Editor’s note: Bill Milgrim, PGA, from Melville, New York, participated in the 2026 PGA Winter Championships’ Senior Stroke Play Championship on Jan. 11–13 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Here he writes about his first-person experience.
It’s a beautiful thing to get out of sub-freezing weather, board the 6 a.m. flight from La Guardia, and less than three hours later arrive in West Palm Beach, where the mid-January temperature will crack 80 degrees. It was the day before the start of the PGA of America’s Senior Stroke Play Championship at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. I had plenty of time to drive an hour north to the club, have lunch, hit some balls and get in a practice round.
The Championship attracts 264 PGA of America Golf Professionals from across the country, divided into two age divisions: 50-59 and 60-plus. The three-day event is 54 holes, no cut (hooray!), and is played on the Wanamaker and Ryder courses.
Day 1 found me on the first tee of the Wanamaker Course, with my fellow 70–74-year-old subdivision playing partners, Bobby Heins and Jerry Impellittiere. Both Bobby and Jerry have been golf professionals their entire careers. Bobby has won a truckload of top-notch championships, while appearing in three PGA Championships and four Senior PGA Championships. Jerry played on the PGA TOUR, is responsible for more than 40,000 golf lessons, and still teaches seven days a week. I, on the other hand, became a PGA of America Golf Professional at age 54 after passing the Playing Ability Test on my 15th attempt.
A young PGA Apprentice learning the ropes, named Luke, announced, “On the tee from Melville, New York, Bill Milgrim.” Definitely a cool way to start the event. My first-round highlight was a difficult pitch shot to an elevated green that stopped two feet from the hole, earning me the comment, “Brilliant,” from Gentleman Jerry.
Just as it was the day before, the temperature surpassed 80, and it felt like I was in Disneyland for golfers. The second day, we played the considerably easier Ryder Course. Both days, I rode with Bobby at the wheel. This gave me a face-on view of the Maestro of the Met Section hitting well-struck fairway shots.
On the third and final round at the Wanamaker, I went out as a twosome with Rob Schaal, who played on the PGA TOUR in 1977. Rob regaled me with stories of rubbing elbows with the likes of Gary Player, Tom Watson and Tom Kite. I felt relaxed and played splendidly this last round, finishing the tournament on a high note and breaking 80 for the first time on the Wanamaker Course.
I was feeling great that evening and had an especially enjoyable time at dinner with a friend. A good round of golf will do that.
Back home in the snow and cold, I continue practicing and I’m already looking forward to next year’s Senior Stroke Play! —Bill Milgrim, PGA
