During his days as a tournament official with the Nike Tri-Cities Open, I'd pay respect to Bob Black and his service to our country by addressing him as "Colonel Black."

Earlier this spring, Black, who served 30 years in the Marine Corps, added a new title as the Pacific Northwest Golf Association elected him as its president.

The PNGA announced Black as its new president at their 113th Annual Meeting, held April 28 at Seattle Golf Club. Black is expected to serve two consecutive one-year terms.

Black has been on the PNGA board of directors since 2008 and served on its executive committee since 2010. Black, a 26-year member at Meadow Springs Country Club in Richland, has been a PNGA Representative since 2004. “My goal is to implement the strategies the PNGA laid out last year with the strategic planning sessions that were held,” Black sad in a news release. “To find ways to grow the game, to take it to the golfers and make it more available to them — these are the initiatives that I want to carry out.

"A lot of people have come forward with good suggestions, and with the help of all of our volunteers, the PNGA Board, our staff, we’ll be able to build on the successes we’ve had in the past," he added. "It will take effort, and I feel fortunate that I now have the time to give to the PNGA’s future.” Black is replacing Dr. Jack Lamey of Seattle Golf Club as president. Lamey served two years as PNGA President and was instrumental in the creation of the PNGA Cup, the annual Ryder Cup-style championship that features some of the top men and women amateur golfers in the region, with 12-member teams representing the regional golf associations that make up the PNGA, which includes British Columbia Golf, Idaho Golf Association, Oregon Golf Association and Washington State Golf Association