Messages from NEPGA Officer Candidates Inaugural Avidia Bank Cup tournament recap Moving on to National DCP President’s Message...3 What’s in the Bag?...15 Education...27 Executive Director’s Message...4 Drive, Chip & Putt...18-19 PGA News...27 Messages from the Candidates...5 Awards News...20-21 Chapter News...28-32 NEPGA Credit Card...6-7 Employment News...22 Sponsor Listing...33 Tournament News...8-9 Social Media Highlights...23 Member Updates...34 Player Points Update...10 Section News...24-25 Bulletin Board...35 Tournament Recaps...10-17 Membership News...26 FRONT COVER: 2015 Candidates for NEPGA officers: Allan Belden, PGA (Candidate for Section Secretary), Ron Bibeau, PGA (Candidate for Section Vice President), Susan Bond, PGA (Candidate for Section President) and Rob Jarvis, PGA (Candidate for Section President). Larry Kelley, PGA Susan Bond, PGA Ron Bibeau, PGA Jim Noris, PGA President Vice President Secretary Honorary President [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Todd Cook, PGA John Fields, PGA Scott Hickey, PGA District Director District Director District Director MA - Southern MA - Eastern MA - Central (781) 828-9717 (617) 484-5360 (508) 869-9900 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Rob Jarvis, PGA Timothy Loch, PGA Jack Neville, PGA District Director District Director Senior Director Maine New Hampshire 617.332.3757 (207) 941-0232 (603) 742-8580 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Troy Pare, PGA Zachary Wyman, PGA Greg Yeomans, PGA District Director District Director District Director Rhode Island Vermont Cape Cod (401) 434-9899 (802) 864-7770 (508) 207-9215 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] CONNECT NEPGA.com Larry Kelley, PGA We have always been taught to give it all The list is just an example of the success that we all have you can and never give up no matter had together as a group. We are also fortunate to have how difficult things may seem. I such a wonderful professional staff that keeps our interests struggled with my 24th and final in mind and a true leader in Mike Higgins who comes to message as President of the New work each and every day working hard for EVERY PGA England PGA. In the past I searched for member. Mike Higgins is always thinking Win / Win and things to write that I hoped were continues to be proactive on our behalf with a continual eye important to our members. Most of my on our future. I want to publicly thank Mike for being a true letters were informational and a few (I friend and wonderful guide on this journey. We are lucky to hope) were inspirational. The one thing I counted on was have you. that some of you were reading about the quality people all We are not done! There are many new horizons to climb PGA Members are and the amount of quality programing and challenges ahead. Finding a new home for our Section and tournaments we put forth for your benefit, growth, and office and Hall of Fame is still on the list. Continuing to personal development. We have the best PGA Section in the build our Scholarship Fund to benefit our own children and Association! We have an unbelievable diversity in our own grandchildren is always a priority and continues to be. We membership (more chapters than any other Section) and will never forget employment and education as your Board that in my opinion makes us stronger and leaders in our of Directors and Officers know they are the true priority profession all over our region. The New England PGA is the when it comes to our Membership. Lastly, our NEPGA true face of golf in New England and that makes me Foundation will be one of our future cornerstones that will unbelievably proud. make our Members and Section Let me list a few NEPGA stronger. accomplishments that stand For the last two years I have been so out over the last few years. proud to be YOUR President. To be Passed NEPGA Constitution by- involved at the highest level has law change to allow voting for brought me many new friends from Section Officers in the Chapters all over New England. Additionally, I and give a voice to every PGA have been able to engage with other Section Member no matter where PGA Professionals from all over the they work or live country and formed many new relationships through this great game We continue to have the most and our profession. participants in the Section Championship in our Association – In closing, I would like to thank Dave ranked #1 in five out of last seven Pfannenstein, PGA for believing in years nationally me enough to hire me into this business almost 25 years ago. Dave Chapter relations and just finished his second term as the communication have become Vermont Chapter PGA President and stronger due to understanding the has been a great friend, mentor, and Chapter / Section relationship and his leadership abilities are genuine how it impacts our PGA Members and true. I can’t thank him enough for all his Improved sponsor relations and increased sponsor dollars encouragement and mentorship over the years. for Professional purses & Education Offerings Thank You to all my fellow PGA Section Members for making Professional Audit of all our Section and Chapter finances the last four years so wonderful! I leave you all with my as well as continue our Association with the Willing Group favorite quote from Calvin Coolidge our 30th President, who for our investment account was born in VT and was also the Governor of Massachusetts. No PGA Member dues increase for last decade “Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with Strong Junior Golf Programing that continues to meet and exceed expectations of Juniors and Parents talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Promotion of Massachusetts Golf Day and working with the Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The Allied Golf Associations to make New England Golf an slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the economic driver in our region problems of the human race.” Drive, Chip, & Putt program increased from 5 to 13 events Get Out & Play, Junior Golf League Program has exploded to over 180 teams Section wide Larry Kelley, PGA President Chapter Meetings and Section Championships have had New England PGA strong NEPGA Section Officer Presence Important Dates OCTOBER 5 NEPGA Avidia Cup Finals Weston Golf Club Michael Higgins OCTOBER 8 October in the New This October will also see a changing of Maine Chapter Fall Meeting Martindale Country Club England PGA is a the guard in some of the District Director very exciting month, positions on the Board. It has been a OCTOBER 8 and debatably the pleasure to work with Troy Pare, PGA MA Chapter Championship Marshfield Country Club busiest. What from Rhode Island, Zack Wyman, PGA makes October from Vermont and Rob Jarvis, PGA from OCTOBER 8 exciting is the Maine. Thank you all for your service and RI Chapter Championship opportunity to I will be sure to tell the incoming Sakonnet Golf Club interact with so Directors that they have some pretty big OCTOBER 12-16 many PGA shoes to fill. October 26th will also be the Ireland Pro-Am Professionals. final day that Honorary President, Jimmy Ballybunion - Old Course; Killarney There are 5 Chapter Meetings this month, Noris, PGA will be an officer of the G&FC; Old Head GL; Tralee GC; Waterville GL as well as Fall Meetings for the Assistants’ Section. Jimmy guided the Section Association and the Seniors’ Association. through one of our more difficult times, OCTOBER 13 We also will be very active with the and helped to right the ship which now Cape Cod Fall Fest #1 Oyster Harbors Club remaining Chapter Championships, the has the Section enjoying very prosperous Cape Cod Fall Classic, preparing for the times. Jimmy has been a great leader for OCTOBER 14 Ireland Pro-Am and the Vegas Pro-Am, as the Section and he certainly will be Cape Cod Fall Fest #2 well as our Stroke Play Series Finale to missed in the Board room. On behalf of a Eastward Ho! Country Club determine the first Avidia Cup Champion! grateful Section...Thanks Jimmy! OCTOBER 15 Cape Cod Fall Fest #3 2015 is also an election year in the New October is also the time of year when the The Wianno Club England Section. In my five years as employment season becomes more Executive Director and my previous 15 active. There has already been a bit of OCTOBER 15 Assistants’ Association Fall Meeting years in the tournament department I movement and of course the rumors start Kernwood Country Club have witnessed quite a few Section to fly. I can not stress enough how elections. I have experienced record important it is to have your Career Links OCTOBER 15 Seniors’ Association Fall Meeting breaking attendance at Black Rock in Profile updated and active, so that you Pleasant Valley Country Club 2011 when the first Secretary and Vice will be informed about new job President of the New England PGA were opportunities. Keep your résumé current OCTOBER 19 elected. I also witnessed a light with your new accomplishments or NEPGA Scholarship Pro-Am TPC Boston attendance in 2013 which only saw 120 changes and please reach out to either Section members vote. (There are over Employment Consultant Michael Packard, OCTOBER 20 850 eligible voting members in the PGA or myself for any assistance.