USGA announces 2012 executive committee nominations

The USGA Nominating Committee today announced the nomination of Glen D. Nager, of Washington, D.C., to serve a one-year term as president of the United States Golf Association (USGA). The election of officers and the 15-member USGA Executive Committee will take place Feb. 4, 2012, at the USGA’s Annual Meeting in Houston. As president, Nager, 53, will lead the USGA’s 300-plus professional staff and nearly 1,400 volunteers who serve on more than 30 committees. “Given the opportunities and challenges confronting the game, this is an important and exciting time to become president of the United States Golf Association,” said Nager. “I am honored and privileged to receive this nomination, and look forward to working closely with Executive Director Mike Davis and his talented staff to conduct the very best championships in golf and to advance the USGA’s mission.” Nager is in his third year as a member of the USGA Executive Committee and second as vice president. He served as general counsel to the USGA from 2006 to 2008. Currently, Nager chairs the USGA’s Commercial, Compensation and Rules of Golf Committees, and serves on the Equipment Standards, Joint Equipment Standards, Management and Joint Rules of Golf Committees. Nager is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Jones Day, an international law firm, where he chairs the firm’s Issues and Appeals Practice. He has argued 13 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and he has tried cases and argued appeals in subject areas such as antitrust, civil rights, employment, environmental law, government contracts and intellectual property, representing clients such as General Electric, CBS, IBM and Sodexo. Nager also serves as an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, where he has taught administrative and constitutional law. He is a graduate of the University of Texas and Stanford Law School, where he was president of the Stanford Law Review. Among his clerkships was service in 1983 for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor of the U.S. Supreme Court. He lives in the District of Columbia. Four other current members of the Executive Committee have also been nominated to serve as officers. They are: Thomas J. O’Toole, Jr., of St. Louis, Mo., and Daniel B. Burton, of Lititz, Pa., as vice presidents; Geoffrey Y. Yang, of Menlo Park, Calif., as secretary; and Christie L. Austin, of Cherry Hills Village, Colo., as treasurer. The other six current members of the Executive Committee nominated to continue their service are: William W. Gist, IV, of Lincoln, Neb.; William L. Katz, of Essex Fells, N.J.; Gene McClure, of Atlanta, Ga.; Edward G. Michaels, III, of Cashiers, N.C.; Diana M. Murphy, of St. Simons Island, Ga.; and James B. Williams, of Orinda, Calif. There are four newly nominated candidates for the Executive Committee for 2012: Karen S. Ammerman, M.D., of Webster, Mass.; William E. Fallon, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Mark P. Reinemann, of Pewaukee, Wis.; and Gary R. Stevenson, of Lafayette, Calif. Ammerman, 56, is a board-certified staff physician at Reliant Medical Group in Worcester, Mass., where she specializes in obstetrics and gynecology. She holds a medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and conducted her residency at West Virginia University Hospital. Ammerman has served on a variety of hospital and corporate boards, including Fallon Clinic, Central Massachusetts Insurance Company and Massachusetts Assurance Company. Since 2010, Ammerman has served on the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Committee. She has also been a member of the Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts since 1993, serving on the organization’s Rules Committee since 2000. For the past 25 years, Ammerman has been a member at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, Mass., where she has been women’s club champion five times. Fallon, 57, is executive vice president for PNC Bank responsible for commercial credit decisioning, including corporate finance, healthcare, business credit and capital markets. He serves on the board of directors of the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium with assignments on the executive, finance and strategic planning committees. Fallon holds a bachelors degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in business administration from The Ohio State University. Fallon is a member of the USGA Regional Affairs Committee, and is a Rules official for the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association. He previously served as general chairman of the 2003 U.S. Amateur, group chairman of the 2007 U.S. Open and vice chairman of the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open. Fallon is a member of Merion Golf Club, site of the 2013 U.S. Open; Oakmont Country Club, site of the 2016 U.S. Open; and Ballybunion Golf Club in County Kerry, Ireland. Reinemann, 54, is vice president of global sales for ManpowerGroup, responsible for the largest and most complex client relationships in the company. Active in his community, Reinemann has served on and chaired the board of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Foundation, and currently chairs the board of the Wisconsin Lutheran High School Foundation. Reinemann earned both a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Reinemann is a member of the USGA Regional Affairs Committee, and served on the 2011 U.S. Amateur Committee. He is first vice president of the Wisconsin State Golf Association, where he has been a board member since 1997, and also chaired the board of the U.S. Bank Championship. Reinemann is a five-time club champion and former Wisconsin public links champion. He is a member of Blue Mound Golf and Country Club in Wisconsin and The Country Club of North Carolina. Stevenson, 54, is a senior-level sports and entertainment marketing executive whose career spans 30 years. Currently, he serves as president of PAC-12 Enterprises. Previously, he served as chairman and CEO of OnSport, a leading sports marketing and television consulting firm, which was acquired by Wasserman Media Group in 2007. Prior to founding OnSport, Stevenson served in a number of executive roles, including: president, NBA Properties Marketing and Media Group; and chief operating officer of Golf Channel. Stevenson earned an undergraduate degree from Duke University and an MBA from George Washington University. Stevenson is a member of the President’s Council for the 2014 U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst Resort, and serves on the board of the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He has also served on the Gator Bowl Committee, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce NFL Task Force and the Duke University Athletics Advisory Board. Four current members of the Executive Committee will retire at the 2012 Annual Meeting: James B. Hyler, Jr., of Raleigh, N.C.; Brigid Shanley Lamb, of Mendham, N.J.; Christopher A. Liedel, of Vienna, Va.; and Steve Smyers, of Lakeland, Fla.

2011 Hall of Fame inductees announced

Jim Frazier, who was the leader of the Phoenix Thunderbirds when that civic organization moved the Phoenix Open to the TPC Scottsdale and turned it into one of golf’s most successful events, is among three people who have been elected to the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame. Joining Frazier in the Class of 2011 are Barbara Burton, who has devoted more than 30 years of volunteer work to junior golf programs in Arizona, and Ron McPherson, a former state amateur champion who is now the president and CEO of the Antigua Group Inc., based in Peoria. The trio will be inducted Nov. 21 at Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale after the completion of a pro-am scramble tournament. All three have been involved with golf on various levels, all began playing as kids and all became proficient amateur players. Barbara Burton is not a stranger to prestigious honors. Last year, she received the Ike Grainger Award for volunteerism from the U.S. Golf Association and the Updegraff Award presented by the AGA to individuals who exemplify the spirit of the game. But her induction to the Arizona Hall came as a “big surprise.” “I got goose bumps,” said Burton, who moved to Arizona in 1979. “I was pretty shocked to be honest. I knew it had been considered in the past, but when it actually happens, it’s pretty exciting.” Burton grew up in Worthington, Minn., and started playing golf at 12 years old with her father as her instructor. She won club championships on her home courses in Minnesota and Omaha, and has won eight women’s club titles at Pinnacle Peak Country Club, the last one in 1992. She also won the Arizona Women’s Golf Association’s State Scotch Play title in 1985 and ’87. But she is best known as a mentor to young golfers, several of whom have gone on to become college stars and LPGA Tour players, such as Cheyenne Woods of Phoenix and Sarah Brown of Tucson. “It has been so much fun to see the enthusiasm, to see these girls learn and grow into special individuals,” Burton said. “I have truly enjoyed watching it and being part of it.” Burton, a former physical education teacher, got involved in coaching girls through the urging of Sharon Farr, the mother of the late Heather Farr and her sister Missy, who were prominent Arizona junior golfers in the 1970s. She captained the Girls Junior America’s Cup Team for nine years, has worked as an organizer and rules official for countless state and national championships, and has served on the USGA Junior Girls’ Committee for 25 years. A native of Des Moines, Jim Frazier played for the University of Iowa before entering the Marine Corps, where he reached the rank of captain. He entered banking as a management trainee in 1966 and six years later was promoted to senior vice president. Frazier left banking to become the Thunderbirds’ first executive director in 1990 and retired from that post in 2003. While he was serving as Thunderbirds Big Chief (president) in 1987, the Phoenix Open moved from Phoenix Country Club to the TPC Scottsdale. There, the PGA Tour event has flourished, drawing the largest galleries in golf with upwards of a half-million people attending during the week and making it one of Arizona’s most prominent sporting events. Frazier isn’t about to take credit for it, however. “There were many people who were responsible for that success,” he said. “Over the years I have gotten credit for it, but I just happened to be the one sitting at the head of the table when it happened.” Frazier, 73, also served as chairman of the Open and has earned more “honor beads” for his service than anyone in the history of the Thunderbirds – so many, in fact, that he can’t wear them all at once. He also helped found the Junior Golf Association of Arizona, is a two-time president of the Arizona Golf Association and has served on the AGA and Pacific Coast Golf Association boards. He received the AGA’s Champion of Golf Award for service to the game in 2010. He has been a member of Moon Valley Country Club for 40 years and plays to a 3.9 handicap. He says the Hall of Fame honor is “exciting but very humbling.” “Golf has been so good to me, it’s hard to know where to start talking about it,” Frazier said. “I have traveled the world, met just about every significant player in the last 40 years and been fortunate to get to know so many wonderful, caring people. I find it very humbling that I am being recognized for my involvement in golf when it has given me so much more than I have given it. I can’t imagine what my life would have been like without it.” Ron McPherson, who was born in Montana and grew up in Wyoming, literally worked his way from the bottom to the top of Antigua, where he was the very first hire (sales manager) in 1979 of a company then called Eagle Golf. From humble beginnings in a Scottsdale warehouse with one embroidery machine, Antigua has grown into one of the nation’s leading brands in lifestyle apparel and accessories. It has expanded into other sports, including an NFL licensing agreement for 2012, but remains most prominent in golf, and in 2011 was the official outfitter of the U.S. Solheim Cup team. McPherson took over as president of Antigua when its founder, Tom Dooley, sold out in 1997 and added CEO to his title in 2003. “I moved here initially to play and when I realized that wasn’t going to work as a career, I moved to the other side of the counter into the supply side of golf,” McPherson said. “So to have this (induction) happen is a huge honor. I was quite taken back by it.” On the course, McPherson was Wyoming state amateur champion in 1968 and ’70. He is a member of Ancala Country Club and remains a scratch golfer. His company is a primary sponsor of virtually every significant golf organization and event in the state and McPherson also has been active in raising funds for cancer research through the Banner Health Foundation. Among other things, Antigua has sponsored the Antigua Junior Tour for more than 20 years and sponsored the National High School Championships in Scottsdale in September. “One of our goals in growing the company through the ’80s and ’90s was to be an important part of the local golf community, so we’ve done everything we could to stay involved with various sponsorships, especially junior golf,” McPherson said. “The development of young players is very important to us.” McPherson has received the Spirit of Philanthropy Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals and in 2006 was given the Ernie Sabayrac Award for lifetime contributions to golf by the PGA of America. The induction ceremony is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. after a 5 p.m. cocktail hour. A better-ball tournament, which ideally will feature one pro and three amateurs in each group, will start at 12 p.m., with registration at 11 a.m. The cost is $175 per player. For more information, contact Maureen LaMantia at 602-944-3035 or 800-458-8484.

JGAA names annual award winners

PHOENIX, Arizona (October 19, 2011) – The JGAA Awards Party was held on Saturday, October 15 at ASU Karsten Golf Course. The Player of the Year winners for each age division, along with Sportsmanship, Volunteer of the Year, Most Improved and Hole-in-one recipients were recognized. A new tradition was started, with the unveiling of the Thomas Cunningham Perpetual Player of the Year Trophy. This award will recognize the past, present and future JGAA Player of the Year winners. Thanks to the Gresco family for generously donating the trophy. Jordan Carter captured Player of the Year honors for the Girls Championship division of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona. Carter finished in the Top 5 in five of her 9 events on the season, including two wins and two runner-up finishes. She won the Tucson Conquistadores Spring Classic and the Antigua Milt Coggins Stroke Play Championship. Her low round of the year was a 5 under-par 65 at the Tucson City Junior Championship, in which she finished 2nd. The Boys Championship Player of the Year was Anthony Maccioli of Mesa. Maccioli had seven top 3 finishes in 15 events, including a victory at the Spring Stableford and 2nd place finishes at the Tucson City Junior Championship, Antigua Milt Coggins Stroke Play Championship and AZ Boys Match Play Championship. He also finished 3rd in the Mesa City Junior Championship and the Phoenix City Junior Championship. “All of this year’s award winners are not only talented players on the golf course, but truly display the characteristics of champions off the course as well,” said Melanie Boyles, Tournament Director of the JGAA. “We are extremely proud of what these young players accomplished on the fairways and greens, but are especially proud of what outstanding individuals they are developing into.” The following represents the remaining JGAA Player-of-the-Year Award Winners: 2011 Player of the Year Awards Girls Championship – Jordan Carter Girls 15-18 – Katie Dunaway Girls 13-14 – Mariola Szmit Girls 11-12 – Ellie Porman Girls 10 & Under – Grace Chung Boys Championship – Anthony Maccioli Boys 15-18 – Frankie Wu Boys 13-14 – Zach Stodola Boys 11-12 – J.J. Gresco Boys 10 & Under – Jake Carlson The JGAA also announced its Sportsmanship Award winners with Yesong Han and Brett Wilson leading the Girls and Boys Championship divisions. “Golf is a sport that cherishes its traditions, most importantly, that of good sportsmanship. All of our winners this year exemplify those traits,” added Boyles. Other Sportsmanship Award winners and their respective age brackets were:

Grace Knadler — Girls 10-Under
Gabriel Salvanera — Boys 10-Under
Lily Worden — Girls 11-12
RJ David — Boys 11-12
Lariat Adams — Girls 13-14
John Souza — Boys 13-14
Megan Hauptman — Girls 15-18
Mitchell Holmes — Boys 15-18

Most improved girl golfer in 2011 was Megan Knadler of Phoenix. She posted nine Top 3 finishes this year (compared to one last year) including wins at the Thunderbird Junior Classic, Antigua Milt Coggins Junior Stroke Play Championship and PING AZ Junior Masters. Prescott Mann won the year’s most improved golfer for the boys division, with five top 5 finishes. Mann fired five under-par rounds, including back-to-back 67’s at the Antigua Milt Coggins Stroke Play Championship to finish 3rd. He also had 2nd place finishes at the Tucson City Junior Championship and PING AZ Junior Masters, while shaving off five strokes on his average this season. Lynn and Doug Applegate were this year’s recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award. Lynn Applegate has been the co-chairwomen of Transportation Committee for the Waste Management Phoenix Open since 2006. This is a thankless job, requiring many hours, in the weeks before the tournament, tons of hours during the tournament and additional time after the event coordinating the assignments of vehicles to the PGA Tour players and finding vehicles. During the week of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the transportation committee also provides transportation to the PGA Tour wives and families. Lynn’s husband Doug is also a fixture throughout the week, helping with transportation. Finally the ace in the hole, the following golfers fired holes-in-ones during the season and was also honored at the Awards Banquet at ASU Karsten Golf Course:

Holden Huff – Scottsdale, AZ April 16, 2011 at Las Colinas Golf Club Hole #8, 185 yards using a 7 iron Spring Stableford
Corey Scheid – Phoenix, AZ July 16, 2011 at Encanto Golf Course Round 1, Hole #3, 195 yards using a 6 iron Antigua Milt Coggins Arizona Junior Stroke Play
Aliece Pierce – Prescott, AZ June 29, 2011 at Moon Valley Golf Course Hole #7, 124 yards using a 7 iron PING Junior Match Play

For more information on the JGAA, visit the website: www.jgaa.org or contact the JGAA office at (602) 944-6168. To view photos from the event click here.

Jim McLean Golf School moves to SunRidge Canyon

FOUNTAIN HILLS, ARIZ. – SunRidge Canyon Golf Club announced today that it will be home to a new Jim McLean Golf School, with a full complement of game-improving instruction programs and packages available to students beginning in mid November 2011.

“Jim McLean certainly has built an impressive resume over the years as a player, instructor and author,” said Jeff Lessig, General Manager of SunRidge Canyon Golf Club. “We look forward to building a strong relationship between our organizations to provide a solid venue for golfers to learn the game at the best school available.”

The instruction facility will be located on SunRidge Canyon’s practice facility with a permanent structure to be built in 2012 to house the school. McLean’s stable of Lead Master, Master and Certified Instructors will begin accommodating students sometime mid November with frequent visits from McLean as his calendar permits.

“We’re anxious to get started at SunRidge Canyon,” said Jim McLean. “We have been meaning to establish a school in the Scottsdale area for some time now. After a number of site visits by our team, SunRidge Canyon quickly made its way to the top of the list. The combination of great facilities located in a uniquely beautiful setting ultimately swayed our decision in their favor.”

Much like its counterparts throughout the world, the Jim McLean Golf School at SunRidge Canyon will draw students from across the U.S. and the world, a perfect match given that the Scottsdale/Fountain Hills area is already a popular destination for golf vacationers. To accommodate travelers, CopperWynd Resort and Club, located adjacent to SunRidge Canyon, will serve as the preferred lodging partner, with many other lodging options available as well.

“We graciously welcome the opportunity to host Jim McLean Golf School students,” said Neil Ginsberg, Manager, CopperWynd Resort and Club. “The participants will find their stay at CopperWynd to be a unique and intimate Sonoran desert experience. We’re happy to provide them with a comfortable home base where they can relax, refuel and get a good night’s sleep after great day at the golf school.”

GolfTec Chandler grand re-opening

GolfTec of Chandler, located in the Golfsmith on 54th Street just south of Ray Road, will hold a grand re-opening Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy food, drinks, games and giveaways, including a $10 Golfsmith card, complimentary swing diagnosis (by appointment) and $100 off any lesson plan or program. One lucky winner will receive a year’s worth of lessons valued at $3,000. For more information call 480-893-9029.