The Musings on Golf podcast regularly hosts conversations with the sport’s newsmakers, and hosts Bob Bubka and Kelly Elbin recently welcomed new PGA of America President Don Rea Jr. for a nearly hour-long conversation. You can read our in-depth cover story on Rea starting on page 86, but be sure to have a listen to this podcast episode to learn even more about the Association’s 44th President, from his years umpiring in baseball’s minor leagues – the podcast includes a couple of memorable stories from Don’s diamond days – to his goals for the next two years in office.
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Every PGA of America Golf Professional’s journey is different, and Sabrina Bonanno’s is especially in spiring. Global Golf Post recently ran a story about the PGA of America First Assistant Professional at Indiana’s Sycamore Hills Golf Club and how she found a way into the game as the daughter of Italian immigrants. Bonanno’s journey now includes her victory in a playoff in the Indiana PGA Section Championship, and a spot in the 2025 PGA Professional Championship just a year after earning full membership in the PGA of America. Bonanno and Sycamore Hills PGA of America Head Professional Tim Frazier are both quoted extensively in the inspiring story. “It means a lot to have my parents see how all the hard work we did paid off,” Bonanno says. “And how I have made golf my career – not as a professional golfer, but as a golf professional."
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As the year comes to a close, this is a good time to look at the state of the golf business and assess the health of the game. The Golf Wire recently ran a post from the National Golf Foundation (NGF) focusing on the supply and demand of the golf economy – and the news is good. According to the NGF, considerable investment is being made on existing facilities, which is a strong barometer of the game’s health. The story estimates more than $3 billion has been spent over the past year on capital investments at existing facilities, from golf course renovations and clubhouse upgrades to new technologies and amenities. It is indeed a great sign that as 2025 opens, the golf business is seeing existing facilities reinvest their profits into improvements and upgrades that can help keep the golf boom going into the future.
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The new year will also bring us that much closer to one of golf’s most anticipated events: the 2025 Ryder Cup at New York’s Bethpage Black. Golf Monthly recently posted a story on how tickets for the three days of match play at the event have already sold out. The story notes that the 500,000-plus tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday have been purchased by golf spectators from nearly 50 countries, with only practice round tickets remaining for the September showdown. Golfers hoping to score spots on Bethpage Black for match play days can still find some available as part of packages from travel providers, but even those are reportedly going fast.
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