Home of the Pennsylvania Golf Course

Pennsylvania Golf Course Owners Association

Ron Stepanek
Phone: (717) 673-6096
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

January 2024

A number of bills have been signed into law in recent months that are either in effect ahead of the New Year or will be shortly after 2024 begins in Pennsylvania.

The new laws cover a wide range of topics including probation reform, women's health care, food safety, cybersecurity, religious garb in schools, voter registration and dog licenses.

Here's what you need to know:

New Pennsylvania laws 2024: Here is new legislation signed into law that is in effect as 2024 begins - 6abc Philadelphia

December 28, 2023

Dear valued fellow PGO members,

Your time is very important so here are some snippets:

• The PGO Fall Meeting Event October 17^th hosted by the fine folks of Meadia Heights Golf Club in Lancaster was a good gathering of fellow members, sponsors, and new sponsors as well as educational and fun. Thank you all.
• Up next: the annual National Golf Course Owners Association “Golf Business Conference” in less than a month (January 21^st – 24^th) followed by the PGA of America show. In 2023 our PGO representation was very good, including “The President’s Poolside Cocktail Reception” that was a smash hit and nurtured camaraderie. Please plan on registering for the NGCOA-GBC and join us in Orlando Florida. You’ll be glad that you did.
• Assistance and guidance:
  • Simply click www.NGCOA.org for a hub of resources including “Accelerate” for collective sharing/seeking as well as tuning into (I do!) “Golf Business Live” often hosted by the brainpower of CEO Jay Karen as well as the talented and insightful Michael Williams who tag-team with dynamic and vivacious PGA of America Vice President Don Rea! Just a click or podcast at your fingertips.
  • Check out www.GolfInPA.com too. Also, social media with NGCOA and PGA of America via X, Instagram, and Facebook.
• Grow or wilt: Let’s grow together. Stronger, better and bigger! Please recommit to the Pennsylvania Golf Course Owners/Operator Association. Wanda Fry is always available to you as am I, the Board of Directors, and fellow members. Please recruit one new member this year. And if you haven’t attended the Spring or Fall PGO events please consider a New Year’s resolution to do so. We are counting on you! And bring a new prospective member too.
• Time to reflect and project: Blessed by and with you. Merry Christmas. Cheers to the New Year. And see you in sunny and warm Orlando!

P.S. Below is your PGO representation at the annual NGCOA Golf Business Conference this past January in Orlando Florida: (L-R) PGO/NGCOA Past President Steven Graybill, PGO President Douglas Day, PGO Past President Robert Kleckner.

Dear Valued PGO Members,                                                                                                                                              

Your time is very important so I’m sharing with you in snippet format:

• Next up is the PGO Fall Meeting Event October 17^th at Meadia Heights Golf Club in Lancaster. Let’s collectively dedicate ourselves to this date and event. Please recruit fellow members as well as prospective members to participate. The fine folks of Meadia are excited to welcome and host you! Let’s boost our participation and attendance, please!
• The aforementioned event follows the success and format of the PGO Spring Meeting Event at Toftrees in State College back in May. Nearly thirty members attended and participated. The day was educational, fun, and tight so that all could learn, enjoy, then return to business. Feedback on roundtable format and topics was excellent. Thank you; Knies Insurance Group, Golf Cart Services, Golf Car Specialties, Mason Dixon Distillery, and Brute for sponsorship as well as Past Presidents/Board and Wanda Fry for your contributions.
• PGO representation at the annual NGCOA Golf Business Conference this past January in Orlando Florida was excellent. The President’s Poolside Cocktail Reception was a smash hit and camaraderie building with thirty in attendance. Please join us in January 2024. You’ll be glad that you did
• PGA of America, PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf... merger, dividing or rekindling? And now the Ryder Cup team selections made in preparation to land upon Italy. How has any of this affected you and your golf business? How will it moving forward? How are your supply issues? Finding good staff? Have you adjusted your business model(s)? We do and should discuss locally, regionally, and in-state.
• Desire assistance and guidance in our industry? Simply click www.NGCOA.org for a hub of resources including “Accelerate” for collective sharing/seeking as well as tuning into (I do!) “Golf Business Live” often hosted by the brainpower of CEO Jay Karen as well as the talented and insightful Michael Williams who tag-team with dynamic and vivacious PGA of America Vice President Don Rea! Just a click or podcast at your fingertips. Check out www.GolfInPA.com too. Also, social media with NGCOA and PGA of America via X, Instagram, and Facebook. Try it! A new goal is to significantly improve the social media exposure of our own PGO too.
• Please place in your schedules for January 2024 the annual NGCOA Golf Business Conference in Orlando Florida. PGO participation and fun is growing there. The President’s Poolside Cocktail Reception is a smash hit as well as camaraderie building. Thirty-plus members of PGO were in attendance.
• Let’s get stronger! Let’s get better and bigger! Please recommit to the Pennsylvania Golf Course Owners/Operator Association. Wanda Fry is always available to you as am I, the board, and fellow members. Please recruit ONE NEW MEMBER this year. See you in October (and January). Thank you!

Sincerely,

 Douglas W. Day

President, PGO, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

8:00 AM               Registration/Continental Breakfast
9:00 AM               Welcome and PGO Updates            
9:15 AM               NGCOA Updates                               
9:30 AM               Roundtable Discussion     
11:00 AM             Sponsor Introductions/Lunch
12:00 Noon         Golf 
After Golf            Reception

Dear Fellow Golf Business Vanguard,                                                                                                                                    

You are very important to Pennsylvania! Your time is valued so here’s the ask… please join us!

Your hesitation to join or commit to yet another group, association, etc. is understandable. Believe me, I know as I was a non-member once too!

You might be asking, so what?! Well, I am the new President of Pennsylvania Golf Course Owners/ Operators Association (“PGO”), the state chapter of the National Golf Course Owners Association (“NGCOA”). I am in Western PA, the Pittsburgh area.

Newer to the golf business industry I learned of the PGO and joined with expectations to benefit from such an association. I did, however when the pandemic arrived in 2020 with mandates and closures, I was very impressed with the NGCOA, especially the leadership of the PGO under Past President Robert Kleckner (Philadelphia area), Executive Director Wanda Frye (Scranton), and NGCOA & PGO Past President Steve Graybill (Reading area).

These folks represented you and I in the tough times and they made, and make a difference! You can too. You and we, receive. You and we, give. A collective and influential voice. Bigger can be better.

There are obvious benefits of you joining the PGO that cover and exceed your very modest financial commitment. The rejuvenated golf course industry and our Pennsylvania affiliate of the NGCOA provides you with much more.

You read this far so perhaps you are motivated to make the decision to try the PGO now! Please simply reply today to this email or telephone our Executive Director Wanda Fry (717-673-6096 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Interested in some golf camaraderie? Well, we host two golf association events per year (Spring and Fall) in Pennsylvania as well as attend, represent, and participate in the annual NGCOA Golf Business Conference in sunny warm Orlando Florida each January!

Please give us try! We strive to meet or exceed your expectations.

Sincerely,

Douglas W. Day

President, PGO  

Dear Valued PGO Members,                                                                                                               

Let’s GOLF together!

Please join your fellow PGO members for a great day together at Meadia Heights Golf Club on October 17^th for the PGO Annual Meeting.

With respect to your time, the Fall event is a smoothly organized one day combination of golf business industry updates within our state (PGO) as well as nationally (NGCOA), hot topics roundtable opportunities, connecting with PGO sponsors/ partners, reconnecting with past and new members, engaging with your Board of Directors, and yes…. GOLF camaraderie!

If you feel motivated to make the decision, commitment, and integral contribution to and with the PGO, please call or email our Executive Director Wanda Fry (717-673-6096 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).   

You are very important to the Pennsylvania Golf Course Owners/Operators Association! Please watch for registration information  - We hope to see you at Meadia Heights Golf Club in Lancaster!

Sincerely,

Douglas W. Day

President, PGO  

P.S. Below is your PGO representation at the annual NGCOA Golf Business Conference this past January in Orlando Florida: (L-R) PGO/NGCOA Past President Steven Graybill, PGO President Douglas Day, PGO Past President Robert Kleckner. And we’ll be at Meadia Heights Golf Club on October 17^th.

2023 PGO Meetings

Spring Meeting - May 15, 2023 
Toftrees Golf Resort in State College, PA     

 Fall Meeting - October 17, 2023
Meadia Heights Golf Club in Lancaster, PA

Sign Up Now for the Spring Meeting at Toftrees Golf Resort 
Join our Morning Roundtable Discussion prior to Afternoon Golf and Reception

National Golf Day

Register for the 15th annual National Golf Day, organized by the American Golf Industry Coalition (AGIC). On May 9 and 10, you will convene in person (for the first time since 2019) in Washington, DC for the annual community service project and industry-critical legislative meetings ...

Registration closes on Monday, April 17 — please register now!
 
Advocating on behalf of the golf industry is one of the essential services NGCOA provides to our members. NGCOA may lead this work, but it shows real influence when our members engage directly with civic leaders to promote the tremendous economic impact and environmental stewardship our industry provides our communities every day.  
AmericanGolfIndustry (golfcoalition.org)

(click here for updates from 2020-)

Corporate partnership with The PGO is open to organizations and individuals interesting in building relationships and credibility with golf course owners and operators in the PA golf industry.

Benefits of corporate partnership include:

• Increased brand awareness through digital marketing opportunities on our website and in our newsletter.
• Presentation and networking opportunities at no cost to our PGO events held throughout the year.
• Organic referrals as our Executive Director regularly connects our corporate partners with our operators.
• The value of building trust with our owners and operators through your support of our association.
• and much more.

To become a Corporate Sponsor use the link below or for more info: call Ron Stepanek at 717-673-6096 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Reach out to our Corporate Sponsors to see how they can help you!

Chris Grasmick | 717-752-0135
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Greg Knies
888-366-1000 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Aaron Dyer, PGA (National Sales Director)
407-459-8200, Ext 1
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Aubrey King
717-900-7007 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Michelle M. Pharand | 800-486-2788
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Brian Bachman | 484-661-6105
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Jim Byrne | 717-471-5569
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Don Dodson | 717-759-9064
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Anthony R Sergio Jr | 267-664-8036
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Yianni Barakos | 717-398-3385
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Austin Buckley | 717-253-4505
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Chet Walsh | 610-495-8080
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John Myers | 610-495-8080
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