Executive Director Report I want to start by thanking all of our members who have

helped and continue to pray for the people of Southern

Illinois. The devastation left from the tornado continues to

impact our members and their families from Southern

Illinois. If you are still looking to help, please reach out to

Kevin Hefner. Kevin is our local Cleveland/Srixon rep and

was born and raised in this area. Kevin has been very ac-

tive and in-touch with the local residents. He can provide

you with great advice on how to make an impact. Thank you again for any help

you have provided and the Gateway PGA family will continue to keep you and

Southern Illinois in our thoughts and prayers.

With the news of the bad weather, it is nice to see a great stretch of warm

weather in the forecast. The warm weather will bring an excitement to your

members and guests. They will be coming out to your facility with an enthusi-

asm that every new season brings. As you will continue to hear, Golf 2.0 and

growth of the game strategies are the main focus. You will be receiving some

great literature and a presentation from our employment consultant, Tim Marks,

PGA. Additionally, our new growth of the game chair, Rob Sedorcek, PGA will join

Ali Wells, PGA to update what the section and foundation have planned for 2012.

Our Association and Foundation will be very active in the community and at the

golf courses in our area. I believe that the spring is the best time to capture the

public’s excitement for the outdoors and the game of golf. If you have not done so,

please consider implementing programs that will attract new golfers, retain your

core, and welcome back golfers who have taken a break. We will provide you with

some ideas but you ultimately know your customer the best. We look forward to

hearing about successful growth of the game programs in 2012.

Have a great start to the spring and we look forward to seeing you at the Spring

Membership Meeting in a few weeks.

PS: As many of you know, I am a big Michigan State fan. I was a little

disappointed to see the Spartans, Billikens, and the Tigers on the same side of the

bracket. You cannot beat this time of year…March Madness and on to the

Masters!

Sincerely,

Josh Riley, PGA

This Issue

Volume 4, Issue 3 March 2012

Employment P 2

Education P 2

Growth of the Game P 3

Rules P 3-4

Assistants P4

Fitness P 5

Tournaments P 6-7

Member Updates P 8

Josh Riley, PGA Executive Director

Gateway PGA

I like to think of the PGA’s Employment Services Department and our Employment Con-sultants as one of the purest forms of member benefit that there is. These benefits in-clude the wealth of information that is available to you from the Employment Services De-partment as well as my experience in the employment arena for the last 25 years.

Here are just some of the services we offer and a link to go to them directly…

Maximizing CareerLinks – ways to maximize and update your CareerLinks ProFile - Click HERE

Wage and Hour Manual – Click HERE

The PGA Professional Report – a great way to start the communication action step of Golf 2.0 - Click HERE

Retirement Planning – tips on exit strategies, retirement questions and severance packages - Click HERE

PGA Magazine Articles – a wealth of information regarding employment from our industry magazine and our Employment Consultants - Click HERE

Career Fitness Manual – include information on demonstrating value, continuing education and career evaluation to name a few - Click HERE

These are just a few of the many areas of help and information that you can access online at PGALinks.com. In addition, I am a resource for you to use if you have any questions, concerns, need help or assistance with any employment issue. I am here for you! I encourage you to seek me out if you need help.

Please click HERE for a copy of all of the resources available to you from PGA Employment Services. Have a GREAT spring!

Our education events for the winter are complete and I would like to thank the following people that made it possible for 2012: Steve Heckel Brian Fogt Bobby Pavelonis Al Chandler Rob Sedorcek Matt Tausig Jeff Escott Benjamin Kent Barb Michael The Gateway PGA Office Staff Thanks for the time of the above mentioned Professionals as we were able to have a very successful winter of passing on some great information! I am pleased to announce a partnership with Dave Kohlberg & Kyle Book, of Callaway Golf, for some great educa-tional events for 2012 and beyond. Please be looking for some great events planned for the spring, summer and fall! I will be working on some in season opportunities in regards to our Teachers Teaching Teachers seminars. In partnering with some of our Local relationships, we are reaching out to Tour players and national teachers of the year to come to our section and help with the before mentioned. If anyone has any insight or connections on that side of the ropes please let me know. Don’t forget to log on to PGA Links and take advantage of all the Golf 2.0 educational opportunities. This is a big part of what the PGA of America is trying to do and we would all be helping the cause by implementing some if not all of these strategies!

Thanks again for everyone’s help this winter and Happy Golfing!

by Brian Schmersahl, PGA

PGA Employment Services is here for you!!!

Tim Marks, PGA Employment Consultant

815-630-9156 tmarks@pgahq.com

Education Corner

Growth of The Game

As the new Chair for the Growth of the Game Committee, it is my goal to give you the tools to help run quality programs that engage your customers/membership and drive new people to the game which we all love and share a passion for. I would also like to welcome Ali Wells, Director of Foundation Pro-grams and Player Development, to the team. Her Growth of the Game experi-ence will surely add value to our Section initiatives and Membership. Please take some time and visit with her on how she can help you and your facility.

Paralleling these new additions, I would also like to take a minute to communi-cate the new direction myself and our Committee will pursue this year. In line with Play Golf America, we will be hosting a number of events throughout the section including Junior Play Golf America Day (April), Free 10-Minute Lesson Day (May), Women's Golf Day (June), Family Golf Day (July), and Patriot Golf Day (August/September). In our effort to provide the best possible events, we will be looking for Golf Professionals to assist in regards to their facilities and time.

April is Free Fitting and Trade Up Month, and as many of you are beginning to plan for an event at your facility, the committee would like to offer some Best

Practices that can help increase your club fitting, club sales, club repair, and merchandise revenue. Please take a minute to review your current offerings and discover how a little change can make a big impact. Click HERE to view Best Practices and to register your facility.

On the Foundation side of our Growth of the Game efforts, the number of schools who have opened their doors to local Professionals teaching In-School and After-School Programs has increased. We currently have programs in Alton, Fulton, Pierremont, Bellerive, Innovative Concepts, and Lutheran Schools. Through the help of our part-ners and PGA Professionals, we would love to see golf taught in every school across the Section.

Additionally, as part of its goal to find creative ways to grow our game, the Foundation will be providing multiple Family Golf opportunities and activities at the Junior Tour events this year. So far, seven tournaments have been identified as Family Golf - Growth of the Game events where participants and spectators can try their hand at SNAG Golf, Birdieball Golfzilla, putt-putt obstacle courses, and other fun golf activities.

Growth of the Game does not only apply to Golf Instructors; it can benefit us all if we make a collaborative effort. I urge you to read the Golf 2.0 Playbook and think about how you can get involved at your facility or with the Sec-tion and Foundation. Play Golf America, Get Golf Ready, and the PGA Sports Academy are excellent resources to help you increase your business and build a solid foundation for turning new golfers into core golfers. Together, our efforts will benefit your facilities, your membership, and your bottom line!

If you would like to be a part of the Growth of the Game committee, I welcome you to participate! This is, and will continue to be, an open Committee. Anyone who would like to share ideas and participate is encouraged to attend our meetings and events. Please contact myself or Ali Wells for more information.

Rob Sedorcek, PGA

Rules Corner

Most of us will be holding match play events at our clubs this year. Before we all get into the busy season now would be a good time to look at The Rules of Golf for match play. In stroke play the entire field has an interest in a competitors play. In match play only the player and the opponent have an interest. This principle is reflected in The Rules of Golf. First look at the first four sections of Rule 2 Match Play. These rules lay out a basic defini-tion of match play. Rule 2-4 introduces concessions which are unique to match play. The concession of a match, hole or stroke is permitted. The concession may not be declined or withdrawn.

Rule 33 outlines The Committee's responsibility. Rule 33-1 tells us the rules regarding stroke play and match play are so different the two forms of play cannot be combined. Obviously, concessions are not permitted in stroke play. Let’s look at some other differences. In stoke play if a player starts a hole from outside the teeing ground or from a wrong teeing ground there is a two stroke penalty and the error must be corrected. In match play there is no penalty but the opponent can recall the shot and require the player to replay from the teeing ground. This is covered in Rules 11-4 and 11-5.

Jesse Barge, PGA

Master Professional

...Continued on page 4

Assistants Corner

Rules Corner continued…

In match play if a player plays when it was his opponent's turn the opponent, again, can cancel the stroke and

require the player to play in the proper order. In stroke play there is no penalty for playing out of turn (provided it

was not done intentionally to give a competitor an advantage) and the ball is played as it lies. See Rule 10-1.

In stroke play if a players’ ball is stopped by a competitor, his caddie, or his equipment there is no penalty and the

ball is played as it lies. In match play if the ball is stopped or deflected by the opponent, his caddie or his equip-

ment the player can play the ball as it lies or cancel and replay the stroke. See Rule 19-3.

When setting up the brackets for a match play tournament be sure to look at Rule 33-3. This gives the committee

guidance in establishing tee times. This rule will help when matches must be played on or before a certain date.

Finally, be sure to become very familiar with Rule 2-5. This will tell you how to handle claims and disputes. If the

players come to you for a ruling after a hole has been completed or after the match has been played you cannot

make a ruling unless a proper and timely claim has been made. Also, remember a player cannot play a second ball

in match if he is in doubt as to the proper procedure. A second ball can only be played under Rule 3-3 in stroke

play.

I hope this will help you prepare for match play events at your club. You might want to do an informal cracker

barrel session with your members and players prior to the start of a match play championship. Demonstrating

that you, the PGA Professional, are the rules expert at your club can only increase your value to your members

and your employer.

Happy Spring!!!! Ok so maybe it has been around for a while now. I do have some important in-formation to pass on this month to all you PGM 2.0 apprentices. It has come to my attention that the waiting period for attending a Level 1 Checkpoint is now about 4 to 5 months out. This may put a hinder on some of you in your advancement through the PGM program in a timely manner, so please call 1-800-4PGAPRO and register sooner than later. We would also like to welcome our newest committee member RJ Villafuerte, PGA from Meadow-brook Country Club and our Board Liaison Gideon Smith, PGA from Quincy Country Club. Assistants Championship site has been selected!! The site for this year’s event will be Westwood Country Club.

Raffle tickets are coming back!!! Your 2012 Assistants Committee has decided to bring back the selling of raffle tickets to help you offset the entry fee of the Assistants Championship. Continue to be on the look out here for more news in the coming months about where to get your raffle tickets and extra incentives your committee is working on. SAVE THE DATE!!! Our first event of the year will be the Assistants Pro-Am hosted by WingHaven Country Club in O’Fallon, MO on Monday, April 23rd. More information about this event will be posted here in the coming months. Feel free to contact any one of your committee members with any questions or concerns you might have.

by Ty Zimmerman

Your 2012 Assistant’s Committee Members are:

Ty Zimmerman, PGA Chairman Westwood Country Club

Michael Leotta, PGA Vice-Chairman Illini Country Club

Trey Strong, PGA Secretary Persimmon Woods Golf Club

Brandon Coffey, PGA Forest Hills Country Club

Kevin Stull, PGA The Club at Old Hawthorne

Brian Laur, PGA Crab Orchard Golf Club

Andrew Jury WingHaven Country Club

George Schrage Quincy Country Club

RJ Villafuerte, PGA Meadowbrook Country Club

Fitness

Brought To You by Optimal Lifestyles, Inc.

Techniques/Strategies for Optimal Health and Fitness

Email: barb@optimallifestylesinc.com Website: www.optimallifestylesinc.com

Or phone: 314-984-0592

Prepare for Golf Season: Proper Tune-Up Tips

With golf season just around the bend, it’s time to prepare for the rigors and challenges that lie ahead on the

greens. Physical conditioning is important, but you’ll also need to do equipment checks and jump-start your men-

tal fitness.

Following are some tips to help you utilize this spring weather and put the welcome mat out for golf season:

Start by dusting off your clubs and cleaning last season’s grass stains off your shoes – this will help put you in

“golf” frame of mind. While you’re at it, fill your bag pockets with tees and fresh golf balls, tossing out last

year’s broken tees, loose snack wrappers and torn scorecards.

As a daily routine – or as often as possible – warm up by taking some swings and stretching with a golf club in

hand. Start at 40 or 50 percent and increase the swing as you loosen up. Remember to swing in both direc-tions to balance out the body.

Visualize playing golf … and playing it well! Make a point to “see” the ball as it finds the sweet spot. You can

practice this throughout the day – at your desk, on lunch break or while you’re mulching that new garden bed.

Begin a mini-conditioning program by walking three times a week. Fit in some daily flexibility. Strengthen your

legs with squats and your torso by doing planks on your elbows a couple of times a week. Now is good time to

select a fitness coach to keep you motivated and help you exercise properly.

Get into the game mentally by reading a book like Extraordinary Golf: The Art of the Possible, by Fred Shoe-

maker that can take an ordinary game of golf and make it extraordinary for you. Also, talk with your golf pro-

fessional and integrate what you learn!

Pace yourself in the beginning of the season especially if you are pressed for time. You don’t need to play 18

holes to start: play nine, or even three holes. Work your way gently into this new golf season.

With a little spring preparation and forethought about the upcoming golf season, you’ll be swinging your clubs like

a pro! Contact Optimal Lifestyles, Inc., 314-984-0592, for help in getting your body and mind in shape for golf.

Optimal Lifestyles, Inc is a health and fitness consulting company and fitness education sponsor for the Gateway PGA. Optimal Lifestyles, Inc. provides personal training, golf fitness and yoga for golfers. The information provided by Optimal Lifestyles is for educational purposes and should not replace care or advice of a physician. Please check with a physician if you are starting an exercise program or suspect you are ill.

April: PGA Free Fitting & Trade-Up Month

May: Welcome to Golf Month

June: TEE IT FORWARD

July: Family Golf Month

July 9-15: Take Your Daughter to the Course Week

Aug 31 - Sept 3: Patriot Golf Day

Tournament Updates

2012 Spring Business Meeting Monday, March 26th, 2012

Norwood Hills CC

7:30 am Registration 8:30 am - 10:20 am Spring Meeting 10:20 am - 12 Noon Breakout Sessions 12:00 pm Lunch REMINDER-- All Gateway Members & Apprentic-es who wish to participate in the 2012 Tourna-ment Program must attend this meeting or have attended the 2011 Fall Business Meeting. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR MEETING

2012 Quad-Pro Event Monday, March 26th, 2012

Norwood Hills CC

1:00 pm Shotgun Start Teams of 4 Gateway Pros play the West Course. Half of team will scramble the first nine, while the other 2 players play 4-Ball. The team will switch formats for the other nine. Both scores are added together on each hole for the team score. Pro Purse and Skins. Team restrictions are posted on Info Page. PGA eligibilty requirement is waived for this event. Entry fee is $80 per player, $320 per team. CLICK HERE FOR INFO & REGISTRATION

...Continued on page 7

Tournament Updates continued…

Callaway Golf Lake of the Ozarks Spring Classic Monday-Tuesday, April 9 & 10th, 2012

Osage National Golf Resort

Teams: 2-person teams comprised of PGA Professionals and/or Amatuers

One team member must be a Member or Apprentice, in good standing, from the Gateway, Midwest, South Central, Iowa, or Kentucky, sections of the PGA. Other team member may be another PGA Pro-fessional or Apprentice or Amateur.

Format: 27 Holes each day. Each nine will feature a different format, Shamble, Best Ball, & Green-some.

Entry Fee: $200 each player/ $400 per team includes golf, overall purse, skins each day, dinner fol-lowing Mondays' round, and breakfast each day prior to golf.

Payout: Prize money will be distributed for the overall (54 holes) top finishers. Also, there will be prize money awarded to the top finishers in each formats nine hole totals. Skins will be separated by round each day.

Calcutta: The field will be split into 3 flights based on Mondays' first round scores. Teams will be auc-tioned at the dinner Monday evening. Calcutta payout will pay the top third in each flight and only Tuesdays' 2nd round will be counted towards the Calcutta.

CLICK HERE FOR INFO & REGISTRATION

2012 Central MO Classic Jefferson City CC

April 16th, 2012 Kicking off the 2012 Player of the Year points race, Jefferson City CC will host the Central MO Classic on Monday, April 16th. The first individ-ual stroke play event of the year is always a fa-vorite of Gateway PGA players and this year will be no exception as we expect a great turnout for our first points event of the season.

Entry Fee: $80 Regular Division & $70 Senior Division Includes Skins. Optional Pools available.

CLICK HERE FOR INFO & REGISTRATION

Assistants Pro-Am Winhhaven CC

April 23rd, 2012 The first Pro-Am on the Gateway PGA calendar for 2012 is the annual Assistants Pro-Am at Winghaven CC on Monday, April 23rd. Event is open to eligible Gateway Section Members & Ap-

prentices. Proceeds from the event will help the Assistants Committee with their Championship on September 4th at Westwood CC.

Entry Fee $125 per Am / $375 per team. Includes Lunch, Awards, & Appetizers following play. Silent Auction

Format - Shamble with 75% handicap for Ams. Optional Cash Game for Professionals.

10:30 am - 12:30 pm Demo Day 12 Noon - 1:00 pm Lunch 1:00 pm Shotgun Start 5:30 pm Appetizers & Awards

CLICK HERE FOR INFO & REGISTRATION

Newly Elected Members

Name Class Election Date Facility

Ryan T. Steinhoff, PGA A-8 March 16, 2012 Westwood Country Club

Renato B. Villafuerte, PGA A-8 February 14, 2012 Meadowbrook Country Club

New Apprentices

Name Class Registration Date Facility

Thomas E Beavers B-8 March 12, 2012 Sunset Hills Country Club

Dustin M Lane B-8 January 24, 2012 Perche Creek Golf Club

Half Century

Name Date of Award

Bob Golby, PGA February 29, 2012

March Birthdays

Date Name

3/1 William C. Scarborough, PGA

3/1 Bentley A Mundle

3/3 Douglas R. Warden, PGA

3/4 Scott M Kunz

3/5 James G. Miali, PGA

3/6 Mark S. Ryan, PGA

3/9 Terry Clark, PGA

3/10 Michael R. Wukitsch

3/11 Christian J. Nava, PGA

3/12 Zackary D. Potts, PGA

3/14 John D Prange, PGA

3/14 Bob Goalby, PGA

3/14 Brandon L. Coffey, PGA

3/15 Bradley J. Benney, PGA

3/16 Mark S. Waltman, PGA

3/16 Benjamin E. Biersner, PGA

3/17 Mark A. Morfey, PGA

Date Name

3/17 Christopher M Liszewski

3/19 Ryan E. Martin, PGA

3/19 Matthew R. Hass

3/20 David Levine, PGA

3/21 Mike R. Miller, PGA

3/21 M. Todd Miller, PGA

3/22 Steven Liter, PGA

3/22 Richard L Niedergerke

3/22 Wayne M. Ockovic, PGA

3/23 Brad Hulett, PGA

3/25 Kevin J. Triefenbach, PGA

3/25 James D. Cochran, PGA

3/26 Brian Stitch, PGA

3/26 Jason A. Woods, PGA

3/27 Josh A. Crowell, PGA

3/30 Richard Shaiper, PGA

3/30 Larry W. Emery, PGA