(Blue Bell, PA) - Nearly 300 members of the Philadelphia Section PGA attended this year’s fall meeting on Monday, October 24, 2011. The meeting was held at Blue Bell Country Club, and was followed by an afternoon alternate-shot team event sponsored by Golf Cart Services, Inc.
Bob Baldassari, the Senior Director of Player Development, spoke on PGA of America’s new Golf 2.0 initiative to grow the next generation of golfers. The industry-wide initiative focuses on using all key stakeholders to strengthen core golfers, re-engage lapsed players and attract new players. Baldassari gave the PGA Professionals action plans they can put into place at their own facilities immediately, and also gave an overview of future plans for the program.
Tournament award recipients were recognized by Executive Director Geoffrey Surrette. Graham Dendler won Comeback Player of the Year, while Hugh Reilly won the Ike Turner – Most Improved Player Award.
With a scoring average of 71.31, Scott Hunter took third place for the DeBaufre Scoring Average. In second place, with a 71.27 scoring average, was David Quinn. Stu Ingraham earned the title of DeBaufre Scoring Average Champion with an average of 70.20 for the sixth time in his playing career.
Final standings for the Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year have George Forster in third place, and Bill Sautter in second place. For the Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year, Mark Sheftic earned third place, while David Quinn ended up in second place. Sweeping the year-end awards, Stu Ingraham was named both the Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year and the Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year.
All of the Section’s year-end awards were sponsored by Golf Cars Incorporated and Club Car.
Officers were elected to serve the Philadelphia Section for 2012-2013. All were elected by acclamation, and stand as follows:
District 1 Director: Rick Hughart, PGA – Tavistock CC
District 2 Director: Jim Larkin, PGA – Fieldstone GC
District 3 Director: Rick Gibson, PGA – Lancaster CC
District 4 Director: Tom Katancik, PGA – Toftrees Resort
District 5 Director: Eric Shillinger, PGA – Moselem Springs GC
District 6 Directors: Dave McNabb, PGA – Applebrook GC & Patrick Shine, PGA – Commonwealth National GC
Director of Tournaments: Mike Moses, PGA – Concord CC
Director of Section Affairs: John Rogers, PGA – Majestic Ridge CC
Secretary: Ian Dalzell, PGA – Huntingdon Valley CC
Vice President: John Pillar, PGA – Country Club at Woodloch Springs
President: Dan Haskell, PGA – Medford Lakes CC
The Philadelphia Section PGA is excited to welcome Dan Haskell as the new President. Haskell has served the Section for the past eight years as both an officer and District Director. Beginning in 2004, Haskell filled the position of District 1 Director before moving through the various offices of the Executive Committee, including Director of Section Affairs (’06-‘07), Secretary (’08-‘09), and most recently Vice President (‘10-‘11). As President, Haskell will guide the Executive Committee for the next two years, making decisions on how to best serve the Section’s PGA Professionals as well as growing the Section’s Junior Tour and sponsorships.
Jeffrey Haas and Jeffrey Kiddie were recognized for their service to the section, as they ended their terms as District 6 Directors. The Section also recognized outgoing President, Mr. Mark Anderson for his outstanding dedication to the Section during his time as an officer. As a parting gift, Anderson was presented with a watch from Section partner Oakley.
The Section also inducted Mr. Jay Weitzel as the 32nd member of the Philadelphia Section PGA Hall of Fame. Weitzel served as the longtime Head Golf Professional (’57-’89) and Director of Golf (’89-’94) at Hershey Country Club in Hershey, PA. Under his guidance, Hershey Country Club saw tremendous growth including the development of a second 18-hole golf course, now known as the East Course, and the construction of a brand new clubhouse to better serve both the membership and resort guests of Hershey Country Club. Weitzel was also an outstanding tournament player throughout his career. As a junior in 1948, Weitzel won the PIAA Boys Golf Championship. Weitzel was also a two-time winner of the Central Counties Chapter Championship as well as a participant in the 1960-61 PGA Championship and US Open.
Finally, as a sponsor of the Philadelphia PGA’s 90th Anniversary Celebration, Nike Golf invited Sean Foley to be the keynote speaker for the event. Working with PGA Tour professionals including Tiger Woods, Justin Rose, Stephen Ames & Hunter Mahan, Foley has developed a reputation as one of the hottest names in golf instruction. At the Fall Meeting, Foley described his evaluation of the golf swing as very scientific. He incorporates biomechanics, physics, philosophy, and geometry in his teaching. Foley challenged Philadelphia Section PGA Professionals to continually work to improve their knowledge of golf swing mechanics. After the initial address, Foley hosted an additional question and answer session where section professionals had the chance to engage in dialogue regarding teaching styles and golf swing philosophies. |
