With Myrtle Beach being known as “The Golf Capitol of the World” it is a given that it attracts people from all over. It is very important that our golf industry and community be represented by extraordinary people. That being said, PGA member Jeff Diehl of Barefoot Resort & Golf certainly fits this role.
Jeff is originally from Long Island, New York and has served as PGA Head Golf professional at The Dye Club since March 2010. He got a late start in golf when he began playing at the age of 28. At this time he volunteered to help with the Junior Golf Program at the Bethpage Park Golf Courses home of the famed Bethpage Black Course which hosted the U.S. Open in 2002 and 2009. Jeff was noticed while doing his volunteer work by Dick Smith who was the Professional at Bethpage and also the past President of the PGA of America in 1991-1992. He asked Jeff if he would consider going into the golf business and Jeff joined the Bethpage staff in 1999 and stayed there until 2003.
Jeff moved to Myrtle Beach in 2005 and worked for a brief period at The River Club before moving on to Barefoot Resort & Golf. Jeff was elected to PGA membership in 2009. From 2008-2010 He served as Marketing Director for the Norman, Love, Fazio and Dye courses at Barefoot. Since 2011 he has served on the Executive Board of the Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association as the Treasury Secretary. He also serves on the board for The First Tee. Junior golf is a passion for Jeff and he plans to devote much of his time in the future promoting junior golf as well as The First Tee.
Jeff and his wife Kathy have a six-year-old son, Christian. Not only is he a devoted father and committed to his family he is also committed to his community. He gives his time constantly by helping his church, St. Andrews, and the Knight of Columbus in a number of causes including the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, GSGDA Scholarship Fund and the American Heart Association just to name a few.
The Dye Course serves as the tournament site for the Hootie and the Blowfish “Monday After the Masters”. This year will be the 20th anniversary for the tournament and it will be the 13th year for The Dye Course to serve as the host. Jeff and his staff work long 18 hour days preparing for this worthwhile event but he says that the enjoyment that the community receives and the charitable benefits make it more than worth it.
Jeff is obviously a very busy person but when he is not working or volunteering he enjoys freshwater fishing with his son, dining at Greg Norman’s Australian Grill, following the N.Y. Yankees and the Jets.
On April 23, 2009 the Barefoot Resort Community suffered a devastating fire that destroyed many homes and caused millions of dollars of destruction not only to the homes but the Barefoot golf courses as well. Jeff says that the success in rebuilding and the way the community pulled together is one of his proudest moments.
We in the Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach communities feel very blessed to have this very hard working and community minded person as a friend and neighbor. On your next golf vacation to the Grand Strand take the time to stop by the Dye Course and meet Jeff Diehl, he exemplifies what being a PGA Professional is about.
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