Immediate release contact: Ashley Peden

IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ashley Peden

PGA OF AMERICA HIRES FIVE NEW PLAYER DEVELOPMENT REGIONAL MANAGERS

The new PGA Player Development Regional Managers:

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  Michael Aldrich, PGA – Washington: In his four years as PGA assistant professional at the private River Bend Golf & Country Club in Great Falls, Va., Aldrich displayed a propensity for player development. In 2011, he grew junior participation at the 475-member facility by 22 percent by introducing the PGA Sports Academy and adapting programs to fit the busy lives of today’s youth. Prior to joining River Bend, Aldrich spent three years as PGA head professional at Poolsville (Md.) Golf Course, where rounds grew by 28 percent under his watch.
  
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  Daryl Batey, PGA – Atlanta: A 12-year PGA member, Batey serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia PGA Section as the Chairman of the Education Committee. Batey spent the last decade-plus as PGA head professional at Charlie Yates Golf Course at East Lake in Atlanta, Ga., home course for The First Tee of East Lake. To round out his busy schedule, Batey was also the head golf coach at Spelman College and oversaw the golf education programs at Emory University and Agnes Scott College – all three in the Atlanta area.
  

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  Bob Doyle, PGA – Phoenix: PGA Master Professional Bob Doyle brings a plethora of experience and leadership skills to the table as the Regional Player Development Manager in the Phoenix market. Doyle’s career in golf began in 1979 as an assistant professional at Flatirons Country Club in Boulder, Colo. He is owner and operator of Bob Doyle Golf Inc., where he provides consulting and golf management services to clients such as GolfTEC, Riverdale Golf Course and Atira Golf. A former Colorado PGA Section president, Doyle served three years as District 9 Director on the PGA Board of Directors and as a member of nine national PGA committees in the last 14 years.
  
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  Chuck Higgins, PGA – Dallas: Chuck Higgins is an equity partner and manager of administrative affairs at Keeton Park Golf Course in Dallas, Texas, where he’s partnered with fellow PGA Professional Tony Martinez. Higgins served as chairman of the Tournament Committee and sits on the Junior Golf Committee for the Northern Texas PGA Section, which has allowed him to develop a strong network of PGA Professionals throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
  
• 
  Monte Koch, PGA – Seattle: The 2011 PGA Golf Professional of the Year in the Northern California PGA Section, Monte Koch brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the family of Regional Player Development Managers. A former Section Officer the Northern California PGA Section, Koch was the chairman of the Section’s Growth of the Game Committee. Now a member of the Pacific Northwest Section, he’s orchestrated many successful player development initiatives over the years such as “Welcome to Golf” program for beginning golfers, hosting events for local members of the Executive Women’s Golf Association and a unique growth of the game event at Willie Mays Plaza at AT&T Park, in conjunction with the San Francisco Giants.
  

In an effort to ensure full-time oversight, management and leadership of the Regional Player Development Manager department, The PGA of America has hired Rich Richeson, PGA, as the newly-created Player Development National Manager . Richeson was National Project Manager with American Golf and orchestrated development of the Nike Golf Learning Centers. His focus on player development continued beyond this tenure with American Golf to include his most recent position as general manager at Charlotte Golf Links and director of the Carolina Trail Golf Learning Center with IRI Golf Management.

“The PGA of America is excited to attract high-caliber, energetic individuals to support our growth-of-the game efforts," said Joe Steranka, chief executive officer of The PGA of America. “They will be responsible for helping the golf industry drive, promote and develop innovative initiatives that reach out to golfers in diverse markets nationwide. By their efforts, we will expand our outreach to women, minorities and junior golfers, underscoring golf as a game for everyone.”

Each PGA Player Development Manager will also provide support to allied associations throughout the golf industry, as well as deliver education to facilities and businesses in support of initiatives and events to promote the game to new audiences.

To learn more about these positions, visit the PGA Employment Center at: PGA.com/employment.

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