PROBLOG #2: Geddes On The Rise

PGA professional Mark Geddes has had a quick accession into becoming one of the top playing competitors within the Southern California PGA Section. Geddes, originally from Cheshire, England, got his first taste of competitive golf experience on a large scale in sunny Arizona where he played for the Grand Canyon University Men’s golf team.

After competing collegiately, he made the natural transition to professional golf, finding mini tour and Canadian Tour events to sharpen his game. The grind of competing to pay bills, however, led him to seek a more stable career that still allowed him the opportunity to be surrounded by the game he loved.

Finding out that becoming a PGA professional would allow him the chance to give the gift of golf to others while also being able to experience the camaraderie of competitive golf was enticing to Geddes. He enrolled in the PGA program and earned a position as an Assistant Golf Professional at Coronado Golf Course in March of 2017.

Seeing his boss, Head Golf Professional Brian Smock, PGA, compete in two of five of the last PGA Championships helped spur him to fasttrack his coursework and to progress through the Associate levels. Determined to compete, Geddes finished levels 2 and 3 of the PGA Associate Program in around 12 months; an impressive feat.

Geddes wasted no time making his presence known atop SCPGA leaderboards after receiving his PGA professional membership. His stellar performances in 2020 culminated in his T-9 finish at the Southern California PGA Professional Championship which earned him a spot into the PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club back in April.

After four grueling rounds that tested the entire field, Geddes found himself in a five-way playoff for four spots to the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. The moment never got too big for Geddes who played smartly for par to secure his ticket to Kiawah Island and join the Team of 20.

“Extremely grateful that the PGA allows club pros to earn a spot at the PGA Championship . . . it’s a great initiative and their continued endeavor to allow 20 PGA professionals to showcase that they are more than just club pros and have an awesome playing background is a testament to the organization” said Geddes.

From the sun-kissed sands of Coronado to the salt filled-air of South Carolina, Geddes is ready to test his game among some of the world’s best. Having never played Kiawah Island, Geddes researched and planned his strategy and shot an opening round 71 that included three birdies. This is not the end of the journey for Geddes, so keep your eyes and ears open for the Coronado golf professional to keep competing locally and nationally.

Contact Tyler Miller at tamiller@pgahq.com.