Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States: PGA Master Professional Don Rea Jr has been elected the 44th President of the PGA of America.

Rea will serve a two-year term, representing the more than 31,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals.

A Member of the Southwest PGA Section, Rea is the Owner and Operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club, a public golf course, in Mesa, Arizona. He succeeds John Lindert, Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing (Michigan), who served as President from 2022-24.

At the Association’s 108th Annual Meeting at the Amway Grand Plaza in Michigan, it was confirmed also that Nathan Charnes, General Manager and Director of Golf of WingHaven Country Club in O’Fallon, Missouri, and a member of the Gateway PGA Section, will succeed Rea as Vice President.

Eric Eshleman, PGA Director of Golf at the Country Club of Birmingham in Alabama, and a Member of the Alabama-NW Florida PGA Section, was elected the new PGA of America Secretary.

Rea said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to serve, alongside our Officers and Board of Directors, the more than 31,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals of our Association.

“Our Members and Associates are serving millions of golfers through this amazing game every day. I’m incredibly proud of the lives we impact collectively along the way, shoulder to shoulder with our 41 PGA of America Sections.

“It is our top priority to serve our PGA of America Golf Professionals and provide resources to allow them to thrive and continue to lead as experts of the game.”

A PGA of America Member for 22 years, Rea was elected PGA of America Secretary in 2020 and Vice President at the 2022 PGA Annual Meeting. A Member of the Southwest PGA Section, Rea earned PGA Master Professional Status in 2024, the highest educational designation a PGA of America Member can obtain.

He served on the PGA of America’s National Board of Directors from 2016-19. Elected as President of the Southwest PGA Section from 2013-14, Rea also has served on the Boards of Directors for the Southwest PGA Section, National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) and the Arizona Tourism Alliance.

While on the PGA Board of Directors, he chaired the Junior Golf Committee, which created the American Development Model (ADM) for golf, and the PGA Jr League Committee.

Additionally, Rea served on the Chief Operating Officer Search Committee and currently serves on the Chief Executive Officer Search Committee.

Rea currently serves on the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association Board of Directors to promote the golf and hospitality industry and help educate the public and Arizona legislators on golf industry water usage.

Since 2012, Rea has owned Your Course Consulting. He also founded Community Course Rescue Services, LLC in 2017.

Rea spent nine years as a minor league baseball umpire, ascending to Triple-A. In addition, he umpired several spring training games for Major League Baseball.

*The PGA of America is an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.