LINCOLN, NE — Rodd Slater, PGA, General Manager & Head Professional at Two Rivers Golf Club, was selected for the Section’s highest honor bestowed on a PGA Member as the 2024 Nebraska PGA Golf Professional of the Year. Slater was elected to membership into the PGA of America in 2001. For more than two decades, Slater has been a model PGA Professional who is well regarded within the community and by his peers.

Rodd Slater began his journey in the industry back in 1996 when he was hired as the Assistant Golf Professional. Just two years later, he was promoted to Head Professional at the club. For the next two decades, Slater grew in his role as Head Professional before another promotion came in 2020. Under new ownership, Slater’s role grew once again and he was named Two Rivers Golf Club’s General Manager/Head Professional.

Slater has served in PGA governance at the local level during his time as a Member through both the Tournament Committee and the Special Awards Committee. He’s been a previous host of Section Pro-Am events and was named the 2021 Nebraska PGA Youth Player Development award winner.

Over the course of his career, Slater has gone above and beyond when it comes to growing the game in the Siouxland area and at his club. Two Rivers Golf Club has seen their ladies league reach new heights over the past few years. In addition to that, Slater was the first in the Siouxland area to introduce his facility to Nebraska Junior Golf’s ‘TEAM Golf’ program. As the Section phased out ‘TEAM Golf’ and brought in PGA Jr. League, Slater followed suit and introduced the new program to his facility. In 2024, Two Rivers Golf Club had more than 120 junior golfers participate and the program has become a staple at the facility.

Not only has Slater grown the game within his own facility, but he’s found creative ways to do the same outside of Two Rivers Golf Club. Slater is a weekly guest on “Your Sports Show” on Fox Sports Radio 620am with host Curtis Anderson where he talks all things golf while promoting play and player development. Along with that, Slater serves as the Head Golf Coach for the Dakota Valley High School boys team. This past year, Slater’s team captured the South Dakota High School Class A State Golf team championship and he was later named the Class A Head Golf Coach of the Year.

Slater has been thrown a few curve balls over his time at Two Rivers Golf Club and within the Siouxland community. The first off speed pitch came in 2020 when he was approached and asked to serve as North Sioux City’s Mayor. He was appointed by the City Council and served through 2021. During his time as Mayor, Slater was a leader in discussions and decisions including budget matters, city improvement projects, concerns from citizens and mediated solutions to difficult situations.

Slater and his surrounding community were thrown another curve ball in 2024 with the historic ‘Big Sioux Flood’. In June, the golf course saw record amounts of flood waters tear apart the property and the course was covered in water, silt, debris, and the future was uncertain. After meeting with his ownership, Slater said there was “zero hesitation” and he led his staff and a team of more than 75 volunteers in the recovery process.

The team began the process of cleaning and rebuilding the golf course in July. Repairs included renovating the clubhouse, reseeding and sanding fairways and greens and changing some cosmetics across the property. Despite the flood water damage, the Two Rivers GC staff still wanted to have golfers out on the course in 2024. A temporary clubhouse was used and even though just nine holes were available for play, Slater was still able to serve his golfing community. After a season-long effort of rebuilding and recovering the course, Two Rivers Golf Club is set to fully re-open all 18 holes in the Spring of 2025.

Slater is truly a man of many talents and he’s grown to be a PGA Professional that not only young aspiring Professionals look up to, but established Professionals as well.

“Rodd is a true leader, his character and service to the PGA and local community are the building blocks to his success, but his dedication to the growth of the game is truly inspiring,” says Brian Winge, PGA of Callaway Golf.

The work Slater has put in and the dedication he’s shown over the years hasn’t gone unnoticed, even by the PGA of America. In 2021, the national body traveled to Two Rivers Golf Club to the tell the story of his PGA Jr. League program and it’s rapid growth.

Whether it’s for inspiring the next generation of Golf Professionals or for being a leader in his community, Slater exemplifies all the qualities of what it takes to be named our Nebraska PGA Golf Professional of the Year. Slater recently received the call from Honorary President Dawn Neujahr, PGA telling him he was selected for the honor and it was a top moment in his career.

“This award is a confidence boost, and it will motivate me to keep pushing forward. It will inspire me to keep learning and growing as a person and as a golf professional,” says Slater. He also went on to say, “this award isn’t just recognition for myself, but for all of the people that have supported me and mentored me along the way”.

“This has never felt like a job or a career—and it’s been a blast wearing all the hats that a golf career provides. I’ve had the opportunity to fulfill my interests in every aspect of the game, including operations, teaching, playing , coaching, F&B, and even course maintenance. It’s truly been an amazing experience,” Slater said when asked to summarize his almost 30-year career as a Golf Professional.

Slater is excited to build off the momentum in 2025 and beyond. When reflecting on his career and the future, Slater said he’s excited to continue to share his passion for the game with his sons as they develop their own love for the game.

The other Nebraska PGA Award Winners for 2024 are:

  • Golf Professional of the Year:  Rodd Slater, PGA, Two Rivers Golf Club, Dakota Dunes, SD
  • Teacher of the Year:  Shane Zywiec, PGA, Highlands Golf Course, Lincoln, NE
  • PGA Professional Development: Brad Goetsch, PGA, University of Nebraska PGM, Lincoln, NE
  • Bill Strausbaugh-Club Relations:  Greg Gilg, PGA, Field Club of Omaha, Omaha, NE
  • Youth Player Development:  Adam Coates, PGA, Spencer Golf & Country Club, Spencer, IA
  • Merchandiser of the Year-Public:  Troy Harder, PGA, Tatanka Golf Club, Niobrara, NE
  • Merchandiser of the Year-Private:  Derrick Ceder, PGA, Elks Country Club, Columbus, NE
  • Facility of the Year:  Field Club of Omaha, Omaha, NE
  • Patriot Award:  Matt Shaner, PGA, Golf Fit USA, Kearney, NE
  • Sales Representative of the Year:  Jake Burling, Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
  • Assistant Professional of the Year:  Jay Cottam, PGA, Meadowlark Hills Golf Course, Kearney, NE
  • Player Development:  Drake Lundeen, PGA, Stone Creek Golf Course, Omaha, NE

In addition to these awards the Nebraska PGA would also like to recognize the Players of the Year for 2024:

  • Nebraska PGA Player of the Year:  Ryan Vermeer, PGA, Happy Hollow Club, Omaha, NE
  • Nebraska PGA Senior Player of the Year:  Ted DiGiacomo, PGA, Happy Hollow Club, Omaha, NE
  • Assistant Player of the Year:  Brad Bailey, PGA, Champions Run, Omaha, NE
  • Women’s Player of the Year:  Sonya Freese, PGA, Hillcrest Country Club, Lincoln, NE

All of the winners will be recognized at the Nebraska Section PGA Spring Meeting to be held Monday, March 31, 2025 at The Country Club of Lincoln, Lincoln, NE.

About the Nebraska Section PGA

The Nebraska Section PGA is a non-for-profit organization comprised of over 340 PGA Members and PGA Associates who strive to promote the enjoyment and growth of the game of golf.  The Nebraska Section PGA encompasses the entire State of Nebraska, western fifth of Iowa and a small portion of South Dakota including Dakota Dunes and Yankton.  The Section office is located in Lincoln, NE and acts as a resource for local and national golf information for the golf professional and amateur player alike.  Our members are often referred to as “Club Professionals”, not to be mistaken as PGA Tour Professionals.

Each Nebraska Section PGA Professional serves as an expert in the ever-changing business of golf. They are the leading expert players and teachers, skilled business managers, community leaders, and superior merchandisers who have dedicated their careers to the local delivery of these services.