The Washington Junior Golf Association (WJGA) has named Tyler Johnsen as the organization’s new Executive Director. Johnsen succeeds Jerry Fehr, who will retire at the end of the year after holding the position for 21 years.
“I am passionate about the WJGA and identify with its mission of providing junior golfers the opportunity to gain life skills through its comprehensive tournament program,” said Johnsen, who assumes his new responsibilities January 1, 2014. “I’m excited to work with the hundreds of volunteers whose collective efforts are truly the lifeblood of the organization and help better the great game of golf.”
Taking the helm of the WJGA is the completion of a circle for Johnsen, who as a junior golfer participated in the WJGA program for nine years, qualifying for four State Tournaments and winning the District Two Championship in 1999.
Johnsen, 31, served as Manager of Rules and Competition with the Washington State and Pacific Northwest Golf Associations from 2006-2010 and has held the position of Manager of Membership Services since March, 2010. He brings an extensive amount of experience in golf association administration as he has directed championship level golf tournaments as well as created and developed new ideas to benefit the entire WSGA/PNGA membership.
He has served on a variety of national, regional and state committees over the years, including the 2010 U.S. Amateur Rules Committee at Chambers Bay, the WSGA and PNGA Championship Committees, the WSGA Handicap Procedures Committee, the Sahalee Players Championship Recruiting Committee, as well as serving as coordinator of the Pacific Coast Golf Association Recruiting Committee from 2009-2011.
Johnsen is a 2005 graduate of the University of Washington where he majored in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance. He and his wife Rachel reside in Lake Tapps, Wash.
The Washington Junior Golf Association is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded by Joan Teats in 1977. The 2014 season will mark the 38th year that the WJGA has operated a quality competitive program for junior golfers in Washington, Northern Idaho and Umatilla County in Oregon. In the 37 years since the WJGA began, it has developed into one of the most highly regarded junior programs in the country with a membership that continues to top 1,000 junior golfers each year. Junior boys and girls compete in one of six districts by age division, which are 8-11, 12-13, 14-15, and 16-17.
A few former WJGA players include current tour professionals Fred Couples, Ryan Moore, Kyle Stanley, Paige Mackenzie, Alex Prugh, Jimin Kang, Annie Brophy, Rick Fehr and Troy Kelly, among many others.
In addition to keen competition, the program teaches young golfers to play by the rules, to take proper care of the golf course, to practice golf etiquette and also develops lifelong skills through the building of character and sportsmanship. The WJGA consists of an all-volunteer board of 24 directors, as well as hundreds of volunteers. Visit www.wjga.net for more information.