try to comfort another PGA professional that just lost his job.

Since I can't get you access to the PGA member's directory, I copied and pasted a post that I just entered on the PGA Employment Discussion Board.

The (true) story goes that a guy earns his PGA membership, just to lose his job shortly thereafter. He is understandably discouraged and just needs to vent a little bit. Then some other guys chime in that PGA professionals are out only for themselves and our industry is going completely downhill since guys are stealing jobs from each other, and employers are happy to take the "cheapest" - not the best - guys to fill a position.

Here's what I wrote:

When I read this post, I was genuinely saddened.

I lost a good job a few years back when my facility was sold, and it has proven to be more damaging to my life and career than I thought it would be at the time. After all, I worked for the same good employer for nine years and I was certified in three areas. Armed with that experience, education, and some good letters of recommendation from reputable people, I was prepared to see this work out for the best. Perhaps I overestimated my abilities, or perhaps its just a tough circumstance, but I'm still waiting to see this work out "for the best."

That said, I do have to mention that several "competing" PGA professionals in the Middle Atlantic section (Joe Burbee, Paul Michaelian, Dean Hurst, and Keith King specifically) ALL made it a point to call me, encourage me, and tell me how highly they thought of me. They all offered their facilities, equipment, and resources if I needed anything. For example, one of them let me use his office and equipment to prepare some resumes and interview materials. One even offered me a job, saying "I can't pay you what you're worth, but I could use your help as long as you can stay."

The reality is our business is tough and one wrong decision or one "bad break" can send your career spiraling in the wrong direction. That doesn't mean that nobody cares, nor does it mean we should give up. It does mean that should perhaps invest ourselves a bit more and diversify our skills and income so were not putting our entire futures in the hands of a few executives or members. (These folks are the ones who are often looking for the best value; not the best candidate. We ALL know that happens.)

I have found a few ways to deversify my income (in golf and away from golf) and although I can't say things have "recovered" completely, I have learned a lot and I know I am on my way to earning solid income from multiple sources while still working in our industry.

I hope somebody out there finds this helpful. And thanks again to my PGA friends in Virginia Beach! Your support has meant so much to me!

Keith Bless, PGA
Formerly A-1, TPC Virginia Beach
kbless@pga.com
www.website.ws/kbpga

... then how do I answer " are you good?"

Although I have a number of interests, I fit them around working in the golf department at a large sporting goods retailer.

Despite my wearing a cheesy lanyard that says "PGA Professsional," a surprising number of people ask me:

"Do you play golf?"

Rather than rattle off my background as a (former) avid player and a current instructor, coach, and golf professional, I simply nod and say "I play a bit." The inevitable follow up leaves me more baffled:

"Are you good?"

How am I supposed to answer that?

Between family, coaching, teaching, and working online, I frankly have little time or desire to play. I play mostly in short 3 to 6 hole segments before and after golf lessons, with my high school students, and with my 7 year old son. Otherwise, that's it. I played two 18 hole rounds in 2008. I haven't played a complete round in 2009. I don't compete. I rarely practice. I play to get some quiet and some fresh air - just like most of you! I like to play, but I can certainly live without it.

So that leads to the question; Am I a good player?

Statistically speaking, I am a good player:
Since I formerly put so much effort into learning the game, I have a lot of residual knowledge and "muscle memory" (if that even exists) that gets me around without looking too foolish. I am still far better than the average player.

I usually fire nine holes in about 40 and last year I shot 35 on the back nine at the Penn State Blue Course. (I played by myself and in just over an hour but it was an honest two birdie, one bogey 35.) My personal low is 67, but I think the best I ever played was when I shot 72 on a blustery day at TPC Virginia Beach. (I played the gold tees - about 7000 yards.)

I haven't kept a handicap in years, but I used to so I could model participation to the TPC Virginia Beach membership. I was the Head Professional, but I played to about a two handicap. Thankfully, my job was NOT to play.

Professionally speaking, I'm not a good player.
I have been a PGA member since 1999, and I have never played in a tournament. I have never been interested in competing and, therefore, I just don't practice or play the way I should. My game is sloppy and my lag putting - especially - lets me down quite a bit.

I'm sure there's a school of thought that says I should be expelled from the PGA for lack of competitive playing ability. After all, many say the PAT is too easy - and I passed that back in September of 1995 anyway! Many say a PGA professional should be an outstanding player, but I'll digress. That's a debate for another day.

Feedback Needed
So if anybody has any ideas how I should answer the one-two punch of "Do you play golf?" "Are you good?" let me know.

As always, I welcome your comments or feedback.

Keith Bless, PGA
kbless@pga.com

play the 17th at TPC Sawgrass

When I was a golf professional with the TPC network, I played the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass twice.

Since everybody asks, "what did you do on 17?" I'll give you my mental play by play as the best as I can remember it.

FIRST TIME:

• Oh, the green is bigger than I expected.
• Flag is front right, just like the final round. Cool.
  
• 8 Iron? I've been hitting it short and right. Better go with 7.
• 7 from 140? Maybe 8. No ego man, go with the 7.
• Uh Oh. Its my turn. I can do this.
• Got it. Start your routine.
• Did the wind just switch?
• Too late now. You've started your backswing.
• Keep going.
  
• Blocked it again.
• Uh oh. It's not gonna make it. No way.
  
• No splash?
• It must be in the bunker.
• I'm dry! I'm dry!

Fast forward to the green

• I'm in the bunker.
• Better take an extra ball from the back just in case I skull it.
• Better make a joke about it just to cover up the nerves.
• Man, this bunker is tiny! Who would hit it here?
• Don't skull it. Don't hit it fat.
• Start routine now. Do it, man.
  
• Wow, that's perfect!
• You got a two-footer to make 3!
• You can do it.
• You can, really.
• Head still. Follow through.
• I just made 3 on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass!
  

SECOND TIME (I'll get to the highlights:)

• You made three here last time.
• Downwind - 8 or 9?
• Let's go 9. Rip it.
  
• Uh Oh. That's thin.
  
• Splash.
• Don't do that again. Hit 8.
• Wow, that looks good.
• Wow, that looks stiff!
• That's a tap-in.
• I just made a one-putt four on the 17th at Sawgrass!
• Could have been much worse.

For the record, I shot 82 both times I played at TPC Sawgrass. It is my favorite golf course I've ever played.

then try to find a course that doesn't have at least one good hole

Today I gave my second golf lesson of the year. After the lesson, I decided to sling my clubs over my shoulder and play one of my favorite short "loops" at Nittany Country Club. - the 5th, 8th, and 9th holes.

Nittany Country Club is a small, private club in Central Pennsylvania. It has a Bellefonte (pronounced "bellfont") mailing address, but it ironically hides down a narrow road near one of the smallest post offices I've ever seen. (I should post a picture of it. I've seen golf course halfway houses larger than this post office!) Depending on who you ask, Nittany Country Club is either in Zion, Bellefonte or Mingoville. Small town, small golf course.

As I played the ninth hole today, I realized that this short, quirky 3000 yard golf course (that you play twice to play 18) features some holes that I really, really enjoy for their subtle challenges and unusual features.

• The first hole has an extremely wide fairway but an extremely narrow entrance to the green.
• The second hole has perhaps the smallest green I've ever seen.
• The third hole has two greens - a short uphill par five the first time, a short, severe dogleg right the second time.
• The fourth hole is a long par three looking down over the beauty of Central PA
• The fifth has perhaps the second smallest green I've ever seen. Half of it is sloped so severely it will never see a hole location.
• The sixth is a short par five that I just can't seem to reach in two.
• The seventh is a short par four featuring a very, very tight tee shot and a large tree to left about 100 yards out. (Its even named after a member who demands it's removal!)
• The eighth is a short par three with two triangular mounds framing the entrance of the green. They don't interfere with your shot - just your view of the green. Never seen anything quite like it.

The ninth is as good and as stern as any hole I've played anywhere. Large trees frame the tee shot on this uphill dogleg left that plays about 440 yards. Into a cool early spring breeze today, it took a solid drive, a punched four iron (yeah! I laid up!) and a short pitch with a lob wedge to earn my my two-putt five.

This hole makes me reminds me of something I've known for a while; It is very difficult to find a course, no matter how rural or "low-end," that doesn't have at least one really good hole on it. At Nittany Country Club, its the ninth!

Any comments about your favorite hole on your ordinary course?