Proehl Blends Playing, Teaching and Club Professional
Duties into Well-Rounded Golf Career

Introduced to the game by his father and enticed by a $50 annual student membership at one of Iowa’s hometown golf courses, Chad Proehl fell in love with the game at an early age. Growing up in Atlantic, Proehl learned to play golf by running laps around Nishna Hills Golf Club, often playing 54 holes in a day. His mother, Mona, would drop him off at 7:30 a.m. every weekday and pick him up at 5:30 p.m.

Inducted into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame in 2021, Proehl has competed at the PGA Tour and Champions Tour levels.

Nearly five decades later, the now 58-year-old Urbandale resident reflected upon a golf career filled with distinction, achievement, and service to the game during an interview with “Up and Down the Iowa Golf Scene.”

“The game has been very good to me,” Proehl stated. “I’ve made great friendships, met my wife on the golf course, had the opportunity to compete at high levels and helped many golfers of all ages reach their potential through instruction. It’s been wonderful and the best experience.”

For the past 17 years, Proehl has been a PGA Teaching Professional at Sugar Creek Golf Course in Waukee, working with players of all ages and levels and teaching all aspects of the game. He particularly enjoys instruction with junior players.

“It’s very rewarding to see a player smile after they hit a great shot, after they see their game improve and when they know they’ve accomplished something. I truly enjoy getting texts from students of all ages saying they’ve accomplished a goal and seeing junior players fall in love with the game, just like I did.”

Players are encouraged to set their own goals with the instructor providing guidance and ensuring the goals are stretched but attainable.

“After a few lessons, you understand what motivates each player, how hard they want to work and what their commitment to the game is,” Proehl said. “What separates most players on a competitive basis is their short game.

We stress working on wedge play, chipping, and putting but most younger players love to hit that driver.”

Proehl has been a standout player at all levels of competition. His decorated playing career includes 16 appearances in the National PGA Club Professional Championships, a 13-time Iowa Cup team member, three-time Iowa PGA Section Player of the Year, two-time, Iowa PGA Match Play champion and won the Iowa PGA Section Championship three times. In addition, he is a 2013 Herman Sani Champion, a 2019 Iowa Section Senior Champion, and two-time Iowa PGA Senior Player of the Year. In 2021, Proehl was inducted into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame.

He has also competed at the highest levels of golf, including the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. Proehl has played in eight PGA Tour Champions events, including five KitchenAid Senior PGA Championships where he made the cut twice with his best finish was a T52 in 2019 with a $6,700 in prize money. In 2018, Proehl played in three Champions Tour events, including the Principal Charity Classic, the 3M Invitational, and the Sanford International. Proehl competed in the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic five times, first in 2008 and last in 2021.

Over the years, he served as Head Professional, Director of Golf and Teaching Professional at Iowa courses such as Echo Valley Country Club, Wakonda Club, Jester Park, Sugar Creek and Atlantic Golf and Country Club.

Proehl has been a standout competitor at the Iowa PGA Section level and made 16 appearances in the National PGA Club Professional Championship.

Proehl excelled as a prep, leading Atlantic to the 1985 Iowa High School Boys Golf Class 3A state championship while capturing medalist honors by firing a 36-hole total of 149 at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City. Following a dream to play Division I golf, he attracted initial interest from the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Arkansas. He recalls a conversation with Steve Loy, the Razorback men’s golf coach who would later go on lead Arizona State to an NCAA title propelled by Phil Mickelson. Loy would move on to serve as Mickelson’s caddie, coach, friend, agent, and business partner.

“Coach Loy asked me what credentials I brought to the table,” Proehl recalls. “I told him I won a state title. He said delicately everyone on the team did that, and most have multiple championships. I figured out quickly how hard this would be.”

Proehl accepted an offer to enroll at Grand View University, playing two seasons under Coach Chad Blake and two more under Jack Webb, the long-time PGA golf professional and member of the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame. Proehl led the Vikings to three appearances to the NAIA National Golf Championships, capped off with a top ten finish and All-American honors in 1990. He also captured a pair of NAIA District 15 titles. Proehl turned professional in 1991 and embarked on his playing and teaching career that continues today.

“The game has been good to me, and I look forward to continue competing at the PGA Section and PGA Champions Tour levels and teaching players what a great game this is. My wife, Shari, children Jesse Bach (Miles), Jordan and new grandson Bentley are my inspirations and loves of my life” he stated.

“Up and Down” the Iowa Golf Scene

A regular feature column written by IGA Foundation board member Mark Gambaiana, Up and Down the Iowa Golf Scene is designed to take the reader beyond the headlines and scoreboards to share stories of those who help make Iowa golf so rich and rewarding. Profiles will spotlight those who advance the game through volunteerism, service, extraordinary achievement, competition, human interest and the many other dimensions of golf in Iowa.

Click the links below to read previous Up and Down features
– IGA Rules Official Sean Flanders
– R&A, USGA Champion Gene Elliott
– Nervig Reflects on Decades of Service to The Iowa Masters
– Arseneault Finds Fulfillment in Life’s Next Chapter After Competitive Golf
– Ivan Miller remembers the days of the Minnows
– Kinney adjusts to life on tour
– Standard Golf’s roots run deep
– Pettersen sets sights high
– McCoy, Norton Put Iowa Stamp on Florida Senior Golf
– Moreland Reflects on his Extraordinary Club Pro, Playing Career
– From Sibley to the LPGA Tour – Barb Thomas Whitehead Fulfills Her Dream
– At 88 Years Young, Cleo Brown Remains a Fixture at the Principal Charity Classic, IGA Events
– Love of the Game, Service to Others Propel Charlie Taylor to IGA’s 2023 George Turner Award
– The Calling Card for Ottumwa’s Matthew Walker in Quest to Reach Golf’s Highest Level
– Following the Rules Leads Katelynn Hogenson Down a Path Through Magnolia Lane
– State Golf Champions Gather, Reminisce, 50 Years after Surprise Title
– High-Level Competition, Boatwright Internship Preps Hoffman for Career in Golf
– Globetrotting Knutzon Comes by Nomadic Golf Lifestyle Naturally
– George on a Mission to Make the Game More Enjoyable While Breaking Through Barriers