Weekly E-News March 13, 2021

Behan, Named 2020 Golf Professional of the Year 

 Highlighting the 2020 Special Awards winners is Mike Behan, PGA whose journey in the NENY PGA Section began almost 20 years ago. Mike recently achieved the quarter century mark as a PGA member. His earlier years were spent working as an Assistant at various clubs in the MET PGA Section such as The Creek Club, Casperkill Golf Club, Country Club of Fairfield and the Tuxedo Club.

Mike moved to the section in 2001 and since then has served in one capacity or another in a governance position with the NENY PGA. He has been the Head Professional at Woodstock Golf Club, Olde Kinderhook Golf Club and Van Patten Golf Course. In 2012, he transitioned to a non-traditional role as a sales representative for W&B Golf Carts, a Yamaha distributor. He services a large area in the northeast for W&B and has recently taken on a partner role and will soon be opening an additional location for the company. In addition, Mike also serves as the Assistant Golf Coach for the Siena College Women’s Golf Team and is entering his fourth season.
 

PGA of America Scholarship Deadline Approaching
The PGA Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship application is now available. The deadline to submit the scholarship application and document(s) is Monday, April 5th. Students who applied last year will go to the log in with the information they used last year. The username is their email address. The password is what they created. A student who is applying for the first time will have to create an account to access the application. After creating the account, they will be asked for a Program Key. The Program Key is: PGA. 

Updated Dates:

• New date - April 5, 2020 -Deadline for submitting Applications & Supporting Documents 
• May 2020 - Notification of Selection Results
• July 2020 - Funds Disbursed
• August 2020 - Deadline date for photo submission
• October 2020 - The PGA Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship recipients will be on PGA.org and in PGA Magazine

New NENY PGA Special Award Established in Name of Former Staff Member, Doug Evans
The NENY PGA Section Special Award Committee has established a brand new award with the first award winner being its namesake, Doug Evans awarded posthumously. The "NENY PGA Doug Evans Distinguished Service Award'' bestows special recognition on an individual who is a steward for the NENY PGA Professionals and the game of golf in general. This new award category is eligible only to non-PGA members/individuals who have made lasting and meaningful contributions to the NENY PGA Section, the NENY PGA Membership and the entirety of the local area golfing community. 

NENY PGA Education Series 
Be a Better Merchandiser & Online Pro Shop

Who: Conversation led by Eric Mabee (CC of Pittsfield); Jason Ballard (Oak Hill CC) 
What:Free Education Offering Discussing Merchandising Tactics and building your own virtual pro shop for online sales  
Where: Virtual - via Google Meets platform
When:Tuesday, March 23th from 9am-9:45am
1 MSR Required Education Credit for Class A PGA Members attending

Deadline to Register: Friday, March 19 at midnight

NENY PGA Education Series 
Benefits of Speed Training

Who: Conversation led by Dr. Luke Benoit, PGA Director of Instruction Interlachen CC in Medina, MN 
What:Free Education Offering Discussing Speed Training and the benefits on your increased swing speed for increased distance. 
Where: Virtual - via Google Meets platform
When:Tuesday, April 6 from 10am-10:45am
1 MSR Required Education Credit for Class A PGA Members attending

Deadline to Register: Friday, April 2 at midnight

NENY PGA Education Series 
Addressing Staffing Issues

Who: Conversation led by Chris Kulinski joined by local area PGA Professionals TBA
What:Free Education Offering Discussing staffing, recruiting, hiring, maintaining, mentoring, etc.  
Where: Virtual - via Google Meets platform
When:Tuesday, April 20 from 9am-9:45am
1 MSR Required Education Credit for Class A PGA Members attending

Deadline to Register: Friday, April 16 at midnight

Proposed Amateur Rules Changes for Prizes 

Rule 3: Prizes An amateur is allowed to accept any prize, including money or other currency, up to a limit of [$750 USD] in value, per competition, unless the national governing body has set a lower limit. For a non-monetary prize, the value of that prize is the price that the item is generally available to purchase from a retail source at the time the prize is accepted.

Each NENY PGA Member is urged to direct your own input to the USGA on the proposed cash prize ruling change with the deadline of March 26th for the open comment period. 

Associate's Presidents Cup