Insurance Group

Spencer Zinn Chairman

Dan Bennett Investor/Partner, Southwest Greens Management

Honorable Sue Payton President - SCI Aerospace Inc.

John Bond VP Sales & Marketing, Golf Division of Garb

LTG Ed Soriano, US Army (Ret) Director, Bus. Dev. Global Land Forces - Northrop Grumman Corporation

Anne Broholm CEO | AHEAD Tom Bauerle Owner - Colorado Golf and Turf Dr. Phil Brown President/Founder, Six Points Consulting

Mike Talaga Credit Analyst Janus Henderson Investors

Staff

Executive Director/CEO Eddie Ainsworth, PGA eainsworth@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1593 C (719) 761-6125 Assistant Executive Director 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 Player Development Director Holly Champion, PGA hchampion@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1591 C (217) 232-1790 Junior Golf Manager Scott Minta sminta@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1590 C (630) 532-3230 Finance Specialist Annie O’Donnell adonnell@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1595 Marketing and Communications Coordinator Judy Malone jmalone@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1594

Field Staff

Career Consultant Keith Soriano, PGA ksoriano@pgahq.com C (720) 841-1006 PGA Junior League Regional Manager Anthony Vitale, PGA avitale@pgahq.com C (561) 267-1208

Bill Vogeney Chief Revenue Officer Ent Credit Union

Colorado PGA

6630 Bear Dance Drive | Larkspur, CO 80118 P | (303) 681-0742 www.coloradopga.com

The SUMMIT is distributed free to members and affiliates of the Colorado PGA eleven 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.

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What’s Inside 4 5 6 8 8 9 10 11 14 17 23 25 26 30 31 33

President’s Report July - A Month to Celebrate District Director Report/PGA of America News PGA of America Award Winners Announced Executive Director’s Report Carpe Diem - Seize the Day! Colorado PGA News Teaching with Technology the Focus of Teaching and Coaching Workshop Reimagined Merchandise Tour Coming in Late August West Chapter News Playing Opportunities Abound in West Chapter Colorado PGA REACH Foundation News Wounded Combat Hero Receives New Home Taking Him from Homelessness to Home-Owner Empowering and Fostering the Next Generation of Leaders Special Awards Feature Colorado PGA Golf Professional of the Year, Russ Miller, Exemplifies Leadership, Service and Promotion of the Game Rush, Atherton and Eight Others Join Miller in Earning Colorado PGA Special Awards Career Development News Lyrics, Love & Life Membership News Membership Report & Quarter Century Feature Tournament News Lanting Repeats as Assistant Professional Champion Junior Golf News PGA Jr. League Set for Exciting All-Star Season Colorado Junior Amateur Recap Pioneer Power

August 2019

President’s Message

July - A Month to Celebrate!

Big Month for Colorado PGA REACH Foundation and our Award Winners

e are celebrating quite a lot in this issue of The SUMMIT. Director of Golf Russ Miller, PGA from The Broadmoor leads this year’s Colorado PGA Section Award Winners as our Golf Professional of the Year. Our 2nd Annual Women’s Leadership Summit was a huge success with over 130 women in attendance. And our Colorado PGA REACH Invitational raised a record amount while presenting our 6th Mortgage-Free Home to a Combat Wounded Veteran. To be selected as a Colorado PGA Section Award recipient means that you’ve been recognized as one of the best-of-the-best in a PGA Section, a section that is viewed as one of the best-of-the-best. Each year, our Awards Committee, made up of the previous year’s award winners, has the very difficult job of selecting our recipients. They spend numerous hours reviewing each award package before they come together to decide who is the most deserving, earning the right to be recognized as best-of-the-best in Colorado. I would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners and look forward to celebrating each of you on Friday, November 1, at Colorado Golf Club. You might say the week of July 15 was the week of fulfilling our Colorado PGA REACH Foundation’s mission of making a positive difference in the lives of others through the game of golf. The week started on Monday when over 130 women came together to hear keynote speaker Anna Liotta talk about Generational Differences. Anna discussed how to unlock Generational Codes to better understand the people around you so you can effectively communicate and develop meaningful relationships with members of all the generations in the workplace and in everyday life. Anna’s keynote was followed by an outstanding Women’s Panel and four deserving young ladies received $1,000 “Inspire Greatness” College Scholarships.

Ben Welsh, PGA President Colorado PGA Head Professional Frost Creek bwelsh@pga.com P | (970) 328-2326 C | (970) 688-0115

Dan Bennett and Stuart Bruening, PGA, Owners of Southwest Greens of Colorado pose with Steven Klimtzak, the recipient of a mortgagefree home given away at the Colorado PGA REACH Invitational

Then on Wednesday, thanks to our partners PGA Professional Stuart Bruening and Dan Bennett with Southwest Greens, Wells Fargo and Military Warriors Support Foundation, we were able to present U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Steven Klimtzak with the keys to a mortgage-free home. It truly is special to be a part of changing the life of one of our Combat Wounded Veteran’s and, to top it all off, we raised over $85,000 for Colorado PGA REACH. May your tee sheets and lesson books remain full. All the Best.

Ben Welsh, PGA Head Golf Professional President, Colorado PGA Section 970-328-2326 (Shop) 970-688-0115 (Cell)

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PGA of America News

National Awards Announced Congratulations to our Colorado PGA Award Winners I’d like to congratulate the Colorado Section Award winners for this year. Winning a Section Award is an unbelievable honor and achievement. A number of your past Colorado Section Award winners have gone on to win National Awards, and perhaps that will happen to one of these winners. This issue of The SUMMIT is the beginning of recognizing the Colorado Section Award winners, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to recognize our National PGA Award winners for 2019. Following is a list of our award winners who will be officially recognized later this year: Golf Professional of the Year Eric Eshleman, PGA Country Club of Birmingham Alabama – NW Florida Section

Player Development Award Liz Cooper, LPGA/PGA Springfield Golf & Country Club Middle Atlantic Section

Teacher of the Year Kevin Kirk, PGA Woodlands Golf Performance Group Southern Texas Section

Patriot Award Judy Alvarez, LPGA/PGA Monarch Country Club South Florida Section

Bill Strausbaugh Award David Reasoner, PGA The Ridgewood Country Club New Jersey Section

Deacon Palmer Award Randy Jones, PGA Ingersoll Rand/Club Car Southern Texas Section

Horton Smith Award Todd Sones, PGA Todd Sones Impact Golf School Illinois Section Herb Graffis Award South Florida Section

Merchandiser of the Year-Private Scott Kirkwood, PGA Ocean Reef Club South Florida Section

Youth Player Development Award Scott Wilson, PGA Bay Meadows Family Golf Course Michigan Section

Ron Rawls, PGA District 9 Director PGA of America Head Professional Crane Creek CC

Merchandiser of the Year-Public Duncan Simms, PGA Oak Creek Golf Club Southern California Section Merchandiser of the Year-Resort Sara Muldoon, PGA Hershey Country Club Philadelphia

I serve on the National PGA Special Awards Committee, and am amazed at the quality of candidates that are nominated for the National Awards. I am sure the Awards Committee for the Colorado Section had an equally challenging task of selecting their award winners, as I am sure they received a number of very qualified candidates for each award. It is both motivational and quite humbling to read through the nominations, knowing you have to end up selecting just one of these candidates for the award. Congratulations to the Colorado Section Awards Committee and Chair Bobby Quaratino for their work in determining your Section Award winners for this year. At your service, Ron Rawls, PGA District 9 Director PGA of America Head Professional Crane Creek CC

August 2019

Executive Director’s Message

Carpe Diem - Seize the Day! O

ne of the most enjoyable things I get to do every year is read all the amazing things that our Colorado PGA Professionals accomplish at their facilities, how they impact their communities and how they support their fellow PGA Professionals. I have the privilege of going through and reading each of the nominee’s awards packages, and fortunately for me, I do not have the burden of choosing just one for each of our Section Awards. I’m very thankful that this responsibility is left up to our Awards Committee, as I am proud of our Colorado PGA Professionals and all they do day in and day out. Each of our nominees deserves to be recognized for their outstanding accomplishments.

Eddie Ainsworth, PGA CEO/Executive Director Colorado PGA eainsworth@pgahq.com

Last month, we crowned PGA Professional Sherry Andonian as our Colorado PGA Women’s Champion and we just crowned Ben Lanting as our National Car Rental Colorado PGA Assistant’s Champion. We are now in full swing mode to crown our Section’s Champions as on August 12-13 we will determine our Senior Section Champion, on September 9-11 we will determine our Section Champion, and we end the run for our 2019 Colorado PGA Player of the Year at our West Chapter Championship on October 1-2. Over time, I have learned that it’s important to play in these Championships if you get the opportunity, not just for the opportunity to compete, but for the opportunity to be with your fellow PGA Professionals and all the networking that goes on at these events. It’s not too late to register for the Section Championship as the deadline to register is August 21, and if you’ve never played in the West Chapter Championship, I promise that you’re in for a wonderful experience at Aspen Glen if you choose to play. It’s a great way to wind-down the season playing in the shadow of snow-covered Mount Sopris with the Aspen Trees on “fire.” I hope you get the chance to join us for

one or both of these events. You’ll be glad you did. In closing, I’d like to share a simple reminder to carpe diem, seize the day! Don’t let opportunities pass you by when they come your way. I’d like to think that I’ve done a pretty good job doing this in my life and, having just experienced a major milestone, I had to take a quick review. During a recent trip to Stevens Point, Wisc. to observe the 2019 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship in preparation for the 2020 Championship with my good friend Ed Mate, we were having dinner there for the first time and we asked our server about the town. His response gave me means to pause. He started out by saying, “well, in the 1900’s.” Needless to say, this young man was only 19-years-old so the 2000’s is the only time he knows, but it did make me think about the life experiences of our younger generations and their views on things. (If you haven’t read Anna Liotta’s Book on Generationalities, I would encourage you to do so.) And then this past week, we moved our youngest, our daughter who just recently graduated college, to Houston to start her first job. Officially, my wife and I have become “empty nesters,” but the point I’m trying to make here is that life will pass you by if you don’t seize the moments as they happen. Make the most of the present time and give little thought to the future, or you will be looking back wishing you did. Live life with no regrets!!! It is indeed my honor to serve as your Executive Director. If I can ever be of any service in helping you seize opportunities in your life as they come your way, it would be my honor to do so. All the Best. Very Respectfully,

Eddie Ainsworth, PGA Executive Director/CEO Colorado PGA 6630 Bear Dance Drive Larkspur, CO 80118 eainsworth@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1593 C (719) 761-6125

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Save the Date Colorado PGA Golf Industry Summit

presented by Colorado Golf and Turf October 22, 2019 (previously the Pro-GM-Super-Club Official)

Join us as we bring together industry leaders to discuss the ever-changing landscape of the golf industry in Colorado. We will hear from the National Golf Foundation and will discuss Employment, Government Relations and many other topics.

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Colorado PGA News

Teaching With Technology the Focus of Teaching and Coaching Workshop Monday, September 30, 2019 - Colorado National Golf Club

he third annual Colorado PGA Teaching and Coaching Workshop will include a new theme this year based on feedback the Education Committee has received through their survey. The workshop will continue to highlight Colorado PGA Members and Associates who are raising the bar in instruction but will have a focus on how those instructors utilize technology into their teaching. “We feel that creating a platform to highlight the inclusion of technology into teaching will be a great benefit to our members,” noted Education Committee Chair Josh Miller. “In today’s world, being able to stay up-to-date with industry leading programs is imperative to our members. By including these companies in this workshop, we hope to be able

to share first-hand examples and best practices so that our members can take this information into the off-season and use it for planning out their 2020 programs.” Details of the workshop are still being finalized. To date, Blast Motion, Trackman and Operation36 are just a few of the companies that will be included in the workshop. The event will be hosted at Colorado National Golf Club in CU Golf Team’s indoor practice facility. Look for more information on the event as it is finalized. Click here for more information

Reimagined Merchandise Tour Coming in Late August

Bear Creek, Rolling Hills and Fossil Trace to Serve as Stops on Denver Metro Tour

ecognizing that Merchandising is vitally important to many of our PGA Professionals and with experts in our backyard, the Education Committee has decided to bring back our Merchandise Tour in 2019. The event will include one-hour tours of three different clubs in the West Denver Metro area; Bear Creek Golf Club, The Club at Rolling Hills and Fossil Trace Golf Club. At Bear Creek Golf Club we will hear from Kirk Rider, PGA Head Professional. Rider earned the 2015 Private Merchandiser of the Year Award. Rider owns the Golf Shop at the all-men’s club which features a Mill River Plan. (Women are welcome to tour Bear Creek GC)

At Fossil Trace Golf Club, attendees will hear from Jim Hajek, the 2015 PGA of America Merchandiser of the Year in the Public Category. Fossil Trace is a high-end public facility that uses tons of creativity in their merchandising. Attendees will Tour each facility and then will gather for lunch at Fossil Trace, the last stop of the Tour. Registration is open to PGA Members, Associates and members of the AGM. Click here for more information

The Club at Rolling Hills is led by Director of Golf Jeff Seltz, PGA. Seltz and his team has been a finalist in the Private Merchandiser of the Year category and feature an expansive golf shop in newer clubhouse.

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West Chapter News

Playing Opportunities Abound in the West Chapter

The West Chapter has some excellent Pro-Am opportunities hosted by outstanding golf facilities over the next several weeks. I would encourage any Colorado Section Professional to carve time out of your crazy schedule to spend some quality time playing with some of your key members in a Pro-Am at one of Colorado’s premier mountain courses. I know how difficult it can be to get away from your facility this time of year, but every time I play in a Pro-Am (and donate my entry fee), I feel it has been well worth it to build a better relationship with my members. Here’s a list of the West Chapter Events we have coming up: •

Monday, August 19 – Club at Crested Butte Pro-Am

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August 23-25 – Rocky Mountain Open, Tiara Rado

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Tuesday, August 27 – Aspen Glen Golf Club Pro-Am

•

Thursday, September 19 – Catamount Ranch & Club Pro-Am

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October 1-2 – West Chapter Championship and Fall Meeting, Aspen Glen

•

Saturday, October 19 – West Chapter Cup Matches (Pros vs. Ams), Battlement Mesa

This year, we have worked with the West Chapter of the Colorado Golf Association to make a few changes to the Cup Matches. For 20 years, these matches have helped to raise money for the Western Colorado Golf Foundation. Over that span of time, this organization has given over $200,000 in scholarship to 130 Western Slope high school golfers to help them with their college education. As with many of our tournaments, it has become Jeff Boyer, PGA more difficult for the West Chapter Pros to set aside a weekend to play in this event. The President event has been shortened to a one-day, 27-hole event this year. Teams will consist of eight West Chapter of the players, with at least three of those players being Seniors. We are also honored that Eddie Colorado PGA General Manager Ainsworth and Ed Mate have agreed to serve as captains of the PGA and CGA teams.

Eagle Ranch Golf Course

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Colorado PGA REACH News

Wounded Combat Hero Receives New Home Taking Him from Homelessness to Home-Owner Colorado PGA REACH Foundation raises more than $85,000

rom homelessness to owning a mortgage-free home, former U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Steven Klimtzak rode a wave of emotions as he received the keys to his new home in Boston, N.Y., just outside of Buffalo. “I was scared as I was going through the process with the Military Warriors Support Foundation. Not scared for me but for my boys,” shared Klimtzak. “I was homeless and had moved back in with my mom. Because of my situation, I didn’t get to see my boys a lot. Today, I have a house that we can make our home. I am speechless. This is the greatest gift. Someone is looking out for me and my boys.” It was all pomp and circumstance as the Colorado PGA

REACH Foundation held its annual REACH Invitational Golf Tournament on Wednesday, July 17, 2019, at The Golf Club at Bear Dance where tribute was paid to Klimtzak for his service and sacrifice to our country. Bagpipers led the Marine onto the course where the American flag was hoisted for the very first time onto the newly installed pole. Everyone stood at attention as the trumpeter sounded the National Anthem. “Steven definitely earned the respect and admiration of everyone attending the event on Wednesday,” comments Stuart Bruening, co-partner of Southwest Greens. “He is a shining example of the dedication of those who serve our country and we are proud to be able to support them in return.”

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Colorado PGA REACH News At its largest fund-raiser of the year, the Colorado PGA REACH Foundation, with the support and dedication of its trustees, raised more than $85,000 to support its many programs. This includes the $25,000 donation from Southwest Greens that makes this home give-away possible. Joining the Marine Corp was a challenge for Klimtzak. Not only did he want to follow in the shoes of his uncle, but the Marine Corp is the toughest branch of the military and he wanted to prove to himself, as well as to those that said he could never do it, that he could. He never quite and joyfully joined the ranks of the Marines – the best of the best! By doing so, he became a part of a brotherhood.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Steven Klimtzak was joined by his mother as he was presented a mortgage-free home at the Colorado PGA REACH Invitational at the Golf Club at Bear Dance. The home giveaway was made possible by a partnership with Southwest Greens of Colorado who owns Bear Dance and other Front Range courrses.

Fighting through his emotions, Klimtzak described the events of September 1, 2004, at 12:01 p.m. – not that he remembers the time, he jokes – when the vehicle he was riding in was hit by a road-side bomb. He credits the driver and his ability to keep the vehicle on the road for saving the lives of everyone inside. They were heading to a local Iraqi school to assess how they could help them and to deliver school supplies, soccer balls and basketballs when the IED struck their vehicle. This incident earned him a Purple Heart. “I didn’t get into the Marine Corp for awards,” said Klimtzak. “The group to which I was attached, the 4th Civil Affairs Group, was trained to win the hearts and minds of the local Iraqi’s and to work closely with local Iraqi’s and tribes. I feel that we completed our mission. I was there for the first National election, worked with the water treatment plant, sewage plants and banks to name a few. We had a purpose there and we could go to bed each night knowing that we had made a difference.” When asked about the impact this experience has had on him and his family, he quoted Robin Williams from the movie Mrs. Doubtfire, “Like air, I can’t live without it and I can’t live without my boys. My boys are everything to me. Having this home helps us to build our future and to grow our relationship stronger each day. I have the chance to be their dad and to instill in them morals and to show them what respect and kindness to others is all about.” While in Colorado, Klimtzak had the opportunity to be fit for a new set of clubs by PGA Professional Brian Gott, Gott Golf. The Colorado PGA REACH trustees personally presented the clubs to Klimtzak during the

August 2019

pre-event ceremony, filling his new golf bag with a gift he will long remember and definitely use as he played a total of 184 rounds in 2018. He shared that his family was always all about baseball. Yet, growing up, he was the kid in the outfield picking dandelions, so he took up golf, which is a much better fit for him. Golf has taught him discipline and patience and he enjoys those moments when he can take his boys out to the course and share his passion with them. “It was an honor to be able to gift a golfer like Steven a new set of clubs,” says Eddie Ainsworth, PGA, Colorado PGA Executive Director and CEO. “He served his country honorably by risking his life for our freedom. Being able to give back to him was a real privilege and blessing.” The success of this program can be attributed to the many organizations that work together toward the common goal of facilitating a smooth and successful transition of our nation’s combat wounded heroes. The Military Warriors Support Foundation evaluates and selects deserving combat-wounded heroes to receive mortgage-free homes. Wells Fargo contributes and remodels homes that it then donates to the program. Colorado PGA REACH Foundation, through its Supporting Our Military Pillar, provides the avenue to donate the home while Southwest Greens, through the profits of its Mile-High Golf Trail Program, provided the funding for the home give-away. These funds will provide family and financial mentoring to assure the hero is given the necessary tools to be successful with this newly attained investment.

Colorado PGA REACH News

Empowering and Fostering the Next Generation of Leaders Second Annual Women’s Leadership Summit a Success

ow many of you have ever found yourselves saying, or even thinking, “What is up with the younger people today?” And, if you ARE one of the younger people, how many of YOU have ever found yourselves saying or even thinking, “What is up with the older people today?” This was the keynote-speaker introduction given to the 130 women who attended the 2019 Colorado PGA REACH Women’s Leadership Summit held at Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs on Monday, July 15. As a speaker, author and consultant, Anna Liotta helped attendees understand and optimize each generation’s gifts,

Sue Payton, Colorado PGA REACH Trustee and moderator of the panel discussion, is joined on stage with (from left): Susan Bond-Philo, Jennifer Cassell, Kathy Hagan-Brown and Maria Arias.

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Colorado PGA REACH News talents and time. Being the youngest girl of 19 children, Liotta grew up in the midst of the multi-generational front lines making every family Thanksgiving, graduation or wedding a graduate-level course in generational communication. Whether attendees were a Traditionalist, Baby Boomer, Gen Xer, Millennial or Global, Liotta entertained and educated them with thoughts on how we perceive others and enhance our relationships with everyone we know. Through laughter and engagement, Liotta’s take-away message was that when we understand a generations (be) cause, it activates their natural gifts, their talents, their spirit and their inspiration. Understanding the generational DNA code of other generations can prove to be fulfilling, rewarding and empowering both personally and professionally. Following the theme of diversity, The Honorable Sue Payton, President of SCI Aerospace, Inc., moderated a panel of local business women who shared their experiences in the business world. On the panel were: •

Maria G. Arias, Principal of Arias Solutions

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Kathy Hagan Brown, Co-CEO of Kars Hagan

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Jennifer Cassell, Partner Bowditch & Cassell Public Affairs

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Susan Bond-Philo, PGA, Member Relationship Manager for PGA of America

“The PGA REACH 2019 Women’s Leadership Summit was a success in so many ways,” comments Payton. “The Summit brought together 130 women with very diverse backgrounds who were amazed and inspired by our keynote speaker, Anna Liotta, as she helped everyone understand how to “effectively communicate and develop meaningful relationships with members of all generations not only in the workplace but in everyday life.” The Summit did more than just admire the problem and barriers to understanding “what makes each generation tick.” The Summit, through audience participation and dialog with Anna and a panel of very successful women leaders, gave women great ideas and tools to use to improve not only their company’s culture, recruitment and retention activities but also to improve their relationships with family and friends.” As part of paying it forward, the REACH Foundation awards a scholarship to a deserving young lady. This year, the selection committee deemed the top four scholarship applicants all worthy to receive a

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scholarship. Each receiving a $1,000 scholarship were Regina Dillon, student at UCCS in Colorado Springs; Marissa Garcia, student at Hastings College; Kate Griffin of Colorado Springs; and Courtney Thompson also of Colorado Springs. Mark your calendars to attend the Colorado PGA REACH Women’s Leadership Summit in 2020 when it will be held in conjunction with the 72nd U.S. Girls’ Junior Golf Championship hosted on the U.S. Air Force Academy on Friday, July 10, 2020. The Colorado PGA REACH Women’s Leadership Summit serves as a catalyst to empower women on and off the golf course. The Colorado PGA REACH Foundation is committed to partnering with top women leaders to pay it forward to next-generation women leaders. The Summit is focused on the development, advancement and empowerment of women by providing content, tools, mentoring and networking opportunities to support their career advancement. Visit us at: https://coloradopga.com/ colorado-pga-reach.

Save the Date 2020 Women’s Leadership Summit July 10, 2020 United States Air Force Academy

Special Awards Feature

Colorado PGA Golf Professional of the Year, Russ Miller, Exemplifies Leadership, Service and Promotion of the Game H

onesty, loyalty and work ethic are at the core of this year’s recipient of the 2019 Colorado PGA Professional of the Year Award. Anyone who knows Russ Miller knows that he exemplifies these qualities in all that he is and in all that he does. When asked what winning this award means to him, Miller, Broadmoor’s Director of Golf, shares, “It’s like winning a tournament. You look at the list of previous winners and there are so many great names that it puts me in awe of my name being included this theirs. Guys like Clayton Cole and Keith Schneider took me under their wings when I came here 21 years ago and still today, when I’m not sure how to handle a situation, I call them and ask them what they would do. I am challenged each and every day to take the knowledge

and experiences I received from my mentors and pass them along to the next generation of industry leaders.” With a dad who played professional baseball, Miller has been around sports his entire life. However, being told by his dad that he was not going to be able to play baseball for a living, his golf professional cousin encouraged him to get into golf. After playing high school golf in North Carolina, Miller attended the PGM Program at Ferris State University and that is how his commitment to the business of golf began. He played college golf and even tried to play professionally early on but wasn’t able to make a go of it. “I was always told to make it my goal to work for the best people in the business around the country and it

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Special Awards Feature would help me get to where I want to go,” says Miller. “So that is what I did and thankfully, it worked out. All I know and believe in today came from experiences while working with these people.” Miller’s first job out of college was in Florida working for two-time U.S. Armature winner, Harvie Ward. From there, he did a short stint in Texas before returning home to North Carolina where, at the young age of 25, he landed his first Head Professional position. He then spent many years at a prestigious private club in Wilmington, N.C. – the Country Club of Landfall – before moving to Colorado where he has been a member of The Broadmoor staff for the last 21 years. The PGA Professional of the Year Miller is pictured here alongside Hale Irwin at the 2011 U.S. Senior Open. Award is bestowed upon a Member championships to The Broadmoor and to the State of for his/her overall performance Colorado, showcasing these great venues to the world. including leadership, service and the promotion of the He has been responsible for securing three USGA game of golf. championships and then organizing the events from Miller’s leadership in the industry is evident through his beginning to end. prominent role in securing past and future USGA major

Miller and his team have hosted three USGA Championships at The Broadmoor. He is seen here with his team at the conclusion of the 2018 US Senior Open. He is joined by 2017 Golf Professional of the Year, Mark Kelbel, PGA and many others from his Broadmoor team.

August 2019

Special Awards Feature “It’s not just me,” stresses Miler. “There are as many as 2,500 volunteers, partner organizations and hotel staff working together collectively to produce a successful event.” When it comes to service, mentoring and helping the interns and associations that come through The Broadmoor enhance their careers is top of the list for Miller. In addition, he knows he has the responsibility to his employer to move forward to secure future major championships for the property. “I am so thankful to have had the honor of working under so many great Miller joined John Elway and a USGA staff member in promoting the Championship as they named people and that compels Elway the Honorary Chair of the Championship. me to also want to pass along some of that knowledge and experiences to others,” expresses Miller. “No one invents anything; it is all about the experiences you are afforded, and I want to share what I have learned with others.” Throughout his 21 years with The Broadmoor, hundreds of interns and assistants have moved through the facility. Miller views it as a privilege to promote these young professionals and to provide them the resources and the experiences needed to assist them in achieving their goals, to helping them focus not only on their strengths but also to develop their weaknesses. “The Golf Professional today must be well-rounded and know something about everything. I want to help them realize their abilities,” says Miller, “We just give them the resources and the experiences. They still have to exhibit the necessary work ethic, honesty and loyalty. Success is up to them. “Forty-two people who have worked with us here at The Broadmoor who have gone on to fulfill their dreams of becoming head professionals, directors of golf, general managers, etc. at clubs like the Golf Club of Colorado, Hidden Valley Golf Club in Utah, The Golf Club at Flying Horse and Telluride Golf Club, to name just a few. We were fortunate to be a part in helping them to grow up in the business and succeed.

Miller was awarded the 2003 PGA of America Merchandiser of the Year Award in the Resort Category.

“Another thing I like to share with our interns and associates is that you don’t have to be really smart, but you do have to be really nice,” laughs Miller.

In conclusion, Miller expresses, “It is a continuous cycle of learning from each other and then sharing this knowledge and experience with others so that they may then have the same opportunities. I am so blessed to be where I am and to have what I have. My office is two golf courses, and that is so very special. I am incredibly thankful for what I have been able to experience in my 36 years in the industry and to hopefully bring joy to others through the game of golf. Thank you to the people I have had the pleasure to work with in the industry and for the world-wide relationships and friendships that have been founded and nurtured because of this business.”

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Special Awards Feature

Rush, Atherton and Eight Others Join Miller in Earning Colorado PGA Special Awards E

ach Spring a new group of Colorado PGA members convenes as part of the Special Awards Committee. The cohort is made up of the previous yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award winners and is guided by two members of the Board of Directors; for 2019 that consisted of Committee Chair, Bobby Quaratino and Co-Chair Andy Benson. The chairs guide the committee down the long and arduous road of defining the selection process, reviewing candidate packets and eventually selecting the Best of the West, our Colorado PGA Special Award winners. This year the committee received 133 nominations for awards, including Golf Professional of the Year, Assistant Professional and Teacher of the Year, as well as eight other awards. From the pool of 133 nominations, 82 nominees completed a packet for evaluation. Those packets added up to 353 pages of submitted information for the committee to wade through. All of those numbers add up to 1 enormous task of identifying the best, most deserving candidate in each category.

Assistant Professional of the Year Derek Rush, PGA Cherry Hills Country Club

herry Hills Country Club has a history of developing Assistant Golf Professionals. Under the leadership Warren Smith, Clayton Cole and John Ogden, the club has produced three Assistant Professionals of the year in the last two decades. The club adds a fourth this year as Derek Rush has earned the honor of being selected as the 2019 Assistant Professional of the Year. Rush prides himself on being a multi-dimensional golf professional, teaching nearly 500 lessons a year, hosting womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and junior clinics and helping to increase merchandise sales at the club. Derek points to two key attributes that have led him to earning this award: providing mentorship and leading by example. He mentors the interns Cherry Hills CC brings on-board each season. In the past six years, Rush has worked with 14 interns from various PGM universities, 10 of which have achieved PGA membership and are excelling in their individual careers. He leads by example by bringing with him a stay positive and stay busy mind set each day, as well as working to build relationships while showing that no tasks are too small for his attention. Derek is an 8-year member of the PGA of America. This is his first award in this category.

August 2019

Special Awards Feature Teacher of the Year Bill Strausbaugh Award Steve Atherton, PGA Rick Cole, PGA Eagle Springs Golf Club Eaton Country Club

teve Atherton splits his time between Arizona and Colorado these days, spending his summers dedicated to the membership at Eagle Springs Golf Club where he has given more than 3,300 lessons in 25 months of peak season. It’s because of his dedication to his membership, willingness to create new ways to engage with his clientele and a holistic approach to the golf swing that Steve Atherton, PGA has been named the 2019 Colorado PGA Teacher of the Year. At Eagle Springs, Steve teaches a predominately senior membership and has changed his teaching style to fit their needs. His teaching philosophy these days is designed to help senior players play better, feel better and play longer. To engage this group, he developed a Skills Challenge using the Flightscope Skills application. The challenge allows his student to test their ability by measuring each shot. They are retested following further instruction allowing them to measure their progress under his guidance. And, he takes a holistic approach by working with his members personal trainers to develop their golf swings that prevent injuries and prolong their enjoyment of the game. Steve is a 20-year member of the PGA of America and earned the distinction of being a Master Professional in 2005. This is his second award in this category having previously won in 2008.

Players of the Year The following awards will be selected at a later date based on their playing performance. • • • •

OMEGA Dow Finsterwald Player of the Year OMEGA Senior Player of the Year Associate Player of the Year Women’s Player of the Year

“T

he successful golf professional understands how important it is to develop strong relationships with those in his or her sphere of influence. They also understand how important it is to have strong mentors in their lives, which of course leads to mentoring others.” Those are the words of the 2019 Colorado PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award winner, and they couldn’t fit this award more perfectly as the award recognizes a PGA Member for outstanding integrity, commitment to mentoring PGA Professionals and having made a significant impact on the careers of PGA Professionals. Rick Cole has been the Head Professional at Eaton Country Club since 1983. During that time Rick has been active with the Colorado PGA having served on the Board of Directors for a short time while spending most of his time giving back in his local community alongside his wife Jan. “Our passion is to help those who are sometimes unable to help themselves.” Rick has used teaching and instruction as a conduit to mentor his Assistant Professionals throughout his career. “Teaching golf has given me so many great opportunities to share not only the golf swing but also life strategies, career planning, mentoring and to develop great friendships along the way.” This is not the first award for Rick. He won the 2018 Colorado PGA Senior Player of the Year and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Point Loma Nazarene University for his success in leading the golf team in the late 70’s. Cole is a 33-year member of the PGA of America. This is the first award in this category.

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Special Awards Feature Horton Smith Award Warren Smith Award Josh Miller, PGA Tom Buzbee, PGA GOLFTEC City of Boulder (Flatirons Golf ducation is at Course)

the heart of our association. It’s through education that our members learn and grow into the Experts in the Game and Business of Golf. Through his leadership and contributions in developing and improving educational opportunities for his fellow PGA golf professional, Josh Miller, Director of Operations for GOLFTEC Headquarters, has been named the 2019 Horton Smith Award Winner.

Miller has played an active role with the Education Committee since joining the Colorado PGA Board of Directors in 2016. During that time, he has been instrumental in bringing industry-leading presenters to speak at the annual Teaching and Coaching Summit. He was instrumental in creating the Fall Teaching and Coaching Workshop which provides an additional learning opportunity to the Colorado PGA membership while providing a platform for many of our instructors to showcase their skills and knowledge. Through his position with GOLFTEC, Miller has also been able to impact hundreds of PGA Professionals through his work with GOLFTEC University. He has created content over the past five years focusing on the business operations in a center and the development of Center Managers/Directors of Instruction. He’s also helped facilitate multiple educational events at GOLFTEC Headquarters for our coaches located across the country to attend in Denver. Josh tirelessly works to provide leadership and mentorship to GOLFTEC staff and PGA members alike. He strives to create a positive environment, which allows fellow members to focus on their passion of helping golfers improve their golf games, which he feels is the best way to promote the game of golf. Miller is a 14-year member of the PGA of America. This is his first award in this category.

August 2019

he Warren Smith Award is given to a PGA Professional for his/her outstanding contributions to the game of golf, the Colorado Section, junior golf and to their facility. After taking a long and winding road through the golf industry, Tom Buzbee has been named the 2019 Warren Smith Award Winner. Buzbee started his career working in junior golf programs across Nebraska before moving to Colorado where he served as a teaching professional before opening TPC Plum Creek. He went on to have a long and successful career in golf course development that saw him travel across the United States and overseas. He then took-on leading Gyspum Creek Golf Course and the local Gypsum, Colo. community in their golf endeavors, hosting local Colorado PGA Golf in Schools programs, coaching the Eagle Valley High School Boy’s golf team while also volunteering on numerous community and civic panels and committees. All of those experiences have led Tom to a different way of thinking and a new motto; More Fun Means More Golf. He has incorporated this idea into his new position with the City of Boulder as its Director of Golf. Buzbee is a 33-year member of the PGA of America and this is his first award in the category. He was previously recognized as the 2012 West Chapter Golf Professional of the Year and with the 2016 West Chapter Player Development Award.

Board Selected Awards The following awards will be selected at a later date by the Colorado PGA Board of Directors. • • •

Todd Phipers Media Awards President’s Awards Charles “Vic” Kline Award

Special Awards Feature Player Development Award Youth Player Development Award Kirk Mease, PGA Trent Wearner, PGA Wellshire Golf Course he Player Trent Wearner Golf Academy

Development Award goes to a PGA Professional who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contribution and achievement in the area of player development and among other things, has made a meaningful impact made at the facility. Through his work with the PGA HOPE program and countless other outreach programs at Wellshire Golf Course, Kirk Mease has been named the 2019 Colorado PGA Player Development Award winner.

Mease has been a leader with the PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) Program in the Colorado PGA since it’s inception. Since 2015, they have hosted seven classes at their facility drawing more than one hundred veterans and their significant others or care givers to the game of golf. Kirk has gone above and beyond creating partnerships with Craig Hospital and their extensive Therapeutic Recreation department, as well as Stand Up and Play, a program designed to provide equipment to wheelchair bound people wishing to play the game of golf. In mid-2019, Mease was put in touch with Jamie Ketchum, a young lady who was involved in a fiery car crash that left her in the UCHealth Burn Center longer than anyone had ever been. Mease graciously made time for Jamie to visit him at Wellshire where he helped reintroduce the game to the one-time player. Ketchum went on to play in her first ever golf tournament following her lessons with Kirk, a feat thought unimaginable months before. Mease is a 22-year member of the PGA of America. This is his first award in this category.

ecognizing that it may be more important to provide first-class, affordable instruction to those new to the game in order to ensure its sustainability has been a driving force for growth for many in our industry. Trent Wearner took that idea and many others to heart and for that he has earned the 2019 Colorado PGA Youth Player Development Award. “I believe highly that junior golfers who are new to the game need quality instruction maybe more so than the better player yet I knew for some time that we had a void in our programs with regard to affordability for the new golfer,” noted Wearner. By implementing new programs to fill this gap, Wearner and those at his Academy have “filled that void allowing us to work with students who wouldn’t have normally come to our academy.” Wearner has embraced a number of PGA of America affiliated initiatives to grow the game. At his academy he has used the framework of Get Golf Ready and Family Golf Month to provide group lessons to juniors. Instructors at his Academy have embraced PGA Jr. League and regularly field a number of teams in the developmental program. He has had dozens of juniors participate in Drive, Chip & Putt highlighted by three of his students earning their way to the National Championship at Augusta National. Wearner also dedicates his time to volunteering in the junior space. He has presented numerous times to members of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado (JGAC) and the Colorado High School Coaches Association. Since 2018, he has also served on the Board of Directors of the JGAC. Wearner is a 16-year member of the PGA of America. He was previously recognized as the Teacher of the Year in 2004, 2014 and 2017. He also earned recognition as the winner of the Player Development Award in 2016 and 2018.

The SUMMIT

Special Awards Feature Private Merchandiser of the Year ers versus losing out to a big box or online retailer.” Andrew is a 7-year member of the PGA of America. Andrew Hedrick, PGA This is the first award for Hedrick and the fifth time the The Country Club at Castle Pines club has been recognized in this category. nowing that his Public Merchandiser of the Year membership has numerous options Keith Stilwell, PGA when it comes to making their buying Cheyenne Shadows Golf Course decisions, Andrew at Fort Carson Hedrick and his

team at The Country Club at Castles Pines have made it a point to redefine their merchandising philosophy. He and his team focus on their product mix, communication and service to create a first-class buying experience for his membership. For those reasons and many others, Hedrick has earned the 2019 Colorado PGA Private Merchandiser of the Year Award.

“Over the last two years, we have had to change our product mix, while identifying new brands and introducing them at the appropriate levels,” notes Hedrick. “We changed and eliminated some vendors that sell their product at the big box retailers. Thus, we have identified our best seller’s year over year, focused on the core vendors and added one to two new vendors for men and women respectively every year or every other year.” Hedrick and his team have ramped up their communication with their membership to be sure they are fostering awareness rather than relying on the merchandise to sell itself. “This awareness and communication have helped our off-season sales early in the year when product arrives,” he notes. A great example of this was shown this past spring when rounds were down but revenue and net sales in the golf shop exceeded budget. Keeping a strong staff core has also been a key for their team. “With our ability to retain staff member’s year-over-year, we have gained the knowledge of our member’s preferences and we can instantly direct them to the products that they predominantly purchase.” This level of trust and confidence has enabled their team to focus on their members buying experience and the service that they provide. “In this day and time, our ability to service the Membership is what will contribute to our success and ability to retain custom-

August 2019

olf courses on a military installation attract a diverse group of customers. From active-duty soldiers to senior military leadership and veterans alike, the course is a gathering place for many. Knowing that and being able to provide something for everyone is one of the reasons that Keith Stilwell, the PGA General Manager at Cheyenne Shadows Golf Course at Fort Carson, has been named the 2019 Colorado PGA Public Merchandiser of the Year. “We have a very diverse golfing population, with players ranging from a first-time golfer to very experienced life-long players,” note Stilwell. “Army golf provides a unique opportunity to introduce soldiers to the game and our goal is to do it right. Keeping that in mind, our overall merchandising philosophy is to provide an education of quality. This allows us to offer some low-cost items [while] gradually coach a player into higher end products as their game and passion for the game grows.” One of the things that has set Stilwell and Cheyenne Shadows apart in recent years was the building of an indoor/outdoor fitting center. The club has been able to provide custom fitting to their customers, which has helped increase their hard-goods sales significantly over the last two years. Their merchandising operation is not without challenges. Like many facilities, Cheyenne Shadows competes with many big box stores and online retailers. Keith and his team have taken this head on by focusing on building relationships with their customers. Through these relationships they have been able to

Special Awards Feature build trust, which in turn has led to an increase in sales revenue of over $50,000 between 2017 and 2018. Keith is an 8-year member of the PGA of America. This is the first award in this category for Stilwell.

Resort Merchandiser of the Year Kenny Thayer, PGA Beavercreek Golf Club

hen most people think about Beavercreek, Colo., they immediately think of the world-class ski slopes and not necessarily world-class golf. Kenny Thayer and the team at Beavercreek Golf Club have used that thinking to elevate the merchandising operation by cross merchandising golf and skiing. Because of that new way of thinking and for many other reasons, Kenny Thayer, PGA, Director of Golf at Beavercreek Golf Club has been named the 2019 Colorado PGA Resort Merchandiser of the Year.

“Based on our unique location, we have started to incorporate ski-themed items along with the Colorado flag into our buying plan,” notes Thayer about the clubs merchandising philosophy. “We are cross merchandising golf and skiing while stocking everything from hats and ball markers…to Vail and Beaver Creek themed pillows, glass wear, golf head covers, ski wear, ski goggle beanies and ski themed items.” While leveraging their location has been important, Thayer has taken a number of steps to really understand who their customer is and what type of buying decisions they are making. Knowing that a majority of their play is coming to town on a trip of some sort and that they will be spending a majority of their time off-course, they’ve introduced more lifestyle pieces into the golf shop. “We feel knowing your customer is imperative to success, and during our peak months, you must be (vacationing) in Beaver Creek to play our course,” notes Thayer. Many of those visitors are looking for high-end products and unique brands to make their stay even more memorable. After collecting data, Thayer and his team quickly realized they are selling high pricepoint trendy items. Thayer changed their buying plan because he said that “we also have found our guests love finding a unique brand that is not offered at every big box store.” Thayer is a 12-year member of the PGA of America. This is his first award in this category and the eighth time Beavercreek Golf Club has been recognized.

Colorado PGA Special Awards Gala Friday, November 1, 2019 Colorado Golf Club

Celebrating the Experts in the Game and Business of Golf

The SUMMIT

Career Development

Lyrics, Love & Life 4.3 Billion. I searched for “songs about love” on Google and in less than 1 second, 4.3 billion search results were returned. To say that our culture has...well, a love affair with love, would be an understatement. And for good reason! Love is a wonderful, powerful and driving emotion. Something that we seek out and sacrifice for. Like great art, it’s something we can’t describe, but we know when we’re in the presence of it. We apply the feeling of love to nearly everything important in our lives; even our jobs. “Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” - Unknown

“You Give Love a Bad Name.”

That familiar quote is a wonderful and wellmeaning sentiment, suitable for graduation cards, bumper stickers and heart-to-heart talks with co-workers, friends and family members. It’s not bad advice, but I’d argue that it’s incomplete advice. Standing alone, as it often does, the statement infers that one should love everything about the job and career they choose; and if your day isn’t filled with things you love, you might be in the wrong line of work. In my humble opinion, the old cliché gives love a bad name. On Mondays, I do expense reports; on Fridays, I do summary reports for leadership. Every day of the week I do activity tracking and record my meeting notes for future reference. I travel sometimes and spend nights away from my family. I work long hours because I’m always on call when a client needs me. I get a LOT of windshield time crisscrossing my territory. I don’t necessarily love doing any of those things. But they’re all part of the job; and I LOVE what this job allows me to do. In this job, I meet new and interesting people every day. I get to help people. I work with really smart colleagues; I get to develop new systems and ways of helping others. I get pushed out of my comfort zone and I am challenged. I’m home in time for dinner most of the time. I get to take my daughter to school in the morning and sometimes, I’m around to pick her up in the afternoon. I coach soccer, I play golf and I have the bandwidth to support my wife as she pursues her passions. In short, the things I don’t love about my job are essential parts of a job that allows me to align my career with my values; with those things that are most important to me. Does this all mean that you should just grin and bear it? Take your lumps and put in your time even if your day is filled with things you don’t love? Maybe, but here’s

August 2019

-Jon Bon Jovi some food for thought: Don’t get bogged down by the minutia of your everyday work. You don’t have to love everything about what you do, but I’ve found that the ones below are essential: 1. Love Where You Work - the environment you work in must be healthy. The organization you work within needs to align with what you believe is important, right and is in harmony with your values. 2. Love Who You Work With - your co-workers, leadership, direct reports and customers are all part of your environment. Like the parts of your job you don’t love, there will be parts of who you work with that you don’t love either. You must decide: does what they bring to the table enable you to do things that align with what you value? 3. Love What You Do Create - the work you do should align with what you want for your life. It should create the opportunity to pursue and achieve those things that matter most to you. Maybe the sage advice above would be better worded as “Love where what you do is taking you, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” How would that look on a bumper sticker? Keith Soriano, PGA PGA of America Career Consultant Proudly Serving the Colorado & Utah Sections www.keithsoriano.com ksoriano@pgahq.com 720.841.1006

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The SUMMIT

Membership News

Membership News An update on our Colorado PGA Members By the Numbers Members - 747 | Associates - 111 Total - 858 Male Members - 705 | Female Members - 39 11th out of 41 Sections 114 – Management positions (MP, A-4, A-9, A-11, A-13) 316 – Club Professionals (A-1, A-2, A-7, A-8) 114 – Instructors (A-6, A-10, A-12, A-14) 22 – Expanded Career Paths (A-15 thru A-24) 123 – Life Members (LM, LMM, LMA, LMMA) 37 – Other Categories (A-3, A-5, HM, IN, F, RM) Generational Breakdown 1900-1926 - G.I.s 1 ( 0.1%) 1927-1945 - Traditionalists - 32 (4.3%) 1946-1964 - Baby Boomers - 246 (32.8%) 1965-1977 - Gen X - 206 (27.6%) 1978-1999 - Millennials - 259 (35.2%)

New Members

The Colorado PGA welcomes new members and associates to our Section on a regular basis. For some, this is the first time they have joined our Section while others may be returning. Please join us in welcoming them! - Dillon R. Loomis, PGA | A-8 | Columbine CC - Michael R. O’Toole, PGA | A-8 | Walnut Creek Golf Preserve - Sawyer W. Lynn, PGA | A-8 | EagleVail GC

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August 2019

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Tournament News

Lanting Repeats as National Car Rental Colorado Assistant Professional Champion R

esiliency is defined as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. Ben Lanting, PGA, Associate from Bear Creek Golf Club, embodied resiliency on Tuesday to claim his second straight title at the National Car Rental Colorado Assistant Professional Championship. Lanting opened with a one-under-par 71, leaving him tied for fifth place after the first round. Like last year, he would have to battle through two previous champions in Caine Fitzgerald and Geoff Keffer if he was going to claim a second title. Things started off on the wrong foot this year though as Lanting doubled the first hole during the second round. “I hit my approach in with a little adrenaline,” Lanting noted about his first hole. “I had a downhill chip shot and ran it twenty feet past and then got pretty aggressive with my par putt and missed a five-foot wiggler. The good thing about it was that if you are going to double bogey a hole, it might as well be the first hole because you have so much time to bounce back.”

Lanting took advantage of that time and posted eight birdies the rest of the way to close with a six-under-par 66 to finish with a two-day total of 137. “I play my best golf when I’m not focused on golf, when I’m focused on my faith and that’s where I went after that double,” Lanting noted. “It really just turned into having a lot of fun.”

The SUMMIT

Tournament News Lanting doesn’t taking winning for a second year in-a-row lightly. “It’s an honor to win again. It was a little different than last year in the way it started but again, I’m so honored to have won it two years in a row,” Lanting noted after the round. “There are so many good players in this event and so many that had a good round today.” This wasn’t the first time Lanting dealt with having to bounce back this year. He was one of just a few Colorado PGA Members or Associates to try to qualify for the inaugural TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes. Competing at Highland Meadows in one of two Monday qualifiers, Lanting was in the first group of the day and posted an impressive 8-under-par 64. After waiting all day for the rest of the 110 players to finish their rounds, Lanting found himself in a three-for-two playoff. After playing his approach shot to twenty feet, Lanting watched as his competitors both made birdie to qualify, one from close range, another from 35 feet. Needless to say, what could have been a highlight of his career was a demoralizing defeat. “That was a big disappointment for a while,” Lanting noted. “(Moving forward) was about reframing what happened for me. I always think golf is a lot like life, it’s not about if but when you are going to have big numbers or disappointment. After that, it’s about how you handle the situation. You can’t go back and change anything so it’s about learning and moving forward.” Even after making eight birdies, Lanting was challenged throughout the day. Fitzgerald, a three-time

champion of the event, mounted a strong charge. He made the turn at three-under-par, one stroke behind Lanting. He picked up significant momentum by holing a sand wedge at the par-4 11th hole for an eagle to pull into a tie for first. That momentum carried over to the par-3 17th where he made another birdie to again pull even but Lanting was able to slam the door closed with a closing birdie at the par-5 18th. Finishing in third place was Pat Grady, PGA Associate who is the Assistant Coach of the Men’s Golf Team at the University of Colorado. In fourth place and earning the last qualifying spot was Nate LeBlanc, PGA, Assistant Professional from Telluride Ski and Golf Club. National Car Rental Colorado Assistant Professional Championship Walnut Creek Golf Preserve June 29-30, 2019 1 Ben Lanting 71-66--137 -7 2 Caine Fitzgerald 69-69--138 -6 3 Patrick Grady 70-69--139 -5 T4 Nate LeBlanc 73-68--141 -3 ALTERNATES - IN ORDER T4 Geoff Keffer 69-72--141 -3 T6 Brian Baltzer 74-68--142 -2 T6 Ryan Wroblewski 70-72--142 -2 8 Cody Kent 74-70--144 E Click here for the complete results

Qualifiers for the 2019 National Car Rental Assistant Professional Championship (joining Lanting)

Caine Fitzgerald, PGA Meadow Hills Golf Course

August 2019

Pat Grady CU Men’s Golf Team

Nate LeBlanc, PGA Telluride Ski and Golf

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The SUMMIT

Tournament News

August 2019

Junior Golf News

PGA Jr. League Set for Exciting All-Star Season Colorado PGA Jr. League Championship – August 17-18

This year marks the second season with the new all-star experience for the PGA Jr. League Post Season Presented by National Car Rental. Building off the success of the Section Qualifier and Section Championships system implemented in 2018, the Colorado PGA Jr. League looks to further the excitement with this year’s all-star activities. This year, each participating all-star team will take part in a 9-hole qualifier at The Pinery Country Club on Saturday, August 17. Tee times will run all day, and the experience is sure to provide endless fun and excitement for all players. Rumor has it, players might even have the opportunity to pie their coaches! Following the Saturday qualifier, the four teams with the lowest aggregate team score will advance to the final-four, single-elimination, match-play rounds on Sunday, again to be played at The Pinery. Whichever team emerges through the bracket on Sunday undefeated, will be crowned the Colorado PGA Jr. League Section Champions for 2019 and will advance to the Regional Championship at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa, on September 14-15. In 2018, the competition was incredibly close but the team from the Timm Golf Academy, captained by PGA Professional Rick Timm, remained victorious. Unfortunately, they were unable to advance past the regional round, but this year, Colorado has some new sections to face after the Colorado Championship. Due to a change in the at-large bid allocations, Colorado was moved into a regional with the Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa PGA Sections. This change in regions could prove beneficial as with a win there, Colorado has the potential to advance a team to the PGA Jr. League National Championship for the first time. This year’s National Championship will be held October 11-14 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. Even if you will not be leading your league’s all-star team to the Section Qualifier or Championship this year, we would love to see you out at The Pinery to cheer on and celebrate the end to an incredible PGA Jr.

League season in Colorado. For those of you just wrapping up your regular season, we hope that you had a great year and that your kids had fun on the golf course! The section had great growth in PGA Jr. League this year, and we appreciate everything that each of you are doing to grow the game. We have a few exciting updates to share about All-Stars and the 2019 Post-Season.

PGA Jr. League Fall Rec Season Now Open New for 2019, PGA Jr. League is ready to fully support those PGA Professionals who are looking to engage their junior golfers through the fall season. The PGA Jr. League Fall Rec Season is open to all PGA Professionals who participated in the Summer Season. It will include full support and resources from the PGA and will feature an all new designed team kit and jerseys. While resources last, there will also be PGA REACH scholarships available for those in military families or those who qualify for financial need. For more information, please contact Holly Champion or Anthony Vitale.

The SUMMIT

Junior Golf News

Colorado Junior Amateur Stewart wins 2nd straight major in his final JGAC tourney; 15-year-old Chen builds on strong season by claiming girls title By Gary Baines – 07/10/2019 Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins didn’t win his first Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado major championship until last month. But just as he’s started to put together a streak, his time competing in such events has come to an end. Meanwhile, Kaylee Chen of Greenwood Village has plenty of her junior career left in front of her, but she’s already making her mark at age 15. In the second JGAC Major of 2019, both Stewart and Chen went wire-to-wire in posting victories Wednesday in the Colorado Junior Amateur Championship at Frost Creek in Eagle. Stewart, the 2018 JGAC Boys Player of the Year, prevailed by four strokes this week after winning the Colorado Junior PGA title by eight last month. And Chen won by two at Frost Creek despite playing her final seven holes in 4 over par. (The champions are pictured above.) Stewart joins Davis Bryant of Aurora (2017) and Mary

August 2019

Weinstein of Highlands Ranch (2016) as players who have won both the Colorado Junior PGA and the Colorado Junior Amateur in the same season during the JGAC era, which dates to the beginning of 2016. But the Colorado Junior Amateur marks Stewart’s final JGAC event as he’ll be playing golf at Oklahoma State beginning in the fall after competing in the U.S. Junior Amateur, the Junior America’s Cup and the national Boys Junior PGA Championship. “It feels great (to go out this way), especially because I had such a good junior career, and (JGAC majors) had been the only thing eluding me,” the 18-year-old said. “Last year I came close (in the Colorado Junior Am), but Jake Welch just played solid and cut me out of it. Being able to get this one as my last Junior Golf Alliance tournament feels great honestly.” Stewart, who took a six-stroke lead into Wednesday, closed with a 1-under-par 71, giving the 2018 Junior America’s Cup champion an 11-under 205 total. Jackson Klutznick of Denver, who won the 3A boys

Junior Golf News state high school title and the JGAC Tour Championship last fall, placed second at 209 after a 69 that included seven birdies on Wednesday. Connor Jones of Westminster, who tied for second in the Colorado Junior PGA, was third at 212 on Wednesday after a six-birdie 67, the best closing round at Frost Creek. Stewart carded four birdies on Wednesday, giving him 16 for the three days. “I’ve always just had the mindset, no matter if I’m leading by two or by 10, I want to extend my lead and beat everybody by a hundred,” he said. “I learned that the hard way in the (final round of the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior when he started with two-stroke lead but finished fifth). The front Dillon Stewart claimed his first Colorado Junior Amateur title at Frost Creek nine there I played too conservative and it hurt and became just the third player to claim both the Junior Am and Junior me more than helped me. I learned from that and Match Play titles in the same year. just fired at pins and tried to make birdies today. In Eagle, she prevailed despite having never played Obviously I didn’t capitalize on a couple of them, but I Frost Creek before Monday’s opening round. But she played consistent the whole front nine and had a few had to overcome a considerable case of the butterflies hiccups on the back. But I played aggressive all day. heading into the final round. “Today I just kind of limped in. Thank God I gave myself a big enough lead.” Chen likewise took a six-stroke advantage into Wednesday. That gave the Cherry Creek High School sophomore-to-be enough cushion to where she prevailed despite a 6-over-par 78 in the final round. Winning the title “really means a lot to me,” she said. “My goal for a while now has been to win one of the JGAC majors — ever since I started JGAC in 2017. My hard work really has paid off in winning this major.” Indeed, Chen has been playing a lot of good golf in the last month. She qualified for the U.S. Girls’ Junior, played off Kaylee Chen, a sophomore-to-be at Cherry for the final spot Creek High School notched her first JGAC major championship victory at the Colorado in U.S. Women’s Junior Amateur held at Frost Creek. Amateur qualifying before falling just short, and then won this week.

“It was difficult even though I had a big lead,” she said. “I couldn’t sleep last night and I didn’t eat breakfast this morning. I was a little nervous today. But I think this is a really great experience and I can learn from my nerves. “My mentality was to just play my game and not to worry about the score. I knew I had a big lead but I didn’t want to get too ahead of myself because I’d get too hyped and make mistakes. I tried to finish out strong, but it didn’t work out very well.” It did yield a victory, though. For three days, Chen finished with an 8-over-par 224 total. Defending champion Katie Berrian of Castle Rock made a run on Wednesday. After rounds of 78 and 79, she shot a girls-tournament-best 69 on the final day, leaving her two strokes back of Chen, at 226. She made four birdies and one bogey on Wednesday. Sharing second place with Berrian was Ashley Kozlowski of Littleton, who posted a closing 73. For scores, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS.

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Junior Golf News

Pioneer Power

Future DU golfers Jones, Jordaan sweep titles in Colorado Junior Match Play at Lake Valley By Gary Baines – 07/31/2019

hey have yet to hit a shot as a college golfer, but already Connor Jones of Westminster and Caroline Jordaan of Denver are doing the University of Denver proud. Jones and Jordaan will be freshmen at DU beginning this fall, and they know each other just in passing, but they made Pioneer country proud on Wednesday by sweeping the boys and girls titles in the third Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado major of 2019, the Colorado Junior Match Play. And they did so in one of the last — if not the last — junior tournaments of their careers. Jones, wearing a DU shirt, earned the boys title with a 5-and-4 victory over It was a sweep for future DU Pionoeers at the Colorado Junior Match Play Championship as Max Lange of Golden in Wednesday Connor Jones and Caroline Jordaan claimed the Boy’s and Girl’s titles. afternoon’s championship match. And Jordaan, sporting a DU cap, After needing 19 holes to win his semifinal over Lucas rallied on the back nine to overcome Jessica Mason of Howell of Colorado Springs — Jones prevailed with a Westminster for the girl’s crown, 2-and-1. par on the first extra hole — he never trailed in the title match and always had the advantage after winning the “It’s pretty cool” that two future DU players won on second hole with a birdie. In fact, he never lost a hole Wednesday, Jones said. “It goes to show there’s a lot in the match and made four birdies and 10 pars in 14 of good players that come to DU. We’ve got a bright holes. Jones pulled away with a 15-foot birdie on 10 and future. We both play in a lot of the same tournaments, 30-footer on 13. so it’s pretty cool that we both won at the same time.” Said Jordaan of the Pioneer feat: “I think it’s pretty cool. I don’t know if it’s ever been done before.” Jordaan earned her second victory in a JGAC major, but her first since 2015, when she captured the Colorado Junior PGA title. For Jones, it was his first championship in a major as he had placed second and third in the previous two this year. “It feels good,” said the 17-year-old Mountain Range High School graduate, who called this victory probably the biggest of his career. “I’ve played in a bunch of these tournaments and this is pretty much my last junior tournament, so it feels good to go out on a high note and play good. “I’ve competed in a lot of really good tournaments. I haven’t won very much, so it feels really good to get a win.” Connor Jones was 4 under par for 14 holes in the title match.

August 2019

Junior Golf News Lange, a 15-year-old sophomore-to-be at Lakewood High School, parred the first 11 holes but couldn’t convert a birdie. Earlier in the day, Lange had defeated top-seeded Jackson Klutznick of Denver 1-up to advance after never leading in that match until after the 17th hole. “Overall, it was a pretty good tournament,” said Lange after his best performance in a JGAC major. “I had a lot of good putting rounds. I did better than I expected to. I wanted to try to go for the win, but Connor played really good the last round. I wish I could have made a couple of putts (in the title match), but it’s all right. I played really well (on Tuesday), but today something was a little off. On the girls’ side, the championship match was quite a bit tighter, particularly through the first nine holes. Wednesday marked the second JGAC major title for Caroline Indeed, Mason, a 15-year-old sophomore-to-be at Holy Jordaan, but her first since 2015. Family, went 1-up with a 15-foot birdie on No. 8. But three straight bogeys by her — a three-putt on 9, a missed green on 10 and a water ball off the tee on 11 — gave Jordaan a 2-up advantage as the 18-year-old reeled off eight straight pars before making birdie on 13. “Today I got my ball-striking back, which was really nice,” Jordaan said. “I tried to stay patient with the putting and it eventually worked.” As for Mason, she was 1-under par for the first eight holes of the title match before faltering with her mid-round bogey streak. Even a string of five straight pars to end the match wasn’t enough to make up the deficit. “I feel pretty good overall,” said Mason, who defeated second-seeded Sofia Choi of Littleton 1-up in the semifinals. “I’m happy the way I fought through everything. Playing Sofia, I let go of a big lead (4-up through nine) and still ended up winning. Playing Caroline showed me I could stay in it.” For Jordaan, it was another big victory following a triumph individually and for her Colorado Academy team at the 3A state high school meet in May. She also placed 16th overall in the CoBank Colorado Women’s Open in late May and advanced to the match-play round of 16 at the Women’s Western Junior in June. “It definitely feels good to end my junior career with a win before I go to DU,” she said. “That was the goal going into the week. I’m really happy with the result.”

Colorado Junior Match Play At Lake Valley GC in Niwot

GIRLS SEMIFINALS Caroline Jordaan, Denver, def. Anju Ogi, Arvada, 4 and 2

BOYS SEMIFINALS

Jessica Mason, Westminster, def. Sofia Choi, Littleton, 1 up

Max Lange, Golden, def. Jackson Klutznick, Denver, 1 up

GIRLS FINAL

Connor Jones, Westminster, def. Lucas Howell, Colorado Springs, 19 holes BOYS FINAL

Caroline Jordaan, Denver, def. Jessica Mason, Westminster, 2 and 1 For the match play brackets, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS

Connor Jones, Westminster, def. Max Lange, Golden, 5 and 4

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One-Step Closer to Augusta

Junior Golf News

Drive, Chip & Putt Qualifiers Will Now Compete in Colorado’s Sub-Regionals

s they say, the results of Colorado’s 10 Local Drive, Chip & Putt Qualifiers are in the books. The focus now shifts to the two upcoming Sub-regional Qualifiers being held at Murphy Creek Golf Course on Saturday, August 3; and Thorncreek Golf Course on Saturday, August 24. All those that qualified in each of the eight age-groups in all 10 local qualifiers now filter into one of these two Colorado Sub-regionals. Following the Sub-regionals, Colorado will host one of just ten Regional Qualifiers held across the country. For the first time ever, Colorado will host every step of the competition in a participant’s quest to advance to the National finals at Augusta National Golf Club. The state’s first Regional Qualifier will be hosted by the critically acclaimed Colorado Golf Club on September 8, 2019.

Walnut Creek Golf Preserve June 24, 2019 Girls 7-9 Alexa Tien, Brighton – 6-4-32--42 MacKenzie Frost, Colorado Springs – 10-12-18--40 Tatum Cochran, Thornton – 2-3-31--36

Boys 7-9 Bryce Gilbert, Colorado Springs – 12-31-41--84 William Taracido, Denver – 11-31-36--78 Ryan Carlson, Boulder – 11-21-41—73 10-11 Benjamin Pederson, Arvada – 25-36-50--111 Ashton Edwards, Boulder – 8-35-35--78 Hudson Grip, Westminster – 7-12-55—74

10-11 Sarah Otterstetter, Westminster – 11-25-36--72 Landry Frost, Colorado Springs – 15-7-40--62 Jadie Wilson, Denver – 22-3-32--57

12-13 Reed Wearner, Centennial – 24-17-60--101 Sean Cary, Erie – 29-26-40--95 Donovan O’brien, Erie – 38-17-37--92

12-13 Macy Kleve,, Windsor – 32-36-50--118 Alexandra Remaklus, Commerce City – 42-8-42--92 Tatum Korte, Louisville – 20-4-50--74

14-15 Will Balliet, Thornton – 55-45-42--142 Yusuke Ogi, Arvada – 39-35-52--126 Jackson Harberts, Superior – 56-50-19--125

14-15 Chunya Boonta, Centennial – 36-60-65--161 Peyton McLeese, Broomfield – 8-31-55--94 Nicole Scrimo, Thornton – 2-7-37--46

August 2019

Junior Golf News

Cherry Creek Country Club July 1, 2019 Girls 7-9 Palmer Mulhall, Greenriver, Wyo. – 9-41-31--81 Emily Shin, Lone Tree – 8-31-31--70 McKayla Knisley, Centennial – 3-3-42--48 10-11 Molli Mulhall, Green River, Wyo. – 27-3-50--80 Joylanae Barnhill, Pueblo – 29-4-46--79 Halle Schmahl, Highlands Ranch – 4-23-50--77 12-13 Madeline Bante, Cherry Hills Village – 27-40-37--104 Sophia Capua, Aurora – 28-27-40--95 Makaela Swanson, Denver – 39-12-41--92

Boys 7-9 Connor Young, Lakewood – 26-55-36--117 Marcel Barnhill, Pueblo – 21-41-28--90 Trapper Capua, Aurora – 10-31-45--86 10-11 Oscar Ford, Centennial – 28-65-50--143 Cooper Kelly, Centennial – 20-36-50--106 Bennett Bante, Cherry Hills Village – 22-30-42--94 12-13 Christian Carter, Littleton – 40-40-55--135 Haven Kitsmiller, Parker – 32-60-40--132 Jack Jacobsen, Englewood – 36-41-40--117 14-15 Christian Carter, Littleton – 40-40-55--135 Haven Kitsmiller, Parker – 32-60-40--132 Jack Jacobsen, Englewood – 36-41-40--117

14-15 Ali Mulhall, Green River, Wyo. – 37-42-65--144 Kaitlin Zingler, Lakewood – 29-23-55--107 Ava Gravina, Littleton – 30-12-42--84

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Junior Golf News

CommonGround Golf Course July 9, 2019 Girls 7-9 Taya Snow, Castle Rock – 4-26-55--85 Kaley Kasick, Windor – 11-22-46--79 Lauren Schack, Benkelman, Neb. – 6-7-46--59 10-11 Addison Hines, Arvada – 43-40-40--123 Adrielle Miller, Highlands Ranch – 16-40-55--111 Emily Schack, Benkelman, Neb. – 9-26-55--90 12-13 Isabel Paraiso, Castle Rock – 10-22-55--87 Chloe Wolff, Castle Pines – 24-8-46--78 Nikki McSpadden, Parker – 17-31-23--71

Boys 7-9 Parker Hutchison, Denver – 13-55-40--108 Doro Wilcox, Denver – 13-26-55--94 Xavier Olivas, Aurora – 10-26-42--78 10-11 Grady Anaka, Erie – 36-50-42--128 Reece Nuwash, Centennial – 20-50-28--98 Aidan Williams, Thornton – 20-17-51--88 12-13 Tucker Jaffe, Vail – 43-50-60--153 Jake Dost, Parker – 27-41-60--128 Ian Chavez, Aurora – 21-42-60--123 14-15 Dawson Thulin, Denver – 61-50-60--171 Ian Hunn, Fort Collins -- 56-27-55--138 Zachary Caldarella, Parker – 33-60-36--129

14-15 Emily Cheng, Colorado Springs – 27-40-65--132 Annajane Costello, Westminster – 40-18-70--128 Rachel Telle, Colorado Springs – 33-55-36--124

University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch July 25, 2019 Girls 7-9 Kaia Chand, Denver – 8-35-50--93 Abigail Gray, Littleton – 20-40-22--82 Rachel Yanofsky. Franktown – 12-7-31--50 10-11 Chace Atkinson, Parker – 29-22-45--96 Sophia Lee, Centennail – 24-27-31--82 Steffi Heitz, Longmont – 22-25-31--78 12-13 Yana Wilson, Henderson, Nev. – 56-35-50--141 Morgan Minnihan, Highlands Ranch – 27-42-41--110 Rylee Salome, Los Lunas, N.M. – 17-50-36--103

Boys 7-9 Zye Kuenzler, Littleton – 27-30-60--117 Toby Hunt, Highlands Ranch – 25-45-27--97 Jeffrey Chen, Aurora – 22-50-22--94 10-11 Anthony Chen, Aurora – 32-40-55--127 Murphy Rowen, Denver – 21-50-50--121 Cooper Markley, Colorado Springs – 15-30-50--95 12-13 Gavin Amella, Castle Rock – 60-50-37--147 Christopher Lynch, Highlands Ranch – 35-45-65--145 Oliver McSpadden, Austin – 19-45-70--134 14-15 Carter Okeefe, Littleton – 34-60-55--149 Brock Moody, Englewood – 33-65-35--133 Dylan Everett, Highlands Ranch – 15-55-55--125

14-15 Lauren Kachel, Colorado Springs – 30-37-50--117 Sydney McCord, Sedalia – 33-13-60--106 Sydney Ament, Littleton – 28-27-41--96

The full results to all of the Local Qualifiers can be accessed at https://www.drivechipandputt.com/results. Drive, Chip and Putt is a free event for boys and girls ages 7 to 15 centered around the three fundamental skills of golf – driving, chipping and putting. In 2018, approximately 50,000 youngsters at 290 sites throughout all 50 states competed at local qualifiers for the opportunity to move forward.

August 2019

The SUMMIT - Colorado PGA Magazine - August 2019

Articles inside

Miller Named 2019 Colorado PGA Golf Professional of the Year