Chris “Howie” Howard has achieved PGA “Class A” status, and with it has earned the title of Dataw Island Head Golf Professional. Having worked alongside Chris Fearn, Director of Golf, since 2019, the two Chrises are excited to continue the great relationship they have built and to continue bringing great programming to Dataw Island members.
Certification as a Golf Professional provides members a level of confidence that the individual not only has an expert understanding the golf industry, it also gives them reassurance that the individual fully understands the golf swing and can teach at a high level.
“I hope my new position and certification shows the members that we are always trying to make Dataw better and something they can be proud of,” says Chris Howard. “We want to have highly-trained and skilled employees so we can exceed all member needs.”
Chris Fearn agrees, saying, “It’s really exciting for our department, staff, and members to have staff members with this level of certification. It takes a lot of time and dedication to achieve and keep your certification, and our staff has continued to be dedicated to this, improving both personally and professionally.”
The PGA program consist of three levels of education and testing. Each level focuses on different parts of the golf industry depending on the career path you prefer. Howie chose the path of golf operations with focus areas of managing a golf operation and golf instruction. Prior to completing the third level you are considered an associate of the PGA but not a member. After completing and testing out of the third level you become a member of the PGA of America.
For Howie, the path to becoming a PGA Professional launched in 2012 when he graduated from the Professional Golfers Career College with a degree in Golf Course Management. About nine years ago, he came to Dataw the first time as Assistant Professional. He then spent six years as Montage Palmetto Bluff (May River Golf Club) serving as Second Assistant Professional. He returned to Dataw Island in 2019, accepting the job of First Assistant Professional, and has now been promoted to Head Professional.
“I truly enjoy talking and being part of the members daily lives,” he says. “I love seeing people improve their golf game and just enjoy the game of golf more. Spending the last two years at Dataw, I have become more confident with members and in leading the team around me. I understand want members want and how to improve the atmosphere and feel of the club.”
General Manager Ted Bartlett says he is happy to see Chris Howard move up. “Chris is bright, capable, and very knowledgeable of our members and golf. And, he really takes pride in what he does.” Bartlett noted that while interviewing Chris for the promotion, he was particularly impressed with his pride of quality and leadership. “He said that he hoped to see Dataw Island become the leader that other clubs benchmark against when it comes to how we run our operation. He wants us to be seen as one of the finer organizations in the industry. And, with the leadership and staff we have in place I believe that we can accomplish that."
Howie and his wife, Ashley, reside in Bluffton with their 6-year-old daughter, Lacie, and 3-year-old daughter, Eleanor, where they enjoy spending time at the beach or by the pool. His career aspiration is to achieve the status of a Master Professional though the PGA and eventually become a Director of Golf.