PGA REACH Carolinas

What is PGA REACH? PGA REACH is the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. No, not the PGA Tour - that can get a little confusing! More specifically, REACH Carolinas supports the Carolinas PGA Section in growing the game through our three pillars: Youth, Military, and Inclusion. We can't put it all in the first LinkedIn post, but we have it all on our website! Check us out! https://lnkd.in/e8F2Pvpk #pga #golflife #communityimpact #militaryfriendly #juniorgolf #sports

PGA REACH Carolinas is powered by passionate PGA of America Golf Professionals who go the extra mile in empowering communities and impacting lives through golf.  ️ Meet Micah Vugrinec - representing the Sandhills Chapter as our PGA REACH Carolinas representative, and is currently the Head Golf Professional at Highland Country Club. Micah grew up golfing in Delaware and knew he wanted to work in the golf industry. He went to Methodist University and graduated in 2007, then moved on to be an assistant professional at Highland Country Club in Fayetteville, NC. There, he began being very active in junior golf and military since he was living in a military town. In 2017 he took over as the Director of Golf and he continues to be very involved in PGA Junior League. Additionally, since he is also close to Methodist University, he has built a strong connection with the PGM program since his graduation and hires 10-15 students per year. As for the future of PGA REACH, he hopes to see the chapter having more events and empowering more assistants to get involved. #REACHCarolinas

PGA REACH Carolinas is powered by passionate PGA of America Golf Professionals who go the extra mile in empowering communities and impacting lives through golf. ⭐️ Meet Martin Lucas - representing the Triangle Chapter as our PGA REACH Carolinas representative, and is currently an instructor at Operation 36 Golf . Martin is involved in PGA HOPE, Drive, Chip, & Putt, and PGA Junior League. He sees PGA Junior League continuing to be a rising activity amongst junior golfers as it helps get developing juniors and opportunity to participate in a friendly, competitive environment. He has seen how Drive, Chip, & Putt has inspired so many new juniors to compete and enjoy the game for an amazing chance that might take them all the way to Augusta National. He also works and hopes to see the section continually growing PGA HOPE programs to serve a very dense population of veterans and active military in the Carolinas who have a need for these programs. Martin is inspired to teach golf to a variety of golfers. #REACHCarolinas

We’ve added some PGA HOPE Certified Instructors to the PGA HOPE family!🎉 Congratulations to: Andrew Kiger, PGA Bailey Stromberg Caleb Wittig, PGA, TPI Carlos Rodriguez, PGA Chase Dubin Chris Byrd, PGA Chris Wadwick, PGA Ed LaPierre Eric Salomatoff, PGA Garrett Sigler Joe Steadman  Joshua Doyle Kara Cook Lemuel Clement, PGA philip fecteau PGA  Richard Whitfield, PGA Ryan Duckworth, PGA Scott Brazaski, PGA Seth Wilson, PGA Stephen Krolikowski, PGA Trevor Fredericks William Balanoff Aaron Willie Nolan Miller, PGA At Pinehurst No. 9, 25 individuals attended the PGA HOPE training, going through a classroom session and an outdoor, hands-on training session. The training was led by national trainer, J.P. Lunn, PGA. Huge thank you to J.P. for his passion and insight. And thank you to Pinehurst Resort for their support and hospitality!

Meet Perry Green - representing the Lowcountry Chapter as our PGA REACH Carolinas representative, and is currently the Director of Instruction at the Golf Club of Wescott Plantation. Perry began his career in the golf industry right out of college as an assistant professional. He enjoyed working with kids from the beginning, and eventually became involved in many junior programs. Then, in 2015, he took a class on teaching adaptive golf, showing how Perry was passionate about the cause of PGA REACH before he even knew about it! While becoming more and more immersed in PGA REACH, Perry was inspired to take the opportunity to give back to the organization and cause that means so much to him. #REACHCarolinas

Meet Ian Bollinger - representing the Greater Chapter as our PGA REACH Carolinas representative. Ian began his interest in golf at the age of 15 when he picked up the game in Lompoc, California. From there, he continued to feel the golf business would be the direction to golf. for him, and he attributes a lot of that to the golf pro that hired him. After high school, he moved back to the mountains of North Carolina, and since then he’s had many experiences that have grown his passion for golf and teaching young people. Today, he is the Director of Instruction of The First Tee of Greater Charlotte. In his role and as the REACH committee representative for his chapter, he would love to see more opportunities for veterans to form leagues to create more camaraderie and support. He feels it is a great honor to serve those that have served. #REACHCarolinas

Congratulations to our 7th Sunny Harris Hutchinson PGA WORKS Fellow on the completion of his fellowship! Jordan Young made the most of his 15 months with us and had a lasting impact on each of the Foundation's programs. Our staff and membership will miss him greatly!!

Meet Michael Pius, M.S., PGA - representing the Mountains Chapter as our PGA REACH Carolinas representative. Michael started playing golf at the age of 13, and was inspired by his instructor who not only taught him the game, but also the life skills that are inherent in the game. He began his career in golf working at a local country club, then attended Penn State’s PGA Golf Management Program and continued his education getting his masters’ and working for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’s PGA Golf Management Program. After bouncing around the golf industry in different roles. He found his way to First Tee — Upstate South Carolina and is now the Executive Director. As REACH Chair of his chapter, he educates his chapter on the work of the section and hopes to impact the lives of those in his chapter. He hopes to continue building funding initiatives with the CPGA REACH to aid PGA WORKS, First Tee chapters and golf courses, and youth programs across the Carolinas. #REACHCarolinas

As we wrap up the Drive, Chip & Putt season here in the Carolinas, we want to take a moment to recognize our host professionals. Drive, Chip & Putt would not be possible without them, plus their facilities, staff, and volunteers. Thank you to the following PGA Professionals & Associates for allowing us to utilize their facility and creating lasting memories for our juniors and their families! Tom Mason, PGA at Par Tee Golf Center Kyle J. Kirk, PGA at Pinewild Country Club  Dan Aros, PGA at Eagle Creek Golf Club Brock White, PGA, MBA at Methodist University Golf Course  Bob Byrnes, PGA at Hope Valley Country Club  Ian Bollinger, PGA at First Tee - Greater Charlotte Learning Center Martha Sutton, PGA at Keith Hills Golf Club  Bruce Mohler, PGA at Greensboro National Golf Club  Dale Heflin, PGA at Willow Creek Golf Club  Ryan Bell, PGA at Country at Club of South Carolina  Jason Cherry, PGA at Country Club of Landfall William Rowehl, PGA at Legends Golf Resort Perry Green, PGA at The Golf Club at Wescott Plantation  Robert Nowak, PGA at Mountain Glen Golf Club Carter Gerwitz at Wildwood Green Golf Club  Andy Zachowicz, PGA at Statesville Country Club  Nick Jacobi, PGA at Stonebridge Golf Club  Steven Goforth, PGA at Cross Creek Plantation  Rob Pilewski, PGA at Duke University Golf Club Jonathan York, PGA at Grandover Resort Paul Tabor, PGA at Fort Jackson Golf Club

As we wrapped up our Carolinas PGA Jr. League season with the Section Championship yesterday, we recognize that this would not be possible without our PGA of America Professionals and their facilities for hosting us! Thank you, host professionals, for welcoming the PGA Jr. League community to your facilities and allowing teams, coaches, participants, and families to create long-lasting memories around the game of golf. Thank you to: Johnny Scott, PGA at Pine Hollow Golf Club  Jimmy Bayne, PGA at Oak Hollow Golf Course Jonathan Grab, PGA at Rocky River Golf Club Steven Hartwig, PGA at Columbia Country Club  Kevin Lavertu, PGA at Gates Four Golf and Country Club