Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
It is a different world these days for a golf professional. Gone are the days of playing in tournaments three or four times a week and giving lessons the rest of the time.
A change in the economy has moved golf pros to think more about the bottom line and making a living. This is something Rozella Ford pro Dave Huffman learned early in his career, and it has paid off.
It paid off because Huffman was notified a few months ago that he had won the prestigious PGA/GMDA (Golf Manufacturers and Distributors Association) Merchandiser of the Year award. The award is given annual to three PGA professionals in each state who has "demonstrated superior skills as a merchandiser in the promotion of golf at a facility."
Huffman won the award for public courses. A private pro and a pro at a resort are honored. The candidates were judge on "the basis of staffing, inventory, shop operations, display, merchandising techniques, merchandising philosophy, merchandising performance and service."
"The industry has changed so much," Huffman said. "Twenty years ago, all the golf pro did was give a lot of lessons. Now, the golf professional is a business man. I spend more of my time merchandising than anything. It is one of the biggest parts of my job because I make it that way."
What a lot of average duffers don't realize is that most golf pros own the merchandise in a clubhouse and use the money to supplement their income. The pros do not survive on correcting slices alone.
"It is just a merchandising philosophy," Huffman said. "What brings everything together is actual service level. I just took their way of doing things and implemented it here at Rozella Ford. You can't achieve this without the support of your membership and your community."
Huffman has worked for mainly private clubs before coming to Rozella Ford two years ago. His previous work has also given him the opportunity to work with two other Merchandisers of the Year.
"The one thing that I learned more than anything else is display, and how to make it look inviting to purchase," Huffman said. "My wife (Stacya) does all of our display, and she is as much a part of this as I am."
This experience has allowed Huffman, who is 31-years-old, to win an award generally garnered by pros older than him.
"This is one award I wanted to win when I started working with merchandising," Huffman said. "I am thrilled. It is something I look forward to winning, but I won't change the way I do things."
County amateur postponed for a year
The first Kosciusko County Amateur golf tournament will have to wait a year to make its debut. The tourney was supposed to have its unveiling this weekend, but won't happen because of time problems in getting it organized.
The tournament would have been like that of other communities' tourneys that bring together the best amateur golfers around in each of four flights.
Officials from Rozella Ford and Stonehenge, the two host sites, will get together and pick a time for the tournament to happen next year.
Tippecanoe Lake County Club
hosting Mid-Am
Tippecanoe Lake Country Club in Leesburg will host the 16th annual IGA Mid-Amateur Championship Aug. 6-7.
Bob Witt of Fishers is the defending champion. Over 100 players will tee off beginning at 7:30 a.m. To be eligible, entrants must be Indiana residents who are 30 years of age or older on Aug. 6. Entrants must be affiliated with an IGA member club and possess a current IGA-PGA GHIN approved handicap of 5.0 or less.
Local players involved in the tournament are Bob Miller (Syracuse), 8:15 a.m. tee time; Roy Bergman (Syracuse), 8:51 a.m.; Jay Shively (Warsaw), 9:09 a.m.; Tom Heuer (Warsaw), 7:39 a.m..; Jack Carpenter (Warsaw), 8:24 a.m.; Jerry Nelson (Warsaw), 8:33 a.m.
Local players in upcoming tournaments
Wittek/Wilson Indiana PGA Assistants Championship
Aug. 3-4 at Harrison Hills Golf Club in Attica
7:30 a.m., 6A - Randall C. Cesco (Rozella Ford)
7:30 a.m., 14 B - Justin Murphy (Tippecanoe Lake CC)
7:30 a.m., 16A - Douglas E. Vance (Tippecanoe Lake CC)
Ninth annual IGA-PGA/IWGA Ladies Mid-Amateur Championship
Aug. 3-4 at Greenfield Country Club
7:39 a.m. - Chris LaLonde (Warsaw)
IGA-PGA Youth Golf News
At Grandview GC, July 16
Girls 8-9 - 1. Emily Johnson (Warsaw) 23-22, 45
At Wildcat Creek GC, July 17
All-Sport Junior Masters
Boys - 33. Justin Howell (Warsaw) 40-39, 79
At Swan Lake GC, July 16
Boys 13-14 - 3. Adam Johnson (Warsaw) 41-41, 82; 4. Aaron Turner (Warsaw) 40-44, 84; 6. Derek Howell (Warsaw) 41-45, 86
Boys 15-16 - 8. Drew Shafer (Akron) 40-40, 80; Chet Walters (Nappanee) 41-39, 80; Ryan Skaggs (Syracuse) 39-41, 80; 13. Kyle Lundy (Leesburg) 43-39, 82; 14. Greg Clay (Warsaw) 39-44, 83; 25. David Slater (Warsaw) 46-43, 89; 35. Chris Clay (Warsaw) 52-49, 101
At Chestnut Hills (Fort Wayne), July 20-21
Boys 17 - 36. Scott White (Pierceton) 89-92, 181
Boys 18 - 8. Jonathon Nixon (South Whitley) 75-85, 160; 16. Aaron Martin (Akron) 86-81, 167
Boys 19 - 3. Kevin Powell (Winona Lake) 82-90, 172
At Deer Track GC (Auburn), July 20-21
Boys 13 - 4. Stephen Conrad (Syracuse) 78-78, 156
Boys 14 - 6. Aaron Turner (Warsaw) 81-75, 156; 7. Adam Johnson (Warsaw) 78-81, 159; 18. David Slater (Warsaw) 88-88, 176
At Pine Valley CC, July 24
All-Sport Junior Masters
Boys - 54. Justin Howell (Warsaw) 40-41, 81
At Erskine GC, July 30
Girls 15-16 - 11. Kerri Wrobel (Warsaw) 49-53, 102
Boys 13-14 - 15. Joel Bickel (Syracuse) 49-43, 92
Boys 15-16 - 3. Andy Martin (Akron) 35-39, 74; 10. Drew Shafer (Akron) 37-40, 77; 13. Ryan Skaggs (Syracuse) 38-40, 78; 33. Anthony Domenico (Burket) 43-47, 90; 34. Edd Campbell (Warsaw) 44-47, 91; 36. Chris Clay (Warsaw) 46-49, 95
At Meshingomesia CC, July 31
Boys 13-14 - 5. Stephen Conrad (Syracuse) 42-45, 87
Boys 15-16 - 1. Drew Shafer (Akron) 36-42, 78; 4. Andy Martin (Akron) 44-38, 82
Boys 17-19 - 6. Aaron Martin (Akron) 42-40, 82
