The mission of the NENY PGA Mentor Program is an extension of our NENY Education Committee & Leadership. The mentorship program is semi-informal, relationship-driven, and designed to connect our Associates with accessible support rather than impose rigid structures and provide resources. During this process, the ultimate goal is to assist Associates on their path to achieve PGA membership, increasing the percentage of Associates that attain Membership and lessening attrition.
Upon obtaining status as an Associate, individuals will be connected with a Supervising Professional (Mentor) – as a simple point of contact from our Committee but Associates are welcome to create relationships with any and all of our section leaders to achieve their own mentor-like relationship. All Associates have playing privileges in the majority of our NENY PGA Tournament Program except for the Section’s Stroke Play Championship & Professional Championship. Associates are automatically enrolled and can earn Player of the Year Points in the Assistant Player of the Year category.
In addition to the assigned mentor, the NENY PGA has developed “Associate Accelerator” Sessions. These are intended to be low-cost, gathering of your peers for networking, opportunities to work on and converse about your PGA PGM bookwork level, perform any required video sessions, in both relaxed social settings and golf offerings.
NENY PGA Class A Professionals can receive PDR Credits (Required Category) for being an active mentor and have the opportunity to earn up to 150 activity points in Deferred Compensation plan.
2026 NENY Education & Associate Committee Mentor Member Listing
EVAN SILKWORTH, PGA Hudson Valley Indoor Golf, Owner/Director of Instruction, evan@hvigolf.com
KEVIN CAIN, PGA Colonie Golf & Country Club, General Manager, kevinc@coloniegcc.com
JASON POLKA, PGA Glens Falls Country Club, General Manager, gm@glensfallscountryclub.com
JOE LAVIGNA, PGA Western Turnpike Golf Course, Assistant Professional, joelavigna21@gmail.com
THOMAS SENNETT, PGA Country Club of Pittsfield, Assistant Professional, tfsennett91@gmail.com
CHRISTIAN TORRES, PGA ASSOCIATE NENY PGA Section, Director of Operations, ctorres@pgahq.com
2026 Important Associate Dates
Wed, Feb. 11, 2026 – Whitman Brewing Company Social (All NENY PGA Membership)
Wed, Feb. 25, 2026 – Whitman Brewing Company Associate Only Social (Associates)
March 2026 – Associates Accelerator Spring Session
March 30, 2026 – NENY Assistant’s Spring Membership Meeting
May 13, 2026 – NENY Associates Presidents Cup (golf)
June 18, 2026 – Associate Accelerator Summer Session (golf)
October TBA – NENY Fall Membership Meeting
December TBA – Accelerator Winter Session
Blue Golf App/Log In and 2026 Schedule
Associates are eligible to play in the majority of our tournaments.
Professional Blue Golf Registration & Log In
https://nenypga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/nenypga26/pc/reg/index.htm
NENY PGA Blue Golf App Instructions
Instruction for Download:
1. The App is available through Apple’s Apple Store or the Android Market Play Store. It’s compatible with all Apple and Android products
Private Log In Required:
First Time Log In:
For any questions, please contact Christian Torres, NENY PGA Section, Director of Operations at ctorres@pgahq.com
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Acceptable Progress in the PGA PGM Program is defined by the successful completion of each Level and matriculation into the subsequent Level. Please read the Acceptable Progress Policy before verifying the progress of any associate.
Acceptable Progress for those with a Level 1 start date 12/31/2025, or before:
Acceptable Progress for those with a Level 1 start date 1/01/2026, or after:
To satisfy the 36-hole PGA of America Playing Ability Test (PAT) requirement, participants aged 16 or older can use the first two round scores from qualifying stroke-play events. Eligible events include:
Two 18-hole scores from stroke-play rounds played in PGA-sanctioned events (National. Section. Chapter) that restrict participation to PGA Members. Associates, PGA Students and/or non-PGA Professionals that qualify as a PAT attempt, may be combined within a one-year period of each other to fulfill the 36-hole PAT requirement.
As a preliminary step in the PGM Associate Program, participants can submit a handicap index of less than ten as a qualifying score.
Note: this submission is considered a qualifying score, and a passing PAT must be achieved before election to Class A Membership.
Participants in standard 36-hole PAT events have the option to combine two 18-hole scores from multiple PAT events within a year to meet the 36-hole requirement.
Use this Link to Submit Alternate PAT considerations
Use this Link to find/search/register for a regulated traditional PAT
PGA Career Services, a component of The PGA of America’s long-term strategic plan formerly known as the PGA Employment department, is an expanded team of field consultants committed to serving the PGA of America Member and executing daily Career Services operations in conjunction with our NENY PGA Section Employment Committee Members & NENY PGA Section Executive Director.
Our local “boots on the ground” committee and staff members are extremely familiar with the local employment landscape and offer services to both our PGA Members & Associates & Individuals as well as to employers/owners/key stake holder employers.
Our NENY PGA Section Employment Committee and Section Executive Director work in tandem with our PGA Career Consultant and are available to meet virtually or in-person.
Please contact the Executive Director (Tracie Warner) at 518-438-8645 or twarner@pgahq.com or PGA Career Consultant (Martha Wells) at 607-591-3805 mwells@pgahq.com