A Night to Remember President’s Message...3 Meet new NEPGA Members...14 Chapter & Assn. News...26-35 Executive Director’s Message...4 Education News….16 Membership Updates...36 Tournament News...5-9 NEPGA Credit Card...18-19 Bulletin Board...34 Awards Winners Spread...10-11 Joan’s News 22-23 Tournament News...12 PGA of America News...23 PGA Professional Championship...13 Junior News...24-25 FRONT COVER: Your 2018 NEPGA Special Award winners Ron Bibeau, PGA Allan Belden, PGA Mike Bradshaw, PGA Rob Jarvis, PGA President Vice President Secretary Honorary President [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Brian Bickford, PGA Dave Tiedemann, PGA John Fields, PGA District Director District Director District Director Maine Rhode Island MA - Eastern (207) 829-2225 (401) 322-2107 (617) 484-5360 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Dan Gillis, PGA Joanne Flynn, PGA Scott Hickey, PGA Senior Director District Director District Director (978) 692-4606 New Hampshire MA - Central [email protected] (603)- 434 2093 (508) 869-9900 [email protected] [email protected] Lou Rivers, PGA David Soucy, PGA Glenn Kelly, PGA District Director District Director District Director MA - Southern Vermont Cape Cod (508) 543-4661 (802) 422-4653 (508) 548-2932 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] CONNECT NEPGA.com Ron Bibeau, PGA Hello all NEPGA Members and Associates, NEPGA Professionals are able to attend and I promise you will not As the summer slowly gets here I know regret taking the time to come and witness history in your everyone is busy with their day to day tasks at the club. It is no different in my world, but we all need to take a breath and enjoy the time we have with our families and friends. While we probably do not have much time to do this, cherish every moment and remember why we do what we do. I know you have heard me talk about family time and time again, but this time of the year is when we have to remind ourselves of that very thing. WHY do I subject myself to long hours, time away from my family and friends, the frustration of complaining guests Section. and members and the thankless job that we do every day? You PGA Junior League teams are in place, practicing and matches all know my why, but I implore you to think about it every day . either start soon or are in full swing. I know it is a big part of everyone’s junior program and a huge thank you to Brian Bain for My ‘why’ also reminds me of a conversation I had with a fellow his tireless work in making the New England Section #1 in the Golf Professional. We were discussing how we impact our country with teams and players. members, guests and especially our students. He told me a story about giving lessons to a certain member at his club. Following a The tournament season has begun and I would like to send a series of lessons his students’ wife brought a huge basket of huge thank you to the entire NEPGA staff for making our goodies, wine, cheese, crackers and over $500 in gift certificates tournaments such a success! The New England Section has some to the pro. This PGA Professional was completely taken back by of the most talented players in the country, and this month 14 this very generous gesture, and asked “why are you giving me NEPGA Professionals will make the trip to California to represent this, I have already been compensated for the lessons?” Her our Section in the PGA Professional Championship. I want to wish reply is a perfect example of how impactful PGA Professionals can them all the very best of luck. We will all be watching and be. She said, “Before my husband started working with you he cheering them on. would come home from golf and be in a miserable mood. Since he started taking lessons from you, he has been happy and content with his game and I have my husband back! Please Our Foundation has received several applications for grants and I accept this small token of my appreciation.” am pleased to announce we have distributed significant funds to some very worthy programs being held here in our section. Honorary President Jarvis has worked hard with the Foundation This story hits home with me because we never truly know the Committee to review all of the applications and attempted to impact we can have on our students and this shows another fund as many programs as possible in 2018. There will be four WHY!! PGA Hope (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) programs in the New England Section this summer, fully funded by our NEPGA The NEPGA Awards Banquet was held on Saturday, May 19 and Foundation. New England PGA Professionals are improving lives was a huge success again this year. It was held at Kirkbrae through the game of golf, and I look forward to sharing some of Country Club in Lincoln, RI, and their entire staff should be the impactful stories from our programs this summer. recognized for making a special evening for our Section’s best just a little more special. Mike Bradshaw, PGA, NEPGA Secretary was As I close my message to you, I ask you all to take a breath and a gracious host and I can not thank him enough for the attention realize the impact we have and the reasons WHY we do what we given to these award winners and their families. There is not a do. I wish you a successful season and please reach out to me if I better evening than this, and one of the greatest honors I have as can ever be of assistance. your President is the opportunity to call each Section Award Winner to inform them that they are an award winner in the New England Section! Then, to be able to present them with their Respectfully Submitted, award at the Banquet is a true honor for me. Ron Bibeau, PGA If you have not had a chance to attend one of these ceremonies, you are truly missing out on a great experience. Any of our Mike Higgins The NEPGA season is 80% of your fitness progress comes practice of “eating your frog”, but the key here and our team is from 20% of your exercises. distinction is that it sets the stage for going in 100 While the ratio may change slightly, the success the day before. different directions. concept always holds true: most of your Although it’s quite simple, the Ivy Lee Section and Chapter results come from a small portion of your Method can be an incredible tool for events are in full efforts. productivity. Here’s how it’s done: swing, the Junior At the end of your work day, spend 15 Tour has begun, our To apply this concept, breakdown your minutes identifying 5 or 6 important tasks New England Series daily tasks. Identify which of your tasks are you must get done the next day. is off and running, producing the most results and which tasks Write down your 5 or 6 items, from Drive, Chip and Putt provide the fewest results. Once you figure most important to least important. qualifiers are filling up, and our Foundation this out, this is where the magic happens. programs are about to roll out for 2018. No When you start your day, concentrate one understands better than I do that it is Shift your focus to the tasks that matter on only the first task (this is your frog). the same for our NEPGA Professionals at most and eliminate (or reduce) those that Work until the first task is completed, your facilities. In my conversations with just burn time. This, in turn, can skyrocket then move on to the next task. NEPGA Professionals this spring a recurring your productivity and success. Are there If you have any uncompleted tasks at theme began to surface. I am hearing that tasks that are keeping you locked inside the end of your day, add them to the next many of our Professionals are your office instead of greeting your day’s list. overwhelmed; juggling multiple balls in the membership when they arrive in the shop? air, and are being asked to do more with Do committee meetings and conference Find an Outlet to Manage Stress less. calls keep you from walking the range to Anyone can work hard when they are engage your members and guests? motivated. But what about when you’re We are all being pulled in so many facing a “roadblock” such as a huge directions that it is crucial for each of us to I personally find myself struggling with this challenge, boredom or crushing stress? learn how to maximize our productivity. In at times. If you are also having trouble with my research to help our Professionals I this one, ask yourself this: If I only had 2 We all need an outlet for our “roadblocks” realized that this is a critical life skill! It hours a day to work, what would I do? and this can come in many forms. Exercise, determines how well we perform at our That will certainly help you identify what is a walk on the beach, meditation, even jobs, and it allows us to consistently check most important to you, your staff and your playing a round of golf can be the secret to off the most intimidating items on our to- operation.