According to the Professional Golfers’ Association of America, there are over 30,000 Golf Professionals working in the field of golf. The mission of the PGA is to “help you make the most of your golf journey.” In 2023, Josh Tremblay (RPTM 2002) was awarded the PGA of America Player Development Award for programming that focused on developing new players and building excitement for the game of golf.
Josh Tremblay attributes his success to the support network and community within the PGA and within the Penn State network.
“My first job was working at a golf course,” said Josh. A native of New Hampshire, he shared that his first golf influence was PGA Professional Wayne Nutti. “I saw what he did and how he interacted with people and how he carried himself. I said, ‘I want to do that’.”
At the time, Penn State was one of only four programs offering a degree that prepared students for professional golf management. “I came to campus and met with Frank (Dr. Frank Guadagnolo, RPTM Professor Emeritus), Burch (Dr. Burch Wilkes, RPTM Associate Teaching Professor and Director of the PGA Professional Golf Management Program), and Stevie (Stevie Lovell, Retired RPTM Senior Instructor and Adviser) and knew I wanted to be a part of it. I didn’t apply anywhere else.”
Josh graduated from Penn State and began his career as Assistant Golf Professional at the Wilmington Country Club in Delaware. The next stop was the Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland as Head Golf Professional. He moved on to the Springfield Golf and Country Club in Springfield, Virginia where he spent the next 10 years. At Springfield, his efforts to grow the game included expansion of the Junior Golf program and improving the number of women golfers at the club through creative instruction and events. It was for those efforts at Springfield that the PGA recognized Josh as a standout among his 30,000 peers.
In addition to excelling as a professional in the field, Josh demonstrated further professionalism by getting involved with the PGA in governance of the field. The PGA of America and their members and member clubs are divided into 41 regions across the United States. Josh became involved first as Secretary for the Middle Atlantic region that includes Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. – ironically an area of the country that is also heavy with Penn State alumni. The traditional path is from Secretary to Vice President and then to President; professionals make what is usually a six-year commitment. “Being involved with governance is a great experience,” said Josh. “Networking with other professionals. Learning best practices. Supporting on-going education training. There are so many benefits.” Josh notes that being involved at the regional level also helps to build connections.
“One of the reasons I picked Penn State was because of the support network,” said Josh. “I came from a small town and wanted a big campus, but I also wanted a small community. PGM offered that. Students are able to get the attention and focus to build success. That network continues after graduation. When I was in Virginia, I didn’t go a week without meeting or bumping into someone from Penn State.”
In December of 2023, Josh accepted a position as Director of Golf at Lehigh Valley Country Club in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He is excited to be back in Pennsylvania and to be closer to University Park where he can be more involved in PGM events and programs. The relationships he has built in his career, through his involvement at the regional level and through both the Penn State and PGA networks, are important to Josh. “When I moved over to the Philadelphia PGA section, I already had a lot of friends and colleagues.”
Josh encourages students both in and out of golf to build connections. “On the golf side, this industry is so varied. It’s not just golf. It’s sales. It’s Topgolf. It’s events. Find out what drives you. It’s more than that, though. Relationships are the foundation for what we do. Being able to work with people and connect with them are skills that are not as easily honed elsewhere. I love going back to campus and look forward to staying connected. I’m proud to be a Penn State alum.”
