Hosting the Season’s Final Major

Today’s PGAmagazine.com Blog moderator is PGA Professional Mike Schultz. Mike is the PGA head professional at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., site of the 2009 PGA Championship.

Hazeltine has had a long history of hosting the majors of golf, and I am fortunate to have been Hazeltine National Golf Club’s PGA head professional for the past 34 years. In that time, I have had the opportunity to be the host professional for many outstanding championships, the latest being the 91st PGA Championship.

Preparation for these events is ongoing as the golf course and infrastructure need to be maintained or updated to modern-day levels. We are constantly visiting with other championship sites for the latest in technology, equipment, grasses and land use. We bring in our architect, Rees Jones on an annual visit to make suggestions on playability and design. For the current championship the Board accepted Mr. Jones’ proposal to make modifications to at least 10 different holes. This project was completed in early summer of 2008.

Our Tournament Director, Michael Belot, arrived on site in the fall of 2006 and has had residence in Minnesota ever since. The Hazeltine staff, Executive Committee and membership have been working together with the Tournament Director over the past three years. As a member of the Executive Committee, my role is to oversee a group of dedicated members that compose 19 committees with responsibilities for Merchandising, Scoring and Player Services. Overall the Executive Committee works on behalf of the club in our partnership with The PGA of America. We have input on budgeting and infrastructure, marketing, hospitality, tickets and all other aspects of the championship.

As the PGA head professional, I am currently handling many media requests, player accommodations and marketing with speaking engagements. During the championship I will help manage golf for corporate hospitality, media and player relations and manage the practice facility. I have a great staff that will handle many of these duties so I can attend to my duties on the Executive Committee. There is always something to do and the time passes quickly. I wouldn’t trade my time now with anyone else in the world.