Ainsworth, 45, has managed U.S. Air Force golf courses his entire 23-year career, including stops in Clovis, N.M., San Bernardino, Calif., the Cocoa Beach, Fla., area, and the last 10 years overseeing the two courses at Eisenhower.

    What are Ainsworth’s priorities as executive director of the Section?

    "My goal is to make sure everything we do sets up our members for success. That’s my No. 1 priority,” he said. “Also, I want us to build on our coalition with allied associations (the Colorado Golf Association and the like) to build the game of golf.

    “My vision is to be out there and to meet golf pros face to face, to see where they’re coming from, what they want, and to better understand their needs. We’re here for them.”

    Among the many endeavors individual Sections undertake are conducting many tournaments (including some for amateurs); administering operations of the Section; putting on educational programs, workshops and seminars for members; and helping grow the game of golf.

     Ainsworth praised Bock for the work he did since becoming the Section’s executive director in January 2005.

    “Darrell did an outstanding job,” Ainsworth said. “He was the right guy at the right time for the Section.”

      Bock, who was executive director of the Rocky Mountain Section PGA from 2001 through 2004, “threw his hat into consideration” for the national PGA job two or three months ago. In his new position, he’ll oversee the Colorado Section and the other 40 geographical PGA Sections around the country.

     At this juncture, Bock is trying to get his bearings so he can best serve the needs of his various constituents.

     “The biggest thing at this point is to get my thoughts up to speed with what each of the 41 Sections is doing,” Bock said. “I want to categorize the best ideas and practices into programs and ideas that can be used by every Section.”

     Bock believes the Colorado Section made some significant progress in his three-plus years on the job.

     “One of the initiatives and goals coming to Colorado was to build it into a model Section for the PGA of America,” Bock said. “I felt we made some huge strides internally and externally. We broadened our presence in the community. We have a presence with the state’s tourism and promotions committees. Internally, we worked to bring the Section closer to the membership in terms of communication and on being an association that serves its members. Members deserve the right to voice their opinions.”

   Until last week, Darrell Bock oversaw a piece of the puzzle. Starting this week, making sure the whole puzzle takes shape nicely is Bock’s main concern.

    Bock’s 40-month tenure as executive director of the Colorado Section PGA ended on May 2. Three days later, he began his new job as director of section affairs at the national office of the PGA of America in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

    “I’m excited; it’s a great opportunity,” Bock said this week from Florida. “At the same time, with the scope of the job overseeing 41 PGA sections (across the entire country), I’m a little nervous with that type of responsibility on me. But in growing and bringing in new ideas, it’s a truly exciting opportunity and time for me.”

     The same can be said for the person who will succeed Bock. Eddie Ainsworth, currently the head professional and general manager at Eisenhower Golf Club at the Air Force Academy, will officially take over as executive director of the Colorado Section on June 16, though he’ll work some double duty in the interim.

     Ainsworth will be the fifth executive director of the Section, following Jerry King, Myran Craig, Scott Wellington and Bock.

     Ainsworth, currently the secretary on the Colorado Section board of directors, figured that he would serve on the executive director search committee after Bock resigned. But after a couple of his cohorts encouraged Ainsworth to apply for the job himself, that’s what he did.

    “When I thought about it, the skills I’ve developed over the last 23 years are the same skills you need to be the new executive director,” Ainsworth said this week while making one of what he expects to be many visits to the Section office in Larkspur before officially taking over his new position.

Bock Leaves Colorado Section PGA
to Take Job at National Office

Eisenhower GC’s Ainsworth hired to become Section’s fifth executive director

By Gary Baines

Colorado Golf Journal, 12 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, 2008