Rick Pohle
Head Professional
Taconic Golf Club

Contact: 413-458-3997; Rick.Pohle@Taconicgolf.com

Affiliation: Head Professional at Taconic since 1983; PGA member since 1978

Education: B.S. in education—1972 @ University of Maine (Orono)

Family: Wife-Catherine; Joey, 26 (an Assistant at Wee Burn CC); Becky, 21 (at Elmira College (Elmira, NY)

Hometown: Lisbon Falls, ME

Residence: Williamstown, Mass.

Career highlights: serving as only the 3rd golf professional at Taconic GC in the 110 year history; 1992 NENY Match Play Champion; 1993 NENY Stroke Play Champion; 1992-93 NENY Player of the year; 2004 New York State  Senior Champion; 5-time NENY Vardon Trophy winner; 10-time Berkshire County Professional Champion; 11-time Berkshire County “108” Champion  (stroke average); 6-time PGA National Club Professional Championship; 5-time qualifier to PGA National Senior Club Professional Championship; coached Williams College to 9 NCAA National Championship appearances in the last 10 years

Awards: NENY Teacher of the Year – 1989; elected to NENY Hall of Fame – 2001; NENY Roland Stafford award for “Sportsman of the Year” – 2003; NESCAC Conference Coach of the Year – 2002, 2004 & 2005, NCAA North East District Coach of the Year – 2002; NENY Section Merchandiser of the Year – 2005

Low round: 64 (twice at Taconic GC, North Adams CC and at Heritage Ridge CC in Florida)

Most memorable lesson: Actress Pamela Reed (Kindergarten Cop, Twins and a number of TV shows) was in Williamstown for the Theater Festival for a play with John Perry. She came to the club for a couple of lessons. She was down to earth and very athletic, and insisted that we be her guest for the play (Horse Feathers), which was a delight. We get a number of celebrities at the club during the season and find them a pleasure to deal with

Favorite course: Other than my home course, I would have to say Augusta National (I got to play there for 5 days through a Williams College alumnus) and Teeth of the Dog (Casa de Campo) in the Dominican Republic. I go there every year with a number of my members and some other professionals from Berkshire County.

Tip to amateurs: I think the biggest deterrent to playing the game to your fullest potential is a lack of consistency. It makes no difference what your current level of play or physical ability is; I think players who have a large variance in their scoring are doomed to a level of frustration and uncertainty. They need to establish their strengths and weaknesses, structure their games around them on the course, and play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses. Save your practice sessions to work on the weaknesses and to tune-up the strengths. At ALL times when playing, perform good course management skills to keep your scores in a tighter range. If you need help in this area, check with your local PGA professional on his thoughts. Getting your scores more in line will make your trips to the course more enjoyable, predictable and competitive in all events that you choose to play in, even when you don’t have your best stuff. In a perfect world, we all know what it is like to shoot a career round. Unfortunately, we live in the real world and must understand that it is OK to borrow the moment but do not let it create a new and unrealistic level of play. Sit down and evaluate your present game and develop a game plan of success for the 2006 season. Be realistic and you might just surprise yourself when it matters most!