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Volume 3, Issue 3
The end of old man winter is near, which can only mean one thing – Masters Week is
coming and the golf season here. In 1982, the theme song for the
Masters “Augusta” was written by Dave Loggins after a trip to the Sistine Chapel of
Golf Courses. I absolutely get goose bumps when I hear the music being played on
the television and I am sure most of you do as well.
Have a great Masters Week and most importantly – golf season.
“Augusta” by Dave Loggins lyrics
Well, it’s springtime in the valley
On Magnolia Lane
It’s the Augusta National
And the Master of the game
March 2015
The Demo Memo
P1
President’s Letter
P2
Under Armour Flyer
P3
Vice President’s Letter
P4
Secretary Letter
P4
Divots for Dale
P5
Drive, Chip, & Putt
P6
Notes from the Districts
P7
Membership Notes
P8
Employment Corner
P9
Who’ll wear that green coat
On Sunday afternoon
Who’ll walk that eighteenth fairway
Singin’ this tune
March Madness Golf Social
P 10
Tournaments
P 11
OMEGA Partnership
Announcement
P 12
Oh, Augusta
Your dogwoods and pines
They play on my mind like a song
Oh, Augusta
It’s you that I love
It’s you that I miss when I’m gone
Random Rules
P 13
Member Updates & Birthdays
P 14
Well, it’s Watson and Byron Nelson
And Demaret, and Player, and Snead
And it’s Amen’s Corner
It’s Hogan’s perfect swing
It’s Sarazen’s double eagle
At the fifteenth In Thirty-Five
And the spirit of Clifford Roberts
That keeps it alive
Oh, Augusta
Your dogwoods and pines
They play on my mind like a song
Oh, Augusta
It’s you that I love
It’s you that I miss when I’m gone
It’s the legions of Arnie’s Army
And the Golden Bear’s throne
The wooden-shafted legend of Bobby Jones
Brad Demo
Midwest Section PGA | 1960 Copper Oaks Circle | Blue Springs, MO 64015 | 816.229.6565 | www.midwest.pga.com | [email protected]
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PRESIDENT’S LETTER
I thought the inaugural Las Vegas Pro-Am was a tremendous success and I look forward to going back next year. A
committee is being put together to address comments from the event to help us make next year even better. I’m
confident that this will become one of our Section’s premier Pro-Am events.
Thank you to Nike Golf and our sales representatives, Scott Burnett and Sally Clarke Fox for being at the event and
for sponsoring lunch at Dragon Ridge. I’d also like to recognize Shannon Johnson, Joan Bigham and Brad Demo
for all of their hard work planning and organizing this event. We all know how difficult it is to run a Pro-Am event
and it takes a great deal of organization to do it over three days, multiple golf courses and in another State. Great
Job to all of you!
Your Officers and the Board of Directors met February 17th to put the final touches on the 2015 Budget and address
the schedule of events for the Teaching & Coaching Summit/Spring Meeting @ Prairie Band Casino. Brenndan
Cooper, Andy Fisher and the entire Education Committee worked incredibly hard to put a quality program together
and the speakers coming in are tremendous. I hope you enjoy the format. We decided to keep the cost to our members as low as possible and I’m guessing it would cost you several hundred dollars to attend this event anywhere
else. Your cost is only $90! Thank you Prairie Band Casino and Flint Hills District Director Randy Towner for
making your facilities available and for helping keep the costs down.
The Spring Meeting will be short this year with all of the education that will be going on but we have a special guest
coming in, PGA Vice-President, Paul Levy. I will host a Q & A segment with him as well as a fireside chat discussing the state of the game. If you have any questions you would like to ask Mr. Levy but may be too shy to stand up
and ask, please forward those to the Section office or me personally.
See you all in Topeka!
Jay Kennedy, PGA
Midwest Section PGA | 1960 Copper Oaks Circle | Blue Springs, MO 64015 | 816.229.6565 | www.midwest.pga.com | [email protected]
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Midwest Section PGA | 1960 Copper Oaks Circle | Blue Springs, MO 64015 | 816.229.6565 | www.midwest.pga.com | [email protected]
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VICE PRESIDENT LETTER
I want to thank all of the Golf Professionals that participated in the Las Vegas Pro Am. I hope all enjoyed it and
will return in 2016. The venues were fantastic and will be improved on next year. Tell your fellow professionals
what a good time you had so we can get even more teams next year.
The Spring Meeting is fast approaching and this will be a great time for you to catch up with your reps and learn
some new teaching techniques. Please make sure to attend and enjoy the Prairie Band Hotel and Casino.
I wanted to share a money making idea that I gained at the Flint Hills District Meeting a while back. This idea is a
supervised practice session. Set it up for however many weeks you would like, charge whatever you can get, and
once a week for a couple hours set up different practice techniques for your customers to use, along with teaching
them and tweaking their swings and short game.
Chad Myers
Vice President
SECRETARY LETTER
I just returned from another trip to my home state. Matt and I traveled to the beautiful Oregon coast and enjoyed 5
days ‘getting away from it all’, we hiked, ate seafood and savored a few good craft beers too. One particular day we
were a bit weary from all the hiking and decided to rent some clubs and play 9 holes at the local course. The town
boasts a whopping 350 people so they have a course that fits the size of their community, at 1800 yards it was a
great treat and just a ½ mile inland from the ocean so we could still hear the waves. It was even more interesting
because we didn’t bring clubs, shoes or any golf gear…we just went out in some hiking clothes and rented clubs
(they were Wilson starter sets). The experience offered us a chance to see things from the other side and because of
that I highly recommend you try the same. Find a public course that you’ve never played, show up incognito and
rent a set of clubs; not only will you play the game a bit differently but you can gain perspective on what it is we’re
all working so hard to sell.
Julie Roberts, PGA
Secretary
Midwest Section PGA | 1960 Copper Oaks Circle | Blue Springs, MO 64015 | 816.229.6565 | www.midwest.pga.com | [email protected]
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Dale Fisher, 30 year member of the PGA, was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma - which is a
blood cancer that develops in the bone marrow. This diagnosis comes on the heels of an open heart triple
bypass and stroke in late 2013 and early 2014. A bone marrow transplant appears to be the best avenue for
treatment, however due to the previous heart issues and stroke this may not be an option for Dale. The Fishers
will be meeting with the medical staff at Barnes Hospital in mid-March to discuss the treatment options.
Dale has always had a passion for golf - he has held many golf professional positions, owns a small golf club
repair business and enjoys to play. It only seems fitting to have benefit tournament on his behalf. On May 11,
friends and family of Dale will be hosting the Divots Fore Dale - Driving out Myeloma golf tournament at
Fremont Hills Country Club in Fremont Hills, MO. We would be appreciative of any support you could offer
for the tournament, whether it be your attendance or rounds of golf or equipment that can be used
as tournament prizes and silent auction items.
Click here to view/print the contribution entry form.
Sincerely,
Ryan Fisher and Family
Midwest Section PGA | 1960 Copper Oaks Circle | Blue Springs, MO 64015 | 816.229.6565 | www.midwest.pga.com | [email protected]
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Midwest Section PGA | 1960 Copper Oaks Circle | Blue Springs, MO 64015 | 816.229.6565 | www.midwest.pga.com | [email protected]
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NOTES FROM THE DISTRICTS
Welcome to an unexpected early golf season. It’s the time of year
where head golf pros wash carts and cart staff not in school are
valuable commodities. Pick that one thing that you needed to improve on from last year and make it better. See how many days in a
row you can hit 20 balls on the far end of the range. Make a phone
call you should have made a long time ago. Have a golf date with
your spouse or family. Renew your fire for golf and the profession
you have chosen. Take a deep breath and get ready for the madness for fall will be here sooner than you think.
Randy Towner, PGA
Flint Hills District Director
It appears that spring is here and many of you are gearing up for
another great golf season! I am planning on hosting another KCK
District meeting in late May or early June. Based on our discussion at the February 4th meeting the consensus was to have three
to four KCK District Meetings a year, which I fully intend to do.
We will kick things off with a brief meeting followed by an hour
education event, finally concluding with some fun at a venue all
Golf Professionals I’m sure will enjoy. My plan is to make our District Meetings both educational and entertaining. If anyone has
any topics they would like to discuss, please contact me and I can
add it to our meeting agenda.
I hope everyone enjoyed the Midwest PGA Teaching Summit,
Spring Business Meeting and Merchandise Show, and look forward
to seeing everyone on the links soon!
On a final note, remember the site is open to register as a Captain
for the PGA Junior League Golf. Please go to the following link to
register. https://www.pga.org/articles/how-start-pga-juniorleague-golf-team
Thank you!
Mike Ricket, PGA
KCK District Director
Midwest Section PGA | 1960 Copper Oaks Circle | Blue Springs, MO 64015 | 816.229.6565 | www.midwest.pga.com | [email protected]
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MEMBERSHIP NOTES
PGA Teaching Assistant
Seasonal Assistant Golf Professional
Golfsmith
Manhattan Country Club
Contact: Traci McQuhae
www.golfsmith.com
Assistant Golf Professional
on
2015 PGA Compensati
Survey
Contact: Blake Graham
[email protected]
Seasonal Assistant
Professional
Trails West Golf Course at Fort
Leavenworth
Deer Creek Golf Club
Contact: Keith Stilwell
Contact: Adam Trainor
[email protected]
[email protected]
Assistant Golf Professional
Assistant Golf Professional
Cypress Ridge Golf Course
Falcon Ridge Golf Club
Contact: Penny Hickman
Contact: Steve Specht
[email protected]
[email protected]
PGA Professionals
Compensation Survey
PGA.org (or click
are able to go to
2015 PGA Golf Prohere) and take the
tion Survey, which
fessional Compensa
14. The survey will
seeks data from 20
R
rch 23rd to earn MS
be live through Ma
re
R
e maximum MS
credit, provided th
en met. All active
be
t
no
quirement has
(except A-3s) are
PGA Professionals
e in this
asked to participat
. The annual PGA
confidential survey
is the industry
Compensation Survey
ing invaluable data
standard for provid
al compensation
on golf profession
levels.
A
ation to ensure PG
Provides key inform
e
th
at
ed
oy
pl
em
Professionals are
on level
correct compensati
your compensation
 Better understand PGA Professionals
compared to other
rrent compensation
 Helps you know cu ee benefits
levels and employ
factors (region,
 Determines which c.) are most likely to
et
facility type,
affect earnings
ble
us years are availa
Results from previo
g.
online now on PGA.or

UPDATE PGA.org PROFILE
As a way to promote increased engagement
with PGA.org, Members who update their
PGA.orgprofile will receive one (1) MSR credit in
“service”, which applies to the Total MSR category
(M06 = 1). Awarding MSR for this activity is
consistent with other National, Section and
Chapter activities in
which PGA Members can receive credit for
providing service to the Association. The MSR Credits for this activity will be awarded to those Members
who have already updated their PGA.org profileas
well as those Members who do so on a goingforward basis.
Congratulati
ons to Mark
Baumann fo
r completing
his
Certification
in Teaching
&
Coaching.
Midwest Section PGA | 1960 Copper Oaks Circle | Blue Springs, MO 64015 | 816.229.6565 | www.midwest.pga.com | [email protected]
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Employment Corner
A SIMPLE REQUEST!
I realize asking for time is a tough ask but I am doing it! Why? It really is quite simple. For those of you who have
completed the PGA Compensation Survey-THANK YOU! You can stop reading. For those of you have not- read
on!
PLEASE go to pgalinks.com (or pga.org), log in using your username and password and fill out the PGA
Compensation Survey. Over the last couple of months, I have assisted many members and employers requesting
compensation figures. I utilize this survey on many, many occasions when working with an employer. It provides
me with data which in many instances can potentially enhance a job financially. Does it always work? No. But the
more PGA Members/Apprentices I get to participate, the more valid the information becomes.
Perhaps you have no plans to leave your position and are not looking to move to a new job. Nonetheless, by
participating in filling out this survey you receive up to 2 MSR credits; you are helping your fellow PGA
Professional by adding your data to the pool of people who fill this Compensation Survey out and you are assisting
me when working with an employer. You also can assist yourself when negotiating your own raise by using this
tool. You have the ability to print out a document in PDF to show your employer and this is a very professional
looking document. Spend some time looking at it and as always, feel free to give me a call to discuss.
Another valuable component of the Compensation Survey is the Benefits part of the Survey. Everyone knows that
the economic times we live in are making it difficult to receive pay raises. It is also difficult to keep a benefit
package at a level it once was at in many instances. However, the more data I can get to prove to facilities that
health insurance (perhaps even if a stipend is provided), PGA dues, education allowance, meals, cell phone expense,
retirement contribution, etc. are being provided, I can potentially make a difference in your overall package.
Your deadline is March 23, 2015! I hope I can count on you!
Bruce Lubach, PGA, is the PGA of America Employment Consultant for the Colorado, Iowa, Midwest, Minnesota and Nebraska Sections.
He can be reached at: [email protected] or (402) 261-3604.
Midwest Section PGA | 1960 Copper Oaks Circle | Blue Springs, MO 64015 | 816.229.6565 | www.midwest.pga.com | [email protected]
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Midwest Section PGA | 1960 Copper Oaks Circle | Blue Springs, MO 64015 | 816.229.6565 | www.midwest.pga.com | [email protected]
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Tournament Committee Notes
The Tournament Committee met in February for the final time before the season
gets under way. Topics of discussion included the tournament schedule, dispersion
of the money to be used for our Player’s of the Year from OMEGA and various other
odds and ends. We have had a few changes to the tournament schedule that was
already posted to the website. The Senior/Junior has been moved to Monday, July
20th at Highland Springs CC. The Pro-Pro at Mozingo Lake on Monday, June 22nd
has been moved to Stone Canyon Golf Club in Independence, MO. The date will
remain the same. New for 2015 has been the formation of the OMEGA Player of the
Year, OMEGA Assistant Player of the Year and OMEGA Senior Player of the Year
categories. Points for these categories will be earned through a player’s finish in all
of our individual stroke play events, with the exception of the Golfology Pro-Am and
Foundation Pro-Am. The $10,000 will be distributed in the following ways:
OMEGA POY:
1st - $2500, 2nd - $1000
OMEGA APOY:
1st - $1500, 2nd - $1000
OMEGA SPOY:
1st - $1500, 2nd - $1000
New Traveling Trophies:
$1500
The only stipulation for the above bonuses will be that player’s cannot double-dip if
eligible in multiple categories. If finishing first or second in two or more categories,
the player will only receive the highest check. Therefore, (6) different players will
be receiving a bonus check at the end of the 2015 season.
Tyler Dunn, PGA
MPGA Tournament Committee Chairman
Midwest Section PGA | 1960 Copper Oaks Circle | Blue Springs, MO 64015 | 816.229.6565 | www.midwest.pga.com | [email protected]
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Midwest Section PGA | 1960 Copper Oaks Circle | Blue Springs, MO 64015 | 816.229.6565 | www.midwest.pga.com | [email protected]
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RANDOM RULES
“I’ll just play it from here!”
As you watch your members play their golf course,
what Rule do you see them most often violate or
improperly apply?
I will take a guess that it is Rule 27 (Ball Lost or Out
of Bounds; Provisional Ball). A typical scenario is
the player hits his ball from the teeing ground and it
tracks toward an area where it could be lost in high
grass or many trees, or there is a course boundary
nearby. Neither he nor those in the group really
watch it – they’ve all been there before, so they think
they will find it.
Wait until everyone has hit their original shot from
the tee before any provisional ball is played.
Don’t go more than 50 yards forward from the
location of the original stroke because at that point
playing a provision ball is no longer available.
Keep playing the provisional ball until you reach the
point where the original is likely to be (playing the
provisional ball from a point beyond that will result in
the original being lost and the provisional becomes
the ball in play).
If you find the original ball in bounds, then pick up
the provisional ball (even if the original is in an
Everyone goes forward to find and play their second unplayable lie or in a water hazard because those two
shot, but the one shot that was off track results in a
conditions require the player to proceed under a
prolonged search with no ball found. After more than different Rule).
five minutes of fruitless search, the player just tosses
If the original ball is not found (with five minutes
another ball on the ground and plays on (adding a one
after beginning search) or it is found out of bounds,
stroke penalty to his score!).
then the provisional ball must be played under penalty
Like it or not, that’s a common scenario. Golfers are of one stroke (the stroke and distance penalty).
optimistic! “I will find my ball!” But when they
This may sound very “basic” to golf pro. But, you
don’t find it, they are left with predicament to either
might be surprised to see or learn how little a
proceed under the Rules or go back to the tee OR just
recreational golfer knows about Rule 27. It’s a good
thrown down another ball and keep play moving.
chance to interact with your members and raise your
Rather than suffer the embarrassment, proceeding
credibility.
contrary to Rule 27 is a common procedure employed.
So, education on the use of a Provisional Ball might
help your club’s pace of play AND add a degree of
credibility to posted scores. Here’s a checklist for
you:
Play a provisional ball whenever there is a chance that
the original ball will not be found (within 5 minutes)
or it might be out of bounds. It’s a good opportunity
to play a better stroke and get the memory of that last
bad swing out of your mind!
Announce to another player in the group that you are
playing a provisional ball.
Midwest Section PGA | 1960 Copper Oaks Circle | Blue Springs, MO 64015 | 816.229.6565 | www.midwest.pga.com | [email protected]
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MEMBER UPDATES
Employment Changes
Name
Employer
Class
Jesse W. Hansen, PGA
Kyle P. Hurst, PGA
Ross A. Judy, PGA
Jesse C Luedtke
Scott M. Mellen, PGA
Dustin J. Newman, PGA
Nathan W. Sargent, PGA
Todd C. Stice, PGA
Christopher J Young
Adams Pointe Golf Club
Tiffany Greens Golf Club
Drumm Farm Golf Club
Country Club of Leawood
Lake Shawnee Golf Course
Canyon Farms Golf Club
Blue Hills Country Club
Kansas City Golf Association
Brookridge Golf & Fitness
A-6
A-4
A-13
B-8
A-1
A-13
A-8
A-11
B-8
New Members
Name
Employer
Class
Scott M. Mellen, PGA Lake Shawnee Golf Course A-1
Nathan W. Sargent, PGA Blue Hills Country Club
A-8
New Apprentices
Name
Employer
Class
Christopher J. Young Brookridge Golf & Fitness B-8
Quarter Century
Name
Class
Tim Hacker, PGA LMA
Transfers INTO
Name
Employer
Class
Ross A. Judy, PGA Drumm Farm Golf Club
A-13
Jesse C Luedtke
Country Club of Leawood B-8
April Birthdays
Jaron C Lucchesi
Jeffrey W. Sedorcek, PGA
Steven C. Specht, PGA
Eugene T. Maiwald, PGA
Jacob A. Mann, PGA
Mark R. Meacham, PGA
Brian D. Bennett, PGA
Jay Lispi, PGA
Noah T. Henson, PGA
Jay D. Muller, PGA
Maureen A. Farrell, PGA
Wayne Montgomery, PGA
Charles D. Craig Jr., PGA
Justin L. Slater, PGA
4/2
4/3
4/3
4/4
4/5
4/8
4/9
4/9
4/10
4/10
4/12
4/12
4/13
4/13
Andrew J. Kinney, PGA
Michael L McKnelly
John W. Owens, PGA
Rodney J. Wray, PGA
John W. Bonella, PGA
Michael M. Giangregorio, PGA
Cory C. Proehl, PGA
Kristopher L. Johnson
Alan R Pickell
Michael D. Langstraat, PGA
Steven D Shumate II
Brett T Myers
Christopher C. Happ, PGA
4/14
4/14
4/14
4/15
4/17
4/17
4/18
4/23
4/23
4/25
4/25
4/26
4/28
Midwest Section PGA | 1960 Copper Oaks Circle | Blue Springs, MO 64015 | 816.229.6565 | www.midwest.pga.com | [email protected]
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