How to Put Together Your Best 14 Clubs

Bryan Haas, Director of Golf at Blue Top Ridge in Riverside, IA, explains the importance of golf bag composition and the positive outcomes that it can produce for your golf game.

2010 Iowa PGA Spring Meeting

Online registration is now available for the 2010 Iowa PGA Callaway Golf Spring Events that will be held on Monday, March 29 at Riverside Casino & Golf Resort.  CLICK HERE now to register.  There is no fee to attend.  Education will be provided in the morning with a lunch following courtesy of Mike Goettsch and Callaway Golf.  Business meeting will start at approximately 1 p.m.  Please see schedule listed below.

Additional details regarding education will be provided in the coming weeks.  Iowa PGA Members will receive hour for hour mandatory education MSR and 2 mandatory meeting MSR per hour when attending.  Please remember all PGA Members must earn 12 MSR for education and 12 MSR for meetings in the current cycle that ends June 15, 2011.  There are only 3 meetings left in this current cycle.  Make sure you check out your MSR earned and know where you stand before the cycle is over. Please feel free to call the office with any questions 319-648-0026

7:30 a.m. Rolls & Beverages

8:30 a.m.  Education (3 MSR)

12:00 p.m. Lunch courtesy of Mike Goettsch and Callaway Golf (You must register CLICK HERE)

1:00 p.m.  Business Meeting (4-6 MSR depending on length of meeting)

Sweet Deals For Your Sweetheart!

A great offer just in time for Valentine’s Day.  Purchase any ticket package for The Principal Charity Classic by Sunday, February 14th and get $5, $10, or $20 off! Listed below is the special pricing for this offer.  Make sure to enter Promotion Code:  cupid

Champions Club Pass $130 (regular price $150)
Ten Pack $90 (regular price $100)
Good-Any-One-Day $10 (regular price $15)

CLICK HERE NOW TO PURCHASE!

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Also remember all friends of the Principal Charity Classic will enjoy $6 tickets for the Bucs vs. Omaha Lancers game this Thursday, February 11.  Tickets must be purchased by calling the Buccaneers box office at 515-278-2827 x 2106 or by emailing brant@bucshockey.com.  Make sure to use the promotional code CHARITY CLASSIC when ordering.  All ticket orders will require a credit card at the time of purchase and all tickets will be available for pickup the night of the game.  Online orders are not available for this offer.

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All Proceeds Benefit these “FORE Our Kids” Charities

Jim Hasley – Iowa Golf Hall of Fame Inductee

Jim Hasley, PGA Life Member will be inducted into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame along with 5 others for the 2010 season.  Jim Hasley has had a long and distinguished career as a club professional and has been named the Iowa Section PGA Golf Professional of the Year twice, first in 1985 and again in 2001. Mr. Hasley served as the Head PGA Professional at Emeis Golf Course in Davenport for more than 30 years and stepped down from that position at the end of 2001. However, he stayed involved by taking over the 9-hole Red Hawk Golf Course in Davenport and was a key figure in the development of The First Tee Chapter of the Quad Cities at that location. Hasley’s love of the game shines through when he is on the lesson tee with the kids of The First Tee program. An indication of the esteem that Hasley has earned in his career is the fact that the Ryder Cup style matches held each year by the Quad Cities Amateur Tour between teams from Illinois and Iowa are named “The Hasley Cup Matches”.

Other inductees for the Class of 2010 include current PGA Champions Tour star Lonnie Nielsen of Belle Plaine and renowned PGA Tour instructor Mike Bender, a Waterloo native and golf turf industry leader Steve Tyler of Waverly.  In the historical category former Des Moines area club professional Jack Hall and 1020’s era Des Moines amateur Bob McKee will be inducted.  To view the complete Press Release CLICK HERE.

Jerry Johnson – PING Regional Club Fitter of the Year

Jerry Johnson named
Regional PING Club Fitter of the Year

On January28, Phoenix Arizona:  PING announced today that Jerry Johnson at Elmwood Country Club has been honored as a 2009 PING Regional Club Fitter of the Year.

The company, which pioneered custom fitting nearly 40 years ago, recognized Johnson for his continuing commitment to custom fitting and its value to golfers of all abilities.

“Jerry shares our belief that if golfers take the time to get custom fit, they’ll see improved performance on the golf course. His attention to detail and passion for service ensure golfers benefit from the most thorough custom fitting in the industry,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “He demonstrates his expertise on a daily basis to ensure golfers receive the full value offered by PING’s custom fitting program. Jerry’s  commitment to our program makes him very deserving of this honor.”

Nominating Jerry Johnson at Elmwood Country Club for the honor was Michelle Estill, PING Field Representative for the region.

Ping designs, manufactures and markets a complete line of golf equipment including metal woods, irons, putters, and golf bags.  The family-owned company was founded in 1959 in the garage of the late Karsten Solheim, a mechanical engineer with an extensive background in the aerospace and computer industries.  His frustration with his putting inspired him to design his own putter, which created a “pinging” sound when striking a golf ball.  This sound was the source of the name now synonymous with innovation, quality and service throughout the world of golf.  Solheim and his company are credited with numerous innovations that became industry standards, including perimeter weighting, custom fitting and the use of investment casting in the manufacturing of golf clubs.  His insistence on adhering to strict engineering principles and tight manufacturing tolerances raised the level of product performance and quality throughout the golf club industry.  Solheim is the only person to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame as a golf club manufacturer.  Today, the Phoenix-based company is under the direction of Solheim’s youngest son, John A. Solheim.  PING game-improvement products can be found in more than 70 countries.  For more information, visit pinggolf.com.

PING is a registered trademark of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation.

Aaron Krueger – February 2010 PROfile

Name: Aaron Krueger, PGA
College/University: University of Iowa
Year Turned Pro: 2003
Facility and Job Title: Pinnacle Country Club – Milan, Illinois, Head Golf Professional

What was your motivation to become a PGA Professional?
I wanted to do something that I love everyday. As a PGA Professional I am able to interact with great people, operate a business, teach and play a wonderful game.

What is your specialty in the golf business?
Customer service, running golf tournaments and owning the operation.

What are some of your professional accomplishments?
2007 Iowa PGA Assistant of the Year, 2008 Iowa PGA Section/PNC Champion

What was your greatest moment in golf?
Playing in the 2009 John Deer Classic in front of my family, friends and Membership.

What or who has had the greatest impact on your career?
The PGA Members that I have worked with and for: Steve Reilly, Pete Beringer, Jonathan Sutera and Todd Smith.

Besides golf, what else do you enjoy?
Spending time with my wife Tonya and daughter Lydia as well as watching Iowa Hawkeye sports.

If you could play any golf course in the world, which one would it be and who would complete your foursome?
I would play Augusta National with my dad Gene, my grandpa Bill and fellow PGA Member Jonathan Sutera.

If you could give lessons to anyone in the world who would it be and what advice would you give?
No matter who the player, I would tell them to enjoy this game and to play it for the rest of their life.

What is your favorite golf instruction tip?
The swing doesn’t stop at impact … swing through the ball, don’t hit at it.