The Southern California PGA is proud to share that through our concerted recruitment and retention efforts, the SCPGA has seen a 28% growth in Associates since 2020.
“We are very excited to see these recent numbers. This growth of new Associates in our Section is bsolutely related to the efforts and engagement of our Section Education, Engagement and Associate Committees,” said Nikki Gatch, Executive Director / Chief Executive Officer for the SCPGA. “The opportunities offered to new Associates in our Section are second to none, and a huge thank you goes to those that have been so instrumental in this effort, including Tom Son, John Kulow, Tom Parker, Nikki Prichard, and Tony Letendre. We look forward to continuing to support their efforts.”
The PGA of America has seen a 35% growth, approaching 5,000 associates, numbers we haven’t seen since 2010. There are more registered Associates than any other year since the record high in 2009. Education opportunities provided by the SCPGA have played a factor in the growth seen throughout the Section with the implementation of Launchpad, Road2Pro, and the Mentor program.
SCPGA Launchpad Series
The Launchpad series is a one-hour webinar that takes Associates through Level 1 PGM Education. A new expert presenter speaks each week on a topic highlighted in Level 1 programming. Planning is underway for the Fall Session and those dates, with more information being shared soon!
SCPGA Road2Pro Events
The Road2Pro Events are designed to not only give Associates a platform to network with PGA Members but also to introduce non-associate and non-member employees to the Association. These events include 9-holes of golf (skins game), networking following golf, and a PGA Guest Speaker and are open to anyone who may be interested in becoming a PGA member.
The Section is actively looking for host facilities for 2024. If you would like to host a Road2Pro event at your facility, please contact Nikki Prichard, PGA, at nprichard@arrowoodgolf.com.
SCPGA Mentorship Program
One good deed often leads to others – sometimes many others. That’s the case with the mentorship program created by PGA Professional Tom Son, which was inspired by one of his mentors, PGA Professional Rich Iorio. Son, the PGA General Manager at Arrowood Golf Course built the mentorship program for PGA Associates in the San Diego Chapter of the Southern California PGA. This program has now grown to include each of the five Chapters in the Section. If you are interested in becoming either a Mentor or a Mentee, please click the button below to connect with Tom
Son.
“The idea was to let the PGA Associates in our Chapter know that they aren’t alone in their journey to PGA membership,” notes Son, a member of the PGA LEAD initiative’s Cohort VI. “They have PGA Members who’ve been through the program already that they can build lifelong relationships with and help them at every turn.”
This innovative program follows a trend that has started in other industries that make mentoring a more organized, group-oriented program. With busy schedules throughout the golf business, making mentorship an appointment-worthy opportunity beyond one-on-one meetings is both effective and efficient.
