Eager to grow the game at the junior level, PGA of America Member Michael Discenza joins the Central New York PGA administrative team as the Section’s Player Development Director.
Discenza started his new position in early March. His main responsibilities will be handling all matters pertaining to the Section’s Junior Tour including scheduling, tournament administration, and budget. He will also be responsible for administrative matters, promotion and advancement of PGA Jr. League; Drive, Chip, and Putt qualifiers; PGA Family Golf; PGA Junior Camps, and the CNY PGA Players Card.
Brittany Wowelko, formerly the Director of Foundation Programs and Marketing, has a new role. She is now the Section’s Marketing Communications Director.
In addition to his Player Development duties, Discenza will also assist Section Tournament Director Dylan Plis, PGA on site at various member events.
“I am looking forward to offering a meaningful and memorable experience to kids that participate in our programs,” Discenza said. “Youth sports play a vital role in our communities, no matter the sport.”
Discenza speaks from experience about the importance of youth sports. He enjoyed learning the game of golf as a junior player at Elm Tree Golf Course and Maple Hills Golf Course.
Now Discenza, an assistant men’s and women’s golf coach at Le Moyne College, is ready to make the same impact in his new position.
“My life and career in the game was founded through my junior golf experience,” he said. “Fostering a similar experience for children and families across the region, playing a role in giving them a game they can enjoy for a lifetime while helping to build a foundation for a healthier game in our region is a humbling and exciting responsibility that I anticipate being very fulfilling.”
Here’s more of what Discenza had to say about becoming the CNY PGA Player Development Director:
On his goals as Player Development Director: In the short term I certainly intend to leverage the staff’s expertise in running our programming so successfully as I work to offer an organized and seamless transition for all of our Player Development programming. Long term I hope to grow participation across all of our Player Development programs, attract new sponsors as a means of enhancing the experience we offer our junior golfers, and forge new relationships with stakeholders across the region, specifically public schools and local municipalities.
On how being a former Professional Development Award winner will him in his new role: Player Development and cultivating new players has long been a core value of mine as a PGA Professional. I have enthusiastically leveraged many of the resources the PGA has developed and offered its members while being very intentional about identifying opportunities to cultivate players in my day to day practice as a golf professional. I am always open to new perspectives and strategies as a means to this end, and I know that other PGA Professionals are our greatest resource in advancing player development.
On how youth sports are important: My son has had an incredible experience in youth sports, albeit hockey. Watching him grow and develop using sport as a vehicle has been incredible to observe as a parent. I am looking forward to playing a role in offering that sort of opportunity in the golf space for our communities.