President’s Message...3 Meet the New Staff Members...12 Membership Updates...32 Executive Director’s Message...4 Education News….1-16 Social Media Corner...33 Tournament News...5, 8 NEPGA UK Trip...17 Bulletin Board...34 NEPGA Credit Card...6-7 PGA of America News...20 Section Spring Meeting information...9 Junior News...22 Awards Winners Spread...10-11 Chapter & Assn. News...23-31 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 fellow New England Section any Chapter Meeting, and I recommend that you look in to Members and Apprentices, attending a bordering chapter to see what others are doing and to network with your fellow NEPGA members. I hope this message finds you all well and either enjoying a winter activity or We have exciting news about our spring meeting The spending your time somewhere warm. New England Section will be joined by Paul Levy, PGA, our Even though there is snow on the National President! Paul will be in attendance to answer ground and temperatures have been questions about the association, and we have a great format dismally cold, your New England Sec- to the meeting that I am sure will be enjoyed by all. Our Sec- tion Executive Committee and Board of tion Spring meeting is on Tuesday March 27th at Andover Directors are still hard at work trying to make our section bet- Country Club. All of the Chapter Meeting dates can be found ter. 2018 is looking like a great year and I am very excited to on our website https://nepga.com/meetings. inform everyone on some things that have been done and what is coming up: “...in the changing atmosphere of our Mike Higgins and our staff at the NEPGA had a very productive PGA Merchandise Show, meeting with over profession any knowledge or chance to 60 sponsors and securing a great line up of partners for our Section events this year. I was able to attend a make yourself better, will shed a light few of the meetings with Mike and I can say with confi- dence that we are well respected and Mike and the staff on the work you do and bring extra do a fantastic job with securing partners and working value to you at your club.” hard on behalf of us. We should all be proud of how they represent every New England PGA member. The Executive Committee along with our Executive Director, Our foundation under the leadership of Honorary President Mike Higgins just attended the Super Regional meeting in At- Jarvis has exciting programing planned for this year, and we lanta. We were able to meet with the 4 candidates who are have redesigned an outdated grant process that will be more running for the office of Secretary of the PGA of America. It inclusive for programs conducted by PGA Professionals that truly is a huge commitment for these individuals. The two align with our Foundations mission. There will be many more days at the meeting consisted of individual presentations by details coming your way on the exciting programs that will be the candidates, a district meeting with each candidate, a Q & offered, the grant process and the foundation itself, so be on A session and individual Section meetings with each candi- the lookout! date. It is the first time in a long time that the New England Section was not committed to supporting a candidate at the At our last board meeting the Board of Directors conducted Super Regional Meeting, and the board and executive com- interviews with investment firms that would manage our long mittee will go through a rigorous process to select a candidate term investment accounts. After a diligent process it was de- that will serve each NEPGA member and give our section the cided that the Graystone Investment firm were best suited for resources needed to be successful not only now, but in the the job for their experience, proven track record with busi- future. nesses as well as non-profits, and because they offered will extend their services to our members as well as their families. As we all know our MSR cycle ends in June of this year and The process was done with every NEPGA member in mind in our education committee led by Graham Cunningham and addition to the Sections funds. Secretary Mike Bradshaw have been hard at work making to ensure we have education opportunities that provide quality It has been an active winter season so far for the NEPGA and programing. I hope that you can all see just how much effort is put into running the New England PGA on your behalf. It is an honor Remember meetings and education seminars are not only and privilege to serve and I am proud of our staff, our elected for MSR credits, I know that every meeting or seminar I at- officers and board of directors for the passion and commit- tend makes me a better Golf Professional and in the changing ment that have shown. atmosphere of our profession any knowledge or chance to make yourself better, will shed a light on the work you do and I look forward to seeing many of you this spring! bring extra value to you at your club. The comradery we Respectfully, have as an association is second to none, and the members I have met at Chapter Meetings, Section meetings and educa- Ron Bibeau, PGA tion seminars have allowed me to form friendships that I will cherish for my entire life. You can cross borders and attend New England PGA President Mike Higgins By all accounts the highest level, but it also shows how We all find ourselves not having the 2017 was a very much he prepares in all aspects of his best day every once in a while. Brady exciting and suc- life. Watching the documentary I was said "If I don't play my best, why am I cessful year in the surprised to learn just how serious he disappointed? Because I could've, New England Sec- takes his job, and that being as pre- should've played better, done better, tion, and as we pared as he is not only makes himself worked harder, and prepared more. In continue to plan better, but also those around him as the end for me it's less about the out- and prepare for well. When we are prepared it shows come than it is about whether I put in this year, I expect the person that we are meeting with the best effort relative to our teams the same excite- that we value and respect their time, it potential." He also added that “the ment and success in 2018. The New shows how serious we take the task or right mindset and attitude give us op- England PGA has a laser focus on responsibility at hand, and it inspires portunities to do the best we can and providing our PGA Members the sup- those around us to do the same. realize the potential that's in every one port and tools needed to help each of of us." you reach your full potential as a PGA We all go to meetings, and we all take Professional. This goal would not be notes on what we think is important, We all work hard at our jobs and try possible without the dedicated leader- but watching Tom Brady at his team our best for our members or the own- ship of our Officers, Board of Directors, meetings I was so impressed how in- ers of our facilities, and certainly no Committees and the amazing staff that tensely he prepares with something as one questions the long hours dedicated I have the pleasure of working with simple as taking notes. The notes he PGA Professionals give to grow this each and every day. was taking from his coaches’ speeches great game of ours. Well, maybe we during the team meetings were not all don’t work as hard as Tom Brady, At the start of every year individuals about what plays they were going run, but I can promise you that I will try to set personal goals and make resolu- but rather themes and thought pro- be as prepared as possible in 2018, and tions that will hopefully improve their cesses behind them. My mind was I extend a challenge to each New Eng- job, help their relationships, and even blown. Wouldn’t you think that some- land PGA Professional to do the same! improve their health or well-being. one as successful as Tom Brady could Prepare more than you ever have, even This year my goal is to be more pre- be giving the lecture and wouldn’t even for the littlest of things, and please pared in 2018 than I have ever been need to be taking notes from anyone? share your success stories with me.