Sisters grad is a PGA professional

After four years of college and four intensive internships, Evan Mitchell, a 2008 Sisters High School graduate, received his Professional Golf Association (PGA) status and works as an assistant golf pro.

There are two types of golf pros: a tour pro who plays for a living and a club pro, a head professional or an assistant professional who runs the day-to-day operations of a golf facility. Mitchell is a club pro.

Mitchell graduated from the University of Idaho in May of 2012 and finished his final internship at Liberty National (LN) in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Liberty National is an exclusive golf course that caters to the richest people in America. It's located on the western shore of New York Bay with a view of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. Initiation fees alone are $250,000, followed by monthly dues of $25,000.

"There are so few members that when one arrives at the course a staff member is with them at all times," said Mitchell. "We accompany them to the driving range, get them balls, clean their clubs and get them a drink if they want one."

Mitchell recalled the time he met Eli Manning.

"One day the head pro told me to go out and be with a member, and when I got there it was Eli Manning," said Mitchell. "I'm a sports nut so that was great to get to hang out with him for a couple of hours."

While he was at Liberty National, Hurricane Sandy hit, and Mitchell was right in the middle of it.

"We were out of power for eight days," said Mitchell. "The course is elevated and it actually held up better than we expected. But at one time at hole No. 10 we had a NY waterway boat floating on it and the grass at one of the par-three holes was completely ripped out of the ground. The bottom level of the clubhouse was completely flooded. That brought our golf season to an abrupt end."

In his final four months at LN Steve Napoli was hired as general manager. Napoli was the former director of golf at Wannamoisett Country Club in East Providence, Rhode Island. Napoli took Mitchell under his wing and the two formed a strong bond.

At the end of Evan's internship, Napoli told Mitchell he wanted to help him further his career as a PGA professional.

"Steve had a lot of pull in Rhode Island," said Mitchell. "He'd spent most of his career there in two of the better clubs, including Wannamoisett Country Club (WCC). He drove me up to WCC and introduced me to the head professional, Troy Pare.

"I went through the interview and then Troy said, 'Steve sent you up here for a reason. I trust his recommendation and you've got the job if you want it.'"

Mitchell moved from Jersey City to East Providence, RI in March, 2013, with a new title: Assistant Golf Professional. Evan then applied for his PGA membership and got it.

Evan worked at WCC until November 1 of this year and is looking forward to his next job.

Evan explained that golf professionals work up north in the summer and head south in the winter. Mitchell explored a winter job opportunity and it basically fell in his lap.

"I applied at Trump National Doral in Miami and got the job," he said. "It helped that I'd worked for a Trump golf course before (his third internship was at Trump National Golf Club in Washington D.C.). When the director of golf noticed that on my résumé it was a done deal. They phoned me and asked me to come."

Mitchell will work at all five of the courses at the Doral Resort.

"The transition will be easy," said Mitchell. "I've really gotten lucky with all the internships and the jobs. At 23, I'm fortunate that I'm already a golf pro. I know lots of guys in their 40s that are still trying to obtain PGA status."

Mitchell plans to work at Trump National Doral Miami in the winter and hopes to go back to WCC in the summer.

Mitchell grinned, "But, if a better opportunity comes up, I'll take it."

Evan's next goal is to become a head professional and run his own course.

"I'm just trying to build my résumé so when the time comes I'll be the best candidate for the job," said Mitchell. "A lot will depend on my connections and who I meet along the way."

Evan flies back to Rhode Island on Thanksgiving Day and then will drive south to Miami. His new job begins on December 1.