As we gain on Labor Day, I hope that cooler temperatures are around the corner, but I know that shorter days are! Honestly, watching our PGA Professionals work tirelessly the past few years as the popularity of the game grew has reminded me that the most valuable way I can spend my time is finding ways to help PGA Members improve their lives. That could mean supporting them in negotiating a raise, helping them find a new job, or simply listening when they need to vent. I know I haven't assisted 100% of the members of the Carolinas PGA, but I hope I can add a few more names to the list every day.

With all that said, this report is going to be about the amazing things other people are doing to support PGA Members. I want to start with our Carolinas PGA summer intern team. While Macy, Melanie, and Katie are either already back on their respective campus or counting down the days, they were incredibly helpful in convincing PGA Members and Associates to complete or update their compensation profiles. As you can see by the number at the bottom of this webpage, after months of being stuck at 960ish profiles, they were able to get over 60 new completions and numerous updated profiles. Thank you to all three of them for their commitment to this important initiative.

(As a side note, if you haven't either completed or recently updated you compensation profile, please login to PGA.org, click "Compensation", and provide your information. It is the most important data I have to influence compensation for PGA Members).

I also spoke in my last report about the shortage of labor, and I wanted to take some time to talk about the industry recruitment programs at the PGA of America. Currently, Career Consultant Chris Kulinski leads a team of four full time recruiters (Kate Drimel, Dylan Gladney, Caleb Hung, & Leila Mackie). Chris and the team have developed a great public facing recruitment website in addition to a resource site designed for sections and section leaders to help educate them on recruiting efforts. I hope you take the time to look at both of them to see how the Association is working diligently to address a major industry issue. Chris will be in Charlotte for the African American Golf Expo at the end of August and will have an opportunity to meet with some the CPGA Officers to further discuss the Association recruiting efforts.

Have their efforts worked??? Based on the number of new Pre-Qualifiers in the Carolinas since my last report, I would say the early returns are promising. As you can see in the "Important Lists" section below, we have had 23 new PQ's since June 1 (roughly 2 1/2 months). For comparison, we had only 9 in the same time frame in 2021. While those numbers are impressive, I would also say that we now have momentum on our side and fully expect those numbers to continue to rise.

As we know, retention is just as important as recruitment, and that is a task for more than just 5 people. But the team deserves a pat on the back for their hard work, and I hope we as PGA Members support them by hiring and mentoring those young people in a way that makes them want to make a career in the industry.

I'll be on the road a LOT the next few months, starting with the Women's and Senior Championships next week, the African American Golf Expo, the Pro-Official, CPGA Championship, Board Meeting and Pro-Am, Teaching & Coaching Summit, and the 10 Chapter meetings. This gives me a lot of time in front of PGA Members, and I hope to see each of you a few times in the coming months.

All Active Positions

PGA Compensation Profile - Carolinas Section Participation

Job Preferences - Carolinas Section Participation

Tab 1 - Names and emails of people who have applied to the Pre-Qualifier program. PQ applicants purchase and review the five qualifying level courses: Introduction to the PGM and the Golf Profession, PGA History, PGA Constitution, Rules of Golf and Career Enhancement to be eligible to register for the qualifying test through our third party test company virtually.

Please note that PGA HQ does not collect employment information at the time of PQ registration.

Tab 2 - Newly elected PGA Members