Parker, President and General Manager of East Lake Golf Club, Achieves Highest Education Designation in Executive Management
Editors: For photos of Chad Parker, click here.
FRISCO, Texas – The PGA of America has announced that Chad Parker, PGA, President and General Manager of East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, has earned PGA Master Professional status, the highest educational designation available within the Association.
Parker becomes the 488th PGA Member to achieve the designation since the PGA Master Professional program was established in 1969. He earned the designation in Executive Management, one of three areas of specialization within the program.
“Becoming a PGA Master Professional has been a professional goal of mine for many years, and I was fortunate to align the process with the development of a long-term strategic plan for East Lake Golf Club,” said Parker. “The experience challenged me to look critically at every aspect of our operation, from financial planning and capital investment, to leadership, culture and the Member experience. More than earning a designation, the process has made me a better leader and helped us build a roadmap that will position East Lake for continued success for years to come.”
The PGA Master Professional program recognizes PGA of America Members who demonstrate exceptional commitment to professional growth and maintain the highest standards of excellence for themselves and their facilities. The program is open to PGA Members with at least 10 years of PGA of America Membership who have earned advanced credentials through the PGA Specialized and Certified Professional Programs.
To achieve Master Professional status, candidates must complete an extensive, project-based curriculum aligned with their specialization in Executive Management, Golf Operations or Teaching and Coaching, culminating in a successful final presentation.
Parker, a member of the Georgia PGA Section, has been a PGA Professional for more than 30 years. A 1995 graduate of Mississippi State University’s PGA Golf Management program, Parker spent the first years of his career in Alabama at NorthRiver Yacht Club. Parker and his wife, Carrie, then moved to Atlanta where he began as an Assistant Professional at East Lake Golf Club. Soon thereafter, he was promoted to PGA Head Professional.
During his more than three decades at East Lake, Parker has held numerous leadership positions, including Director of Golf, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, before being named President and General Manager. During his tenure, he has played a key leadership role in the Club’s evolution and in hosting many significant golf championships and events, including 25 TOUR Championships since 1998, the 2001 United States Amateur Championship and the East Lake Cup, which has been held at the Club annually since its inception in 2015.
Parker is Vice Chair of the PGA REACH Georgia Board of Directors and an advisor to Giving Kitchen, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that provides emergency assistance to food service workers through financial support and community resources. He also serves as an advisor and mentor to Mississippi State University’s PGA Golf Management program.
About the PGA of America
The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Media Contacts:
Nicole Mayberry, PGA of America, nmayberry@pgahq.com
Jared Minski, Mastro Communications, jared@mastrocomm.com
