President's Letter (Archived)
November 2019 (Archive)
President’s Letter --- Pennsylvania Golf Association 2019
August 2, 2019
Chick Wagner, of Oakmont Country Club, was elected President of the Pennsylvania Golf Association at its 2018 fall meeting. He has served as a volunteer since 2006 and on the Executive Committee since 2008. Chick has also served on the USGA Regional Affairs Committee since 1989 and was honored to receive the Ike Grainger Award from the USGA in 2015.
Chick’s commitment to give back to the game he loves was instilled in him while he was playing and then captaining the golf team at Bucknell University. It was there that his first coach, Brad Tufts, and his second coach, Jeff Ranck (who serves with Chick on the Executive Committee) both emphasized the importance of giving back to the game. We are all thankful to our coaches for leading us to become not only golfers but also to be promoters of this wonderful lifetime game.
Wagner expressed his thoughts in the following message to his fellow men and women Association members:
It is truly an honor to serve as President of the Pennsylvania Golf Association.
The primary purpose of the PA Golf Association is to conduct state championships at top quality venues.
Last year is now in the PAGA’s history books. We once again enjoyed an incredible year filled with exciting, competitive golf tournaments that were well orchestrated. Please join me in commending and thanking the team operating our association for their efforts to ensure we had a terrific year. We’d like to also thank all of the volunteers (150+) for their tireless efforts.
2019 is the beginning of a significantly new era in Pennsylvania golf because the Men and Women have successfully merged their associations to become truly an “all-inclusive” Pennsylvania Golf Association. Annie Vanzant is now actively involved on our Board and is Secretary of the association.
With this merger we will be able to better serve our golfing customers. The Competition Committee, chaired by Jason Barkley, is anxious to initiate a few new events this year, 1st Mixed Team Championship is scheduled for June 17-18 at Country Club of York. A dinner will be held at this event to celebrate this occasion.
The 1st Parent/Child Championship will be held at Omni Bedford Springs Resort. We will also be utilizing the talents of our Tournament Director, Cory Reighard, to manage the Women’s Amateur at Phila Cricket Club Aug 7-10, this will enable our women to enjoy the days of competition without the need to also serve as rules officials.
The final details of a “New” Pa Senior Open are being worked out and should be on our 2020 schedule. This should fill a need for those amateurs that are in the 50-54 age bracket and will also provide an opportunity for our professionals over the age of 50 that have been so supportive of our association and our competitions over the years. Without their support it wouldn’t have been possible to obtain our great championship venues.
Thanks to all the clubs throughout the state that graciously allow the Association to use their facilities for our championships and qualifiers. We are fortunate to have these great partnerships.
As Ken Phillips stated in last year’s message, “Our events are top-notch and we will strive every year to improve upon the experience for our participants.”
With that goal in mind, I would encourage you to play and experience our professionally-run championships, compete and form new friendships, and most importantly “Have Fun.”
If you have any suggestions, then please let us know. We have formed a “New” Players Committee, with Jeff Ranck as its chairperson. The purpose of this committee is for you, our customers, to communicate ideas / suggestions / recommendations to your local fellow competitors and they will in turn pass those comments on to us. Historically, most comments have come thru the post tournament on-line surveys. This new committee allows all of you one more manner to make your thoughts known to us. As mentioned earlier, we are always striving to improve. Thank you.
We look forward to seeing you and all of your friends at our wonderful championships this year.
Yours in golf,
Chick Wagner
PS: A special congratulations goes out to our 2019 PA Amateur Champion, Chris Tanabe, who is another proud Bucknell Bison!!