Sibley discusses learning curve while taking over as head pro

Having grown up in Augusta, it?s probably not surprising that Dave Sibley would develop a passion for golf, except for one small thing. The new head pro at Gannon Golf Course grew up in Augusta, Maine, not Augusta, Ga.Sibley, who takes over for recently retired Mike Foster, comes to Gannon via Beverly Golf & Tennis Club, where he has been serving as the assistant head professional. Gibley started his college golf career at the University of Maine, but after two years he decided to head south.?At that point I decided I?d had enough snow,” Sibley said.Sibley spent the next two years at Methodist College, now Methodist University, where he got a degree in golf management. After graduation, he spent his apprenticeship years in North and South Carolina before eventually finding his way north in 2003.Sibley will have some big shoes to fill taking over for Foster, whose name has been synonymous with Gannon for the past 44 years, 39 of which he spent as head pro. With Gannon currently covered in snow, Sibley and Chris Carter, who is co-owner of Golf Facilities Management Inc., have been busy laying the groundwork for the upcoming season.?Dave?s been doing a lot of cleaning, booking outings, booking golf leagues, working with the men?s and women?s Inner Clubs and setting up tournament schedules,” Carter said.Sibley said there?s a big learning curve.?It?s been fun so far,” Sibley said. “I had a chance to meet a lot of people and everybody has expressed excitement about the group (GFMI) being here. Right now it?s a matter of evaluating what?s going on and continuing with things that make Gannon Gannon.”Among the areas Sibley and Carter will be working on are increasing membership and maintaining a vibrant junior golf program. Sibley said Gannon?s junior golf program is known throughout the state for its numbers and the success stories of some of the people, like Carter, who got their start in the program.?When I was approached, it (the junior program) was high on the priority list,” Sibley said. “It?s something we want to continue and continue to grow.”Sibley said between 1995-2000, Tiger Woods brought an awareness of the game to younger generations that maybe hadn?t been there in a while. Sibley said to keep younger players in the sport, there has to be a social aspect to it.?You have to keep it fun for them. That?s a big part of it,” he said, adding it?s not just getting young people into the game, it?s keeping them there.Carter said membership numbers at Gannon had fallen by between 50-100 people since the recession started in 2008. He said the trend is something that most golf courses have seen. Carter said the membership is now at about 450 and he?d like to see it back up over 500. Some of the ways that might be accomplished, he said, are through improving on the website and through the use of social media.?We need to bring in people who have never seen the facility,” he said.