SFPGA JUNIOR GOLF RULES OFFICIAL, DICK YOUNG

 

Southwest Florida golf: Criticism par for course in life of rules official Dick Young

Dave Kempton, Special to the Naples Daily News Published 2:00 p.m. ET July 31, 2018

 

Dick Young spends approximately 35 weeks a year doing a job that in many cases provides little kindness from the people he communicates with.


In fact, the 84-year-old Cape Coral resident is sometimes penalized for knowing too much about the sport he helps govern.

Young is a tournament director and rules official for the Florida State Golf Association and the United State Golf Association.

Translated, that means Young handles rules decisions - in many cases adding more strokes to a player's misfortune - and prepares the setup of a course prior to a tournament - which can lead to complains about the length or the pin positions being inaccessible.


Young's resumé includes working with South Florida PGA Section events, FSGA state events, national college championships and USGA sectional and regional events.


Dick Young, 84, of Cape Coral spends approximately 35 weeks a year as a rules official for the Florida State Golf Association and the United State Golf Association.


Young likes the direction the sport is heading and the many rules changes that will go into effect Jan. 1, 2019.


""The course closings, cost of playing the game and the time involved has ruled the conservation in recent years, but the new rules changes - with an emphasis on fast play - will help change things,"" Young said. ""Another big change is the number of kids being introduced to the game and the size of these 7 to 9 year old kids boggles my mind.


""I recently worked a Drive, Chip & Putt competition in Estero and these kids showed up with all 14 clubs in their bag. What made it more interesting was in many cases the parents were toting the bags.


""The kids are also well educated about the rules. I can see golf having the potential to get back where it was 10-15 years ago.""

Young was a veteran lacrosse official in the Syracuse, New York, area when he started working golf events for the state association. He moved to Lee County after retiring from National Cash Register, and then to Cape Coral in 2010.


Young attended a FSGA rules seminar with a neighbor in 1996 and quickly became involved with tournaments and rules.

He agrees with the bifurcation side that the game is different for amateurs and the tour professionals - both sides keep going farther apart and would be better served with separate rules.


""The average player has never been further removed from the professional game,"" he said. ""I watch these boys and girls that go to college with a decent game and then decide to turn pro and that's the last thing they should be doing.""

Young especially enjoys preparing a course for a tournament.


""I enjoy selecting locations for the hole pin placements, taking into consideration what the weather will be and keeping pace of play moving along because there's nothing worse than a five hour round of golf,"" he said. ""Sometimes with a difficult course long rounds are hard to avoid.""


Young watched the recent U.S. Open with severe conditions and the putting green incident with Phil Mickelson, where he was penalized for striking a moving ball.


""The USGA got slapped in the face with the low scores at the two recent Opens at Chambers Bay in Washington and Erin Hills last summer in Wisconsin and then they over compensated this year,"" he said.


""And I think the USGA weaseled out on when Mickelson slapped at a moving ball on the green, he should have been disqualified.""

Penalties and being yelled at go along with being an official, even in golf.


""I've been yelled at by a man who said the course setup was way too difficult after shooting an 84,"" he said. ""Then I simply pointed out the winner shot a 64. They're upset with penalty stokes when playing too slow but after a few events they come around.""


Young also has his favorite courses in Southwest Florida for tournament play. He lists Naples National, Quail Creek, TwinEagles and Bay Colony in Collier County and Fiddlesticks and The Forest's Bear 18 as his favorites.

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By Tami Tolley July 25, 2025
In the five years after graduating from Michigan State University, Christian Meier, PGA, took her Toyota Prius from 10,000 to over 300,000 miles, competing all across the country on the Symetra Tour (now Epson Tour). A four-year starter for the Spartans, where she competed in 42 career events, won three Big 10 Conference titles, and boasted the 10th lowest scoring average in school history, Meier was set on making it to the highest level of women's golf. Growing up in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Meier loved competing, and having an older sister who also played golf made that competitive drive even deeper. The two were talented junior golfers, often competing head-to-head as the only girls in junior events back home. While Christine headed to Michigan State and her sister, Amy, to conference competitor Ohio State, the Meier sisters were carving their own paths. The summer following her sophomore year, Christine qualified for the U.S. Women's Open, becoming the first Spartan to qualify for the Major Championship while still in school. A year later, Amy qualified as well. With both sisters having standout college careers, they hit the road together, traveling across the country, searching for their breakout opportunity. Christine's came in her second-to-last year on tour, but it was vastly different from what she initially envisioned. While having an extensive break on her schedule, Christine came across a high school coaching position in Memphis, Tennessee. Not ready to give up on her playing aspirations, Christine saw this as an opportunity to do something different and get her mind off the grueling stretch of competitive golf. "The woman who hired me was Mary Murphy, a PGA Professional who teaches in Memphis and Olive Branch, Mississippi," explained Christine. "She talked about the PGA Program a little bit, and I kind of brushed it off initially, not in a negative way, I was just still in the mindset of, I'm going to play, I'm a player." The experience turned out to be extremely beneficial for Christine, who began falling in love with coaching—so much so that she came back the following season to coach for another 10 weeks. This time, Christine was introduced to Jennifer Hudson, the PGA Director of Instruction at Sankaty Head Golf Club in Texas. "I saw what she did, she helped me with my game a little bit, and it started to look like a life I would enjoy," Christine recalled. "It keeps you around the game, you learn a ton, and you get to meet a lot of other people. That may have nudged me in that direction more than I already was." Throughout this entire time of playing professionally and coaching, Christine maintained a seasonal position inside the golf shop at The Club at Mediterra while working up north for a few seasons. Following her second stint coaching, when Christine returned to Mediterra for the winter season, PGA Director of Golf Kevin Swan again encouraged her to enter the program. Because of her time competing on tour and experience working at different facilities, Christine had the necessary knowledge to knock out the program.. Between the encouragement from Swan and others, Christine was all in on the PGA of America, becoming a Class-A Member in 2023. While proud and happy with her new life in golf, Christine is not afraid to admit that the transition from playing full-time to now working in golf was incredibly daunting. "Golf was such a huge part of my identity that it was really difficult to wrestle with the potential of that not being the case anymore, not being able to be around the game, not playing a ton anymore," Christine explained. "I really struggled with that idea." A few years into her full-time position with Mediterra, Christine is just as involved with the game as she ever was, only now in a different setting. "It has been a perfect fit because I can still be around the game, which was so important to me," emphasized Christine. "I never really want to lose that or the playing or teaching piece of it."
July 24, 2025
Naples, FL - For the third consecutive year, Justin Hicks, PGA, and Robbie Wight claim the Pro-Scratch Championship, presented by Srixon | Cleveland, played July 22-23 at Talis Park Golf Club and Grey Oaks Country Club. Hicks and Wight first teamed up in the 2022 Pro-Scratch Championship, where they finished in the top-25. Since then, the duo has won three straight, making them the first pair to win three consecutive titles in the event's 45-year history. Finishing at 19-under, 62-63–125, Hicks and Wight outlasted the teams of Michael Kartrude, PGA of The Bear’s Club, with amateur partner, Justin Grondahl, and the team of Brant Peaper of Lost Tree Club and amateur partner, Mackenzie Edwards, by one. With rain falling throughout the front nine of the final round for Hicks and Wight, they managed a 3-under performance, which saw them trail by two going into the final nine holes. As the rain subsided, Hicks and White caught fire, playing the final six holes at 5-under, including an eagle on the par-5 13th hole from Hicks. “We get a sandwich at the turn and somehow go gangbusters on the back, which was a lot of fun, " said Hicks. “We managed to really ham and egg it well on the back nine and saw ourselves go from chasing to the ones being chased.” Finishing in fourth was the Bowser team of Evan Bowser, PGA of LaPlaya Golf Club, and sister Elayna Bowser, who finished at 17-under. Rounding out the top-5 were the teams of Kenny Leech, PGA of Don Law Academy @ Osprey Point, with Elijah Zamarron, and the team of Kyle Horvath, PGA of Quail Creek Country Club, and partner, Victor Prokop, at 15-under. This year’s Pro-Scratch Championship was held at Grey Oaks Country Club and Talis Park Golf Club. Grey Oaks Country Club is led by PGA Directors of Golf, Martin DeAngelo and Leslye Dyke, PGA Head Professional of Golf Professional Avery Radunz. Talis Park Golf Club is led by PGA Director of Golf, David Witt, and Associate Head Professional, Cory Briney. Srixon and Cleveland were the presenting partners, while Airshare, Ghost Golf, Kohler Wisconsin, The Back Nine Golf, Florida Window and Door, and Unknown Golf were the supporting partners. Leaderboard
July 9, 2025
Naples, FL - Seminole Golf Club Professionals, Matt Cahill and Dakun Chang, win the Yamaha Pro-Pro Championship, presented by Callaway, July 8-9 at The Rookery at Marco and Hammock Bay Golf Club. Head Professional, Cahill, and Assistant Professional, Chang completed the wire-to-wire victory with a 21-under performance, adding their third team championship together but first Pro-Pro victory. This year’s Championship returned to The Rookery at Marco and Hammock Bay, serving as the host facilities for the fourth time in the last five years. A full field of 240 South Florida PGA Professionals and Associates competed in a team four-ball format over the 36-hole event. After an 11-under opening round, Cahill and Chang held a one-shot lead over Andrew Filbert, PGA of West Bay Club, and Justin Smith, PGA of Bonita Bay Club. Leaving no room for question, the duo of Cahill and Chang opened the final round with five straight birdies to expand their lead. The two again managed five straight birdies on the back nine on holes 12-16 to ultimately finish at 21-under and three shots ahead of Filbert and Smith. In third place came the Peaper duo of Brian and Brant, who wrapped the event at 17-under. Finishing in a tie for fourth at 16-under were the teams of Greg Martin and Michael Kartrude, Ashley Grier and Alan Morin, and Mark Mielke and Mark Brown. The 2025 Yamaha Pro-Pro Championship was presented by Callaway and supported by Dunning/Greg Norman, Global Golf Sales, Heritage Creations, Hole In One USA, JumboMax Grips, and Toptracer. The Rookery at Marco is led by PGA Director of Golf, Scott Lien, PGA Head Professional, Phillip Ott and PGA Assistant Professionals, Tony Kelley and Nicholas Fairneny. Hammock Bay is led by PGA General Manager, Anthony Schmid and PGA Assistant Professionals, Raymond Miron and Brandon Rowcliffe. Leaderboard
July 2, 2025
Atlantis, FL - Brian Herring, PGA, and Christian De Greiff, PGA, claim the Yamaha Junior-Senior with a bogey-free, 10-under performance today at Lost City Golf Club. The 2025 Yamaha Junior-Senior welcomed 50 two-person teams of a junior SFPGA Member under the age of 50 and a senior SFPGA Member over the age of 50. Holes 1-6 were played in a best-ball format, while holes 7-12 were played in a modified alternate shot format, and holes 13-18 were played in a scramble format. Herring, a Don Law Academy Teaching Professional, and De Greiff, a Coral Ridge Country Club Teaching Professional, birdied the final three holes en route to a 6-under back-nine, defeating the teams of Justin Hicks, PGA, and Taylor Morgan, PGA, and the team of Alan Morin, PGA, and Taylor Collins, PGA, by one shot. The team from The Breakers Rees Jones Course, Richard Terga, PGA, and Timothy Collins, PGA, finished in fourth place, shooting an 8-under 64. Originally slotted for a 9 AM shotgun start, the event was delayed due to inclement weather, with the start moved to 11 AM. Yamaha was this year’s title partner, while Global Golf Sales, Levelwear, and OluKai were all supporting partners. For the fourth straight year, Lost City Golf Club has hosted the Championship, which is led by PGA Director of Golf Mason Colling and PGA Head Professional Peter Haupt. Leaderboard
June 26, 2025
Miromar Lakes, FL - Dakun Chang, PGA wins the Championship Division while Justin Hicks, PGA wins the Senior Division at the E-Z-GO South Florida Open, played June 24-26 at Miromar Lakes Golf Club and Bonita Bay Club. The second South Florida PGA Major of the year and first three-day Major featured 167 total players competing at Miromar Lakes Golf Club and Bonita Bay Club. Following round 2, a Senior Champion was crowned, and the field was cut to 51+ ties for the final round. Seminole Golf Club Assistant Professional, Dakun Chang, PGA, opened the three-day event with a 5-under 67 to trail John Lento, PGA, by one. Chang managed a shot better in the second round, firing a 6-under 66 to hold the lead by one over Justin Hicks, while managing a clean scorecard through the first 36-holes. Chang's first bogey didn't come until the 14th hole in the final round as he held a two-shot lead over the field. “After I made my first bogey on 14, I had to look at the leaderboard," Chang said. “I felt like I was in a pretty comfortable position, and after I looked, it did help me understand what I had to do.” Following his first bogey, Chang birdied the par-5 16th before making a double bogey on the 17th hole, narrowing his lead to one. Chang rebounded with a birdie on the 18th to secure the win by two with a final score of 67-66-71–204. “I have been working on my game pretty hard this summer, and things have been turning around for me,” Chang said. “The putter was very clutch this week. I am pretty excited for this win.” Capitulating himself up the leaderboard over the final 18 holes was Brant Peaper of Lost Tree Club, who fired a tournament round low of 8-under 64 to finish in a tie for second at 10-under, tied with Michael Kartrude, PGA of the Bear’s Club. Hicks finished in fourth at 9-under while Evan Bowser, PGA of LaPlaya Golf Club rounded out the top-5 at 7-under. In the Senior Division, Justin Hicks, PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Golf and Country Club secured the title with a pair of 5-under 67 performances. After trailing Mark Mielke, PGA of High Ridge Country Club for the majority of the final round, Hicks managed to birdie three of the last four holes, including the 18th, to earn the win by one shot over Mielke. Hicks, who is coming off a start in the U.S. Open at Oakmont now adds his first South Florida PGA Senior Championship win of his career. Finishing in third at 6-under was Tim Cantwell, PGA of PGA National Golf Club, while Matt Lucchesi, PGA of the Loxahatchee Club, and Joe Kern, PGA of Mangrove Sands Golf Club, finished in a tie for 5th at 5-under. The E-Z-GO South Florida Open is the second of four South Florida PGA Major Championships to be played throughout the 2025 season. E-Z-GO served as the event's title partner while Ahead, Ballz4Change, Foresights Sports, Perry Weather, StrackaLine, StickX, and Winners Award Group served as supporting partners. Miromar Lakes Golf Club and Bonita Bay Club boast 15 combined PGA Members. Miromar is led by PGA General Manager Kenneth McMaster and PGA Head Professional Daniel Lee, while Bonita Bay Club is led by PGA Director of Golf Elliott McDonnell and PGA Head Professionals Andrew Gibson and Kyle Heaton. Leaderboard | Event Photos
June 20, 2025
Tom Patri, PGA Director of Player Development at The TwinEagles Club, completed his ninth annual Golf Marathon, raising more than $12,000 by playing 100 holes in a single day. The proceeds will benefit the South Florida PGA Foundation and its local community programs. Since launching the marathon in 2017, Patri has played over 1,000 holes of golf and raised nearly $80,000, using his passion for the sport to make a meaningful impact across South Florida. The South Florida PGA Foundation is dedicated to changing lives through the game of golf, with a charitable focus on youth, military, and families. “I just completed my ninth annual golf marathon to support the South Florida PGA Foundation, and I couldn’t be happier to dedicate a day to such a wonderful cause,” said Patri. “My only hope is that the funds raised will positively impact lives in South Florida. As long as I’m alive, I will continue to support the Foundation. Thank you to the South Florida PGA headquarters for all your support; I could not do this without you.” Patri’s annual challenge—to play as many holes as possible in one day—has become a tradition of giving back. Click here to support Patri’s Golf Marathon. Click here to learn more about the South Florida PGA Foundation and its programming.
By Morgan Nichol June 16, 2025
(West Palm Beach, FL - June 16, 2025) – For the first time in its history, the South Florida PGA Foundation has awarded two scholarships as part of its annual scholarship program. Braden Miller and Dounia Bezzari have been selected as the 2025 recipients. Now in its ninth year, this prestigious $20,000 scholarship will be awarded in increments of $5,000 over four years. The SFPGA Foundation Scholarship is a merit-based award created to assist individuals with strong ties to the South Florida PGA Foundation and to recognize exceptional leaders in our local community.
By Matt De Tullio June 13, 2025
(West Palm Beach, FL - June 13, 2025) - Eric Veilleux, PGA, was elected the 24th South Florida PGA President yesterday at the SFPGA Annual Meeting, hosted at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens. A PGA of America Golf Professional since 1993, Veilleux is the Director of Golf at The Bear’s Club, a position he has held since 1999 when the Club was founded. Before his time with The Bear’s Club, Veilleux was on the bag for the golden bear, Jack Nicklaus, for five years. Veilleux succeeds Paul Clivio, PGA Director of Golf at St. Andrews Country Club, who completed his two-year term as President and will now serve as the Honorary Past President of the Section and Secretary of the SFPGA Foundation. Jeff Waber, PGA, follows Veilleux as Vice President. Waber is the Director of Golf at Broken Sound Club - Old Course and has served as the Section Secretary for the last two years. Ben Bauer, PGA Director of Golf at Hunter Run Golf & Racquet Club, was elected by the Membership as the new Section Secretary. In addition to the Section Officer Election, yesterday’s annual meeting marked the first in-person meeting since 2019 and was hosted at the SoFi Center, gathering over 200 South Florida PGA Professionals and partners. CJS Global served as the presenting partner of the Meeting, while Airshare, Florida Window & Door, and PGA National Resort served as supporting partners.
June 10, 2025
(Fort Myers, FL - June 10, 2025) - Apogee Club Professionals, Austin Davenport, PGA, and Nick Beddow, PGA, captured the Pro-Assistant Championship, presented by Club Car, with a 20-under performance over the last two days at The Verandah Club.
June 7, 2025
The South Florida PGA hosted its annual Travel Pro-Am in Northern Michigan, playing three different facilities, June 1-5. The event was supported by Kickpoint and featured 11 teams comprised of one South Florida PGA Professional and three amateurs. The competition consisted of three rounds played at High Pointe Golf Club, Arcadia Bluffs the Bluffs Course, and Grand Traverse Resort the Bear Course. Each day featured a different format, along with a low professional division scored based on stableford. Winning this event at twenty-eight under for the week was the team from Trump Jupiter Golf Club, led by PGA Professional Alastair Mackenzie and amateurs Matt Lindahl, Tony Assawamatiyanont, and Imaad Qureshi. Capturing low professional honors was Assistant Professional at Lost Tree Club, Brant Peaper 122 earning points. Special thanks to all those who joined us, as next year's trip will head to Scotland. Leaderboard