JON GATES, PGA Member
Head Golf Professional
Jon is the ninth Head Golf Professional. Prior to joining DGC in 2002, Jon served as Head Golf Professional at Orchard Lake Country Club in Orchard Lake, Michigan. Before joining Orchard Lake Country Club in 1990, Jon Gates served in similar capacities at the Travis Point Country Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan from 1986 through 1989 and at the Mt. Pleasant Country Club in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan from 1983 until 1985. Jon also served as an Assistant Head Golf Professional at Grosse Ile Country Club in Grosse Ile, Michigan from 1981 until 1982.
Jon has received numerous awards for his golf shops rating in the top 100 Golf Shops in the country by "Golf World Business-Americas 100 Best Golf Shops Private Club". He has also been named "Merchandiser of the Year" by the Michigan Section of the PGA on multiple occasions and he won the Bill Strausbaugh Award for two consecutive years. Fourteen of his former Assistant Professionals have moved on to become Head Professionals.
His professional affliations include several years as a member of the Board of Directors and Committee Chairperson of the Michigan PGA. Jon is highly regarded by his peers and served as President of the Michigan PGA Section. Jon is PGA Certified in golf operations and is currently working towards certification in player development. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. A four year letter winner on the golf team, Jon was elected to the Eastern Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. In the off season, Jon coaches youth hockey & high school varsity hockey. Jon and wife Patti reside in Novi with their three children, Ashley, Jim and Wesley.
KEN ALLARD, PGA Member
Teaching Professional
Ken has been a member of the PGA since 1982, serving in various capacities in Michigan including Birmingham Country Club, Oakland University Golf Club, The Wyndgate and Wabeek Country Club. Ken has a long history of exceptional playing including:
- Two U.S. Opens
- Six PGA Championships
- One U.S. Senior Open
- Two Senior PGA Championships
- Three Buick Opens
- Ken also won the Michigan PGA Championship three times (1989, 1991 and 2002) won the Michigan PGA Match Play Championship in 1992 and was named Michigan PGA Player of the Year in 1991. Ken also competed in seven National Club Pro-Championships. Ken is returning to DGC for his sixth season. He his family reside in Rochester.
CHRIS SULLIVAN, PGA Member
Assistant Professional