Meet the four candidates for the two at-large seats on the Section Board of Directors. Voting opens at 9 AM on Friday, October 16 and will close Monday, October 19 during the 2026 Fall Meeting.
David Hartke, PGA
Head Professional – Losantiville Country Club
Tell us about yourself.
I grew up in the Cincinnati area and developed a passion for the game of golf in high school. I started my career at Oglebay resort in West Virginia, moved back to Cincinnati and have worked at Etter’s Custom Golf, Ivy Hills, Swing Fit, and I am currently the Head Professional at Losantiville Country Club. Having worked both in the public and private sectors in southern Ohio, I have seen the golf business grow and change in both areas, and I would like to bring that varied expertise and viewpoint to the board.
Please share any prior service to a Chapter, the Section or PGA of America.
None
What awards or recognition have you received from a chapter, the Section, PGA of America or from the community?
None
Why are you running for a position on the Board of Directors?
I would like to be more involved in the decisions and the future of the SOPGA.
What is the biggest challenge our organization/members face and how would you address that as a member of the Board?
I do not know if it is one of the biggest challenges we face, but one I would like to see improved is a sense of community. As a member of the board, I would like to introduce more informal events to help build comradery and create a better environment to share and exchange ideas with other pros, as well as get to know more pros that maybe do not play in tournaments.
Mack McConaha, PGA
Director of Instruction – The Golf Room
Tell us about yourself.
I am a Cleveland sports fanatic with a passion for the outdoors. My time away from the game of golf, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family along with being one with nature and enjoying outdoor activities. I love developing our next generation of junior golfers into great humans and hopefully good golfers.
Please share any prior service to a Chapter, the Section or PGA of America.
I currently serve on the Junior Golf Committee for the Southern Ohio PGA.
What awards or recognition have you received from a chapter, the Section, PGA of America or from the community?
U.S. Kids Top 50 Coach
Why are you running for a position on the Board of Directors?
My current role at The Golf Room has freed up some time to allow my participation in important roles, like this one. I hope that all PGA Members would want to dedicate their time to volunteer for the greater good for the PGA of America. I’ve worked in the golf industry for over thirty years, and I’d like to take my knowledge and experience to apply it making things better for the SOPGA and PGA.
What is the biggest challenge our organization/members face and how would you address that as a member of the Board?
A big challenge we face is the idea that the PGA is just taking money from Associates and they don’t care about developing our Associates into Members. I believe it would be important to get out and address this at a Spring or Fall Meeting with some testimonials from within the SOPGA that debunks this notion.
Garrett Rodgers, PGA
Director of Golf – Coldstream Country Club
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Garrett Rodgers, PGA, and I am honored to be a candidate for the Southern Ohio PGA Board of Directors.
For the past four years, I have had the privilege of serving as the Director of Golf at Coldstream Country Club in Cincinnati. In my role, I oversee all aspects of the golf operation, including the Golf Shop, outside services, instruction, junior golf, tournaments, and member programming. My time at Coldstream has given me the opportunity to grow as a PGA Professional while working alongside an incredible team and serving a membership that is deeply passionate about the game.
Throughout my career, I have developed a strong appreciation for the role PGA Professionals play within their clubs and communities. We wear a lot of hats, and our profession continues to evolve. I believe our Section plays an important role in helping professionals navigate those changes while providing opportunities to learn, network, compete, and grow.
I am interested in serving on the SOPGA Board because I want to give back to our profession and contribute to the continued success of our Section. I would bring the perspective of a current Club Professional and a genuine desire to listen to and represent the diverse group of professionals throughout Southern Ohio.
If given the opportunity to serve, I would work collaboratively with the Board and our membership to strengthen communication, create meaningful opportunities for professional development and networking, and continue to make the SOPGA a valuable resource for PGA Professionals at every stage of their careers.
I am grateful for the opportunity to be considered and would be honored to serve the Southern Ohio PGA and its membership.
Thank you for your consideration and support.
Please share any prior service to a Chapter, the Section or PGA of America.
One of the ways I have tried to support the SOPGA is by becoming more involved in hosting Section events at Coldstream Country Club.
After a long period without hosting SOPGA events, we were proud to host the 2024 E-Z-GO Spring Pro-Pro Championship and, more recently, the 2026 Summer Pro-Pro at Coldstream. I was excited to open Coldstream back up to our Section professionals and provide a place where PGA Professionals could compete, network, and spend time together. Hosting these events also gave our team an opportunity to work directly with the SOPGA and better understand what goes into creating a successful Section event. I view that as an important part of being a PGA Professional – supporting our Section not only by participating in events, but by being willing to host, volunteer, share ideas, and create opportunities for our fellow professionals.
If elected to the Board, I would like to build on that involvement and become even more engaged in helping the SOPGA and its membership.
What awards or recognition have you received from a chapter, the Section, PGA of America or from the community?
I was recently honored with the Distinguished Achievement in Leadership recognition through Distinguished Clubs, presented by BoardRoom Magazine. I am very grateful for this recognition, particularly because leadership, team development, and creating a positive culture are aspects of the profession that I value tremendously.
Over the past four years at Coldstream Country Club, I have focused on building a strong golf operation, developing our Professional Staff, and creating exceptional experiences for our members and guests. I am proud of the growth our team and golf operation have experienced, and I view this recognition as a reflection of the work our entire team has put in together.
I have also enjoyed becoming more involved with the Southern Ohio PGA by participating in Section events and bringing SOPGA events back to Coldstream, including hosting the 2024 E-Z-GO Spring Pro-Pro Championship and the 2026 Summer Pro-Pro.
For me, the most meaningful recognition comes from the opportunity to develop people, contribute to our profession, and positively impact the clubs and communities we serve.
Why are you running for a position on the Board of Directors?
I am running for the SOPGA Board because I believe strongly in our profession and want to give back to the organization that represents PGA Professionals throughout Southern Ohio.
Over the past four years at Coldstream, I have gained a greater appreciation for the many responsibilities that come with being a Club Professional. We are leaders, business operators, teachers, mentors, event managers, and, most importantly, advocates for our members and the game of golf. I want to bring that perspective to the Board and help ensure the voice of the PGA Professional continues to be represented.
I also want to help create more opportunities for our professionals to connect, learn from one another, and grow both personally and professionally. Some of the most valuable lessons in my career have come from conversations and relationships with other PGA Professionals, and I believe our Section can continue to strengthen those connections.
Ultimately, I am running because I care about the SOPGA, I care about the PGA Professional, and I want to play a role in helping our Section continue to move forward. I would be grateful for the opportunity to serve, listen to our membership, and contribute wherever I can.
What is the biggest challenge our organization/members face and how would you address that as a member of the Board?
I believe one of the biggest challenges facing our members is the increasing demands placed on PGA Professionals and the difficulty of balancing everything that comes with leading a modern golf operation. Today’s professionals are expected to be strong leaders, business managers, instructors, tournament directors, recruiters, mentors, and ambassadors for the game, often while managing the expectations of both their membership and ownership.
As a Board member, I would focus on turning the SOPGA into an even stronger resource for professionals dealing with those demands. Specifically, I would look for opportunities to:
- Create more peer-to-peer learning opportunities by connecting professionals who are dealing with similar challenges so they can share ideas, systems, and best practices.
- Expand practical education focused on the issues professionals are dealing with every day – staffing, retention, member communication, technology, business operations, leadership, and growing the game.
- Strengthen mentorship opportunities between experienced PGA Professionals and those who are newer to the profession or moving into leadership roles.
- Improve communication with the membership by making sure professionals have a clear avenue to share ideas, concerns, and suggestions with the Board.
- Bring the Club Professional’s perspective to Board discussions, particularly when decisions or initiatives could directly affect the day-to-day operation of our facilities.
Most importantly, I would make listening to our members a priority. I don’t believe the Board should assume it knows every challenge our professionals face. I would want to regularly communicate with professionals throughout the Section, understand what they need, and then work with the Board and SOPGA staff to turn that feedback into meaningful programs and resources.
My goal would be to be an active Board member – not simply attend meetings, but bring ideas to the table, help execute them, and follow up to make sure they are actually benefiting our membership.
Bobby Sneed, PGA
General Manager – Wedgewood Golf and Country Club
Tell us about yourself.
I am a graduate of The Ohio State University’s Professional Golf Management Program and have spent my entire career in the golf and private club industry. I have been a member of the Southern Ohio PGA Section for more than 15 years and have served as a GM/COO at multiple facilities in the Columbus area for nearly 12 years.
Before moving into club management, I had the opportunity to work as a golf professional at two of Ohio’s most respected clubs, Muirfield Village Golf Club and Scioto Country Club. Those experiences helped shape my passion for the golf industry and gave me a strong foundation in both golf operations and club management.
I currently live in Hilliard, Ohio, with my wife, Mallory, our two children, Harper and Atticus, and our Goldendoodle, Hudson. I’m fortunate to have built a career in an industry I love while raising my family in the Columbus community.
Please share any prior service to a Chapter, the Section or PGA of America.
I am currently on the Membership Committee.
What awards or recognition have you received from a chapter, the Section, PGA of America or from the community?
None
Why are you running for a position on the Board of Directors?
I am running for the Southern Ohio PGA Section Board of Directors because I want to give back to the organization and profession that have been such a big part of my career.
I believe my experience as both a PGA Professional and a GM/COO gives me a different perspective on the challenges our members face today. I want to bring that perspective to the Board, listen to our members, and help make sure the Section continues to provide value to PGA Professionals and their facilities.
I enjoy being involved, I care about the future of our profession, and I would be proud to have the opportunity to serve the Southern Ohio PGA Section.
What is the biggest challenge our organization/members face and how would you address that as a member of the Board?
I believe one of the biggest challenges facing our Section is making sure we continue to provide value to all of our PGA Professionals as our industry continues to change.
PGA Professionals are being asked to do more than ever, whether that is managing people, finances, technology, member expectations or the overall operation of a facility. At the same time, recruiting and retaining good people continues to be a challenge across our industry.
I also think we need to continue finding ways to attract young professionals to our industry and give them opportunities to grow and build a career. Our Section needs to continue evolving with the profession and provide education, networking, career development and resources that help our members succeed.
My goal would be to help our Section listen to its members, understand what they need and continue to find ways to make the PGA a valuable organization for professionals today and in the future.