PGA Village announces two new Turfgrass experts

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla., has appeared on Golf Digest's list of the "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America" since 2007, standing at No. 51 among all facilities. The highly touted facility – which includes the public-access PGA Golf Club, with 54 holes of Championship courses designed by Tom Fazio and Pete Dye; the 35-acre PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance; PGA Museum of Golf; and the private PGA Country Club — is positioning itself to potentially climb even higher on future industry rankings, with the naming of two respected industry experts in facility management and sustainability, David Downing and David Diver.

With more than 20 years of experience, Downing has been named the director of grounds and golf course maintenance at PGA Village, a role he began this summer.

A native of Reedsville, Pa., Downing is the former President of the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America (GCSAA) and a 1977 graduate of the Penn State University Turfgrass Management Program. Prior to landing at PGA Village, Downing's professional career began as an Assistant Superintendent at Torresdale Frankford Country Club, in Philadelphia, before becoming Superintendent at Williamsport (Pa.) Country Club two years later.

He also held golf course superintendent positions at: Kennett Square (Pa.) Golf & Country Club, from 1983-85; at the former TPC of Connecticut (now TPC River Highlands) in Cromwell, Conn., from 1985-87; at The Las Vegas Country Club, from 1987-90; and at Wild Wing Plantation in Myrtle Beach, S.C., from 1990-98.

"David Downing represents the best of golf course management in our industry, a career that spans premier facilities and the No. 1 leadership position of the GCSAA," says PGA Golf Club Director of Operations Mike Sizemore. "The PGA of America is proud to have David as a member of the PGA Village team, representing our 27,000 men and women PGA Professionals."

"I'm excited about the opportunity to help grow PGA Village and PGA Golf Club," adds the 55-year-old Downing. "We will continue to deliver the highest level of service and provide playing conditions worthy of The PGA brand. I also look forward to building upon the relationships between the GCSAA and PGA members, organizations that have grown tremendously and can help each other in many ways."

Joining Downing as a new addition to the PGA Village team is David Diver, who began his role as Lead Superintendent earlier this summer as well. Diver previously served as the Director of Agronomy at the award-winning, Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Golf Club/The Chase at Coyote Springs (Nev.) from 2007-09. His professional experience also includes a degree in Turf Management from Rutgers University Professional Golf Turf Management in New Brunswick, N.J. In 1997, Diver became an Assistant Superintendent at Forest Hills Country Club in St. Louis, before joining Shadow Creek Golf Course near Las Vegas the following year. He was eventually named Lead Superintendent at Shadow Creek from 2000-07.

"For nearly 15 years, David Diver has refined his expertise in golf course management and maintenance at the highest of levels, and we're excited to have him bring that incredible skillset to PGA Village," says Sizemore. "With the addition of 'The Two Daves' – David Downing and David Diver – we're extremely confident that guests of PGA Village will experience a magnificent golf environment set to the highest of industry standards, as they have come to expect from one of the country's top golf resorts, which The PGA of America is proud to own and operate."

"I'm extremely honored to have an opportunity to work at a facility which uniquely serves as the home club for the 27,000 PGA Professionals from across the country," says Diver. "I look forward to upholding the very high standard of excellence that goes along with the blue and gold PGA seal."

About PGA Village
The Ryder, Wanamaker and Dye Courses form a trio of world-class courses at the PGA Golf Club, at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Named by Golf Digest as one of the "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America,"PGA Village also features the award-winning, 35-acre PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance and the PGA Museum of Golf. PGA Golf Club exists to be one of the premier public-access resort facilities in America, complete with a Private Members Club, and also serves as the home club for our 27,000 PGA Professionals. For more information, please visit pgavillage.com.

About The PGA of America
Celebrating its 95th year, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission of its founders: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in a multi-billion dollar golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.