Year: 2019

PGA REACH Philadelphia’s Annual Charity Hockey Game

December 19, 2019Comments Off on PGA REACH Philadelphia’s Annual Charity Hockey GameUncategorized
Help support PGA REACH Philadelphia by attending the Philadelphia Flyers/Devils  Game on February 6th. The tickets are in the lower level ($80 per ticket) and they are all located together in two lower level sections.

Before the game the Philadelphia PGA and the New Jersey PGA will hold their annual charity hockey game on the ice at the Wells Fargo Center. A team of PGA Professionals from the New Jersey Section will compete against our PGA peers from the Philadelphia Section. The game will begin at 12:45PM at the Wells Fargo Center on the Flyers Ice. If there are any questions please contact the Section office for more information.

For every ticket purchased, that person will get a voucher to pick their Gritty Driver head cover up at the game that night and $5 on every ticket sold will go back to PGA REACH Philadelphia.

WHEN: February 6th, 2020
WHERE: Wells Fargo Center
TIME: 7PM Flyers Game | 12:45PM-2:15PM Charity Game

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Jeff Kiddie, PGA Elected 43rd President of the Philadelphia PGA

December 13, 2019Comments Off on Jeff Kiddie, PGA Elected 43rd President of the Philadelphia PGALocal News, PPGA

Lower Gwynedd Township, PA., November 14, 2019 … The Philadelphia Section, PGA of America, has announced that Jeff Kiddie, PGA Head Golf Professional at Aronimink Golf Club in Newton Square, PA, site of the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the 2026 PGA Championship, has been elected the Section’s 43rd President.

 

Kiddie, a 19-year Philadelphia PGA Member ascends to the position of president after serving in numerous leadership positions during the past decade, including Section Vice President, Secretary, District Director and Director of Section Affairs and Member of the PGA of America Rules Committee, among others. A decorated PGA Professional, Kiddie has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including: 2016 Philadelphia Section Horton Smith Award; 2011 PGA National Merchandiser of the Year – Private Facilities; 2011 Philadelphia Section Golf Professional of the Year; and Philadelphia Section Merchandiser of the Year – Private Facilities, in ‘07 & ‘10.

 

Kiddie, a resident of West Chester, PA, succeeds John Rogers, PGA (Chambersburg, PA) as Section President. He was sworn into office at the Philadelphia PGA’s Fall Meeting along with several new officers and board members, including: Vice President – Patrick Shine, PGA – Commonwealth National GC; Secretary – Chip Richter, PGA – Carlisle CC;  Director of Tournaments – Eric Kennedy, PGA – Overbrook GC;  Director of Section Affairs – Bob Hennefer, PGA – Indian Spring CC; District 6 Director – Gerry Davos, PGA – Flourtown CC; District 6 Director – Dean Kandle, PGA – St Davids GC; District 2 Director – Anthony Malizia, PGA – Bidermann GC; and District 4 Director – Dustin McCormick, PGA – Glen Brook CC.

“It is with tremendous pride that I serve as President of the Philadelphia PGA Section, and I thank outgoing president, and our new honorary president, John Rogers for his unwavering dedication to the game and business of golf,” said Kiddie. “Along with my fellow officers, Patrick Shine and Chip Richter, we will continue to serve our fellow PGA Professionals with a laser focus on providing the tools and resources necessary to continue driving the game forward for golfers at all levels.”

PGA Professionals at Lookaway Golf Club Drive Golf Marathon Fundraising

December 9, 2019Comments Off on PGA Professionals at Lookaway Golf Club Drive Golf Marathon FundraisingPGA REACH Philadelphia, Uncategorized

The Philadelphia Section PGA’s Golf Marathon 100 Hole Challenge was established by PGA Professionals in the Philadelphia Section to raise money for PGA REACH Philadelphia. In 2019, the Marathon coincided with October’s “Month of Giving” Campaign and participating PGA Professionals, and all other willing supporters, played 100 holes of golf in 1 day, with 1 ball, 1 hole at a time. 

Leading the way in support of the “Month of Giving” were Mike Little and Laura Schiavo, PGA Assistant Golf Professionals at Lookaway Golf Club in Buckingham, PA. Backed by tremendous pledge support from club members and friends, Mike and Laura not only generated substantial donations, but led the entire Philadelphia PGA Section, raising near $23,000 for their one-day marathon round. Little, the 2016 OMEGA Player of the Year of the Philadelphia Section PGA, previously served as the Golf101 instructor for Temple University’s Kinesiology Department from 2009 to 2014 where he introduced over 500 college students to the game of golf.  Schiavo, a graduate of West Chester University with a Bachelor’s Degree in secondary education, is currently in the process of becoming a Class A PGA Professional. Prior to Lookaway, she worked for five years at Golf Galaxy focusing on merchandising, club fitting and golf club repair.  

Complementing the efforts of Mike and Laura at Lookaway Golf Club was club member Scott Hutchinson, who donated $7,600 to the foundation on behalf of the PAO (Philadelphia Assistants Organization) Tour Championship Event. Scott pledged $100 per birdie and $300 per eagle made during the PAO Tour Championship event, which took place on Oct. 14th, 2019 at Lehigh Country Club. In total, there were 70 birdies and 2 eagles made that day, which accounted for the $7,600 donation. ”It is better to give more than you receive,”Scott stated when asked about his support. Scott has been a big supporter of the PAO, as well as the PGA REACH Philadelphia.

Among the other top fundraisers who helped generate more than $44,000 from the Golf Marathon, were Alec Brown and Eric Keeler ($6,300), PGA Professionals from Gulph Mills Golf Club in King of Prussia, PA, and Dean Kandle ($5,050), PGA Professional from St. David’s Golf Club in Wayne, PA. PGA REACH Philadelphia thanks everyone who participated in the Golf Marathon this year.

43rd National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship

November 12, 2019Comments Off on 43rd National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional ChampionshipUncategorized

(From L to R) – Best of luck to Rusty Harbold – Philadelphia Cricket Club, Michael Little – Lookaway GC, Trevor Bensel – Overbrook GC, Chris Filling – Seaview GC and Michael Furey – Saucon Valley CC at the 43rd National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship on Thursday-Sunday, November 14-17, 2019 being held at PGA Golf Club – Wanamaker course.

PGA REACH Philadelphia Receives $5,000 Grant From Golf Galaxy In Support of Youth Golf Programming

November 8, 2019Comments Off on PGA REACH Philadelphia Receives $5,000 Grant From Golf Galaxy In Support of Youth Golf ProgrammingUncategorized

Lower Gwynedd Township, PA., October 31, 2019 … PGA REACH Philadelphia, the charitable arm of the Philadelphia Section PGA (PPGA), has received a grant for $5,000 from Golf Galaxy in support of their youth programming.  A check was made to PGA REACH Philadelphia during the PPGA’s Annual Fall Meeting by PGA Members Ryan Carfara and Leigh Taylor, who operate the Golf Galaxy store in Devon, PA.

The donation from Golf Galaxy is part of DICK’S Sporting Goods’ Sports Matter Community Grants Program, which was established in 2018 and has pledged $2.5 million to provide meaningful grants to support youth sports teams, leagues, and programs in local communities throughout the country.  Each DICK’S and Golf Galaxy store may choose a worthy organization that supports youth sports programs, specifically those participants that lack financial means.

“As PGA Professionals and members of the Philadelphia PGA Section, Leigh Taylor and I have chosen to gift the PGA REACH Philadelphia Foundation a $5,000 grant to support its youth golf programs,” said Ryan Carfara, PGA, Store Manager, Golf Galaxy – Devon. “PGA Jr. League is the flagship youth pillar program of PGA REACH, with the goal of making the program accessible to all interested kids in the United States and around the world. We see this as a great opportunity to support young golfers in our local communities through an organization that is near and dear to our hearts.”

“We greatly appreciate the support from Golf Galaxy and DICK’S Sporting Goods’ Sports Matter Community Grants Program, and their generous donation will provide support for our youth programming, “ said Leila Mackie, Foundation Director, PGA REACH Philadelphia. “PGA Jr. League, along with the Golf in Schools Program, and the Diversity Scholarship are all apart of PGA REACH Philadelphia’s youth pillar that serves local communities by providing programs that support positive life/skill development and opportunities for youth to learn and play the game.”

PGA REACH Philadelphia was founded in 2018 to positively impact lives through the game of golf.  The foundation is operated under the guidance of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s 880 PGA Professionals and Assistants located in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey (Trenton – south), Delaware and parts of Northern Maryland, who are at the forefront of golf programming that grows the game of golf at more than 400 public and private golf facilities.

PGA REACH Philadelphia’s mission is to grow the game by providing financial assistance, instruction, instructional materials, mentoring, equipment and scholarships to individuals and organizations throughout the region.

For more information on PGA REACH Philadelphia, visit:  https://www.pgareach.org/philadelphia

PGA Specialized Program Teaching & Coaching: Blue Bell CC

November 6, 2019Comments Off on PGA Specialized Program Teaching & Coaching: Blue Bell CCUncategorized

The PGA of America’s Education Team is offering Philadelphia PGA Professionals a unique opportunity to complete the course work required for Teaching & Coaching Specialization in a dynamic group learning environment. The 2 Day Section Workshop consists of covering the coursework supporting the PGA Career Track Focused Learning Strategy on Teaching & Coaching. The Specialization Program is designed to complete many of the required courses for this career path. This is an instructor‐led opportunity delivered by PGA of America’s Education Faculty.

Key Learning Objectives
Teaching & Coaching:

  • Enhance your teaching and coaching skills
  • Learn and apply skills to successfully manage a golf teaching business
  • Learn the design features of player development programs

Going through this process will also give you access to the complete library for an entire year. You will be able to complete additional specialized career paths online or just attain MSR credits as you use the Library.

Cost for Specialized Seminar:

  • $350 ‐ Includes One‐year library subscription – Register Now
  • $80 – Facility Fee (Covers Breakfast and lunch for both days) Register Now
  • $100 ‐ Project fee (Paid online at the time of project proposal submission)

Steps to Become Specialized:
STEP 1: Complete the 30 Required courses within your career path selection More Information.
STEP 2: Complete 10 Self-Selected (elective) courses from the PGA Course Library with over 100 course choices
STEP 3: Complete the Specialized Capstone ($100 fee to unlock access)
o Submit a Project Proposal and Project
o Complete Professional Development Mentoring

Overbrook’s Ashley Grier Set to Compete at Inaugural Women’s PGA Cup

October 24, 2019Comments Off on Overbrook’s Ashley Grier Set to Compete at Inaugural Women’s PGA CupUncategorized

 

The international showcase event features women PGA Members from Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, Sweden and the United States composed of five-player teams. They will compete on the Fazio Foothills Course in a 54-hole, stroke-play event with each team’s lowest three scores counted after each round. The winning country will be the team with the lowest 54-hole aggregate total.

Overbrook’s Ashley Grier is part of the inaugural team and will play in the event’s second grouping set to begin at 8:50 – Tee Times

Follow along with Live Scoring