January 11, 2018
Colorado PGA Chip Shots
Colorado PGA News
Plummer, Ruddy to Headline March 7 Teaching and Coaching Summit

The lineup for the Teaching and Coaching Summit has been finalized and will be held March 7, 2018, at Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club. The featured guests will be Andy Plummer and Matt Rudy. The full-day summit is sure to please and attendees will receive eight (8) MSRs.

Plummer helped develop the Stack and Tilt Swing philosophy, which is the largest, cohesive, unified, system in the world for playing golf. He has been named a top-three teacher on the PGA Tour and one of the top 50 instructors in the United States by Golf Digest.

Ruddy has been helping coaches and players speak the language of "how-to" for more than 20 years. He is the Senior Instruction Writer at Golf Digest, where he has produced 25 cover stories since 1999 with experts like Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Hank Haney and Dave Stockton, along with hundreds of articles and video series. He has supervised Golf Digest's 50 Best Teachers and Best Teachers in Your State rankings since their inception in 2000.

Click here to register for the Summit.
Did You See Who Is Speaking at the G-4 Summit?
Lineup Finalized for February 28 Event at The Broadmoor

An impressive list of speakers has been assembled to present at the G-4 Summit being held at the Broadmoor on February 28. Speakers include:
  • Dr. Michael Cooper, Director of Diversity for the World Golf Foundation
    • Speaking on Diversity in the game of golf
  • Joe Steranka, Former CEO of the PGA of America
    • Speaking on why digital media is at the center of golf's future
  • Ross Iverson, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Vail Centre
    • Speaking on leadership and staff development
  • Frank Vain, President of the McMahon Group
    • Speaking on golf club industry trends
Attendees will earn eight (8) MSRs. We hope to see you at the Broadmoor.

Click here to register.
Attending the PGA Show? Join Us for Happy Hour!

The Colorado PGA will once again be hosting a casual Happy Hour at the PGA Merchandise Show. The event will be hosted at the bar at the Rosen Centre Hotel from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24, 2018. To get to the Rosen Centre Hotel, walk across the Sky Bridge on the far east side of the Orange County Convention Center and head to the lobby. There will be a corner of the bar reserved for our group.
 
If you are planning to attend the Happy Hour, please click here to let us know.
Instruction Volunteers Needed for the Denver Golf Expo

The Denver Golf Expo is 25 years old. Be a part of this season-opening event by donating your time and expertise by providing 10-minute golf lessons to attendees. The Expo takes place on February 9-11 at The Denver Mart. Volunteers are asked to fill one or more of the 2-hour instruction slots. Earn two MSRs per 2-hour slot.

To volunteer, contact Holly Champion, PGA, at the Colorado PGA office at 303-996-1591 or email at  [email protected]. 
Visit Our Vets at Denver VA Hospital on February 14
 
The Colorado PGA is once again hosting our annual VA Hospital visit as part of National Salute to Hospitalized Vets Week. The visit is planned for Wednesday, February 14, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. 

In the past, over 20 Colorado PGA Professionals have participated in this extremely heart-warming and fulfilling experience. It's a great opportunity to say thank you to the men and women who so faithfully and honorably served our country.  

We will meet at the Denver VA Hospital at 1 p.m. The Colorado PGA will provide hats and pins to hand out along with your good wishes to our hero's!

Sign up now by contacting Holly Champion, PGA, Junior Golf Director - 303-996-1591 or  [email protected].
Two CPP Courses Being Offered - Teaching and Coaching Certification and Certification in Golf Operations

The Colorado PGA is offering its Professionals the unique opportunity to complete two of the four PGA Certified Professional Programs in a dynamic group-learning environment. The Certification in Teaching and Coaching and the Certification in Golf Operations will each be offered in two-day (16 hour) classroom formats that will cover all the curriculum within the career path, with the exception of the Revenue Management and Simulation module. 
  • January 30-31 - Certified Professional Program/Golf Operations - Colorado National Golf Club
  • February 20-21  - Certified Professional Program/Teaching and Coaching - Valley Country Club  
Registration for these courses is open until January 25. Class size is capped at 20 attendees so s ign up now to reserve your spot.

February 16 Deadline to Apply for Growth of the Game Grants

It is the mission of Colorado's PGA REACH Growth of the Game Grant Program to develop or significantly enhance programs that will attract and retain new golfers.

Those interested in being considered for a Growth of the Game Grant must submit a completed application to Colorado PGA REACH by February 16. A PGA member or apprentice in good standing on behalf of the facility in which the PGA member or apprentice is employed must submit the application.

Click here for more information and to link to the application.
2018 Colorado PGA Award Nominations Now Open

The 2018 Colorado PGA Special Awards Nomination form is now available. Take a moment to nominate a deserving Colorado PGA Member by clicking the link below. The deadline to submit nominations is February 16, 2018.
Reminder to Apply for PGA and Colorado PGA Scholarships

The PGA Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship application is available on PGA.org. Established in 1986, the program provides college scholarships for children and grandchildren of PGA Members.

Applicants who apply but do not receive a PGA scholarship are then eligible to submit this same paperwork to the Colorado Section to be considered for a local scholarship. 
 
Remember,  March 1, 2018 is the deadline to submit the application for both scholarship opportunites.

MSR Opportunities

Upcoming events available to earn MSRs.
Junior Golf News
Need an Inflatable...Colorado PGA Has It

What do dinosaurs, hippos, sharks and kangaroos all have in common? They are all birdie-ball inflatables that can be borrowed or rented from the Colorado PGA.

Whether you are teaching a Golf in Schools Program or planning a club event, the Colorado PGA has birdie-ball inflatables you can reserve to make your event more memorable. There is no charge to use the inflatables for Golf in Schools Programs while there is a minimal fee to use them for summer junior programs or club events.

Reserve your inflatable at least two-week in advance by contacting Holly Champion, PGA, at 303-996-1591 or email at  [email protected]
Colorado PGA has a 7-Month Internship Available

The Colorado PGA and the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado couldn't operate the 80+ junior golf events they do each year without the help of their interns. The Colorado PGA is looking for a young person to fill a 7-month junior golf internship role for the 2018 season. If you know of anyone looking for internship experience and feel that he/she could be a good fit, please share this information with them!

Register Now to Attend the PGA Jr. League Workshops 

The Colorado PGA is offering two more PGA Jr. League Workshops for Professionals to learn more about starting a new PGA Jr. League team or to help a current program flourish. The workshops run from 8 a.m. to noon.
  • January 16, 2018 - Fort Collins Country Club
  • January 18, 2018 - The Country Club of Colorado
Each workshop will be divided into two parts. The first two hours will be geared toward starting a new team with discussions on taking the first step, recruiting players, scheduling matches and many other useful aspects of PGA Jr. League team operations. The second half of the workshop will be diving deeper into operations and sharing best practices with the group. Each 2-hour section is worth 2 MSRs.

PGA Jr. League Captain Registration Open

Register now if you are planning to host a PGA Jr. League golf team in 2018. As player registration begins on February 1, it is important that your facility is accessible at that time. Take this opportunity to be a part of enriching lives through experiences that transcend golf.

Click here to register.
Industry News
National Golf Day 2018 Set For April 25 In Washington, D.C.

WE ARE GOLF - a coalition of the game's leading associations and industry partners - announced that the 11th annual National Golf Day will be held Wednesday, April 25, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

National Golf Day celebrates the game's nearly $70 billion economy, nearly $4 billion annual charitable impact and many environmental and fitness benefits. Industry leaders will meet with Members of Congress, the Executive Branch and federal agencies to discuss golf's 15,000-plus diverse businesses, two million jobs impacted, tax revenue creation and tourism value.

Click here to read the full story.
Golf Datatech Releases First-Ever Independent, Objective Study Of The Amazon Impact On Golf Equipment And Apparel

Golf Datatech, LLC,  released a first-of-its-kind Amazon Impact Report; a breakthrough study that highlights the effect the largest U.S. online retailer is having on today's golf equipment and apparel market. 

As Amazon is an ever-expanding force in selling golf merchandise, the 2018 Amazon Impact Report analyzes attitudes and opinions of 1,200 serious golfers about their overall shopping experience, as well as their perceptions of Amazon as a retailer of golf equipment and apparel. The analysis is based upon data collected in the 4th quarter of 2017. Most importantly, this investigation answers the question as to whether Amazon is having the same effect in the golf retail sector that it has had on so many other consumer product categories.

Click here to read the full article.
KPMG Future Leaders Program Accepting Applications

If you know of any young women who are currently high school seniors graduating this spring, we ask you to share this opportunity with them. Applications close on January 31.

KPMG is deeply committed to the advancement, development and empowerment of women. In 2016, KPMG launched the KPMG Future Leaders Program in partnership with Dr. Condoleezza Rice, focused on developing future generations of women leaders. The KPMG Future Leaders Program will "pay it forward" to future generations of women leaders by providing leadership training to top high school senior female students from around the country preparing for their college career. 

Tournament News
2018 Tournament Schedule to Drop Monday

The Colorado PGA is pleased to announce that the 2018 Colorado Section tournament schedule will be available in BlueGolf on Monday, January 15. Registration for all events will open on Thursday, February 1.

Questions or comments can be directed to Justin Limon, PGA, at 303-966-1588 or email to  [email protected].
PGA of America News
Fran Marrello, James Mason win PGA Quarter Century Championship

Fran Marrello of Plymouth, Conn., won the biggest golf tournament of his career Friday, shooting a 3-under 69 to claim the 50-64 age group title in the Quarter Century Championship at PGA Golf Club.

In the 65-and-older division, James Mason of Dillard, Ga., shot a 5-under 67 to win by 11 strokes over Jim Sheerin (73-144) of Rye, N.H. Mason finished at 11-under 133 for his second PGA Winter Championship victory.

Click here to read the full story.
James Mason, Mark Mielke win PGA Senior Stroke Play Championship

James Mason shot a 4-under 68 to win the 60-and-older division of the PGA Senior Stroke Play Championship by 3 shots over Dick Mast at PGA Golf Club. Mason finished at 9-under 135 on the Wanamaker Course - meaning he is a combined 20-under in his last four rounds, winning a pair of events by a combined 14 shots.

Mielke made a 15-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to beat Kirk Stauffer and win the 50-59 division played on the Ryder Course. Mielke and Stauffer, who were paired together, each shot 71 to finish at 1-under 143.

Click here to read the full story.
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