It’s not just the presidential election that saw changes in voting methods. The Pro Golfers Association of America didn’t offer in-person voting this year. Instead, the association recently held its 104th annual meeting virtually for the first time, due to the pandemic.
During it, Jim Richerson, of Scottsdale, Ariz., was selected to become the organization’s 42nd president. He is senior vice president of operations for Troon and a member of the Southwest PGA Section. He succeeds Suzy Whaley, who completed her two-year term and is now PGA Honorary President.
“Together with the officers and executive directors from all 41 PGA Sections, we are committed to providing resources to help elevate and advance PGA Members throughout the country, while continuing to grow the game,” Richerson said.
Succeeding Richerson as vice president is John Lindert, PGA, of Grand Ledge, Mich. Lindert has been a PGA Member for more than 35 years and is a 2019 Michigan PGA Section Hall of Fame Inductee and PGA director of golf/chief operating cfficer at The Country Club of Lansing, Mich.
Lindert has served on the PGA Board of Directors as District 5 director from 2016-18 and was president of the Michigan PGA Section from 2010-11. He has also served on four national PGA committes: Governance Task Force chair (2017); Membership (2008-present); Board of Control (2009-13); and Special Awards (2006-07).
Don Rea, PGA, of Gilbert, Ariz., was elected as the new PGA secretary. Rea is the owner and general manager of Augusta Ranch Golf Club, a public golf course, in Mesa, Ariz., which has been rated the “Best Executive Golf Course in Arizona” by the Arizona Republic and selected as “Host Club of the Year” by the Arizona Women’s Golf Association.
Rea is a member of the Southwest PGA Section, and served on the PGA of America’s national board of directors from 2016-19.
Elected as president of the Southwest PGA Section from 2013-14, Rea also was a member of the board of directors for the Southwest PGA Section, National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) and the Arizona Tourism Alliance. While on the PGA Board of Directors, he chaired the Junior Golf Committee and worked with the Coaching and Player Development, and Community Golf Committees.
Since 2012, Rea has owned Your Course Consulting. In addition, Rea founded Community Course Rescue Services in 2017. Rea spent nine years as a minor league baseball umpire, ascending to Triple-A. In addition, he umpired several spring training games for Major League Baseball.
The PGA Board of Directors is composed of the Association’s President, Vice President and Secretary and 19 Directors.
The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of nearly 29,000 PGA professionals.