Evansville, Indiana, natives reflect on path to national roles
At the 2025 PGA Championship in May, the world’s attention was rightfully fixated on Scottie Scheffler as he claimed his first PGA Championship and third career Major Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Lesser known was the Championship’s tie to Evansville, Indiana, with two natives deeply involved with the PGA of America and the world of golf.
PGA of America Golf Professionals Nathan Charnes, the current Vice President of the PGA of America, and Dave McAtee, the Association’s National Rules Committee Chair, both grew up in Evansville, where they met through the game of golf.
At Quail Hollow, Charnes—amongst his other responsibilities—announced the final five pairings on the first tee, while McAtee was close by ensuring that referees were set to go with each group.
“It was cool (Nathan) was starting the last few groups there and I was there to support our referees,” McAtee said. “I’ve known him since he was a junior golfer.”
“Southern Indiana is a pretty small, close community in a lot of ways and especially in the golf industry,” said Charnes, PGA General Manager and Director of Golf at WingHaven Country Club in O’Fallon, Missouri. “When I was growing up and my dad was at Oak Meadow Country Club, Dave was at McDonald Golf Course. I’ve known him for most of my life and that makes it a little more special to see a friendly face at all our championships.”
Charnes’s father, Greg, now a Life Member of the PGA of America, was the PGA Head Professional at Oak Meadow Country Club from 1977-2004. McAtee, who would occasionally play and compete there, said Greg was “One of the best in the area and a mentor to many of us.”
McAtee played golf for the University of Southern Indiana from 1983–86. Out of college, he became a PGA of America Golf Professional and was hired as an assistant professional at McDonald Golf Course, where Charnes’s high school team practiced and played their home matches. In 2001, McAtee became the PGA Head Professional at Helfrich Hills Golf Course, where he still works today
“I got to know Nathan better through his high school and college years,” McAtee said. “He was always the number-one player on their team.”
“My first memories of Dave for sure would have been just checking in the golf shop at McDonald Golf Course,” Charnes said. “Whether I was playing in a junior tour event or in high school pretty much every day for practice. It was always ‘Mr. McAtee’ and I was always on my best behavior because my dad taught me how to act in and around the golf course and in the golf shop.”
Charnes played for the University of Evansville. After graduating in 2001, he followed in his father’s footsteps. After a stint as Assistant Professional at Oak Meadow CC and The Links at Novadell Golf Course in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Charnes relocated to St. Louis, where he has been at WingHaven CC since 2004.
For the past 20 years, Charnes has been deeply involved with the PGA of America. He served as the Education Chairman for the Gateway PGA Section, which led to the Gateway PGA Board of Directors from 2011-18. He was elected to the PGA of America Board of Directors in 2019, serving a three-year term, followed by his election as national PGA of America Secretary in 2022 and Vice President in 2024. He is in line to become President of the Association in November 2026.
McAtee has served on the PGA of America’s national Rules Committee for 25 years, the last two years as Chair. He has officiated at all four men’s golf Major Championships as well as three Ryder Cups and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In April, he officiated his 10th Masters, and with Quail Hollow, his 15th PGA Championship.
As committee chair, he oversees 38 PGA of America Golf Professionals who are experts in the Rules of Golf and officiate all the association’s championships.
“I’m really proud of our committee and their commitment to be certified to expert status with the USGA,” McAtee said. “It’s been a tremendous honor to be involved, and, with Nathan, we both just feel so fortunate to be where we are today.”
“There are many days where I pinch myself because I still can’t believe some of the stuff I get to do being an officer of the PGA of America, and I’m sure Dave feels the same way,” Charnes said. “After he’s done working these amazing championships, he goes home and he works at Helfrich Hills and same for me, I get to leave these amazing places and come back to WingHaven and do my day job. It’s pretty special to be able to do that.”
