CLICK here for the website of the Island Chapter of the PGA of America in Puerto Rico.
With Aaron West, President of the Island Chapter of the PGA of America.
Aaron West is the President of the Island Chapter of the PGA of America since early 2013. After being at the helm nearly a decade ago of a unique chapter, that is part of the South Florida section, West is back on top with a mission to build a team of member golf professionals and a brand that impacts every golfer, whether a native or a tourist, that tees it up in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. While expecting his first child within 10 days, he came out to Trump International during the Open to share his background, insight and vision for the Island Chapter.
West sees golf as a way to “bring different groups of people together.” A graduate of Michigan’s Ferris State University’s Professional Golf Management program, the 36-year old has worked as a golf professional in Texas, Virginia and Florida. A friend brought him to Dorado Beach Resort & Club in early 2003. Since then, as a professional golfer he has earned ‘Player of the Year’ distinction seven times and competed in the inaugural PGA TOUR Latino-American event in 2012 at Dorado Beach. Though with the baby on the way, his focus is being a golf professional and making the Island Chapter the best it can be. He shares his enthusiasm of Puerto Rico as a golfing destination with the convenience of air travel to the island, the beaches, hotels and nightlife complementing the 25 golf courses. Getting to the golf course is half the fun in Puerto Rico!
CLICK here for VIDEO INTERVIEW with Aaron West, President of the Island Chapter.
With Miguel ‘Junior’ Colon, Puerto Rico’s veteran Golf Professional.
Miguel ‘Junior’ Colon is a native Puerto Rican, a consummate golf professional and Lifetime member of the Island Chapter. Originally coming to the game as a caddie, Colon worked at Dorado Beach Resort & Club for 38 years, including the last 24 as the Director of Golf. As the first recipient of the Chi Chi Rodriguez endowed Ed Dudley Scholarship, Junior went on to graduate from the University of Puerto Rico to prepare for himself for his career at Dorado Beach and later Dorado del Mar. He was there when Dorado Beach first brought professional golf to the Island and once gave a golf lesson to President Bush No. 41. A two-time president of the Island Chapter, this likeable guy is also a weatherman that gets it right every time- “the wind chill factor and temperature in Puerto Rico is always 84 degrees!”
CLICK here for VIDEO INTERVIEW with Miguel ‘Junior’ Colon, Lifetime Member.
With Brian Shaver celebrating Chesson Hadley’s win at the 2014 Puerto Rico Open presented by SeePuertoRico.com
Brian Shaver is the Director of Golf at the Trump International Golf Club in Rio Grande. The Tom Kite-designed Championship Course has hosted the Puerto Rico Open presented by See PuertoRico.com since its inception in 2008. I caught Brian for an interview at a good time- Sunday evening at the end of tournament week that concluded months of preparation with the crowning of Chesson Hadley. Born and raised like David Toms in Shreveport, Louisiana, Brian is one of the nicest and friendliest guys you will ever meet. His wife is from Puerto Rico, and he has been on the island for 21 years so he is “loving life.” His golf game is extremely competitive but his love for hospitality and hosting folks at Trump International is his primary focus. I think everyone, spectators, folks in the golfing business, and the players here this week for Puerto Rico’s showcase golf event would agree not only is it his primary focus but the he and his team are incredibly talented in what they do. It’s a Caribbean Paradise!
CLICK here for VIDEO INTERVIEW with Brian Shaver, Director of Golf, Trump International GC.
With Puerto Rican golfers, Erick Morales, Max Alverio, & Miguel Suarez and retired Texas Ranger baseball player (in red shirt) Ivan Rodriguez (golfer Rafael Campos not shown).
Miguel Suarez, Director of Golf at Royal Isabela, is both a golf professional and a professional golfer. The friendly golfer has competed in all seven of the Puerto Rico Opens presented by SeePuertoRico.com. He, having grown up 13 miles from Royal Isabela, and her, the Crown of the Caribbean Cosmos, are a perfect match. Miguel shares his love of Royal Isabela in words like unforgettable, beautiful, different and being one with nature. She sees his love of the land, the people and community. Suarez conducted his first golf clinic at age 15 and mentors Young and promising Peurto Rican golfers. His personalized service to all members and their guests while on property at Royal Isabela gives new meaning to the phrase “being treated like royalty.”
CLICK here for VIDEO INTERVIEW with Miguel Suarez, Director of Golf, Royal Isabella.
With Alberto Rios at Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club.
Alberto Rios is the Director of Golf at Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club Puerto Rico. Inspired by nature, with a spectacular Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed course, a St. Regis Luxury Hotel and a Beachfront Members Club opening this summer, Bahia Beach is one of the premier golf resorts in Puerto Rico, if not the entire Caribbean Cosmos. Rios, who came to golf from a tennis family tells us why golfing Bahia Beach is so special- each hole is enveloped by nature and isolated from the others whether in mangroves or along the beach. The best part of is meeting people from all over the world, learning a little of their culture and them starting them off on their 18-hole journey with nature.
CLICK here for VIDEO INTERVIEW with Alberto Rios, Director of Golf, Bahia Beach Resort & GC.
With Bobby Halinski, the Dancing Gringo of Puerto Rico’s Golf Community!
Bobby Halinski, known as the ‘Dancing Gringo’ is one of the first Golf Professionals I met in Puerto Rico. I think he gets his name from how much fun he has instructing folks how to golf, especially youngsters. A product of the harsh winters of Springfield, Massachusetts he came to the game at age 14 through a cherished uncle. His main perspective as an instructor is for the student to learn how to swing the golf club versus hit the ball. He works with Max Alverio, one of four Puerto Ricans to compete in the PGA TOUR event. He was excited to see another local Rafael Campos finish T29 and is working with a 13-year old Melvin Morales who could be even better and compete in Puerto Rico’s flagship golfing competition in the years ahead. Golf is the most challenging sport but with Bobby it is an easy two-step.
CLICK here for VIDEO INTERVIEW with Bobby Halinski, the ‘Dancing Gringo.’
Pedro’s the tiger, I am just another fruit loop in 2011 on my first visit to Puerto Rico.
Pedro Amengual is the creative and enterprising Marketing Manager of the Island Chapter, South Florida Section of the PGA of America. He is the one who invited me to Puerto Rico to meet, get to know and write about the Golf Professionals of the Island Chapter. I did most of the interviews onsite at the Puerto Rico Open presented by SeePuertoRico.com at the Trump International Golf Club in Rio Grande. A native of Puerto Rico, Pedro, known simply as “the golf rep of the Caribbean,” is teaming up with chapter president Aaron West, the leadership team and the membership to make the Island Chapter better than ever.
Here’s the hippie bus that brought Pedro & I together at the 2011 PGA Show in Orlando.
Pedro first came to golf not as a player but in a helpful role to assist a golf course emerging from Chapter 11 many years ago. He grew up in the south, in Ponce, on an island that measures 100-miles-by-35-miles that is the center of the Caribbean Cosmos. For the first time this year, Pedro will organize a merchandise and golf professional education show in San Juan to attract all countries that border the Caribbean Sea, including Bermuda and South America. This is not business as usual for the little chapter that is trying new things to promote golf, including their very own website. Amengual has a marketing plan but more importantly he has an innate hospitality to end any conversation, including our interview with “it is my pleasure, always.”
CLICK here for the VIDEO INTERVIEW with Pedro Amengual, the Marketing Manager.
Here are the pics of the Island Chapter and the Puerto Rico Golf Association (PRGA):
