It seems only fitting that Mike Higgins has been named the new executive director of the New England PGA Section.
That’s because the 35-year-old Higgins has held nearly every other position within the Section since 1996, when he was a member of the NEPGA’s first intern class working in tournament operations.
Upon graduation from Elon University in North Carolina with a degree in sports management, Higgins was first named to the newly-created position of marketing and junior golf coordinator with the NEPGA. He gradually worked his way up to tournament coordinator and director of tournament operations before being chosen for the top administrative job to begin the 2011 golf season.
The NEPGA is one of 41 sections that comprise the PGA of America and has been in existence for over 80 years in New England. It benefits over 750 Class A golf professionals and 240 apprentices at over 450 golf facilities in five states. Connecticut is a separate section. The NEPGA also conducts regional qualifying tournaments for amateur golfers and sponsors junior clinics.
“It’s been a natural progression for me,” said Higgins, a Shrewsbury, MA native who played on the Shrewsbury High golf team. “Everything that I’ve held has ultimately helped me prepare for this job. Nothing beats hands-on experience and having familiarity with the different operations. It’s definitely different when you’re in the big chair, but it’s a little easier coming from within.”
“However, I’m smart enough to realize that the position changes just like the times change. From manual scoreboards to video scoreboards, from mailed checks to online registration, in today’s golf industry you have to become more progressive in terms of relationships and communication.”
With that in mind, Higgins has been busy getting ready to showcase the NEPGA’s updated website, as well as new Facebook and Twitter pages and YouTube video for junior golfers.
“The big initiative for this year is more communication and social networking,” said Higgins. “There will be more information for both the public and the PGA professional, and the site will be easier to navigate. We want to make it a one-stop shop.”
Growing the game of golf is also highly important to Higgins. He will look to further advance the New England Series, which was introduced last year as an opportunity for amateur golfers to play in high-end, competitive tournaments at some of the finest facilities in New England.
There are 14 events currently scheduled for this year, including dates at The Kittansett Club, Worcester CC, Turner Hill GC, Renaissance GC, and the Golf Club of Cape Cod. Higgins is fond of Worcester CC, where he caddied there as a teenager before working the bag room and pro shop at Mt. Pleasant CC in Boylston for six years.
Although it has no title sponsor this year, the Junior Tour will feature over 60 events for its 620 junior members this summer. The junior program has come a long way since Higgins’ early days with the NEPGA when there were only six events.
“The first year of the New England Series was very successful,” said Higgins. “It’s a great opportunity for higher-handicap golfers to play courses that they would not normally have access to. It was something new in the face of a down economy, and it was well-received. In fact, we will be making return visits to places like The Kittansett Club and Golf Club of Cape Cod, amongst others.”
(Bob DiCesare is the golf writer for The Enterprise in Brockton, MA, and he is also a member of the International Network of Golf)
About Tim Branco
Editor/Publisher New England Publishing Group Home of NE Golf Monthy, NE SnowSports and NE Homefinder a family of New England Regional Publications. Media consultant for newspaper & magazine industries and sales and marketing trainer and motivational speaker. Golf & Travel writer for over 20 years with published articles in national newspapers and regional magazines throughout the U.S.
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