Golf has always been my love. From a young age, I enjoyed the time outdoors and playing among my friends. When I lost my father, golf was my escape to deal with my emotions. I recall my mother dropping me off at a local public course outside Phoenix, and I’d spend nearly every day practicing my short game and hitting balls. It was a PGA Professional at the course who saw a young hurt child, who took me under his wing to let me play the course for free as long as I helped shag some balls by the range nets. Over time and with years of practice, I developed a pretty decent golf game. I was at +1 handicap by my 16th birthday, and I was the #1 player on my team for a multiple state championship high school in Arizona.
I wanted to be a member of the PGA of America, so I entered the PGA’s Professional Golf Management program at Arizona State. I took the PGA of America’s Playing Ability Test (PAT) at age 18, and I successfully passed the PAT on the first attempt, even shooting in the 60’s for my second round. And then….my world came crumbling down.
I had a very rare genetic deformity where my ribcage cartilage didn’t stop growing after puberty. In my case, my ribcage kept growing and it started growing inward into my chest cavity. By age 19, my lungs were at 50% capacity because they were compressed and my heart was so displaced the ultrasound tech couldn’t even find it during her first attempt. I was having difficulty breathing on a daily basis, and I’d even pass out in the shower from the steam. I ended up going for emergency surgery to reconstruct my entire ribcage. I had sections of every single rib removed from my body and my sternum was broke in half. A metal rod was placed inside my chest cavity behind my sternum to hold my chest together until my ribs regrew back into place. I was on a breathing machine to strengthen my lungs and I was not able to drive a car for 6 months because if the airbag went off it would potentially kill me. I had the metal rod inside my body for over two years. The doctors told me I’d likely not be able to play golf again, and even if I could later down the road, it would certainly not be at a high level. I was devastated and depressed thinking golf was over for me. This meant a career as a golf professional was over, so I switched my college major from Professional Golf Management to Finance in case the doctors were right.
Despite not being able to golf for many years, I never wanted to get out of the golf business. Being an Arizona native, I ended up spending 12 years with Troon in various capacities both on-site at clubs and also at their world headquarters, including a regional role overseeing a portfolio of clubs in their private club division. I traveled all over the country working with private club GM’s, Department Heads, Boards, and Committees. After Troon, I worked up the ladder into a CFO role at a Top 100 Platinum Club, to an Assistant GM role at a $25M revenue club in California, and now am in an Assistant GM role at a Top 50 Platinum Club in Hilton Head.
It was only a few years ago I received a random text message during CMAA World Conference from Robert Sereci, the GM/COO at Medinah Country Club, asking if I would meet him for lunch. We ended up hanging out in the restaurant for hours talking about life, the club business, family, relocations, and our true calling of leadership. My passion has always been golf, but my purpose in life is people.
Up until recently, it didn’t make any sense for me to pursue getting my membership into the PGA and into a traditional Head Pro/Director of Golf path. For a while, the PGA didn’t really have a program for General Managers. I am already a Certified Club Manager (CCM) through the CMAA and am on the executive team at one of the top clubs in America. However, the PGA has now added an Executive Management category for aspiring General Managers – and this path certainly makes sense for my journey.
I was recently inspired by a LinkedIn post by Jay Karen, the CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association. Jay decided to pursue membership to the PGA of America – not because he wanted to be a golf professional, but in his role as CEO of the NGCOA he works with golf professionals every day. In my case, I lead and mentor golf professionals every day.
I decided to sign up for my PGA Playing Ability Test again because my last passing score expired. It’s been many years since I've even played in competition rounds, but I was looking forward to the challenge.
On August 23rd, a hot summer day, I took my PAT a public course in South Georgia. Conditions were miserable as it has been pouring rain all month so the course was practically mud. The course was deemed unplayable two weeks prior by the Georgia PGA as the last PAT event there was canceled because of the conditions. It was 95 degrees, humid, and soaking wet. Many tee shots plugged and certainly none rolled out. Several players who signed up decided to withdraw over the weather and course conditions.
I probably picked the worst PAT of the year to attempt this, but it turns out I was one of five people to successfully pass the PGA’s Playing Ability Test. I was also the Low Medalist of the event, beating the other successful passing players by five shots.
My 36th hole was in a complete downpour of rain, and I couldn’t help but get a little emotional as I was soaking wet to tap in my putt for a second round of 74. It was a day I overcame what every doctor said I’d never do again, and a day I earned my chance to finish what I started two decades ago. August 23rd opened the door again to my membership to the PGA of America and on a path that suits my purpose.
There’s not many people in the country who are both PGA members and CCM’s, but that is my journey. Golf club management is my true calling and leading people is my true purpose. I am looking forward to completing PGM 3.0 Executive Management. Life throws all sorts of adversity at us, but it is our reaction to adversity that will determine how our story develops.
On a side note - I do not recommend playing 36 holes in August in the Lowcountry! Brutal!
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved” – Helen Keller