As you are probably aware, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida last week, and devastated many parts of the state, including in both the North Florida and South Florida PGA Sections. Thankfully, both Section’s staff and their families remain safe, aside from just a few minor inconveniences, and both offices survived the storm, and are open. However, many PGA Professionals, their families, and facilities, were not as lucky, and there are ways you may help those affected by the storm:

1. Donate to an organization or relief fund you know and trust
2. Contribute to the PGA Medical and Disaster Relief Fund
3. Purchase and send gift cards to the North and South Florida Sections

The Philadelphia PGA Section’s Nominating Committee has announced its 2022 Slate of Nominees for open District Director positions in Districts 2, 4, and 6. The election is scheduled to take place at our Fall Membership Meeting at White Manor Country Club on October 31. The committee has put forth the following slate of endorsed candidates:

DISTRICT 2 
Michael Caldwell, PGA
DuPont Country Club
Endorsed Candidate

Michael Caldwell is currently the PGA Head Professional at DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Del. In the last 12 years since returning to the Philadelphia PGA Section, Caldwell has worked for Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., 2010-2016; Bidermann Golf Club in Wilmington, Del., 2017-2019; and DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Del., 2020-present. Caldwell says his activity level within the Section allows him to stay connected with other PGA Professionals, which offers the chance to talk about and learn what others are going through in their respective roles.  Caldwell remains an active participant in the Section’s tournament program, in addition to attending meetings, and other gatherings / events whenever possible. Caldwell has worked to expand his knowledge of the golf business by looking for continuous education opportunities, including Rules of Golf seminars and completing the PGA of America’s Certified Professional program, specializing in Golf Operations, in 2018. For the last three years, he has served on the Section’s Junior Golf Committee, which has given him the chance to start the process of giving back to the game that has given him so much in his lifetime. Caldwell says that he would like to continue that service in a larger capacity as the District 2 Director. 

DISTRICT 4 
Mike Molino, PGA
Country Club of Scranton
Endorsed Candidate 

Mike Molino has been a Class A PGA Professional since 2002, but Molino says that his love for the game began at White Deer Golf Course in Montgomery, Pa., where he was taught the game, and business, by John Kulhamer, PGA. Molino graduated from the University of Charleston in West Virginia in 1991, and has since spent time working as a PGA Assistant Professional at Glen Oak Country Club in Clarks Summit, Pa., 1993; and Huntsville Golf Club in Dallas, Pa., 1995-2003; before accepting the PGA Head Professional position at Huntsville in 2004, a role he served in through 2012. Molino then served as a PGA Professional at Dick’s Sporting Goods in 2013, then moved to his current facility, the Country Club of Scranton in Clarks Summit, Pa., as a PGA Assistant Professional in 2014, before taking the PGA Head Professional job in 2015. Molino is the Section’s current District 4 Director.

DISTRICT 6 
Scott Chisholm, PGA
Rolling Green Golf Club
Endorsed Candidate

Scott Chisholm is finishing his fifth season as PGA Head Professional at Rolling Green Golf Club, and is prepared to dedicate his time to continue the strong tradition of our Section. During his tenure in the New Jersey PGA Section, he held the following positions: Section Board of Directors, 2016-2017; Section Assistants’ Association President, 2015; Section Education Committee member, 2013-2015; and Section Assistants’ Committee member, 2013-2015. He has been fortunate to be recognized by various organizations for professional achievements, including: New Jersey PGA Player Development Award recipient, 2017; Golf Digest Best Young Teachers, 2016-2022; Golf Digest Best Teachers in State, 2016-2020; New Jersey PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year finalist, 2016-2017; New Jersey PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year finalist, 2014-2016; and the New Jersey PGA Professional Development Award finalist, 2014. Chisholm thanks you in advance for your support of his candidacy for District 6 Director; he hopes to have the privilege to serve you, his fellow PGA Members.

DISTRICT 6 
Tom Gilbert, PGA
Gulph Mills Golf Club
Endorsed Candidate

Tom has been the PGA Head Professional at Gulph Mills Golf Club in King of Prussia, Pa., for the past 19 seasons. He routinely participates in the Section’s tournament program, educational opportunities, and served a short time on the Section’s Tournament and Nominating committees. During his tenure, he has mentored several PGA assistant professionals and PGA Golf Management interns. Over this period, Tom has been extremely proud to have placed six assistants into their own PGA head professional positions. He believes strongly in helping those that dedicate their lives to Gulph Mills, and is willing to do whatever it takes to assist them in reaching their career goals. This dedication was recognized by the Philadelphia PGA Section in 2017 when Tom was awarded the Section’s Bill Strausbaugh Award. He was also recognized in 2016 as a Section Merchandiser of the Year in the Private Category. Tom is married to his wife Elena, and they have two children, Jack, 10; and Victoria, 7. Together they make every effort to spend as much time as possible with their kids, while still maintaining a balance at work. Tom developed a passion for instruction while teaching snow skiing for 10 years in Massachusetts and Vermont, and is an avid fly fisherman.

DISTRICT6 
Jon Arthur, PGA
Radley Run Country Club
At-Large Candidate

Jon Arthur is completing his third season as the PGA Head Professional at Radley Run Country Club in West Chester, Pa., since moving back to the Section in 2019. After a year as a sales representative for Stitch Golf, he was able to familiarize himself with the area and many of you in District 6. Now that he am back on the green grass side and settled in, he says that he is excited to become more involved in the Section and represent his fellow PGA Professionals. In his 13 years working in the South Florida PGA Section, he held many roles at the Chapter and Section levels, including serving as a member on the South Florida PGA Tournament, and Awards committees, and as co-chair of the Section’s Education Committee. He is also a member of PGA Magazine‘s Ambassador Program, and has extensive experience in working with PGA Professionals in collaboration and resource sharing. He believes there are great benefits of the Section and its PGA Professionals working together to create the best possible product for everyone involved. Additional training, Certifications and accolades: Certified PGA Professional in Golf Operations, and General Management; Sandler Online Sales Training; 2018 South Florida PGA Golf Professional of the Year nominee; 2016 South Florida PGA Player Development Award finalist; 2011 South Florida PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year; 2010 South Florida PGA Southeast Chapter Assistant Golf Professional of the Year; TPI Level 1 Certified golf instructor, 2010; and 2002 Penn State PGM Player of the Year. Professional involvements: PGA Magazine Ambassador Program; Golf Business Network; former South Florida PGA Southeast Chapter Awards Committee member; former South Florida PGA Southeast Chapter Education Committee co-chair; member of the South Florida PGA and Southeast Chapter Tournament committees; South Florida CMAAmember, 2016-2018; and PGA Member since 2008.

About the Philadelphia PGA Section
The Philadelphia PGA Section, covering eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, is one of 41 geographical managing entities of the PGA of America. This Section manages nearly 900 PGA Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com