Category: Uncategorized

Curtis Kirkpatrick Appointed Philadelphia PGA Section’s District 1 Director

May 1, 2023Comments Off on Curtis Kirkpatrick Appointed Philadelphia PGA Section’s District 1 DirectorUncategorized

Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (May 8, 2023) — Curtis Kirkpatrick, PGA, of Indian Spring Country Club in Marlton, N.J., has been appointed to the Philadelphia PGA Section’s Board of Directors as District 1 Director, following the change of facility and District of his predecessor Kevin Duffy, PGA, as outlined in the Section by-laws, section 6.07 on vacancies: “the president shall appoint an individual to fill any such office vacancy whose term shall be the un-expired term of the vacant position on the board of directors.”

Duffy recently accepted the PGA director of golf position at Commonwealth National Golf Club in Horsham, Pa., which is located in the Section’s sixth District; he was slated to complete his second-consecutive two-year term in October. The membership, officers, board and staff would like to thank Kevin for his many years of service to the Section.

Kirkpatrick was elected to PGA Membership in 2013, and has worked as PGA head professional at Indian Spring since 2014. While this is his first stint serving on the Section’s board, Kirkpatrick also serves as the lead PGA Professional at the PGA HOPE Philadelphia Chapter based at his facility. Kirkpatrick remains eligible to be nominated as District 1 director at the 2023 Philadelphia PGA Fall Membership Meeting in October.

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

Remembering Bernie Haas, PGA

November 18, 2022Comments Off on Remembering Bernie Haas, PGAUncategorized

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of PGA Life Member Bernie Haas; he was 88. Haas won the 1961 Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship at Philadelphia Country Club.

There will be no services observed at this time. A memorial service will be held at a future date and will be announced by the Freay Funeral Home. Donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 N. Rocky Point, Dr., Tampa, FL 33607. To read his full obituary, 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 Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

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

PGA Member Jeff Fick Wins 2022 Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization Championship

October 20, 2022Comments Off on PGA Member Jeff Fick Wins 2022 Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization ChampionshipUncategorized
Ardmore, Pa. (October 20, 2022) — PGA Member Jeff Fick of Moselem Springs Golf Club in Fleetwood, Pa., turned in an even-par round of 70 on Merion Golf Club’s West Course to win the 2022 Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) Championship by one stroke over Alex Willey, PGA, of Burlington Country Club in Westampton, N.J.

The purpose of the Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization is to prepare Philadelphia PGA assistant professionals for future professional success as PGA Members. The PAO gives assistant professionals the opportunities to prepare themselves for the PGA Playing Ability Test, the PGA’s Professional Golf Management program, the golf business, and future PGA Membership, accomplished through leadership, mentoring, support through education, networking, and tournament competition.

Fick made four birdies and three bogeys on his front nine, and added only one more bogey on No. 10, to finish at even-par on the tricky golf course. The cool temperatures and steady wind made the traditionally short course play even more difficult.

Sandy Run C.C.’s Trevor Bensel, the current PAO Player of the Year race leader, finished three behind Fick at 3-over-par, while Rocco Sgrillo, John F. Byrne G.C., and PAO Chair Keith Clawson, Merion G.C., tied for fourth place at 4-over-par.

The 2022 Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization Championship is supported by Ohana Farm LLC. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Merion Golf Club, its members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support.

To view the full 2022 PAO Championship leaderboard, 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 Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

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

Place Your Bids! PGA REACH Philadelphia Online Auction Now Open

September 14, 2022Comments Off on Place Your Bids! PGA REACH Philadelphia Online Auction Now OpenUncategorized
Bid Now

PGA REACH Philadelphia’s 2022 online auction is officially open! Support our foundation’s mission to positively impact lives through the game of golf by bidding on and winning items including Dormie Network membership, foursomes at exclusive golf courses like TPC Sawgrass, Philadelphia Cricket Club, Liberty National, luxury getaways, sports memorabilia, and more. Click on the “Bid Now” button above or any of the individual featured listings below to get started; more items are available on the auction site.

Golf Experiences

  • Dormie Network membership
    Bid Now
  • TPC Sawgrass foursome
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  • Liberty National Golf Club foursome
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  • Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course foursome
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  • Bidermann Golf Club foursome
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  • Galloway National Golf Club foursome
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  • Omni Homestead Resort foursome
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  • Dormie Network Stay and Play
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Getaways / Memorabilia

  • Old Head Golf Experience
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  • Tennessee Whiskey Adventure
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  • Fairmont Banff Stay and Experience
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  • Biltmore Estate Stay and Experience
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  • Masters Tournament Experience
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  • Kentucky Derby Experience
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  • Framed Lee Wybranski 150th Open Championship Poster
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  • Framed Lee Wybranski 2022 U.S. Open Poster
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…Plus much more!

Click the button below to view all the items up for auction and to place your bids!

Bid Now

About PGA REACH Philadelphia 

PGA REACH 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 Inclusion.

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.
Contact: Courtney Curcio, PGA REACH Philadelphia Director, ccurcio@pgahq.com

Celtic Golf Announces Raffle to Benefit PGA REACH Philadelphia

August 19, 2022Comments Off on Celtic Golf Announces Raffle to Benefit PGA REACH PhiladelphiaUncategorized

Celtic Golf is launching a generous raffle to benefit PGA REACH Philadelphia, the Philadelphia PGA Section’s 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, to support its mission to positively impact lives through the game of golf.

The grand prize includes four nights at the five-star Killarney Park Hotel and three rounds of golf at renowned Waterville Golf Links, Ballybunion’s Old Course, and Tralee Golf Club, for two people. The winner will be drawn following our annual PGA REACH Philadelphia Pro-Am on October 11.

Please consider entering the raffle, by clicking the below button and registering via Golf Genius. PGA REACH Philadelphia thanks our friends at Celtic Golf.

Enter Raffle

Proceeds from the raffle will help support programs for youth golfers like PGA Jr. League and Golf in Schools, U.S. military veterans like PGA HOPE Philadelphia, and diverse communities like the Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour Diversity Scholarships, and mentor program.

The grand prize includes the following for a party of two golfers in the summer of 2023:

Hotel: Four nights prepaid and confirmed accommodations (premium twin room) at the five-star Killarney Park Hotel in Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland.

Golf: Prepaid and reserved tee times for three rounds of golf at the following courses:

  • Waterville Golf Links
  • Ballybunion – Old Course
  • Tralee Golf Club

Ground Transport: (self) Drive Hertz Class G rental with automatic transmission inclusive of collision damage waiver insurance, unlimited mileage, and VAT

Meals: Full breakfast daily

Taxes: All hotel taxes (VAT) included

 

About PGA REACH Philadelphia 
PGA REACH 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. Visit PGAREACHPhiladelphia.com to learn more. To donate to PGA REACH Philadelphia, please click here.

Contacts:

Courtney Curcio
Director, PGA REACH Philadelphia
ccurcio@pgahq.com

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

Best Golf Balance Exercises | GOLFFOREVER

August 8, 2022Comments Off on Best Golf Balance Exercises | GOLFFOREVERUncategorized

Balance plays a key role in the game of golf. Having good balance will enable a stronger swing and improve your game. Here we show you some exercises you can do at home that will improve your balance. #golfforever

Generally speaking, balance is the most under-trained aspect within most golf training programs. But as you surely understand – balance is perhaps the most fundamental element of your golf swing.

People tend to think a loss of balance is an unwanted side effect of aging. It’s true—like so many things related to our bodies—balance does diminish with age… but only if not practiced.

Here’s the encouraging news: balance WILL improve when practiced regularly – and doing so will pay dividends on the course. 

Generating maximum power and consistency in your golf swing requires that all of the body’s systems related to balance work together: your vestibular system (inner ear), proprioceptive system (cells found in ligaments and joints that tell your brain where your limbs are in space), muscular system, and visual system. It’s important to challenge these systems individually and together.

The best way to do this? Practicing simple balance drills on a regular basis. The following video contains several simple movements and exercises that you can do anywhere with just a golf club. These balance moves train all four systems to improve your balance in golf-specific ways. As an added benefit, nearly all of these exercises serve a dual purpose of also improving flexibility in the hips, rotational coordination, and core muscle activation.

As we say at GolfForever, change comes with commitment. A little bit of balance work a few times a week will go a long way toward enabling you to Play Without Limits!

Jeremy James, DC, CSCS

Founder of GOLFFOREVER

Co-Author, The Younger Next Year Back Book. Golf-performance and pain specialist to PGA pros, Fortune 500 CEOs and thousands of everyday golfers

PGA Member Rich Steinmetz Leads 2022 GALV Lehigh Valley Open

July 11, 2022Comments Off on PGA Member Rich Steinmetz Leads 2022 GALV Lehigh Valley OpenUncategorized

Macungie, Pa. (July 11, 2022) — Philadelphia PGA Member Rich Steinmetz of Spring Ford Country Club in Royersford, Pa., leads the Golf Association of Lehigh Valley’s 2022 Lehigh Valley Open at Brookside Country Club by three strokes, following his 3-under-par opening round of 68.

It was the first time seeing the Brookside layout for many of the PGA Professionals in the field as this is the first new host site for the GALV Lehigh Valley Open since 2009. The Section did host its Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship at Brookside in 1968, won by Stan Dudas. Between the steady breeze and the difficult greens, most scores remained near par or over.

Steinmetz, however, managed to make four birdies and only one bogey in his opening round, placing him three strokes ahead of Alex Willey, Burlington C.C.; Jeff Fick, Moselem Springs G.C.; and Travis Deibert, Doylestown C.C. Four players are tied for third, four back: Brian Kelly, Bucknell G.C.; Trevor Bensel, Sandy Run C.C.; and amateur Jake Haberstumpf, Bethlehem, Pa.; and Rocco Sgrillo, John F. Byrne G.C.

In the race for Low Amateur honors, Haberstumpf leads the way by two strokes over Zach Fischl, Bethelem, Pa.; and Michael Ashcraft, Freemansbirg, Pa. Scott Kalamar, Bethlehem, Pa.; is in solo fourth place at 5-over-par. Three amateurs are tied for fifth place at 6-over-par.

Brian Kelly leads the Senior Division at 1-over-par, one clear of Applebrook G.C.’s Dave McNabb; Hugo Mazzalupi, Linfield National G.C.; and George Forster, Radnor Valley C.C. John Pillar, C.C. of Woodloch Springs, is in fifth at 3-over-par.

The Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Bill Sautter leads the Super Seniors following his 3-over-par round of 74. PGA Life Member Michael Versuk is six behind Sautter.

The 2022 GALV Lehigh Valley Open’s final round is scheduled to conclude tomorrow, July 12.to Due to the weather forecast for tomorrow’s final round, starting times will be moved to 8:30-10:10 a.m., with a two-tee start.

The 2022 GALV Lehigh Valley Open, a Philadelphia PGA Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year tournament, is supported by the Golf Association of Lehigh Valley, Jani-King, and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Brookside Country Club, its members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support.

To view the full 2022 GALV Lehigh Valley Open leaderboard, click here.

The next Philadelphia PGA Rolex / The Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year tournament on the schedule is the Doylestown Open on Friday, July 29 at Doylestown Country Club. The Doylestown Open is also the final Silvercrest Cup qualifier prior to the final in September.

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

GOLFFOREVER FITNESS TIP: Pre Round Golf Warmup Standing Up

July 8, 2022Comments Off on GOLFFOREVER FITNESS TIP: Pre Round Golf Warmup Standing UpUncategorized

Here is a simple pre-round golf warmup you can do standing up. This is a quick 8 minute warmup that you can do anywhere. 

 

Warming up before your round – along with committing to a golf-specific fitness routine – is critical to maximize your performance and to stay healthy on and off the course. This goes beyond simply grinding through a bucket of range balls 10 minutes before your tee time. A good pre-round warmup is 5-10 minutes of moves and stretches that prepare your body for the unique demands of the golf swing. The goals of your warmup should be the following: 

 

Engage the Right Muscles Believe it or not, it’s possible to do almost any movement (including the golf swing) using only some of the muscles designed for that particular movement. That’s why it’s important to practice exercises that boot the neurologic system and wake up the crucial muscles for the golf swing. The muscles in our backside – the gluteal muscles – can especially need “waking up” if you’ve been sitting at work all day. A failure to engage the posterior chain can result in a weak, injury prone swing. 

Increase Mobility and Flexibility in the hips, thoracic spine and shoulders. To avoid injury and maximize your swing range of motion, it’s important to go through golf-specific mobility drills in a careful, controlled manner before doing it in a fast, dynamic manner. For example, a lack of mobility in the upper back (thoracic spine) is one of the main causes of lower back injury in golfers. This is due to over-rotation through the lower spine to compensate for the inability to move the upper back and shoulders during backswing and follow through. 

Rev up your Balance System Being able to stay balanced in your posture while generating high speed rotational force is an important skill to play consistently good  golf. The systems in our body that control balance – the vestibular, visual and proprioceptive systems – work better when challenged regularly, even right before tee time. 

A quick pre-round warmup can achieve all of these benefits which will  dramatically improve your performance on the course while decreasing your chances for pain and injury. 

Jeremy James, DC, CSCS

Founder of GOLFFOREVER

Co-Author, The Younger Next Year Back Book. Golf-performance and pain specialist to PGA pros, Fortune 500 CEOs and thousands of everyday golfers