Cedar City's Jared Barnes, a Former Thunderbird Golfer, Is Elected Secretary of the PGA of America

Jared Barnes, a Cedar City native who played golf at Southern Utah University and has been head golf professional at Cedar Ridge Golf Course since 2013, was elected secretary of the PGA of America on Nov. 5, 2026. He was elected at the association's 110th Annual Meeting at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in Las Vegas.

He joins two other new national officers. Nathan Charnes, general manager of WingHaven Country Club in O'Fallon, Missouri, was elected the 45th president of the PGA of America. Eric Eshleman, director of golf at the Country Club of Birmingham in Mountain Brook, Alabama, was elected vice president. The PGA of America's release says the association represents more than 30,000 golf professionals.

Barnes is a member of the Utah PGA Section. Southern Utah's release, published Nov. 9 on the women's golf news page, places the "Thunderbird alumnus" among the association's national officers.

A Cedar City kid who stayed close to the course

"I grew up here, and I'm proud to be a native of Cedar City," Barnes said in the Southern Utah release. "I played golf at SUU and earned my accounting degree there, and Coach John Evans has been my pro and mentor for more than 40 years."

Evans is the former Southern Utah head golf coach. "I've known Jared for 42 years," Evans said. He recalled how it started: "He was a 14-year-old kid talking to a 45-year-old guy, and I hired him on the spot to work on the range." Evans coached Barnes in high school and again in college, and described him as "a good player, a people person and a leader."

Barnes was on the Southern Utah golf team from 1992 to 1996, according to the Utah PGA and the PGA of America. Southern Utah's release says he competed for the men's team for four years and earned his bachelor's degree in accounting in 1996.

From Willow Creek to Cedar Ridge

The road back to Cedar City ran through northern Utah. According to the PGA of America and the Utah PGA, Barnes worked as an assistant golf professional at Willow Creek Country Club in Sandy, then as head golf professional at The Ranches Golf Club in Eagle Mountain and at Glen Eagle Golf Course in Syracuse. In 2013 he returned to Cedar City as head golf professional at Cedar Ridge, the job he still holds.

He has been a PGA member for more than 25 years. Southern Utah's release says he will remain at Cedar Ridge while he serves in the national role, and it quotes Barnes on the stretch since he came home: "The last 12 years being back in this community and working with the golf team to help it succeed have been great."

Utah Section leadership since 2006

Barnes' volunteer work for the Utah PGA Section began in 2006, when he was elected section secretary. The PGA of America says he went on to serve two-year terms as secretary, vice president, president and honorary president of the section.

The Utah PGA counts five section awards: Golf Professional of the Year in 2010, the Bill Strausbaugh Award in 2007 and again in 2012, the Player Development Award in 2016 and the Professional Development Award in 2023.

Representing Utah, Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region

Before the secretary's job, Barnes served as District 9 director on the PGA of America's national board. District 9 covers the Colorado, Rocky Mountain and Utah sections. Southern Utah's release says the Utah Section announced his selection in September 2019 and that he joined the national board in October 2020 for a three-year term.

His committee work, according to the PGA of America, includes the Budget Committee (2020 to 2024), the Audit Committee (2021 to 2024), the Education Committee (2020 to 2023) and the Communications and Public Relations Committee (2009 to 2012). He currently serves on the National Properties Committee.

The same Las Vegas meeting swore in new board members, and the PGA of America's list includes Ryan Troxel of Riverside Country Club in Sterling, Colorado, under District 9.

What Southern Utah's golf people said

Southern Utah's golf staff used the release to thank him. Director of Golf Richard Church said: "To see a former Thunderbird earn the trust of his peers to serve as secretary of the PGA of America is special for our program and the Cedar City community. His commitment to serving others and growing the game sets a tremendous example for our student-athletes."

Caylyn McKinlay, head coach of Southern Utah women's golf, said: "SUU women's golf sends a huge congratulations to Jared. No one is more deserving. Jared has been an incredible supporter of our team and has done so much for our program. His passion for the game, his willingness to help and the support he shows our players never go unnoticed."

A family tie to the Thunderbirds

Barnes and his wife, Julie, have four children: Clara, Lily, Luke and Anna. Luke, a senior from Cedar High School, plays for the Thunderbirds men's golf team, following his father, according to the Southern Utah release.

Barnes said in the release that he intends to carry his home town with him. "I'm looking forward to serving the more than 30,000 members of the PGA of America during the next six years," he said. "I'm proud to represent Cedar Ridge Golf Course, Cedar City and Southern Utah University on the national stage, and I'm grateful to Cedar City for allowing me the opportunity to serve."

Key facts:

• Who: Jared Barnes, PGA, head golf professional at Cedar Ridge Golf Course, Cedar City, Utah (Utah PGA Section)
• Election: Secretary of the PGA of America, elected Nov. 5, 2026, at the 110th Annual Meeting, Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa, Las Vegas
• Other new officers: Nathan Charnes, 45th president; Eric Eshleman, vice president
• Hometown and school: Cedar City native; Southern Utah University golf, 1992 to 1996; bachelor's degree in accounting
• Mentor: John Evans, who hired him at 14 and coached him in high school and at Southern Utah
• Career: Head golf professional at Cedar Ridge since 2013; earlier Willow Creek (Sandy), The Ranches (Eagle Mountain) and Glen Eagle (Syracuse)
• PGA service: More than 25 years as a member; Utah Section officer from 2006; most recently District 9 director; National Properties Committee
• Utah Section awards: Five, including Golf Professional of the Year in 2010
• Family: Wife Julie; four children, including Luke, a senior on the Southern Utah men's golf team