Reynolds Planation a leader in hiring PGA Professionals
Not only do guests linger longer in the ambience of the Georgia pines, an inviting Lake Oconee and five world-class golf courses, but so do golf professionals.
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| Note: combined Class A-1 or A-8 staff. PGA of America facility research, 2008 |
Reynolds Plantation displays a family atmosphere as well as an esprit de corps among its 18 PGA Professionals on staff, who carry either the A-9, A-4, A-1, A-6 or A-8 membership classification. The resort also employs 10 PGA apprentice professionals.
Those 18 PGA Professionals currently share fifth among the top 10 facilities nationally with similar members employed at one host site. All of this isn't by accident, but the grand plan of PGA Professional Bob Mauragas of Bishop, Ga., the vice president of golf operations.
Since his arriving at Reynolds Plantation in May 2003, Mauragas has built a regiment of PGA of America staff to connect with amateur golfers along with visiting professionals that includes this week's field of 312 in the 41st PGA Professional National Championship.
If you are known by the company you keep, then Mauragas has gone the extra mile to keep his company together.
"I don't believe that any young aspiring professional can get any better training and find as wide a range of business experience as you can at this resort," Mauragas said. "Because of that, I believe that we are like an extension 'university' of the PGM program, but in the business world."
Mauragas said Reynolds Plantation offers graduates the opportunity to be associated with:
1. A five-star resort at Oconee
2. A traditional active member e club at Plantation
3. A high-end members facility at the Creek Club
4. A challenging, high-end, semi-private facility at Reynolds Landing
Mauragas had crossed paths with a talented member of his future staff by accident, when he was a PGA director of golf from 1987-98 at Fiddler's Elbow Country Club in Far Hills, N.J.
Mauragas showed his own versatility in his career by moving from Fiddler's Elbow to become regional manager for Billy Casper Golf Management in Scottsdale, Ariz., and later director of operations at The Members Club at Four Streams in Beallsville, Md. He then made the next move to Reynolds Plantation.
In 1997, Mark Lammi, then a PGM student at Penn State University, interned for Mauragas and developed a friendship that would carry on toward today's unique business arrangement at Reynolds Plantation.
Lammi, now a 31-year-old PGA Master Professional from Bogart, Ga., is director of golf for Reynolds Plantation and living proof that the PGM connection is working well for this golf Shangri-la.
Lammi was recently named recipient of the Penn State Emerging Professional of the Year for Hotel and Recreation Management.
"What makes me feel so good about the working atmosphere here is the way that Reynolds Plantation believes in the value of PGA Professionals," said Lammi. "They understand the economy that we live in, and what the sacrifices are for young professionals to go through the PGM program. It is expensive for a single person, but Reynolds provides the reward of a reimbursement to the professional who advances through the education program."
Mauragas said that the Reynolds staff also believes in giving back to a "golf-centric community."
"The outcome is that the membership, which is composed of owners living in this areas, is ecstatic with the level of services provided," said Mauragas. "We feel the starting business acumen that PGA Professionals bring to any position is a positive lethal combination in today's business world. We have talented people that provide a vast variety of experience in operating in different capacities throughout our entire resort.
Lammi said the resort ensures continuity by building "strict alliances with the PGA Professional Golf Management programs at universities." There are 12 graduates on staff, including graduates from Penn State, Ferris State (in Big Rapids, Mich.) and Mississippi State University.
"Our last four head professional hires have been internal," said Mauragas. "I say that proudly that we have become like an additional four-year college education."
For an aspiring professional, a businessperson just ecstatic of escaping corporate America for a weekend or for 312 PGA Professionals in tune with one goal of reaching for a trophy or earning a berth in a PGA Championship, this is the property to find.
Is there any other reason not to linger longer?
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