PGA PRO
TO
PRO
Connecting with Golfers
PRO TO PRO
By Tony L. Starks
Linking to Those
Matt Funkhouser,
PGA Head Professional,
Glendarin Hills Golf Club,
Angola, Ind.
where golfers can find others who share their interest
in the game.”
The site’s users are able to find potential golfing
buddies by filling out a simple survey, which asks
questions such as:
Social media has a plethora of meanings and usages for different people. For some, it’s a
vehicle for advertising and marketing that’s essentially free. For others, it’s simply a platform for
connecting with friends and staying abreast of
what’s going on in their lives. For Matt Funkhouser,
PGA head professional at Glendarin Hills Golf
Club in Angola, Ind., it’s a way to connect golfers to
nearby courses and other golfers in the area.
This past fall, Funkhouser launched www.daily-
golfgame.com (pictured top right), which uses “golfer
profiles” to connect people. “I first started the Web
site to give my members at Glendarin Hills an addi-
tional platform to communicate with one another,”
explains Funkhouser, a 2001 graduate of the Ferris
State University PGA Golf Management program.
“Whether it is posting pictures, blogging about the
latest equipment, posting tee time openings or just
sharing their scores, dailygolfgame.com is a place
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What is your handicap?
The idea has evolved to not only include golfer
profiles, but golf club profiles as well. “PGA Professionals can register their facility, league play, outing
or any other event they’re hosting,” says
Funkhouser. “It’s a good way to track who is
attending an event and how many attendees you’ll
have. I use Facebook and Twitter as well, but my
goal with this site is to provide access to a more
targeted market.
RBC joins The PGA of America as an Official Patron
The PGA of America announced on Jan. 28 that RBC has become a PGA of
America Official Patron, the highest level of
partnership and designation granted by the
world’s largest working sports
organization.
RBC, which employs approximately
80,000 employees who serve more than 18
million clients through offices in 55
countries, becomes the Official Bank of The
PGA of America. RBC offers retail banking,
wealth management and capital markets
services in the U.S. and will co-develop
member benefit programs for PGA
Professionals and PGA Professional-staffed
facilities, including an exclusive program
that provides access to timely education,
financial guidance, and world-class wealth
management solutions for PGA members.
“The PGA of America is proud to
welcome RBC as an Official Patron which is
focused on the continued economic vitality
of the golf industry,” says PGA of America
CEO Joe Steranka. “The PGA brand
represents the gold standard in golf and we
seek to align our brand with proven leaders
in their respective industries. Golf's global
expansion as well as our efforts to grow the
game through Play Golf America, will
From left: Joe Steranka, Jim Little and Jim Remy
benefit from RBC’s commitment to our
members and major championships.”
Says Jim Little, Chief Brand and
Communications Officer, RBC: “This
partnership represents an exceptional
opportunity and an ideal platform to reach
our target market and to build the RBC
brand in the U.S. and internationally.”
RBC designations from 2010–12 in the
PGA Official Patron Program:
• Official Bank of The PGA of America
• Official Patron of the PGA
Championship, Senior PGA
Championship, PGA Grand Slam of Golf
• Official Bank of the PGA Championship,
Senior PGA Championship, PGA Grand
Slam of Golf
• Proud Supporter of the 2010 and 2012
Ryder Cup
• Co-presenting Sponsor of PGA Play Golf
America Days
