Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (October 8, 2024) — The Philadelphia PGA Section and its 501(c)(3) charitable organization, PGA of America REACH Foundation Philadelphia, is proud to announce a partnership with the Wilson Smith Golf League (WSGL), a golf-centric organization supporting recovery from Alcohol and/or Substance Use Disorder (AUD/SUD).

PGA REACH Philadelphia’s mission of impacting lives through the game of golf presents a synergy with the WSGL, as its primary function is to support recovery from alcohol and/or substance addiction through community and fellowship by coordinating services, communication, education, and information into a national network of sober golf leagues.

“It is rewarding to work with the Wilson Smith Golf League to help improve the lives of golfers in our Section,” said Philadelphia PGA Executive Director Geoff Surrette, PGA. “It’s also an honor to have the WSGL put their trust in us in helping achieve their mission to support and promote addiction recovery through the structured participation in golf.”

As part of the agreement, the Section’s nearly 900 PGA of America Golf Professionals will act as ambassadors to connect interested golfers at their respective facilities to the WSGL. With the creation of this alliance, WSGL members and their families will improve their health and wellness while increasing their ability to stay clean and sober.

“As we enter our 25th season, the WSGL is excited to partner with the Philadelphia PGA Section and PGA REACH Philadelphia to extend awareness of our organization,” says WSGL’s Peter H. “Our mission dovetails with PGA REACH Philadelphia’s pursuits, and this alliance will bring new awareness of our organization to thousands of golfers throughout the Delaware Valley.”

The Section, foundation, and WSGL will begin their work immediately, with a formal presentation coming during the Section’s annual Fall Membership Meeting at Medford Village Country Club on October 28. PGA of America Golf Professionals are welcome to download, print, and display WSGL collateral by clicking here.

To learn more, and to apply for WSGL membership, visit wilsonsmithgolf.org.

About the Wilson-Smith Golf League
The Wilson-Smith Golf League promotes addiction recovery through community and fellowship by coordinating services, communication, education, and information into a network of sober golf leagues.   The goal of The Wilson-Smith Golf League is to create other WSGL chapters across the country to assist persons afflicted with Alcohol/Substance Use Disorder and their families.

About PGA REACH Philadelphia 
PGA of America REACH Foundation Philadelphia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 as the charitable arm of the Philadelphia PGA Section, one of the 41 Sections within the PGA of America. PGA REACH Philadelphia is committed to serving our communities and growing the game of golf through our three pillars: Youth, Military, and Diversity.

For more information on PGA REACH Philadelphia and its mission to positively impact lives through golf, visit pgareachphiladelphia.com. To donate to PGA REACH Philadelphia, please click here.

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 of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

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

The Philadelphia PGA Section, in coordination with our Education Committee, is happy to introduce a monthly Golf Operations Group virtual discussion series. The series is designed to stimulate conversations and the sharing of golf operations and general management best practices among our PGA of America Golf Professionals.

The series is slated to begin on Thursday, October 17 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, with 2024 PGA of America Bill Strausbaugh Award recipient and Philadelphia Cricket Club PGA Director of Golf Jim Smith Jr. leading the first session.

The hour-long Golf Operations Group sessions will be held monthly:

• Thursday, October 17 at 9:00 a.m.
• Wednesday, November 20 at 9:00 a.m.
• Wednesday, December 18 at 9:00 a.m.
• Wednesday, January 15 at 9:00 a.m.
• Wednesday, February 19 at 9:00 a.m.
• Wednesday, March 19 at 9:00 a.m.

While the sessions are geared toward full-time PGA general managers and PGA directors of golf, they are open to PGA Professionals of any classification. Each session will have a discussion leader to help moderate the conversations, while some sessions may include guest speakers.

To register for the first session, and subsequent dates, click on the below button.