PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Danny Balin of Rockville, Md., opened his bid for Player of the Year among the PGA of America’s 27,000 club professionals in 2012 by winning the 59th annual PGA Stroke Play Championship, Feb. 2, at the PGA Golf Club.

An assistant professional at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., Balin, 29, went from three down after 54 holes to win by three on the Wanamaker Course with a closing round of 67 for 276.

“That’s my goal this year,” Balin said. “I want to win PGA Professional Player of the Year. I finished fourth last year,” after winning a PGA Tournament Series event for the first time in December at the nearby PGA Country Club.

The PGA Stroke Play Championship was the fifth and oldest of six tournaments that comprise the PGA Winter National Championships. Presenting sponsors are the Premier Golf, United Rentals, and Hospital for Special Surgery. Supporting sponsors are DryRainge, Golf Pride and Jacobson.

Balin chased down Bob Sowards of Dublin, Ohio, who was never out of the lead the first three days on rounds of 68-70-68. Sowards finished with 73 for 279 to take second. “Without any wind, the course played as easy as it ever can,” said Sowards, a two-time former champion. “I just couldn’t take advantage.”

Sowards could have become the first player to win the Stroke Play three times, his earlier titles coming in 2005-06. Other two-time champions were John Barnum, 1963-64; Gene Borek, 1970 and 1973; and Bob Ford, 1988 and 1993. Barnum and Borek are deceased.

Left-hander Rod Perry of Port Orange, Fla., was third with 66-283. “I knew I didn’t have a chance, no matter what I shot today,” Perry said. “I played with Danny and Bob yesterday and they were both playing too good.” Perry had 77 the third round and climbed from 17th to third on Thursday.

Sowards and Perry were among four who opened with 68. Sowards was the only one to play the Wanamaker. The others were on the adjacent Ryder Course, generally considered the easier of the two. Balin also started on the Ryder.

Balin didn’t make a bogey until the last two holes, which he played cautiously to protect his four-stroke advantage. He caught Sowards at 9-under-par with a birdie at the fifth hole, then was handed the lead when Sowards bogeyed sixth and never trailed the rest of the day.

“I played solid, hit 16 greens and didn’t make any mistakes,” Balin added. He also hit 10 of 14 fairways in regulation. Balin made seven birdies in a clean round through 16 holes and earned $5,000 from the $55,000 purse.

A graduate of the Professional Golf Management program at Penn State University in 2004, Balin has been the Met Section PGA Player of the Year the last two seasons and in 2011 he won the Met Section Championship for the first time.

Balin has missed the last three years in attempting to qualify for the PGA Tour. “I’ll keep trying as long as my job allows it,” he said.

The 170 starters played one round each on the Wanamaker and Ryder Courses. The 36-hole cut fell at seven over par 151. The last two rounds were on the Wanamaker.

The start of final round play was delayed for 50 minutes by morning fog.

The PGA of America 59th Stroke Play Championship
PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Wanamaker Course, 7,073 yards, par-72

Danny Balin, Rockville, Md., $5,000 69-70-70-67—276
Bob Sowards, Dublin, Ohio, $3,200 68-70-68-73—279
Rod Perry, Port Orange, Fla., $2,100 68-72-77-66—283
Colin Amaral, Port St. Lucie, Fla., $1,600 72-68-71-73—284
Chad Proehl, Urbandale, Iowa, $1,400 75-67-72-71—285
Jeff Sorenson, Blaine, Minn., $1,310 70-73-71-72—286
Richard Terga, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., $1,180 72-75-69-71—287
Patrick Langan, Ridgefield, Conn., $1,180 73-71-69-74—287
David Quinn, Marlton, N.J., $1,070 75-70-75-68—288
Rob Corcoran, Melbourne, Fla., $1,070 71-73-75-69—288
Dwayne Randall, Findley Lake, N.Y., $1,070 74-71-70-73—288
Ken Martin, Wellington, Fla., $1,070 71-72-72-73—288
Jim Estes, Germantown, Md., $1,070 71-71-73-73—288
Chris Black, Independence, Iowa, $1,070 72-73-69-74—288
Mark Faulkner, Marion, Ill., $990 72-74-74-69—289
Frank Esposito, Florham Park, N.J., $990 72-74-73-70—289
Scott Berliner, Kissimmee, Fla., $920 77-69-75-69—290
Gary Rusnak, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., $920 73-71-72-74—290
Craig Stevens, Dallas, Ga., $920 69-72-76-73—290
Rob Labritz, Pound Ridge, N.Y., $920 73-70-73-74—290
Sean Gorgone, Plymouth, Fla., $920 69-74-73-74—290
Kyle Voska, Cincinnati, Ohio, $840 72-70-78-71—291
Jerry Tucker, Stuart, Fla., $840 70-75-71-75—291
Mark Brown, Glen Head, N.Y., $840 68-75-73-75—291
Michael Zaremba, Pueblo West, Colo., $780 72-78-71-71—292
Craig Smith, Morristown, N.J., $780 72-75-73-71—292
Rick Schuller, Chester, Va., $780 75-76-68-73—292
Sonny Skinner, Sylvester, Ga., $690.71 78-69-77-69—293
Nicholas Beddow, Shirley, N.Y., $690.71 77-74-72-70—293
Tim Weinhart, Alpharetta, Ga., $690.71 75-75-73-70—293
Pete Oakley, Palm City, Fla., $690.71 74-76-72-71—293
Tim Puetz, East Northport, N.Y., $690.71 71-76-75-71—293
Brent Snyder, Hudson, Wis., $690.71 73-75-72-73—293
Sam Arnold, Cincinnati, Ohio, $690.71 68-78-72-75—293
Frank Dully, Salem, Mass., $577.50 79-71-76-68—294
Frank Bensel, Jupiter, Fla., $577.50 76-75-72-71—294
Ryan Kalista, Old Greenwich, Conn., $577.50 73-72-78-71—294
Mark Mielke, East Norwich, N.Y., $577.50 80-70-72-72—294
Chase Brannon, Nashville, Tenn., $577.50 79-69-73-73—294
Kyle Baehler, Rye, N.Y., $577.50 75-74-72-73—294
Roy Vucinich, Moon Township, Pa., $577.50 73-73-75-73—294
Brian Cairns, Walled Lake, Mich., $577.50 74-75-71-74—294
Bob Darling, Lewiston., Maine, $515 75-76-74-70—295
Micah Rudosky, Cortez, Colo., $505 73-71-78-74—296
Craig Czerniejewski, Watertown, Wis., $475 70-79-75-73—297
Bobby Heins, Purchase, N.Y., $475 74-76-72-75—297
Patrick Steffes, Milwaukee, Wis., $475 `76-73-73-75—297
Peter Serafimoff, Millbrook, N.Y., $475 73-68-78-78—297
Robert McClellan, Butler, Pa., $475 72-78-78-69—297
Joe Chalmers, Port St. Lucie, Fla., $435 76-74-75-73—298
Tracy Vest, Waukee, Iowa, $435 70-79-75-74—298
Cory Schneider, Powells Point, N.C., $435 72-76-71-79—298
Andrew Bostrom, Bay Shore, N.Y., $415 72-79-73-75—299
Ben Stewart, Fairborn, Ohio, $390 75-75-78-72—300
Mark Kirk, East Aurora, N.Y., $390 74-75-78-73—300
Bill Andrews, Greenland, N.H., $390 73-77-76-74—300
James Ondo, Mamaroneck, N.Y., $390 76-73-75-76—300
Jason Stilley, Paducah, Ky., $335 75-74-81-71—301
John O’Leary, Reston, Va., $335 76-74-79-72—301
Brian Janty, Milwaukee, Wis., $335 76-75-76-74—301
Gary Robison, Canton, Ohio, $335 76-75-75-75—301
Tony Traci, Sewickley, Pa., $335 74-76-75-76—301
Dennis Winters, Bishopville, Md., $335 75-74-76-76—301
Jamie Kilmer, East Williston, N.Y., $335 75-73-75-78—301
Joe Gothmann, Tarrytown, N.Y., $292.50 78-73-75-76—302
Shaun Powers, Greenwich, Conn., $292.50 71-76-79-76—302
Dennis Colligan, Cazenovia, N.Y., $282.50 77-72-78-76—303
David Hutsell, Baltimore, Md., $282.50 76-71-79-77—303
Kevin Syring, Demarest, N.J., $275 73-78-79-74—304
Mitch Camp, Aurora, Ohio, $267.50 73-73-82-77—305
Korrie Madden, Glenshaw, Pa., $267.50 76-75-76-78—305
Michael Parrott, Woodstock, Ga., $260 69-79-80-78—306
Gary Ostrega, Westfield, N.J., $255 69-79-83-76—307
Patrick Massi, Greenwich, Conn., $247.50 75-76-78-79—308
Kevin Savage, Syracuse, N.Y., $247.50 80-71-75-82—308
Dave Laudien, Wall, N.J., $240 78-73-78-80—309 

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga/met-sections-balin-rallies-win-59th-pga-stroke-play-championship

MEDINAH, Ill. (Feb. 7, 2012) — The PGA of America is pleased to announce that official hospitality sales for the 2012 Ryder Cup are tracking at a record level, with an enthusiastic response from international, national, regional and local companies. The Ryder Cup is golf’s most patriotic and prestigious international team competition and will be played Sept. 25-30 at historic Medinah (Ill.) Country Club.

An initial offering of 53 chalet and clubhouse packages was progressively increased to 76 to accommodate demand. In total, the 2012 Ryder Cup currently has hospitality involvement from nearly 250 different companies. To help sales start strong, Ryder Cup officials froze pricing from the 2008 Ryder Cup held at Valhalla Country Club in Louisville, Ky., and offered a five percent price incentive for those that committed by Oct. 31, 2010.

“We are extremely pleased with the response to our official Ryder Cup hospitality offerings and excited to welcome a number of new corporate faces to the mix,” said Michael Belot, director of the 2012 Ryder Cup. “The Ryder Cup is one of the preeminent events in all of sports, and the successful hospitality sales we’ve seen are a true testament to the incredible excitement that continues to build around this event coming to the great city of Chicago. A limited number of hospitality options remain available, but we don’t expect them to last long. I would encourage any interested companies to act now.”

As the only authorized sales force with official on-site 2012 Ryder Cup hospitality packages, The PGA of America has developed creative hospitality offerings at various price points for companies of all sizes. Packages are available to accommodate anywhere from 10-150 people per day. Hospitality packages are all-inclusive providing a premium on-course experience with parking, food, beverages and alcohol. An added benefit for clients is the PGA’s concierge service that can help with accommodations, ground transportation, and other entertainment options in the Chicago area.

“The Official 2012 Ryder Cup hospitality packages offer a world-class experience for businesses and their guests,” said Larry Sinclair, sales director for the Ryder Cup. “However, it is important to stress that the only way to get the full experience on the grounds of Medinah is through official hospitality packages sold by the PGA of America. Unauthorized hospitality packages can be found for nearly every major event and often provide customers with an experience different than what was advertised, so we strongly encourage any business interested in purchasing a corporate hospitality package to come directly to The PGA of America.”

For more information or questions regarding other hospitality sales offers, please contact Sinclair at 502-245-2000, lsinclair@pgahq.com or visit online at rydercup.com/2012.

About the 2012 Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup, among the last great professional sporting events where winning, and not prize money, is its own reward, spans 37 competitions over 82 years. The competition was born in 1927, when enterprising English seed merchant Samuel Ryder commissioned the casting of a gold chalice that bears his name. The U.S. Team defeated Great Britain, 9 1/2 to 2 1/2, in the inaugural matches in Worcester, Mass.

Since then, the Ryder Cup has expanded to involve the finest players of Europe. Except for a span (1939-45) during World War II and following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks upon America, the Ryder Cup has been held biennially with the U.S. and Europe alternating as host. 

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga/pga-america-reports-hospitality-sales-39th-ryder-cup-record-level

2012 PGA Winter Championships
The PGA Winter Championships is a six-event series for PGA members played over the first six weeks of 2012 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.  They are resented by Premier Golf, United Rentals and Hospital for Special Surgery and supported by Jacobsen, Golf Pride and Dryrainge. Click here for series preview.

PGA Match Play Championship
Feb. 6-10
The PGA Match Play Championship has been part of the PGA Winter Championships since 1964. The field will be limited to 64 players and, if necessary, qualifying rounds will be played to establish the 64-player field. The reigning champion is Rick Schuller of Chester, Va., who became the second player to win the event three times when he beat Scott Ford of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., 1-up in the finals last year. Click here for complete coverage.

PGA Stroke Play Championship
Jan. 30-Feb. 2
Danny Balin of Rockville, Md., opened his bid for 2012 PGA Professional Player of the Year by winning the 59th annual PGA Stroke Play Championship. An assistant professional at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., Balin, 29, went from three down after 54 holes to win by three with a closing round of 67. Click here for complete coverage.

PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship
Jan. 30-Feb. 1
Joy Bonhurst of Kensington, Md., won the 13th annual PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship despite bogeying the 18th hole three times within the last half-hour of the tournament. Bonhurst outlasted Carla Wasienko of Rockville, Md., in a playoff after they tied at 225. Click here for complete coverage.

PGA Senior-Junior Team Championship
Jan. 16-19
Kevin Morris and Frank Bensel won the PGA Senior-Junior Championship for the third time since the tournament was changed to a pick-your-partner event in 2005. Bensel, 43, of Jupiter, Fla., and Purchase, N.Y., birdied five of his first six holes en route to the unprecedented victory. Bensel and Morris, 60, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., finished at 28-under 260 on three courses over four days to win by a stroke. Click here for complete coverage.

PGA Senior Stroke Play Championship
Jan. 9-11
Sonny Skinner of Sylvester, Ga., and Ed Sabo of Tequesta, Fla., two former PGA Senior Professional Players of the Year, were the biggest winners in the 28th annual PGA Senior Stroke Play Championship. Skinner, 51, head professional at River Pointe Golf Club in Albany, Ga., was low for the two youngest age groups, 50-54 and 55-59, with 11-under-par 205. Click here for complete coverage.

PGA Quarter Century Championship
Jan. 4-5
Jerry Tucker and Steve Heckel, who gave Tucker his first job in golf, were the big winners in the 58th annual PGA Quarter Century Club Championship. Tucker, 62, co-founder of the Treasure Coast Senior Tour based in Stuart, Fla., shot a pair of 68s for 136 to set the pace among professionals in the age groups under-50 through 60-64. All have been members of the PGA of America for at least 25 years. Click here for complete coverage.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/pga-america/pga-feature/2012-pga-winter-championships

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Bauer International Inc. – which carries an unparalleled reputation as one of the finest providers of hand-crafted furnishings, accessories and fixtures for golf and country clubs, the hospitality industry, retailers, designers and specialty events-has had its designation as the “Official Furnishings and Shop Fixtures of The PGA of America” extended through 2015. The announcement was made today in conjunction with the 59th PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center, in Orlando.

Bauer will continue to supply furnishings and fixtures at PGA of America owned and operated facilities, including PGA Village, in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and the private Valhalla Golf Club, in Louisville, Ky., as well as at The PGA’s Championship events, such as the PGA Championship, Ryder Cup and Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid. In addition, PGA Professional-staffed facilities will have access to preferred pricing on Bauer furnishings, fixtures and golf shop planning services that will optimize sales and increase return on investment.

“Bauer International is known for its remarkable quality and beauty in its furnishings and fixtures,” said PGA President Allen Wronowski. “The PGA of America is delighted to have Bauer on board for another four years, as we showcase their fine products as part of the fabric of our PGA facilities and events.”
“We are very excited to be able to continue our relationship with The PGA of America,” said Bauer International President Kenneth Bauer. “The partnership between Bauer International and The PGA, started in 2004, has strengthened over the years, and remains a key element to our overall success. The PGA of America embodies the highest of standards, and we are very proud of our association.”

With a foundation inspired by authentic 19th century British, Dutch and French colonial designs from the West Indies, Ken Bauer, founder, president and lead designer of the Company, launched Bauer International in 1992. Combining a passion for travel and culture and their love of fine craftsmanship, Ken and his wife Dee Ann, set out on a personal journey to develop a line of hand crafted furnishings and travel accessories. From the rainforest huts of Java, sugar plantations in the West Indies and tented safaris on the Kalahari, relationships with master craftsmen were forged and centuries-old techniques were rekindled.

About The PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, The PGA brand represents the very best in golf.

About Bauer
Founded in 1992 in London, England, and with corporate headquarters in Charleston, S.C., Bauer International has been an integral part of the redesigning and renovation of The PGA of America’s golf properties. For the past eight years, Bauer International has served as the clubhouse furnishings and golf shop fixtures supplier to the finest courses throughout the United States and around the world. These include PGA Country Club and PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.; Valhalla Golf Club, in Louisville, Ky.; The Ocean Course and The Sanctuary, in Kiawah Island, S.C.; Doonbeg Golf Club, in Ireland; Spyglass Hill Golf Course; in Pebble Beach, S.C.; and Fairmont Southampton and Port Royal Golf Courses, in Bermuda. Bauer International’s product offerings consist of more than 1,000 pieces spanning 10 different collections. Bauer International designs, manufactures and imports golf fixtures, residential, contract and resort furniture, featuring rattan, mahogany and leather mediums. They are proud to have furnished some of the most prestigious properties in over 50 countries.  

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga/bauer-international-pga-americaextend-deal-through-2015

At the 93rd PGA Annual Meeting in 2009, The PGA formalized the unanimous decision to acknowledge three courageous African-American golf pioneers by granting them posthumous PGA membership. Those men were Ted Rhodes, John Shippen and Bill Spiller. Also at that time, legendary boxing champ Joe Louis was posthumously recognized as an Honorary PGA member.

On that day, then-PGA President Remy said: “They say you can’t turn back time, but you can do your very best to make it right.”

Bill Spiller Jr. admitted during his speech that when he first received word that his father had been elected to PGA membership, he was unsure how to react after years of watching him suffer indignities because of the color of his skin.

“But The PGA of 1950 is not the same PGA today,” said Spiller. “My family and I are very happy that this decision has been made. We’re happy to know that our father’s legacy has come full circle.”

Spiller Jr., a lawyer in Los Angeles, Calif., is himself a golfer. In celebration of Black History Month, Spiller shares some of his insights on how to grow and drive diversity among the game and business of golf:

What are your recommendations on how golf can reach more minorities at the grassroots level?

Spiller: You initiate interest in golf by creating a belief system, so people can truly start to believe that it’s something other than an “elitist” endeavor.

If one isn’t introduced to the game, one typically never generates enough interest to take the initiative and satisfy the curiosity. The game must be made available in a manner that makes it achievable to those who do not have the fortune of being introduced, or that live close enough to a course and have access to what goes on there.

Is there a way to make golf more prevalent for minority youths?

Spiller: A mindset of achievement needs to be created separate and apart from the “overnight riches” endeavors linked to basketball or football.
Many minority and inner-city kids look at sports as their only way out, and that doesn’t mean going professional. They understand that sports can earn them college scholarships and afford them the opportunity to get an education. When it comes to the golf industry, not enough is done to educate the masses about the business of golf. Golf is seen in terms of the PGA Tour and the country club lifestyle. Minority kids aren’t aware that golf is actually a business and with hard work and dedication positive results are achievable.

What got your dad and his colleagues into the game of golf?

Spiller: I don’t know what insect bit my dad and got him interested in golf initially.

However, he was a perfectionist and a type-A personality, and once he decided that he wanted to do something, nothing would stand in the way of achieving perfection – except himself – and God help anyone that did attempt to stand in his way. He felt so strongly about having the right to make a living at golf; and his real passion was not competitive play but teaching and dreaming about operating his own pro shop. He suffered tremendously, more than anyone I’ve seen, but he stayed steadfast in order to prove his point.

If you were in charge of the diversification component of Golf 2.0, what would you recommend for getting people into the game and keeping them playing golf?

Spiller: I’d try to expand the concept of “National Golf Day” to the point where local governments and schools are hosting activities to introduce kids to the game. You have to find sponsors (industry manufactures and associations) who are willing to support the cause. PGA Professionals need to organize clinics and seminars with test equipment available. PGA Professionals need to pass out invitations, because minorities likely won’t feel welcomed to play golf unless they’re invited. And finally, go to the schools and start golf programs, real competitive teams. This may be a herculean task, but one fraught with positive possibilities nevertheless.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga/son-african-american-golf-pioneer-shares-insight-growing-game

In 1994, when major league baseball was in the midst of another labor crisis, Ken Griffey Jr. discovered his love for golf. While the owners and the MLB Players Association went about an arduous 232-day arbitration to settle their differences, Griffey found a new way to ease the frustration.
“I started playing the day after the strike began,” said Griffey during his appearance Jan. 26, at the 59th PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla. “It was a good time to start. I was playing with guys like Randy Johnson and Jay Buhner at Bear Creek Country Club outside Seattle. You wouldn’t believe all the balls we were losing on the course.”

Griffey, a member of the Board of Governors of the Boys Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), made his first PGA Merchandise Show appearance in support of the new partnership between The PGA of America and BGCA. During his visit at golf’s largest exhibition, his longtime friend, PGA Professional Rodney Green, joined Griffey. A native of Annapolis, Md., Green is the PGA director of golf at Innisbrook Resort Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Green, 49, met Griffey in 1997, when he began working at the Palm Course at Walt Disney Resort and the two became “fast friends.” Green often gives coaching tips to Griffey, and he’s caddied for him at celebrity events, including the 2000 ATT Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, while playing with Jack Nicklaus, Mark O’Meara and Steve Nicklaus.

“I think Ken has great respect for the game, and understands the amount of work it takes to play at a high level,” said Green. “Whenever I play with him, he keeps this in perspective. He will have his good days and not so good days. He understands that is part of the game.”

What impresses Green just as much is how Griffey can balance his love of family and golf. Green said that Griffey’s longtime affiliation with Boys Girls Clubs of America makes the baseball great a great fit for promoting family participation in golf.

“Ken cares so much about his family, and nothing excites him more than when you talk about family,” said Green.

“We need to give more kids the chance to experience golf,” said Griffey. “I’m happy to do what I can to encourage that. I am always feeling the best when I can be on a golf course with my family. I do get to play golf with my dad often, and I can tell you that those moments are among the best of my life.”
Griffey said that golf has taught him patience. “You have to think before you act in golf.”

Green also cited Griffey’s competitive nature that did not diminish after leaving major league baseball in May 2010 with 630 home runs and 10 Golden Glove awards.

“Ken and I play a lot of golf, and in the 1990s, I said that neither of us have ever made a hole-in-one, and I said, ‘I bet I make one before you,’ ” said Green. “He said, ‘OK, make it light on yourself.’ I agreed to a $1,000 bet. If you are not playing with the other person when he gets an ace, it would be $500.”

In January 2001 on the Palm Course at the Disney Resort, Griffey and Green were on the 12th tee, and “Junior” stepped up and hit a 5-iron 195 yards to an elevated green with a partially obscured flag.

“Ken hit a high cut, which for a lefty means the ball curves left,” said Green. “We never saw it after it came down to the green and drove up and looked everywhere. Ken looked in the hole and found his ball. He is immediately on his cell phone calling everybody and bragging how he got me! I paid him with a money order. I don’t carry that kind of change!”

Griffey, who recalled the moment with a big smile, said his shot “was a Charles Barkley butter cut.”

About two years later, Green made his first ace and telephoned Griffey, who agreed to pay him when the two met. Then playing for the Cincinnati Reds and facing the former Florida Marlins, Griffey invited his friend to join his family at dinner in Miami. Griffey remembered to reimburse his friend and then pointed the waiter to Green.

“Oh, by the way, that gentleman there is picking ups the tab,” said Griffey. Through the ensuing years, Green has made up for that moment by scoring two more holes-in-one, and finding Griffey.

“Ken Griffey Jr. hits the ball further off the tee than perhaps 25 to 30 percent of those on Tour,” said Green, who watched Griffey test a new Nike driver during a “speed trial” at the PGA Merchandise Show. With only one warm-up swing, Griffey hit the ball 353 yards in the computer-monitored hitting area.

“He has a solid move through the ball, and has really improved his short game, especially the pitching wedge. He has about an 8 handicap, and I know that he will work to lower that. You think there is pressure for someone standing over a four-footer to win a match? Ken thrives on that kind of pressure. In fact, the quiet in golf bothers him.

The best thing is that he’s a good person, a good friend and a great father.”

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga/ken-griffey-jr-eager-promote-family-fun-through-new-partnership

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — As the national job market shows signs of recovery in 2012, The PGA of America’s 11th Annual Jobs in Golf Month-which highlights online employment resource tools and a breadth of jobs within the industry-will kick off in conjunction with the 59th PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 26-28, and continue promoting employment in golf throughout the month of February.

Building on the success of its previous campaigns at the PGA Merchandise Show, The PGA of America’s Employment Services (located at Booth #2885) will highlight job opportunities that are currently posted on PGAJobfinder.com. The Jobs in Golf Month initiative at the PGA Merchandise Show includes recruitment services by leading industry employers; golf-related job posting boards; on-site interviewing for industry positions; employment workshops; and comprehensive PGA Employment Services.

In addition, PGA.com/employment, home to PGA Employment Services, is the centerpiece of the Jobs In Golf Month initiative, and serves as the golf industry’s online resource for jobs. In support of Jobs in Golf Month, PGA Employment Services is ramping up its available resources to ensure that PGA members continue to find and maximize their career opportunities.

“The PGA of America is delighted to present Jobs in Golf Month for the 11th consecutive year,” said PGA President Allen Wronowski. “In 2012, the emphasis on job placement is central to the growth of our field and the overall economy. The exciting positions offered during Jobs in Golf Month provide an opportunity to achieve a dream career within the golf industry, which employs more than 2 million people nationwide.”

PGA Employment Services was developed to serve as the golf industry’s hiring resource and a support mechanism to help ensure the 27,000 men and women PGA Professionals have the necessary tools to secure employment. In addition to serving as a vehicle for PGA Professionals, PGA Employment Services offers a direct communication link between golf industry employers and individuals seeking to gain employment in the golf industry.

PGA Employment Services is supported by 12 regional PGA Employment Consultants based throughout the country. These employment consultants serve as an invaluable resource for both PGA members and golf industry employers, working tirelessly to match applicants with appropriate employers that are seeking to hire talented and dynamic PGA Professionals. These Employment Consultants are also charged with further educating employers on the unmatched benefits of hiring a PGA Professional.

Employment-related education seminars are also being featured at the PGA Member Business Center, and will be led by the PGA Employment Consultants. Some of the featured seminar topics include “What Your Employer Wants – Connecting with Golf 2.0,” “Grow Your Value Starting NOW – The Strategy of Golf 2.0,” and “Utilizing Golf 2.0 – Your Competitive Edge,” among others.

While The PGA of America offers additional resources to promote Jobs in Golf Month and the benefits of hiring PGA Professionals throughout the month of February, the Association’s expansive employment services division, which caters to PGA Professionals, golf industry employers, and individuals seeking a position within the golf industry, is an everyday commitment throughout the year.

Among the many service options from the Employment Center, The PGA offers CareerLinks, a complimentary employment referral service with PGA Employment Consultants based throughout the country to provide support to employers and PGA Professionals. With this service, PGA Employment Consultants help employers identify the skills and experiences that are necessary to perform a specific job, and then enter the search specifications into the CareerLinks database to identify qualified PGA candidates. Last year, more than 470 positions were filled through the CareerLinks service.

Other employment services include PGA Jobfinder, an online tool located at www.PGA.com/employment, which helps golf industry employers fill a variety of golf industry positions from PGA Teaching Professionals to Clubhouse Staff to Manufacturer’s Sales Representatives. The PGA also retains the services of a wage-and-hour consultant to help PGA Professionals and employers interpret labor laws and wage-and-hour information. Since last January, more than 3,035 jobs for PGA Professional positions were posted on PGALinks.com and nearly 1,900 positions were listed on the public job board on PGA.com.

About PGA Jobs in Golf Month
Launched in 2002, the Jobs in Golf Month campaign is designed to promote employment services to golf employers and potential employees. The PGA Jobs in Golf Month campaign works with the PGA Employment Center located online at www.PGA.com/employment.

About The PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf. 

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga/pga-highlights-jobs-employment-services-jobs-in-golf-month

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Catching his breath after a trip nearly halfway around the world to compete in Dubai, Luke Donald returned to his winter home Tuesday to a reception at PGA of America Headquarters, where he received two carryover awards from a banner 2011 season.

The world’s No. 1-ranked player, Donald spends his winters in Palm Beach Gardens, and was honored by PGA staff as he picked up his first PGA of America Player of the Year Award and Vardon Trophy. Donald captured both awards last season, becoming the first native of England to win both in the same year. He is just the second Briton to earn the Vardon Trophy, based upon lowest adjusted scoring average and first presented to “Lighthorse” Harry Cooper in 1937.

The PGA Player of the Year, first presented in 1948, was last presented to a native Briton in 1990 when Nick Faldo earned the honor.

“It means everything, that’s why we play the game, to try and write history and to try and get our names on trophies,” said Donald, who won two PGA Tour events in 2011 and won the money title on the PGA and European Tours. “To be mentioned among the names of the great champions that have won before, it inspires me to keep working hard and to hear those great champions, it is truly an honor.”

Donald splits his year by living in Evanston, Ill., where he graduated in 2001 from Northwestern University. His alma mater is not far from Medinah (Ill.) Country Club, the site of the 39th Ryder Cup, Sept. 28-30.

“Medinah is about 30 minutes from my home, and I have played it (No. 3 Course) a few times, but not for about a year and half,” said Donald. “They have made a few changes recently. It will be a great event at Medinah. The Ryder Cup is the most special event I have ever played. I’ve always enjoyed match play, fortunate to have had a good record as an amateur in the Walker Cup. When you do well in those competitions, it gives you a lot of confidence.”

Though he holds the top world ranking, Donald is asked what has kept him from achieving a professional’s ultimate career goal – winning a major championship.
“It’s hard to answer, my game is good enough to win a major,” said Donald. “My driving has held me back and you have to be driving it well during a major championship. If I can sharpen up a little bit, I feel I can compete well.”

When he was a youth, Donald admired a European wave of talent that was headed by Faldo and the late Seve Ballesteros. He said that the current European young talent, of which he is a member, “runs in cycles.”

“Certainly, things are going well for European golf now,” said Donald. “There are many fine players and they are holding their own everywhere. Are there more on the horizon? I’m sure there are.”

Donald’s reception included his answering questions regarding his personal life, choices in local restaurants and sports idols.
“The time I have away from the course, I am with my family, and to have two daughters who greet you with a smile when you get up in the morning, means everything,” said Donald. “Having two daughters, I believe, has given my life a lot more balance.”

The PGA Player of the Year and Vardon Trophy
The PGA of America has honored the game’s best players with The PGA Player of the Year Award since 1948. The award is presented to the top touring professional based on a point system for tournament wins, official money standings, and scoring averages. Points for the 2012 award are tabulated from Jan. 1, through the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, which conclude Nov. 11.

The PGA Tour also recognizes its annual Player of the Year, with the winner determined by a vote of the membership. The voting period commences after the conclusion of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. The Player of the Year, who receives the Jack Nicklaus Trophy, will be announced by the Tour in December. Additionally, the Tour recognizes a Rookie of the Year and in select years, a Comeback Player of the Year, with both of those awards also being determined by a vote among Tour members. Other season-ending honors to be announced by the PGA Tour include the Arnold Palmer Award for the leading money-winner and the Byron Nelson Award, presented to the player with the lowest adjusted scoring average (minimum of 50 official rounds).

Since 1937, the Vardon Trophy, named by The PGA of America in honor of famed British golfer Harry Vardon, is awarded annually to the touring professional with the lowest adjusted scoring average. It is based on a minimum of 60 rounds, with no incomplete rounds, in events co-sponsored or designated by the PGA Tour. The adjusted score is computed from the average score of the field at each event.

About The PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf. 

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga/luke-donald-accepts-pga-poy-vardon-trophy-pga-headquarters