History of the Alabama - NW Florida Section

On February 13, 2017, the Members of the Dixie Section voted overwhelmingly to change the name of the Section to the Alabama – Northwest Florida Section of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of America. The new name gives the Section clear, identifiable boundaries and a practical name for doing business in the 21st century. The Section has a rich history, mostly rooted in the years operating as the Dixie Section from 1965 to 2016.

The Section boundaries have been Alabama and the Florida Panhandle since 1969. Historically, PGA professionals in Alabama, as long ago as 1916, were members of what was previously called the Middle States Section. This Section’s region encompassed the states of Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and North and South Carolina. Of course, this was in the early days of the PGA when fewer members existed and the autonomy of a Section was hardly more than a geographical identity. As the PGA of America grew, the demand for more reasonable and operational boundaries was heard and in 1926, the Southeast Section of the PGA was organized. The Carolinas Section was established, leaving six states as the Southeast Section. This was the beginning of the trend to reduce the size of the Sections, giving each a more individual identity.

The trend continued in 1959 when Tennessee and Florida were each established as new Sections. Additionally, Louisiana and Mississippi joined together to create the Gulf States Section. This left Alabama and Georgia to form what was then called the Georgia-Alabama Section. During this period, as it is today, the Florida Panhandle was considered a part of Alabama, for geographical identification.

In 1965, the Georgia-Alabama Section was renamed the Dixie Section. The Georgia professionals established themselves as the Georgia Chapter of the Dixie Section, while the Alabama professionals had some work to do in this area. At this time, several organizations and associations in the region banded together to promote golf, pro-ams, tournaments, etc. This was understandable because of the large geographical area to be covered by one organization. In addition to the Professional Golfers of Alabama,  there were groups from the Florida Panhandle, Mobile, Alabama, and other areas of South Alabama. While these groups included some, if not most of the PGA Members, they also included some golf professionals who were not PGA Members. This presented a challenge to Alabama professionals organizing the Alabama Chapter of the Dixie Section as a counterpart of the Georgia Chapter. In 1967, Jackie Maness of Alabama was elected Secretary/Treasurer of the Dixie Section (GA-ALA). Shortly after this, the organization called to the Professional Golfers of Alabama to reestablish themselves as the Alabama Chapter of the Dixie Section, including the professionals in the Florida Panhandle.

Starting in 1968, the Georgia professionals were making a strong attempt to have the national organization approve the Georgia Chapter as an established Section. Of course, this was met with support from the Alabama professionals. This would finally separate Alabama and the Florida Panhandle to form their own Section. Jackie Maness was very instrumental in working with Georgia professionals toward this goal. In December 1969, at the PGA Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Georgia Section of the PGA of America was approved as its very own Section.

The Alabama professionals elected to retain the name of the Dixie Section. Jackie Maness was named President of the new Section, and Gene Williams was named the Secretary/Treasurer. At this point, there was still much to be done regarding Chapter organization within the new Dixie Section. In January 1970, a meeting was held in the Panhandle area to address this subject. A second meeting followed several months later at the Pine Harbor Country Club in Alabama, where it was decided that the Dixie Section would be divided into two Chapters. One would be called the Alabama Chapter, covering the area north of Montgomery, and the other Chapter would be called the Gulf Coast Chapter, covering the area south of Montgomery to the Panhandle. The Chapters were to elect their own officers and conduct their own programs under the guidance and approval of the Dixie Section. By this time, the other non-PGA groups were disbanded as the PGA Members pulled out to participate in their respective Chapters.

Organizing the Dixie Section

By 1977, the Dixie Section was one of few Sections that did not have an established business office and administrative person to handle the ever-increasing administrative details of the organization. Section PGA Member Chick Ritter, who had recently retired as a Head Professional, was hired in April 1978 as the Executive Secretary and the first full-time Section employee. Steady progress was made in the affairs and programs of the Section. In 1985, Ritter requested retirement again with a lead time of June 1986 for a turnover to someone to take his place.  In January 1986, after screening numerous applicants, the Section Board of Directors selected Eddie Webster of Webster and Associates, Inc., an association management firm, as the Executive Director for the Dixie Section. The contract became effective on February 1, 1986. After eight months, Eddie Webster left, and Ralph “Peg” Thomas served as interim Executive Director from October 1, 1986, until February 16, 1987, when Dave Berry, a PGA Member, assumed the position of Executive Director until his retirement in October 2004.  In March 2005, the Section Board of Directors named Bart Rottier the new Executive Director.

Since its inception in 1965, the Section has seen tremendous growth. In 1969, before the split with Georgia, there were 175 members in the overall Georgia-Alabama area. The split left the Section, as we know it today, with 82 Members. There has been a steady increase to the point that in 2017, we had 359 Members and 55 Apprentices.

Many new ideas have grown in the Section with the assistance of the PGA National Headquarters. A PGA Financial Assistance Fund began in 1986 to provide college scholarships for children and grandchildren of PGA Members. The Dixie Section Golf Foundation was created in April 2004. This Foundation was organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.