Las Vegas, Nevada (June 25, 2014)–Dan Hammell not only oversees operations of one of two Las Vegas PGA TOUR owned and operated Las Vegas golf courses, but he is actively involved in the Las Vegas golf community. Hammell, the general manager of TPC Las Vegas, recently was elected to the board of directors of the Southwest Section, Southern Nevada Chapter, PGA of America, and is excited to be back involved after some time away from the board. Hammell is a co-chair of the junior golf committee for the board and believes big things are to come. –By Brian Hurlburt
TPC Las Vegas is a resort golf course that is a previous host to events on both the PGA TOUR and PGA Champions Tour. Among the notables who have won tournaments on the course are Hale Irwin, Stuart Appleby, and Jim Furyk, among others. The course is dubbed the home of professional golf in Las Vegas because on nearly a daily basis one of Tour pros who live in the Las Vegas will be playing or practicing at the course. Click now to learn more about the TPC Las Vegas TOUR experience.
"I am very happy to be back involved with our local PGA of America chapter board," says Hammell, who has been at the helm of TPC Las Vegas for more than a decade. "I have served in the past and I am looking forward to being involved again. A main focus for me is to help promote junior golf and get more kids in Southern Nevada involved plus educate them about how to secure college scholarships and the other opportunities that are available for kids who play golf. Nolan Halterman, from Anthem, and I, serve as the co-chairs of the junior golf committee and it is our mission to make a positive difference. In my opinion, the output of junior golfers from this area who went on to receive a college golf scholarship is down over the past few years and we will work to help in that area."
Even without being on the board, Hammell continued to be make a postive difference in the community. Hammell was recognized by his peers in 2013 with one of the most disinguished honors awarded by the chapter. He earned the Bill Strausbaugh Award that honors professionals who by their day-to-day efforts have distinguished themselves by mentoring their fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations and through service to the community. Hammell says that the recognition is appreciated, but he is more excited to see the Las Vegas golf community working together on several initiatives.
"The Southern Nevada golf allied associations are really coming together nicely, sparked by an interest in promoting junior golf, but I believe we will work even closer together on a lot of different projects in the future," says Hammell.
In addition to serving on the Chapter board, Hammell also serves on an allied association committee for junior golf that focuses on providing top level competition for kids in Southern Nevada. Among the other associations involved in that effort are The First Tee of Southern Nevada, Southern Nevada Golf Association, Nevada Golf Course Owners Association, and others.
While Hammell is focused on the community, he also pays close attention to the overall TPC Las Vegas experience for golfers. And having so many PGA TOUR pros playing and practicing helps elevate his course to one of the best in the area.
"It is very unique to have the best players in the world play and practice at our facility," says General Manager Dan Hammell. "You must currently be on one of the three major Tours (PGA, Champions or Web.com) or be a PGA Tour Past Champion to have privileges at our private practice facility. We pride ourselves in delivering the highest quality experience, not only for our Tour Players, but our guests as well. Guests can actually rub elbows with these greats as they play our signature par 3, 2nd hole."