(Jim Carlos, Tom Mildren, Bruce Duerr, Joe Duerr & James Grogan)
(Buzz Holland, John Durkin, Jim Hanson, Jeff Bisbee & JB Moseley)
Write-Up Provided by the Caitlin Moyer and Wisconsin.Golf
What officially started in 1986 has evolved into one of the Wisconsin PGA’s most anticipated traditions, a trip that blends competitive golf, camaraderie and a destination experience that continues to resonate more than 40 years later. Its roots likely stretch back even further; as word of mouth suggests that unofficial excursions began in the early 1980s.
Over time the WPGA Las Vegas Pro-Am has grown into a fixture on the section calendar, annually drawing a full field of professionals and amateurs eager to trade Wisconsin’s late-winter conditions for a week in the Nevada sun.
And year after year, it fills.
“The trip has sold out the last five years at 50 teams and 250 players,” said Chris Hoel, Assistant Executive Director of the Wisconsin PGA, fresh off this year’s event that concluded last week. “It’s a fun destination and a very well-run golf trip. We also try to keep it fresh and mix it up every few years — playing different courses and using different hotels — so people have a reason to be excited when information is released each fall.”
That combination of consistency and evolution has been key to the event’s staying power.
Behind the scenes, executing a multi-day event nearly 1,800 miles from home is anything but simple.
Hoel, who oversees tournament operations and logistics, is part of a small WPGA staff that handles everything from player payments and lodging to food and beverage coordination and on-site administration across multiple courses.
“There are a lot of moving parts to the event,” Hoel said. “Just when you think you have things in a good place, you get a curveball.”
Those curveballs came early this year, as last-minute travel issues and weather disruptions leading into the trip forced adjustments before the first tee shot was even struck.
“We had people making last-minute hotel changes a day or two before leaving, and one team had only two players arrive prior to the first round,” Hoel said. “There are always challenges, and we do our best to make sure the participants don’t get affected by them.”
The coordination becomes even more complex given the scale. March is one of the busiest times of year in Las Vegas, particularly for golf, and in 2026 the WPGA worked with six different courses — TPC Summerlin, Southern Highlands Golf Club, Anthem Country Club, Dragon Ridge Country Club, SouthShore Country Club, and Paiute Golf Resort’s Wolf Course — its most extensive rotation yet.
That expansion is part of a broader evolution for the event.
Following the post-pandemic golf boom, securing private clubs for multiple days became increasingly difficult. In response, the WPGA restructured the format beginning in 2024, splitting the field into two separate competitions and course rotations.
This year’s format featured two packages — each with its own set of premier venues — and crowned two overall champions.
“It was the first year we had six different golf courses in the rotation and two totally different packages,” Hoel said.
The change has allowed the event to maintain access to high-end facilities while continuing to deliver a premium experience.
For many participants, the appeal goes beyond the golf itself.
The WPGA handles the logistics, allowing professionals to bring members or friends on a turnkey trip, one that combines competition with a relaxed, social atmosphere.
“It gives our professionals a chance to take their members or friends on a golf trip without having to do a lot of the heavy lifting,” Hoel said. “We coordinate a lot of the logistics.”
Just as important are the relationships built over time. Many participants return year after year, and WPGA staff have developed long-standing connections with players.
“We know a lot of these attendees on a first-name basis,” Hoel said. “They know we’ll do the best we can to put on a great trip for them.”
Michael Crowley, PGA Head Golf Professional at Morningstar Golfers Club, called the courses “phenomenal” and praised Hoel, Joe Stadler and Andy Landenberger for putting the trip together flawlessly.
“What truly makes it special,” Crowley said, “are the people I go with. We’ve traveled to Utah before the tournament, and our dinner nights — barbecue one night, sushi another, steak another — have become a tradition. It’s the people and our little traditions that keep me coming back.”
Van Stoutt, a former Madison sportscaster, has attended for more than 20 years, including the last decade with the same teammates. His team — Derek Schnarr, Scott VanderSanden, Brent Reed and Paul Graham — entered this year as the defending champions of the Diamond Division, having won the event twice.
“The key is the people you’re with,” Stoutt said. “I enjoy spending time with them on the course and off it, whether that’s at the sports book or over a steak dinner.” He was also thrilled with the courses. “Southern Highlands was my favorite. TPC Summerlin and Anthem are amazing. We got the cream of the crop; too bad our scores didn’t reflect it! These guys welcome me with open arms — great synergy, friendship, and competitiveness.”
Jamie Ireland, another long-time participant, highlighted both the camaraderie and the event’s organization.
“It’s a great buddies’ golf trip to start the season,” Ireland said. “I love catching up with my team and other returning players. It’s a great way to meet people and make lifelong friends.” He also praised the WPGA staff: “The tournament has evolved and improved year after year. The golf course selection this past year was the best yet. Tee prizes were top of the line, and of course … it’s Las Vegas. It’s hard not to have fun in that city.”
That familiarity, camaraderie and careful planning have helped sustain demand. This year, 58 professionals entered the lottery for just 50 spots, with players representing 11 states.
If there was one thing that stood out from this year’s trip, it was the conditions.
“It was probably the best weather we have ever had for a WPGA Las Vegas Pro-Am,” Hoel said. “At least in my 20 years of coordinating the trip.”
With temperatures ranging from the 80s to low 90s and minimal wind, the week was a far cry from past years that included sleet and gusts up to 60 miles per hour.
Players took full advantage.
In the Diamond Division, the team of professional James Grogan and amateurs Jim Carlos, Tom Mildren, Bruce Duerr and Joe Duerr (Whitnall Golf Course) captured the title at 46-under par, edging a team from Blackwolf Run by one shot.
In the Hearts Division, professional Jeff Bisbee (Bisbee’s Golf Center) teamed with John Durkin, Jim Hanson, Buzz Holland and JB Moseley to win at 47-under, also by a single stroke.