TONY CHAVEZ, PGA
Los Serranos Country Club
Metro Chapter Member
NOMINATOR: Brian Miano, PGA
My fellow PGA Members, it would be an honor to represent my fellow Golf Professionals in the Board of Directors, but let me start by sharing my journey in the Golf Industry. This goes beyond the 23 years of Class A membership. I grew up in Mexicali, Mexico and at an early age I was introduced to the game of golf by my father who was employed at Club Campestre. My first swing lessons came at an early age from my dad who also taught me the value of hard work. Both of my parents and my two siblings are a source of inspiration to me, they constantly remind me of the value of honest hard work. My family upbringing is the right foundation to my 30+ year working career in this industry. I could easily simplify my working career by saying that I’ve been exposed to every single job / task that you can imagine, from caddy to General Manager, form Country Club to very busy Daily Fee Public facilities. Currently, you will find me at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills, where I serve as the Director of Golf. At Los Serranos we serve around 140,000 golf rounds a year, our two 18-hole courses are a very popular in our area. Our practice facilities serve new and avid golfers alike, we work with 2 academies and I run our teaching program. Outside of Golf I live a very simple life. My hobbies are listening to audiobooks and/or podcasts on my daily drive, I am working on Master Professional designation in Teaching and Coaching. My experience in the service of others includes serving as President of The Desert Chapter in 2005 as well as a Chapter Representative in the SCPGA Board.
NOMINATION ADDRESS:
KIMBERLY FALCONE, PGA
La Jolla Country Club
San Deigo Chapter Member
Nominator: Todd Keefer, PGA
I grew up in the golf business as the daughter of a PGA Member and have been a Member myself for nearly 28 years. I played college golf at the University of Missouri where I attained both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education. I began my professional career at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, MO where I worked for 7 years before moving to San Diego. I have worked at La Jolla Country Club for 23 years and hold the title of Assistant Head Golf Professional and Golf Operations Manager. I been actively involved in the Southern California PGA for over 13 years and have had the good fortune to serve on the SCPGA Board of Directors for the past 6 years (3 years as an Independent Director and 3 years as an At-Large Director). I currently serve on two PGA National Committees: Education and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
MICHAEL GAINEY, PGA
Titleist Performance Institue
San Diego Chapter
Nominator: Steve Wilson, PGA
I’m happily married and a father of three young boys (ages 10, 7 and 1). I have been working in the golf industry since 1995 having held many different roles in that time. My favorite position was that of a golf coach. I’m currently working for Titleist Golf as Consumer Test Coordinator for the R&D Department. I’ve held this title for almost three years and have really enjoyed learning more about product development and all that goes into it from a manufacturing standpoint.
TOM SON, PGA
Arrowood Golf Course
San Diego Chapter
Nominator: Shawn Cox, PGA
I graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) with a BS in Economics in 1994. He later resigned as a Captain in the US Army, where he served as a Military Intelligence Officer stationed in Seoul, Korea, from 1995 to 1999. Following his military service, Tom ventured into the Investment Banking Industry, assuming the role of Managing Director at various firms: Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong (1999-2005), JP Morgan in Korea (2005-2008), and Deutsche Bank in Korea (2008-2016). In 2017, he completed his studies at the Golf Academy of America in San Diego, pursuing his passion for golf. Since 2018, Tom Son has served as the General Manager of Arrowood Golf Course in Oceanside, CA. He is a PGA Member and a CMAA Member since 2019. Moreover, Tom actively engages in leadership roles, such as being a Board Member of SCPGA since 2021, Secretary of the San Diego Chapter of SCPGA since 2022, and a Board Member of DEI & PGA Hope PGA National Committees since 2023.