28 CALIFORNIA GOLF NEWS • JUNE 2010 Q&A With Tracy Stansberry, PGA Class “A” Member By Emmy Moore Minister How did you get your start in golf? My love for golf began at the age of 12. My favorite place to tee it up was an affordable, par-3 tract called Colina Park Golf Course in San Diego, CA. Every chance I could, I was at the course, and many days from sunrise to sunset. Actually, it was Colina Park where I landed my first job in the golf business. Winding the clock forward (to my most recent trip to San Diego), I made a point to stop by Colina Park GC to take a look around for mem- ory’s sake and introduce myself to the resident pro. I was happy to discover that the facility has been greatly enhanced from early years and currently serves as a home site for The First Tee of San Diego. I plan to make another trip back to Colina Park someday, where I can spend some time with The First Tee chap- ter members. I’d like to share my story on how I got my start at that very same par-3 course, and even- tually became a PGA golf profes- sional, a career path they too may want to consider someday. As a PGA Club Professional, where else have you worked? I’ve had the opportunity to work at both public and private facilities. Early in my career I worked at Santa Clara Golf & Tennis, an 18-hole municipal course in the heart of Silicon Valley. During my 13-year tenure at SCG&T I spent a great deal of time on the lesson tee, providing clinics and classes to folks inter- ested in the game -- from beginners to advanced players. I remember hosting one of the first women’s golf days in the Nor Cal region, which served as a model for clinics being held today in conjunction with Play Golf America and Women’s Golf Month. One of my fondest memo- ries in golf was working with fellow PGA Pro Pat Shea as he launched a series of golf clinics for Special Olympians. Today, you’ll find me at Palo Alto Hills Golf & Country Club (Palo Alto, CA). I am approaching my seventh year at this fine club where I serve as head golf professional and find myself surrounded by a tremendous staff. What’s the best part of working in the golf business? The part for me has always been the interaction with folks who love the game and who are committed to the sport. Whether it’s the members at our club and their guests or the juniors in our summer camps, help- ing create a positive golf experience for each of them is what it’s all about. That’s what I find rewarding. Provide some insight on the Northern California PGA. The Nor Cal PGA is affiliated with the PGA of America, which is the largest working sports organiza- tion in the world. Our Nor Cal PGA Section (with its 1100 club profes- sionals at 400 facilities) is commit- ted to helping others through the game of golf. Additionally, through the NCPGA Foundation, we sup- port community outreach and player development programs conducted at courses, clubs and range facilities throughout Northern California and Northern Nevada. As a leader in golf, share your involvement with the Nor Cal PGA and other golf-related initiatives. I have been a Class “A” Member of the PGA since 1997 and have served on the NCPGA board of directors for the past three years. I am a member of the section’s finance committee and am currently serving my sixth year as chair of the tournament com- mittee. I am a supporter of Play Golf America plus Doctors Orders: Play Golf, which encourages better health and wellness through the game of golf. Reaching beyond golf, I am a supporter of KIVA, an organization that provides resources for entrepre- neurial women in third-world coun- tries. You’ve played plenty of golf through- out your career, well-evidenced by your more than 40 professional tour- nament wins. Besides your home course, what other fairways and greens have you found enjoyable to play? There are so many exception- al courses, especially in Northern California. Some of my favorite courses include: Half Moon Bay GL (The Old Course), Olympic Club (Lake Course), Poppy Hills GC, Pebble Beach GL, and of course, Cypress Point Club. If you could spend an hour with one of the greatest legends in golf, who would it be? Jack Nicklaus has always inspired me, even when I was a very young student of the game. (Trivia Note: Jack and I share the same birth state of Ohio.) Reflecting back over the years, what have you learned from the game of golf? Early in my professional career I played the game more but enjoyed it less. Now, because of my responsibili- ties at the club, I seem to play less often, but when I do tee it up with members and friends, I enjoy it so much more. I’ve found it’s not just about “the score” but more about the camaraderie, the experience itself … time spent on the course with folks you enjoy. What’s the most amazing thing you’ve observed on a golf course? When I was a junior player at Colina Park GC, I observed a local golfer make a hole-in-one, followed immediately by a second hole-in-one. Yep, two in a row! To find a PGA Professional at a facility near you, visit PGA.com/Profinder Your game is only as good as your golf instructor. Choose the best. Choose a PGA Golf Professional. Mitch Lowe PGA Professional Del Rio Country Club, Modesto, CA