May is designated as both Skin Cancer Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Philadelphia PGA Section encourages our PGA Professionals to review the information listed and hyperlinked below to help ensure a healthy lifestyle.

Skin Cancer Awareness Month: With over five million cases diagnosed in the United States each year, skin cancer is America’s most common cancer. Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers. By sharing facts about the dangers of unprotected sun exposure and encouraging people to check their skin for warning signs, we can and will save lives.

Quick facts:

• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70
• More than two people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour
• Having five or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma
• When detected early, the 5-year survival rate for melanoma is 99 percent

Ways to Protect Yourself Skin Cancer:

• Seek the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Don’t get sunburned
• Avoid tanning, and never use UV tanning beds
• Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hatand UV-blocking sunglasses
• Use a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day
• For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher
• Apply one ounce of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating
• Examine your won skin head-to-toe every month
• See a dermatologist at least once a year for a professional skin exam

Here are some tips to help you get started with self-care:

• Get regular exercise. Just 30 minutes of walking every day can help boost your mood and improve your health. Small amounts of exercise add up, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t do 30 minutes at one time.
• Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated. A balanced diet and plenty of water can improve your energy and focus throughout the day. Also, limit caffeinated beverages such as soft drinks or coffee.
• Make sleep a priority. Stick to a schedule, and make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Blue light from devices and screens can make it harder to fall asleep, so reduce blue light exposure from your phone or computer before bedtime.
• Try a relaxing activity. Explore relaxation or wellness programs or apps, which may incorporate meditation, muscle relaxation, or breathing exercises. Schedule regular times for these and other healthy activities you enjoy such as journaling.
• Set goals and priorities. Decide what must get done now and what can wait. Learn to say “no” to new tasks if you start to feel like you’re taking on too much. Try to be mindful of what you have accomplished at the end of the day, not what you have been unable to do.
• Practice gratitude. Remind yourself daily of things you are grateful for. Be specific. Write them down at night, or replay them in your mind.
• Focus on positivity. Identify and challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts.
• Stay connected. Reach out to your friends or family members who can provide emotional support and practical help.

Self-care looks different for everyone, and it is important to find what you need and enjoy. It may take trial and error to discover what works best for you. In addition, although self-care is not a cure for mental illnesses, understanding what causes or triggers your mild symptoms and what coping techniques work for you can help manage your mental health.

For other ideas for healthy practices for your mind, body, surroundings, and relationships, see the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Wellness Toolkits.

When to Seek Professional Help: Seek professional help if you are experiencing severe or distressing symptoms that have lasted 2 weeks or more, such as:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Appetite changes that result in unwanted weight changes
• Struggling to get out of bed in the morning because of mood
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of interest in things you usually find enjoyable
• Inability to perform usual daily functions and responsibilities

Don’t wait until your symptoms are overwhelming. Talk about your concerns with your primary care provider, who can refer you to a mental health professional if needed. If you don’t know where to start, read the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Tips for Talking With a Health Care Provider About Your Mental Health. Learn more about how to get help or find a provider on the NIMH’s Help for Mental Illnesses webpage.

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

Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (April 26, 2023) — The Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour is excited to announce a new partnership with Operation 36, a developmental program and technology to introduce and guide anyone in playing the game of golf.

Operation 36, a division of Golf Genius Software, also known as Op36, will be a Presenting Partner for the tour’s FUNdamental Tour, a division targeted towards youth golfers, ages 7-18, who are just beginning their journey into tournament golf. As part of the agreement, the tour will be rebranded as the FUNdamental Tour Powered by Op36.

Established as a precursor to the full Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour, the FUNdamental Tour aims to provide tournaments to players who’s ability is in the growth stages. Each FUNdamental Tour each event will feature reduced yardages, a maximum score of double par, and the ability to use a parent caddie. The events are meant to be less competitive than the standard Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour events, so the emphasis is on fun and game improvement.

“We are delighted to have Op36 power our FUNdamental Tour,” said Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour Director Leilyn Nowaczynski. “Our goal in creating the FUNdamental Tour was to help beginners grow and become more competitive, without losing the fun aspects of the game, and Op36 helps us do just that.”

In addition to their partnership with the tour, the Philadelphia PGA Section will highlight Op36 facilities to engage youth golfers at the local level, as well as work to grow the number of Op36 facilties across the Section’s territory.

“The Philly Section is at the forefront of an initiative nationwide to give players a better first experience in competitive golf,” said Op36 Co-Founder and General Manager Ryan Dailey, PGA. “After they experience some success and gain confidence from the beginning levels in Operation 36, they can graduate to the FUNdamental Tour and eventually to the Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour. For those players that are looking for coaching, we have partnered with a handful of local facilities that have agreed to accept players from the FUNdamental Tour into their local Operation 36 Academies. This is a win-win-win for PGA Members, the Section and more importantly, the families.”
About Operation 36 Golf

The Operation 36 Golf Program is best known for teaching golf backwards. By starting on the green, rather than the tee box, they have flipped the model of traditional golf instruction. In doing so, beginners become golfers as they progress through the motivating 10-level curriculum. Unlike most golf programs, Juniors start on the golf course on the first day, and they attend weekly group classes to learn a new skill.

The Operation36 curriculum is based on principles of gamification (it’s fun) and involves a long-term player development model. Once the golfer graduates from Level 10 they can shoot 36 on a 3,000 yard golf course. Communications technology, including a proprietary app, is used to keep parents, coaches, and the golfer connected. Coaches typically offer four semesters per year, and tuition varies depending on course fees and lesson pricing.This popular, on-course model has been used by over 100,000 golfers at over 700 locations.
About the Philadelphia Junior Tour
The Philadelphia PGA Section Junior Tour leads the region in competitive junior golf, conducting over 85 events seasonally at top facilities. With more than 800 members, the Junior Tour is represented by players from every geographic location in the section.

Select tournaments earn players AJGA performance-based entries and Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings. With ample opportunities to learn, grow, and compete, many Junior Tour members graduate to play at the collegiate level and beyond. The Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour Program is proud to help develop social skills, self-esteem, and inspire youth in our community.

For more information on the tour, please visit www.phillyjuniortour.com. Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

Contact: Philadelphia Junior Tour Staff, (267) 622-6170, info@phillyjuniortour.com

Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (April 24, 2023) — The Philadelphia PGA Section is happy to announce its new partnership with Mason Dixon Distillery, a locally owned distillery based in Gettysburg, Pa., specializing in a grain to glass process for small batch spirits, including vodka, rum, aged rum, and corn whiskey.

As part of the agreement, Mason Dixon Distillery will be supporting the Central Counties Chapter‘s spring and fall membership meetings at Moselem Springs Golf Club and the Country Club of Harrisburg, respectively. The Chapter is comprised of PGA Professionals located in the western most part of the Section’s territory and allows for additional playing opportunities. The company will also support the Section’s Tournament Players Division Championship, typically referred to as the TPD Championship, on Monday, April 24 at Regents’ Glen Country Club.

“We are delighted to have Mason Dixon Distillery join our Section’s family of partners,” said Section Executive Director Geoff Surrette, PGA. “We are also grateful for their desire to support the PGA Professionals in their local area, through our Central Counties Chapter. Any time we can help boost engagement in our Chapter is a win.”

“The newest addition to our lineup of products are our ready to drink canned cocktails,” said Mason Dixon Distillery President Yianni Barakos. “Same as our bottled spirits we make these entirely from scratch and from day one we knew that these would be perfect for golfers and golf courses. Starting up a partnership with the Central Counties Chapter made all of the sense in the world to us as you are already our neighbors, Austin and I look forward to growing the partnership and friendships.”

About Mason Dixon Distillery
Founded in 2016 and housed in a century old furniture factory, Mason Dixon Distillery is a grain to glass distillery that grows their grain on Gettysburg National Military Park, and distills all of their products in Gettysburg Pa. There is also a restaurant on site that focuses on locally sourced ingredients that features a constantly rotating menu that showcases the freshest local meats and produce. Whether they are cooking liquor or cooking food, Mason Dixon Distillery always focuses on using the best local ingredients they can grow themselves or source from their neighboring farms.

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.

Contacts: 

Matt Frey, PGA, communications director, Philadelphia PGA Section, mfrey@pgahq.com

Yianni Barakos, president, Mason Dixon Distillery, masondixondistillery@gmail.com

Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (April 21, 2023) — The Philadelphia PGA Section, one of the PGA of America’s 41 geographical managing entities, and Silvercrest Asset Management Group, an investment advisor providing asset management and family office services to high net worth individuals and select institutional investors, are excited to announce the return of the Silvercrest Cup, a tournament series for Philadelphia PGA Professionals.

The series will include four qualifying events for Philadelphia PGA Professionals, and will culminate in a $30,000 Silvercrest Cup final, hosted at the Gil Hanse-designed Applebrook Golf Club in Malvern, Pa. The Silvercrest Cup champion is set to receive $15,000, one of the most lucrative winner’s checks on the Section’s tournament calendar. In addition to the final purse, each qualifying event will include a bonus pool of $3,000, to be shared between each qualifier’s champion and runner-up.

While the Silvercrest Cup rewards playing excellence of Philadelphia PGA Professionals and top amateurs, the series will also provide significant donations to local foundations, including the Philadelphia PGA Section’s 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, PGA REACH Philadelphia, and the GAP’s J.Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust. In 2022, Silvercrest donated $10,000 to both organizations.

“We thrilled to have the Silvercrest Cup tournament series return this season, and are grateful to our partner, Silvercrest Asset Management Group, for the opportunities they are providing to our PGA Professionals, and our foundation,” said Section Executive Director Geoff Surrette, PGA. “Silvercrest values the hard work and dedication of our PGA Members, and are invested in them and the industry’s future, beginning at the local level.”

Last season, amateur Andrew Keeling birdied the first sudden-death playoff hole to win the inaugural Silvercrest Cup at Gulph Mills Golf Club, while runner-up Brian Bergstol, PGA, of Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort in Shawnee on Delaware, Pa., took home the $15,000 low PGA Professionals’ winners check.

Fifty-four PGA Professionals will earn their place in the 2022 Silvercrest Cup final via a points system drawn from their performance in each qualifying event; the top eight amateurs on the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s (GAP) William Hyndman III Player of the Year list will also be invited to compete. To follow the action throughout the season, visit phillypga.com.

2023 Silvercrest Cup Tournament Series Schedule

May 15, 2023
TaylorMade Classic
Silvercrest Cup Qualifier No. 1
Green Valley Country Club
Lafayette Hill, Pa.

May 22, 2023
Delaware Valley Open
Silvercrest Cup Qualifier No. 2
Radley Run Country Club
West Chester, Pa.

June 19, 2023
Conestoga Classic
Silvercrest Cup Qualifier No. 3
Conestoga Country Club
Lancaster, Pa.

July 28, 2023
Doylestown Open
Silvercrest Cup Qualifier No. 4
Doylestown Country Club
Doylestown, Pa.

September 5, 2023
Silvercrest Cup
Applebrook Golf Club
Malvern, Pa.

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.

Contacts: 

Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, Philadelphia PGA Section, mfrey@pgahq.com

Kate Morin, Vice President, Silvercrest Asset Management Group, kmorin@silvercrestgroup.com

Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (April 17, 2023) — The Philadelphia PGA today announced the renewal of Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) as a Premier Section Partner. The VFTCB is a non-profit membership sales and marketing organization which actively promotes the Valley Forge area and Montgomery County, Pa.

As part of the agreement, Valley Forge and Montgomery County will become a Presenting Partner of the Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour, the Delaware Valley’s preeminent youth golf tour, and will extend their Premier Partner status for the Section’s women’s initiatives, as well as the 2023 PGA REACH Philadelphia Pro-Am, Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour Diversity Scholarships, Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship, and both Spring and Summer-Pro Lady Team Championships.

“The Philadelphia PGA is thrilled to renew our partnership with Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, an organization that promotes all types of businesses in southeastern Pennsylvania, including our PGA Professionals’ golf facilities,” said Section Executive Director Geoff Surrette, PGA. “Having Valley Forge in our corner to help tell the story of our golf facilities is a win for our PGA Professionals, as well as their businesses, and communities.”

“Here at the VFTCB, we’re beyond proud to once again partner with the Philadelphia PGA,” said Mike Bowman, President & CEO of the VFTCB. “This group truly represents class in golf, and since Montco is home to 50 of the most historic and top-ranked courses in the country, it’s such a natural fit to connect with these folks. Plus, we both believe in the commitment to supporting women, diversity, and youth in the sport.”

The partnership is designed to maximize exposure to area golf courses and their PGA Professionals, while stimulating local business. A key portion of the agreement centers around the Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour, as well as PGA REACH Philadelphia’s diversity & inclusion initiatives, including the Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour Diversity Scholarships.

For those looking to learn more about the Section’s partnership with Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, please contact Section Communications Director Matt Frey, PGA, at mfrey@pgahq.com.

About Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board
The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board is a private, non-profit membership sales and marketing organization which actively promotes the Valley Forge area and Montgomery County as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by promoting patronage of its member hotels, restaurants, attractions and services. The Board represents more than 500 member businesses throughout Southeast Pennsylvania, and is funded from a combination of Pennsylvania grants, membership dues, and a tax imposed on visitors occupying the county’s more than 9,400 hotel rooms. For more information, visit valleyforge.org.

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.

Contacts: 

Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, Philadelphia PGA Section, mfrey@pgahq.com

Rachel Riley, Associate Vice President of Communications, Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, riley@valleyforge.org