The Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA) can be contacted at:
Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA)
Attn.: Jim Estes
11308 Willowdale Drive
Germantown, MD 20876
PHN 301.802.5215
FAX 301.528.4618
estespro@yahoo.com
SMGA Board Members:
Jim Estes, Founder, President, SMGA, is currently the PGA Director of Golf Instruction at Olney Golf Park in Olney, MD. He has taught and played professionally since 1988. Jim earned his PGA Class A membership in 1993, and he has worked with some of the most accomplished instructors in the game of golf, including: Mike Adams, Jim Flick, David Leadbetter, and Jim Suttie. Jim's playing achievements include: earning exempt status on the PGA TOUR and recording two top 15 finishes in 1998; playing in 5 major championships (4 U.S. Opens and 1 PGA Championship); and a win on the Nationwide Tour. Jim's most rewarding teaching accomplishment has been the founding of the Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA) and teaching unilateral amputee Sean Lewis how to break a score of 100 in just 3 months. Jim was one of 12 individuals honored with a 2007 GOLF
Magazine Innovator Award.
James Winslow, Chairman, is currently the Director of Government Affairs for the Sumitomo Corporation of America. Mr. Winslow played Division I golf at The George Washington University and was elected to its “All-Decade Team” for the 1980s. Mr. Winslow has extensive board experience with non-profit institutions, serving as the Chairman of the Rock Creek Foundation. Mr. Winslow holds an MBA in Finance and Investments from the George Washington University.
Christine Bechtel, Vice President, is an avid golfer and currently serves as a vice president of public policy and government relations for a non-profit organization in the non-profit experience. Ms. Bechtel's health-related experience as well as her golf networking capacity is ideally suited for the SMGA’s aim of offering rehabilitative and therapeutic benefits through golf.
Peter B. Bechtel is the Deputy Director, Army Plans and Policy, and Director, Army Nuclear and Chemical Agency, Headquarters, Department of the Army. As an Army Infantry Officer, Mr. Bechtel had a variety of leadership and staff experiences including deployments to Latin America and the Persian Gulf. Mr. Bechtel has also served as a Special Assistant to the White House. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point, and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Cornell University. His awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Airborne, and Air Assault Badges.
Ellen Kay, Secretary, serves in a variety of capacities for a number of charitable organizations, including the Women's Board of the American Heart Association. Before becoming involved with her volunteer activities for non-profits, Ms. Kay earned an MBA and worked at the American Trucking Association. Emotionally touched after reading a Golf World magazine piece on Jim Estes' work with combat-wounded soldiers, she picked up the phone that same day and called Olney Golf Park, offering her help.
Timothy Landres, Timothy Landres is the founder and CEO of WestLand Golf, an upscale
daily-fee golf facility developer and operator, which has privately funded acquisitions and capital improvements at a number of facilities,
including Olney Golf Park. WestLand develops, operates, and funds industry
leading practice facilities, and consults on the management and development of
third-party golf facilities. WestLand is recognized as a national leader in
the alternative golf market industry. Tim is a regular contributor to Golf
20/20, a charter member of Four Streams Golf Club, and a two-time club
champion at Woodmont Country Club. Tim is a graduate of Rollins College, where he
was a member of the golf team.
Visit Olney Golf Park, the Home of the SMGA: www.olneygolfpark.com
