Matt Frey, PGA: Not Just a Passion, but a Career in Golf

I truly love my career, and like most folks, I probably do not reflect as much as I should, but this little love letter to golf has made me sincerely excited about the next 20 years. Thank you all for being a part of it.

Yesterday marked 20 years since I started playing the game of golf. What started on a whim by a bored, soon-to-be high school freshman, has turned into not just a passion, but a career. The 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage got my attention, and 10 days later, I played Orchard Hills, a delightful and now defunct par-3 course, in the summer heat and humidity with my friends. Something about our round that day made me want to play again, and again, and I have not looked back since. A couple of years later, I was given my first job in golf: working in the cart barn at Miami View Golf Club. While I enjoyed the free golf on my off hours, thanks to PGA Members John Gauthier and Brad Loomis, I started to realize that I could turn this into a career, and was ultimately promoted to work in John's golf shop.

As fate would have it, Eastern Kentucky University was getting ready to launch its PGA Golf Management program in the autumn of 2006, and I was the first prospective student to meet with the program's director, Kim Kincer. Attending EKU to be a part of their PGM program's first graduating class was perhaps one of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only did I learn tons about the golf industry, the profession, and life from the PGM staff, but I met some wonderful soon-to-be PGA Members who eventually became some of my best friends.

Since then, I have been very fortunate to meet hundreds of amazing people and see amazing things, attend historic events, and work with some very important and influential people. During my college career I was able to work internships at places like Maketewah, Lake Naomi / Timber Trails, the PGA of America, and Meridian Hills. Following college, I have been employed by Camago, Malone, PGA Magazine, and now the Philadelphia PGA Section. I have attended 15 major championships, a Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, Curtis Cup, PGA Professional Championships, countless PGA Shows, PGA and LPGA tour events, collegiate championships, and PGA Annual Meetings. Earlier this month, I was even able to see, in person, one of the best golfers in the world win at Seaview with a former coworker on her bag, which brought me more joy than I expected. In addition to my full-time work, I have served on Section and National PGA committees, and have volunteered at numerous different events. 

I have also been able to play and visit many incredible golf courses, something I still pinch myself for on a regular basis. From getting to play Fishers and Maidstone, Scranton, Oakmont, and Lancaster, Wilshire and Jupiter Hills, and visiting Pine Valley, Merion, Seminole, and countless others, I understand how fortunate I have been.

Each of these experiences have taught me a lot about a myriad of different things, and I'm grateful I've been able to experience them. The game of golf has given me so much, which may be one of the reasons, with all the ups and downs, long hours and miles traveled, that I am still as motivated to work in the industry as I am. While not every single experience I have had has been positive, every one of my managers, directors, coworkers, interns, PGA Professionals, club members, and friends, have taught me something, and improved me in some form or fashion. 

I truly love my career, and like most folks, I probably do not reflect as much as I should, but this little love letter to golf has made me sincerely excited about the next 20 years. Thank you all for being a part of it.