Phil Gaggero...with his glasses on.
BG: Why did you feel the move was necessary?
PG: The Head Pro position at Shuksan is a great opportunity for me professionally as well as personally. Before our move to Bellingham in 2007 I had been the Head Golf Professional at Crystal Springs Golf Course, a semi-private club in Burlingame, Calif. I really enjoyed the multi-dimensional role of that position and its potential to create an environment that got people excited about golf. I have really enjoyed my five years as Director of Instruction at Lake Padden and am thankful for the opportunity that Mel Fish (PGA Director of Golf) and Barry Kramer (General Manager) gave me to create and develop some great instructional programs. I have made some great friendships, especially with the junior golfers and the families involved in our First Tee program, and I hope those will continue in the future.
Being a golf professional in a region of the country with such inclement winters can be difficult. It will be great to have a year-round job doing something I love.
BG: What will your areas of responsibility be at Shuksan?
PG: My role as the Head Golf Professional will be to oversee the entire golf operation; staffing, merchandising, instructional programs and teaching, membership programs, marketing, the whole enchilada. I will also play a role in the marketing and management of the banquet facility, a real hidden gem with amazing views of Mount Baker.
BG: What are you looking forward to most?
PG: The new relationships I'll hopefully forge with guests of the course as well as the current staff members. I am excited to work with Rick Dvorak (President/Owner) and Reg Riddle (Course Superintendant) who have both been there since opening day in 1994. I also look forward to introducing an amazing course to players that haven't been to Shuksan before and reuniting players with a championship venue that is worthy of their attention.
Gaggero has been nominated for four 2011 PGA Western Washington Chapter awards - Teacher of the Year, Junior Golf Leader, the President's Plaque (awarded to professional making an outstanding contribution to player development, specifically in the Play Golf America programs), and the Horton Smith Trophy (recognizes outstanding contribution to education, specifically to education within the PGA). Bellingham Golf & Country Club's Mike Montgomery is up for Golf Professional of the Year. Voting is open only to chapter members. Results will be announced, and the awards presented, at the chapter's Fall Meeting on September 29th.
Meanwhile, Montgomery shot a three-over 75 in today's first round of the PNW PGA Professional Championship being played at Illahe CC in Salem, OR. With 36 holes still to be played, Mike is tied for 47th, eight shots behind co-leaders Tim Feenstra and Scott Erdmann.
PG: The new relationships I'll hopefully forge with guests of the course as well as the current staff members. I am excited to work with Rick Dvorak (President/Owner) and Reg Riddle (Course Superintendant) who have both been there since opening day in 1994. I also look forward to introducing an amazing course to players that haven't been to Shuksan before and reuniting players with a championship venue that is worthy of their attention.
Gaggero has been nominated for four 2011 PGA Western Washington Chapter awards - Teacher of the Year, Junior Golf Leader, the President's Plaque (awarded to professional making an outstanding contribution to player development, specifically in the Play Golf America programs), and the Horton Smith Trophy (recognizes outstanding contribution to education, specifically to education within the PGA). Bellingham Golf & Country Club's Mike Montgomery is up for Golf Professional of the Year. Voting is open only to chapter members. Results will be announced, and the awards presented, at the chapter's Fall Meeting on September 29th.
Meanwhile, Montgomery shot a three-over 75 in today's first round of the PNW PGA Professional Championship being played at Illahe CC in Salem, OR. With 36 holes still to be played, Mike is tied for 47th, eight shots behind co-leaders Tim Feenstra and Scott Erdmann.
