Ron Mahaffey

Director of Agronomy
Ron Mahaffey started in the golf industry in 1985 as a staff member at The Vintage Club in Indian Wells California, one of the most prestigious and exclusive private country club communities in the US. His career includes three Top 100 Golf Courses, a PGA Tour event, two Senior Tour events and two Regional Championships.Ron graduated from Penn State in 1991 with a certificate in Turfgrass Management. The course required a six-month internship, which he choose to complete at the Valentine Turfgrass Center at State College, PA. Through that internship, Ron had the privilege of working for and learning from Dr. Duich, the most respected and renowned bentgrass breeder and turfgrass manager in the world, which has proven to be invaluable for Ron’s career.In recent years, Ron’s focus has been on turning around underperforming properties. Using sound agronomic principles, fiscally-conservative practices and positive co-worker training, Ron applies his 35-plus years of experience to improving course conditions and bottom line results.Ron brings a host of skills to PHCC, including the use, operating standards and maintenance of golf course equipment and tools; knowledge of the management and maintenance of greens, fairways, roughs and bunkers; safe use, mixing and application of chemicals and commercial products in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations; irrigation and drainage patterns; erosion control; maintenance of ornamental plants, shrubs, trees and wetlands; recruiting, supervising, training, monitoring, evaluating and motivating personnel; and development of operating budgets and plans for maintenance and capital improvement projects.
Education: Turf grass Management – Penn State University

Mike Dixon

Director of Golf
Born and raised in Las Cruces, Mike graduated from Mayfield High School in 1999 and then moved to Albuquerque to attend the University of New Mexico. With a few years of college behind him, Mike enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He graduated from boot camp and MOS School at the point where things were changing quickly with the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. In a very short period of time, Mike found himself a combat veteran with tours of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In December of 2006, Mike married his wife, Jennifer, who followed him around through four years of deployments and training before they decided it was time to leave the military and start a family. While trying to decide what to with the rest of his life, Mike came across a friend who offered him a job at PHCC, starting as the bag room and range attendant in August, 2010. Motivated to learn the golf industry and make it his career, Mike has proven himself to be a professional, dedicated and talented employee who is now the Head Golf Professional at PHCC.
Education: University of New Mexico
Military Service: U.S. Marine Corps

Nick Finkel

Head Golf Professional
Golfing with his father as a young child in Bozeman, Montana, Nick stepped into the golf industry at the age of 16 and never looked back. Playing as a member of his high-school golf team landed Nick a scholarship to play at a 4-year college in Billings, furthering his love for the game and his passion for the golf profession as a whole.With the goal of leaving the snow and ice behind him while taking his playing and teaching skills to the next level, Nick enrolled at NMSU to pursue his PGA education. His subsequent internship at Telluride Ski & Golf Club allowed him to work directly under the Head Golf Professional and the Director of Golf, giving him invaluable management and merchandising experience. He then returned to Bozeman to work at a private club, gaining even more valuable experience. He taught lessons and ran clinics for all ages at both locations and developed highly-effective teaching methods that help golfers of all skill levels become better players and enjoy all the wonderful things this game has to offer. His teaching skills include expertise in TrackMan, Flight-scope and Focus Band.Nick joined Picacho Hills Country Club in 2017 and, as our 1st Assistant Golf Professional, brings a wealth of teaching, merchandising and management skills to our team.