The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA of America) is an American organization of golf professionals. Founded in 1916, the PGA of America is made up of 29,000 men and women golf professional members. The PGA is currently headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, but the Association has come to an agreement and will begin plans to build and relocate to a planned 600-acre mixed-use development in the city of Frisco, Texas. The PGA of America’s undertaking is to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
The mission of The Northeastern New York Section of the Professional Golfers Association (NENY PGA) is to enhance the profession of our section members and grow the game. By so doing, The PGA will elevate the standards of the the professional’s vocation, enhance the economic well-being of the individual member, stimulate interest in the game of golf, and promote the overall vitality of the game in our local community.
Although the Section maintains a close working relationship with The PGA of America, the NENY PGA Section is governed by its own board and committee structure of PGA professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to lead at their local level. Elections are held and board members and officers are elected by their member peers. The Section operation is headed by an executive director who administers the operations of the Section with the help of other key staff in the areas of Tournament Operations and Player Development.
With approximately 180 PGA members and associates, the Northeastern New York PGA is one of the smallest sections in the country. Our boundaries run north to the Canadian border and west to Massena, NY, on the St. Lawrence River. From there, the boundaries stretch down to Old Forge, NY, and through Oneonta, NY, to the Catskill Mountains. Our southern border runs through the Catskill Mountains to Kingston, NY. Finally, our eastern boundaries encompass eastern New York and cross the New York/Massachusetts state line and encompass Berkshire County of Western Massachusetts.
The Northeastern New York PGA was one of the first PGA Sections established. It was formed in 1927, 11 years after the PGA of America was founded in New York City in 1916. The NENY PGA has been home to several golfing luminaries, including Gene Sarazen. “The Squire”, as Sarazen is known. The NENY PGA is also home to Tom Creavy, the 1931 PGA Championship winner, and to Derek Sprague, the 39th President of the PGA of America (2015-2016).