James Dickerson-September 2010 PROfile

Name: James  Dickerson
College/University: University of Iowa
Year Turned Pro: 1991
Facility and Job Title: University of Iowa,Finkbine Golf Course, A-6 Teaching Professional

What was your motivation to become a PGA Professional?
I love golf and I love to teach golf. Being a PGA Professional only legitimized my ability and desire.

What is your specialty in the golf business?
Teaching

What was your greatest moment in golf?
To date, teaching a paraplegic to use an adaptive golf cart and to play golf, successfully playing and scoring bogey, double bogey golf.

What or who has had the greatest impact on your career?
My wife Lyra. She understands my passion for golf and lets me pursue that passion, teaching and playing.

Besides golf, what else do you enjoy?
Reading and gardening.

If you could play any golf course in the world, which one would it be and who would complete your foursome?
St. Andrews, Scotland with Paige, Leigh and Jamie, our daughters.

If you could give lessons to anyone in the world who would it be and what advice would you give?
It would be to injured and disabled veterans. Play the game for what it is – a game to improve your personal best.

What is your favorite golf instruction tip?
The one I use the most is to keep your head behind the ball.

John Bermel – August 2010 PROfile

Name: John Jay Bermel
College/University: Central College
Year Turned Pro: 1986
Facility and Job Title: Pheasant Ridge Golf Course, Head Golf Professional

What was your motivation to become a PGA Professional?
I want to give back to the game and also want to give kids a better opportunity than I had.

What is your specialty in the golf business?
Teaching and coaching! Continuing to learn and expand my knowledge of the game and swing.

What are some of your accomplishments in golf?
Iowa Section 1991 Section Match Play Champion; 1993, 2000, 2004, 2006 Section Champion; 2002, 2008, 2009 Low Scoring Average; 2000 Teacher of the Year; 2009-2010 Best Teacher in Iowa by Golf Digest; 2007 Jr. Golf Leader

What was your greatest moment in golf?
I have two moments, and both were holes-in-one. 1996 National Club Pro, 53rd hole (#17 at PGA West Palmer Course) and I birdied the last hole to make the cut on the number! The other was playing with my brother Jamie, and Zach Johnson when Zach was in college.

What or who has had the greatest impact on your career?
Golf Professionals Andy Devine and J.D. Turner; and my brother Golf Coach Jamie Bermel.

Besides golf, what else do you enjoy?
Mostly I enjoy watching my five kids participate in sports and spending time with my wife.

If you could play any golf course in the world, which one would it be and who would complete your foursome?
Augusta National with my brother Jamie Bermel, Zach Johnson and Stewart Cink.

If you could give lessons to anyone in the world who would it be and what advice would you give?
Tiger Woods – I would try to get his hands to return to impact more like he did when he was working with Butch.

What is your favorite golf instruction tip?
My favorite is to try and get my students to return the club in a flatter plane. Most people are over the top with their down swing.

If you have a personal website about your services please list the URL here:
www.golfcedarfalls.com

Scott Reuter – July 2010 PROfile

Name: Scott Reuter
College/University: Iowa State University
Year Turned Pro: 2002
Facility and Job Title: Bos Landen Golf Club, General Manager/Head Golf Professional

What was your motivation to become a PGA Professional?
I grew up loving the game and wanted to share the same enthusiasm with the golfing public.

What is your specialty in the golf business?
Managing the golf business and understanding how to change the perception of a course while retaining and growing members/golfers.

What was your greatest moment in golf?
Purchasing my own golf course. It was a goal and a dream of mine.

What or who has had the greatest impact on your career?
My first “boss” in the golf business. Howie Samb was the General Manager/Golf Pro/part-owner and I learned a lot from him, and still do.

Besides golf, what else do you enjoy?
Teaching, and hanging out with my wife and two boys.

If you could play any golf course in the world, which one would it be and who would complete your foursome?
Augusta National with Fred Couples, Ernie Els and Arnie.

If you could give lessons to anyone in the world who would it be and what advice would you give?
Tiger. Keep enjoying what you do and let everyone else see that. (Nothing with the swing!!)

What is your favorite golf instruction tip?
I use baseball analogies all of the time. Sometimes golfers don’t understand our technical words, but they always understand baseball.

George Stephenson – June 2010 PROfile

Name: George M. Stephenson, PGA
College/University: Wartburg College
Year Turned Pro: 1980
Facility and Job Title: Bunker Hill Golf Club, Golf Professional

What was your motivation to become a PGA Professional?
I have always loved the game of golf and working with people. I also got married which helped motivate me to become a PGA Professional.

What is your specialty in the golf business?
Tournament operations

What are some of your professional accomplishments?
1979 Iowa Conference Champion; 1987 Merchandiser of the Year, Public, Iowa Section

What was your greatest moment in golf?
Winning the Iowa Conference

What or who has had the greatest impact on your career?
My brother Scott Stephenson and Hank Stukart

Besides golf, what else do you enjoy?
Spending time with my wife, watching my son play sports and bowling

If you could play any golf course in the world, which one would it be and who would complete your foursome?
Augusta National with Jack Nicklaus, my dad Tom Stephenson, my brother Scott Stephenson and Fred Couples

If you could give lessons to anyone in the world who would it be and what advice would you give?
Tiger Woods – smile and enjoy it

What is your favorite golf instruction tip?
Swing for the target; let the ball get in the way. Don’t be ball bound

Heath Scott – May 2010 PROfile

Name: Heath Scott, PGA
College/University: New Mexico State University
Year Turned Pro: 2006
Facility and Job Title: Assistant Professional at TPC Deer Run

What was your motivation to become a PGA Professional?
My motivation for becoming a PGA Professional was to increase the growth of the game

What is your specialty in the golf business?
Management

What was your greatest moment in golf?
My first hole in one and being able to play with many different people throughout my ventures so far

What or who has had the greatest impact on your career?
My family has been the greatest impact

Besides golf, what else do you enjoy?
Camping, boating, spending time with friends and being with my family

If you could play any golf course in the world, which one would it be and who would complete your foursome?
Cape Kidnappers with my grandfather, Tiger and my father

If you could give lessons to anyone in the world who would it be and what advice would you give?
Donald Trump. The advice I would give him is “tempo”

What is your favorite golf instruction tip?
Tempo

Ryan Rinnels – April 2010 PROfile

Name: Ryan Rinnels, PGA
College/University: Mount Mercy College (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Year Turned Pro: 2003
Facility and Job Title: Wakonda Club, Head Golf Professional

What was your motivation to become a PGA Professional?
I wanted to be able to share my knowledge of golf and continue to grow this wonderful game!

What is your specialty in the golf business?

Being able to connect with every type of customer. I am able to make them feel very welcome and enhance their experience.

What are some of your golf accomplishments?
2006 Assistant Golf Professional of the Year

What was your greatest moment in golf?
Making my first hole in one at the Wakonda Club while playing with a group of members.

What or who has had the greatest impact on your career?
Knowing that I am able to help golfers with a swing tip or advice that leads them to more success in their golf game.

Besides golf, what else do you enjoy?
I enjoy all sports and spending time with my wife Kate, son Will and daughter Vivienne.

If you could play any golf course in the world, which one would it be and who would complete your foursome?
Augusta National with Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird

What is your favorite golf instruction tip?
Getting your wrists hinged at the top of the swing.

Scott Howe – March 2010 PROfile

Name: Scott Howe, PGA
College/University: University of Iowa, 1981
Year Turned Pro: 1982
Facility and Job Title: Des Moines Golf and Country Club, Director of Golf

What was your motivation to become a PGA Professional?
A passion for the game of golf and sharing that with others.

What is your specialty in the golf business?
Team building, seeing the larger picture and interacting with our members and guests.

What are some of your accomplishments in golf?
PGA Professional of the Year 1999; IGA Professional of the Year 2001; Apprentice of the Year Iowa Section 1986, 1990; Horton Smith recipient Iowa Section 1992, 1993; Iowa PGA Merchandiser of the Year 1999; Iowa PGA Board of Directors 1987 to 1993.

What was your greatest moment in golf?
Host Professional 1999 US Senior Open

What or who has had the greatest impact on your career?
My father Ed Howe, Ross deBuhr and JD Turner, all PGA Professionals

Besides golf, what else do you enjoy?
Spending time with my family, skiing, guitar and exercise

If you could play any golf course in the world, which one would it be and who would complete your foursome?
St. Andrews with my father, Ben Hogan and Nick Faldo

If you could give lessons to anyone in the world who would it be and what advice would you give?
Any junior golfer who is sincerely interested.

What is your favorite golf instruction tip?
Get the student’s pre-swing fundamentals in order – grip, alignment posture – and then get their swing closer to plane.

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.

Joshua Carter – January 2010 Profile

Name:  Joshua Carter, PGA
College/University: Western Illinois University
Year Turned Pro: 2004
Facility and Job Title: Davenport Country Club, Assistant Golf Professional

What was your motivation to become a PGA Professional?
Helping everyone enjoy the game. I thought it would be fun to make the game I love my business and career.

What is your specialty in the golf business?
Being motivated to succeed each day! I try to convey my passion to members, guests and anyone else I encounter on a day-to-day basis.

Accomplishments (Awards, Certifications, and Tournaments.)
2009 Iowa Section Assistant Golf Professional of the Year.

What was your greatest moment in golf?
Playing the game – winning for the first time! Teaching the game – helping a local high school team qualify for the state tournament. Growing the game – being awarded the 2009 Assistant Professional of the Year.

What or who has had the greatest impact on your career?
The PGA Professionals that I have had the privilege to work under as an Apprentice. Each has helped me develop as a leader and grow as a person.

Besides golf, what else do you enjoy?
Music – playing the drums, and hanging out with friends and family.

If you could play any golf course in the world, which one would it be and who would complete your foursome?
Augusta National with my father who showed me how to play and with my grandfathers who each loved to play as well.

If you could give lessons to anyone in the world who would it be and what advice would you give?
My father. I would tell him to set up like a putt when he is chipping. Basically we would do a short game lesson – “a chip shot is like a putt with a flying start.”

What is your favorite golf instruction tip?
Speed from the ball -– forward. Turn the club upside down and swing –- listen for the “whoosh.” Where does the speed happen? Often players will release the club too early and lose power. By moving the “whoosh” they can feel and hear how to gain more power.

Dustin Miller – December 2009 Profile

Name: Dustin Miller
College/University: Mid-America Nazarene University
Year Turned Pro: 2002
Facility and Job Title: Ellis Golf Course, Head Golf Professional

What was your motivation to become a PGA Professional?
I love what I do. I really wanted a career where I could help people do something they enjoy.

What is your specialty in the golf business?
My specialty would be in my teaching. I feel that I can really help people become better golfers and enjoy the game.

What was your greatest moment in golf?
From a playing standpoint, the greatest moment would be the first tournament I won as a Jr. golfer. I remember it the most because it was my first win. On the business side it would be receiving my PGA Membership because it is something I’ve always wanted to attain.

What or who has had the greatest impact on your career?
I would say the golfing public in general has had the greatest impact on my career. They give me motivation to be a great golf professional. When I am finished with my career I want anyone I had a chance to come in contact with to say, “That guy was great at what he did.”

Besides golf, what else do you enjoy?
Spending time with my family and friends, going to Iowa Hawkeye football games, and working on my putting green in my backyard with my wife Brenna and our 5-year-old dog Katy.

If you could play any golf course in the world, which one would it be and who would complete your foursome?
I have dreamed of this scenario my whole life: Augusta National Golf Club with my father, brother, and brother-in-law.  I would love for my mom and my wife to be able to walk along to see the beauty of the golf course.

If you could give lessons to anyone in the world who would it be and what advice would you give?
Tiger Woods. I’m not sure if I would have a lot of advice for him. I would just like the opportunity to hang out with him on the golf course.

What is your favorite golf instruction tip?

Don’t try to do too much outside of your abilities, and remember it’s just a game.

For more information visit www.dustinmillergolf.com

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