PRESIDENT ’ S NOTE

March Madness and the impending trip down Magnolia Lane mean that golfers will be chomping at the bit to hit the links or check out the newest equipment. While these next few months will fly by, it is important to try and make an impact at your facility and especially to track it. Golf Professionals are really good at growing the game, club fitting and up-selling merchandise. We are not the greatest at tracking these results so we can implement quantitative statistics into our resumes or simply show our employer the value we have.

The reason I mention this now is that if you take the time to determine an easy tracking method such as an excel spreadsheet, google doc or an empty page in your lesson book, and start from the beginning you’ll be more likely to keep accurate records. It is really hard to wait until we can catch a breath and try and compile these numbers in a meaningful way. I’ll be the first to admit I have to improve in this area. We are making it a staff contest and tracking fittings that result in sales as a leader board at Springfield. By putting a fun spin on it, hopefully it’ll keep us all invested in keeping score! Each season you should try and bring something new to your club or facility. Here are some suggestions:

• Take on a new program like PGA Golf Day or PGA Junior League Golf and run with it.

• Take the time to attend an educational event in our Section or one put on by a club manufacturer.

• It could simply be setting a goal to play more golf or to play with a variety of members that you haven’t done before.

• Be creative and run a fun format event at your facility like a Par 3 tourney, Tee It Forward Scramble or maybe start a league.

Middle Atlantic PGA Professional of the YearJosh Tremblay, PGASpringfield Golf & CCjosh@sgccva.org

SOCIAL CORNER - - PETER LABOURDETTE, PGAThe social committee is happy to announce it’s second event. We have arranged for a fun night of bowling, food and drinks at Kenwood Golf & Country Club on Thursday, March 27th. The event will start at 6:00 pm and run until about 8:30 pm. The price will be $20 per person, which

includes, shoe rental, 3 games of bowling as well as appetizers, and pizza. A cash bar will be available so make sure you bring some spending money. We are encouraging members of the Central Chapter to bring their significant

others to partake in this fun evening. For those who have never bowled at Kenwood there are no ten pin lanes, only duckpin. If you are accustomed to regular bowling then you are in for a whole new experience. The best part about duckpin is you get three tries instead of only two!

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Central Chapter Newsletter

We ask that our Central Chapter professionals utilize this newsletter as a forum to communicate and engage with one another on any and all topics. Please email Jay Lindell or Geoff Montross to get more information about

submitting an article.

May Edition

President’s Note

pg.

With the recent surge in PGA Junior League activity, especially in the Central Chapter, I'd like to see if we can organize some kind of fall competition amongst all of the clubs in our chapter. You may not realize it but just Little League baseball has a next level in Babe Ruth, PGA JLG is looking to add an older age group. I think this could be our opportunity to provide a program for the kids who have aged out of junior league to still be able to compete.

If you're interested in fielding a team for this Fall version of PGA JLG, please contact either myself, Mike Thomas or Geoff Montross. This will kick off in early September and be aimed at juniors that have not reached their 16th birthday as of December 1, 2014. There will be no fees to pay so each club can charge as they wish and we will try and organize a city championship in late October.

PGA Jr League Is a MUST at any facility. What helped us sell PGA Jr

League this year was the scheduling of practices and scrimmages well in advance of divisions being set. And the team

naming party was a blast as well. –Geoff Montross, PGA

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Assistants, Keep Your Eyes Open by Chris Nathlich

First Assistant, Chevy Chase Club

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As the season finally seems to be in full swing and the golf courses are beginning to round into shape after the long winter season, I would recommend that the Assistant Golf Professionals in the Central Chapter make every effort to “Open your eyes!” No, no, this is not a criticism, but rather a simple call for Assistants to add value to their facilities. Each time that we walk out of the golf shop or onto the property where we spend the majority of each day, look around and try to put yourself in a member’s or guest’s shoes. What type of product is the golf operation putting out there each and every day? Is it a welcoming environment with clean, perfectly-aligned golf carts, a neat and orderly staging area, and an organized golf

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professional shop? Or, when you walk through the golf operation do you find that things are in utter disarray? Changing the lens that you look through can add value to your facility without costing any money. It shows that you are paying attention that you genuinely care and take pride in the golf experience that you and your golf staff provides.

In the service business, (where we all reside), the little things go a long way toward making our customers and members feel important and appreciated. Taking the extra time to provide a warm welcome to the club and making connections with your membership or guests goes a long way towards setting the tone for the day. I also encourage you to pay close attention to golf clubs or facilities that seemingly do a great job running events, merchandising, and creating and

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running top-level instructional programs. When you play these courses, look around and take note of ideas that you can bring back to your facility to further enhance your value to the club where you are currently employed. We have many great facilities in the Central Chapter of the Mid-Atlantic Section. I know that many of the Head Golf Professionals who run these facilities would welcome you to visit their operation and see how they have helped make them so successful. (I’ll give you a hint…their eyes are always open!)

28 Reserved Tickets Available Please call or email

Pete Labourdette to reserve yours!

SEAT LOCATION Dear Central Chapter

Professionals- Our next Social event is

Thursday, July 31st Nats vs Phillies 7:05 Start

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Throughout my short time as a teaching professional, I have realized that many golfers today, no matter how well they understand the concepts of making an effective golf swing, their body just does not let them.

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Whether it is due to injury, lack of range of motion, flexibility, strength, etc. you cannot force them to perform an athletic move which is painful or physically impossible for them. I have studied the TPI structure and believe it to be very effective, but I wanted to know how to fix the injuries and prevent them from happening.

I became intrigued in finding more answers when I attended a seminar at a local fitness center where sports medicine experts and sports physical therapists spoke about injury prevention and maintaining a healthy body. Here is where I realized how important warming up your muscles are. Warming up properly cannot only improve your athletic success, it can also eliminate short and long term injuries. A main point in the seminar was soft tissue mobilization which can be done through foam rolling. This has become a widespread technique with athletes of every sport. The gentle rolling is technically called a self-myoflascial release which is now known to improve flexibility, range of motion, muscle recovery, and pain reduction. They

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have now also have hand-held rollers that can fit in your golf bag.

For more support of this I reached out to my local sports physical therapist who spoke at the injury prevention seminar. He has become a good friend and we have struck up a trade of our services to where I go to him for training and to pick his brain while he comes out to me for a lesson once a week or so. It has been an eye opening experience the knowledge that he brings to his profession and gives me motivation to know more about mine.

He was able to tell me in just one visit that I had a slightly longer left leg than my right and that I had minor scoliosis in my back causing some misalignments. No one has ever told me that. He has been performing techniques such as active release and “Graston,” which is a metal

Feel Better Play Better James Steigleman jhsteige@gmail.com 845.220.8790

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What possible reason could there be for offering hours of free services? Your time is stretched, your staff is lean, so why are going to take members of the staff out of the operation for a day? To consider putting such a strain on your operation, they should really be creating money for themselves, the facility, or both! Almost every course holds at least one DEMO DAY, where staff members are pulled out of regular golf operation to fit and consult with golfers

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about the offerings of various manufacturers. Of course, the day would be a waste of time and resources if it didn’t end with significant income for the club. Some facilities report as much as 25% of their annual club sales coming on that single day.

What about creating a “Demo Day” for your efforts in instruction? Create a fun atmosphere with demonstrations of your offerings for all ages and skill levels of golfers. Have fun activities for the kids; you

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could borrow Golfzilla from the Section, decorate white socks for custom head covers, or create your own Drive, Chip & Putt competition. On another day, offer mini physical screens, bring out that expensive video and launch monitor and provide a bit of analysis for your advanced golfers. For inexperienced golfers, host a “Welcome to Golf” reception with appetizers and in the clubhouse and give tours of the golf operation as a preview of

Player Development Demo Days

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instrument that he uses on my back to break up scar tissue to allow for better blood flow and motion efficiency. It takes the pain away as well. He has used it successfully with many patients in eliminating those with the issue of “Golfers” or “Tennis” Elbow and other golf related injuries. Although it is uncomfortable since he is pushing in pretty deep on the sore spots, it really seems to make a difference. He also put me through a “Functional Movement System Test” where he put me through numerous stretches and movements to find imbalances or lack of mobility throughout my body, and from there was able to direct my recovery exercises to include fixing those at the same time (similar to TPI). I have been feeling much better out on the

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course or driving range and have seen some improvement in my game. In closing, I look forward to utilizing more of this knowledge and ideas in my teaching. Bringing more of these techniques to help people improve their golf and overall health would be exciting. For example, if this allows a student to increase his range of motion in his hips just through a few visits or weeks of foam rolling, it could allow him to finally make a full backswing, and gain some yardage. I pride all of you to look more into this topic and reach out to your local experts whether in fitness, or physical therapy, they probably love golf too. Find out their opinions and try these out with your students if they are willing.

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Get Golf Ready.

Beyond creating quality experiences for both beginner and avid golfers, the key is turning the experience into a “sale”. At the end of a fitting/consultation at a golf equipment demo day, you would provide a price and ask for the sale. During an instructional demo day, have your offerings listed and be ready to accept registrations and payment.

Many of the successful pros in the MAPGA run multiple Player Development events to promote their Lessons and Instruction Programs. These events can create enough interest to fill their offerings for the season. Some examples and brief descriptions are listed:

Welcome to Golf Cocktail Hour – Complimentary appetizers with a cash bar for new golfers where the five days of Get Golf Ready are described followed by tour of the golf shop. Sign-ups for Get Golf Ready and take away flyers with a schedule are provided.

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Women’s Putting Challenge –Social event where women play 9 homemade miniature golf holes on the practice green. All participants start with a glass of bubbly (champagne, Sprite or sparkling water). Aces are rewarded with an additional glass of bubbly. At the end, there is a discussion about Get Golf Ready, Lessons, Womens Tournaments and Leagues with sign up forms.

Family Fun Day – All the fun stuff for kids. All participants go through stations such as: a homemade miniature golf course laid out with kite string and obstacles, Birdie Ball Golfzilla, Kwikgolf, US Kids club fittings, set up obstacle courses with hitting, throwing and jumping stations and you could even rent a moon bounce. Descriptions and registration forms for Summer Camps, After School Academy, Monthly Learning Program, PGA Junior League Golf and other competitive opportunities are provided.

Coaching Sampler – Offering of mini-sized servings of various services that appeal to avid golfers, including basic

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club fitting, physical screens, launch monitor/video analysis. The professional brought his schedule and was ready to sign up students for private lessons and other learning programs.

Free lesson days can be a driver of new students and a great opportunity to present your new and existing programs in an interactive way. Schedule Player Development Demo Days and engage your golfers.

For more ideas on how to create rounds & revenue, contact Player Development Manager Mike Aldrich, PGA at 703-728-9033 or maldrich@pgahq.com.

Sweet Spot Idea’s The “What If” Scenario that

scares most of us…

For most of us who have seen turnover at our facility, it is inevitable to see assistants move on to other opportunities. What scares most of us is the idea of shouldering more admin responsibility

during the transition. This obviously detracts from teaching and playing opportunities and slowly makes you a desk clerk. What we are trying to do more of at International CC is setting up publisher

documents that take screen shots of certain step-by-step procedures. From receiving to POS. This allows new assistants or shop help an opportunity to learn while you are not in the shop. This doesn’t reduce your responsibility but does decrease the amount of time you have to stand over

someone’s shoulder hoping they ‘figured it out this time’.

BY Geoff Montross, PGA

A Special Thank You to Golf Clubsox for sponsoring this

edition of the Central Chapter Newsletter