David Pagett, PGA,COO and Head Golf Professional,Whitemarsh Valley Country Club,Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania
In recent years, we’ve seen great playing performances on big stages from PGA of America Golf Professionals, from Michael Block to Nicole Felce. However, for many PGA Professionals, one of the biggest career ironies is that the better you become at running a golf operation, the less time you seem to have to play golf yourself.
Budgets, staffing, merchandising, lessons, tournaments and member service all compete for the same hours in the day. Before long, personal practice often becomes understandably burdensome.
David Pagett, PGA, believes that’s a mistake.
“As we gain more responsibilities in our careers and in life, playing and competing can fall by the wayside,” he says. “But most of us got into this business because we loved playing the game.”
As COO and Head Golf Professional at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, Pagett (pictured with PGA Past President Jack Connelly) balances the daily demands of leading an operation while continuing to compete at a high level. In 2024, he captured the Philadelphia PGA Connelly Cup Head Golf Professional Championship, proving that maintaining competitive sharpness is possible, even with a full schedule.
The key, he says, isn’t necessarily practicing more – it’s practicing with purpose.
“I don’t practice a ton, the time constraints are real,” Pagett admits. “But when tournaments are coming up, I put my nose to the grindstone and make sure my game is ready.”
That preparation extends beyond the range. Pagett regularly seeks communication with some of the top instructors in the Philadelphia PGA Section, continuing to develop his own game while building important relationships. Just as important is the mental side of competition.
“I’ve learned over the years not to let one bad shot affect the rest of the round,” Pagett says. “I know I can still make par from almost anywhere, not just from the middle of the fairway.”
That mindset carries directly into his professional life, as the confidence developed through competition influences both Pagett’s instruction and his leadership.
“It shows your staff and students that you’re willing to invest in yourself, too,” Pagett says.
Whether demonstrating a shot during a lesson, competing in Section events or simply joining a game at the club, being prepared to perform enhances every interaction.
For PGA of America Professionals, the takeaway isn’t that everyone needs to chase championships as a player. It’s that your own game still deserves attention.
Investing in your playing ability sharpens teaching, strengthens confidence and reminds you why you chose this profession in the first place.
“Work on your game the same way you work on your operation,” Pagett says. “The results have a way of carrying over into everything else you do.”
