Pacific Northwest Golf Association Elects Robert Black as President
Seattle, Wash. (April 28, 2012) – Mr. Black has served on the PNGA Board of Directors since 2008, and served on its Executive Committee since 2010. Black, a 26-year member at Meadow Springs Country Club in Richland, Wash., has been a PNGA Representative since 2004. He retired as a Colonel in the Marine Corps after serving 30 years.
“My goal is to implement the strategies the PNGA laid out last year with the strategic planning sessions that were held,” said Black. “To find ways to grow the game, to take it to the golfers and make it more available to them – these are the initiatives that I want to carry out. A lot of people have come forward with good suggestions, and with the help of all of our volunteers, the PNGA Board, our staff, we’ll be able to build on the successes we’ve had in the past. It will take effort, and I feel fortunate that I now have the time to give to the PNGA’s future.”
Mr. Black is replacing Dr. Jack Lamey of Seattle Golf Club as President. Dr. Lamey served two years as PNGA President and was instrumental in the creation of the PNGA Cup, the annual Ryder Cup-style championship that features some of the most notable men and women amateur golfers in the region, with 12-member teams representing the regional golf associations that make up the PNGA, which includes British Columbia Golf, Idaho Golf Association, Oregon Golf Association and Washington State Golf Association. Dr. Lamey will continue to serve on the PNGA Board of Directors as the Immediate Past President.
PNGA Vice Presidents include Larry Giustina of Eugene (Ore.) CC, of Zone 1; Kent Brown of Dominion Meadows in Colville, Wash., of Zone 2; Ben Stodghill, of Bellevue (Wash.) Municipal, of Zone 3; Peter Fibiger of Olympic View GC in Victoria, B.C., of Zone 4; and Ed Burke of Hayden Lake CC in Idaho, of Zone 5.
Also at the meeting, Cathy Kay Riverbend GC in Kent, Wash. replaced Berne Neufeld of Victoria (BC) Golf Club as Chair of the PNGA Women’s Committee.
The PNGA was founded on February 4, 1899. It is a 501c3 charitable, international amateur golf association dedicated to preserving the true spirit of the game of golf and promoting activities beneficial to golfers in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The PNGA employs a full-time staff of 14, headed by a CEO/Executive Director, with offices located in Federal Way, Washington. Under the direction of the Board of Directors and in conjunction with a number of standing committees, the staff administers the day-to-day affairs of the Association. PNGA territory is broken down into five zones, which are: Zone 1 – Oregon; Zone 2 – Eastern Washington; Zone 3 – Western Washington and Alaska; Zone 4 – British Columbia and Alberta; and Zone 5 – Idaho and Montana. There are approximately 200,000 individuals at over 700 PNGA member golf clubs.
The original purpose of the PNGA was to conduct a regional amateur championship for men and women. For 113 years, the Association has been a pioneer in developing competitions and services and its mission has grown and evolved. Today, the PNGA remains committed to being a truly “regional” organization providing benefits and services to its members and member clubs throughout the Northwest.
Please visit www.thepnga.org for more information.
Caption for attached photo: New PNGA President Bob Black (standing, left) is introduced by outgoing President Dr. Jack Lamey at the 113th PNGA Annual Meeting on April 28, 2012, at Seattle Golf Club.
