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How The PGA’s Julius Mason Tackles The Hectic World Of Sports Media Relations

Estimated reading time ~ 6 min
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Julius Mason, The PGA's Senior Director of Public Awareness & External Relations.

Julius Mason
Location: Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Job: Senior Director of Public Awareness & External Relations, The PGA of America
Education: B.A. in Journalism & Communications, University of Northern Colorado
Twitter: @PGA

How did you land your first role in the sports industry?

As a kid, my dream job was to work for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) in Colorado Springs, where I grew up. As I got older, I was determined to meet as many USOC employees as I could: I ran track and field in college and made it a point to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center whenever I was home on break. Before one of my visits, I reached out to the USOC communications chief at the time, Bob Paul. He generously took a meeting with me, and I told him that I wanted to work for the Olympic movement. He warned me that this type of work might be harder than I thought, as it involved working weekends and long hours. I told him the only thing that frightened me was working for an organization I wasn’t passionate about, and he replied, “I think I’ve got something for you.” That meeting helped me land a summer internship at the U.S. Olympic Training Center’s news bureau, and that opportunity shaped my career. A few years later, at the age of 23, I found myself on a plane to Los Angeles, on my way to work for the ‘84 Olympic Games as a public information officer. I oversaw the operations at the venues for swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, rowing, canoeing, kayaking, and water polo.

Tell us about your work today as the senior director of public awareness & external relations for the PGA of America? How do you spend your days?

I have the great fortune of being surrounded by a team of people at the PGA of America who are truly the best in the industry at what they do. We’re on a mission to elevate the public’s interest in golf, enhance the desire to play the game, and to ensure its accessibility for everyone. In addition to our education, marketing, career services, and research programs, we plan and coordinate signature events – including the PGA Championship, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup, and the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. My daily tasks range from organizing news conferences and media days, to discussing messaging and strategy with the U.S. Ryder Cup Captain and PGA Ryder Cup Committee. On any given day, I interact with the world’s best golfers, agents, industry executives, and members of the Golf Writers Association of America and the Association of European Golf Writers.

What advice do you wish you could have given yourself on day one of your career?

Listen closely and over-deliver quickly! I learned this lesson the hard way during my very first week on the job. We were in a communications department meeting when my boss asked when he could see a PR plan for a new program he’d just introduced. Everyone in the room looked to me for a response. I wasn’t sure what he expected, so I said, “Two days.” Judging by the frightened looks on the faces surrounding me, I knew that was the wrong answer. I quickly smiled and boldly yelled, “Did I say days? I meant hours. Two hours!” Laughter quickly followed, and thankfully my boss cracked a smile too. But from that moment on, I learned to fully embrace the reality that my boss was a very busy person who juggled multiple projects with high expectations — and that it was my job to anticipate, prep, and over-deliver.

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Do you have any specific strategies you use to stay productive?

My morning routine gives me peace of mind and sets me up for success. I wake up early, between 5 and 5:30 a.m., then enjoy my 25-minute drive up the Florida Turnpike, while eating fresh berries and flipping between CNN, ESPN, and PGA TOUR on SiriusXM. My critical zen time begins when I arrive at the office. By getting such an early start to the day, I settle in an hour and a half before the phone rings or the majority of other staff arrive. I take that time to tune in to the Golf Channel and read hard copies of the Palm Beach Post and USA Today while sipping exactly one large cup of hot tea. Without this time to myself each morning, I would probably look and feel like Kramer from Seinfeld!

What's something about you that people might be surprised to learn?

My 15-year-old son is a sounding board for “coolness.” The Gen Z opinion is not only critically important to me, but to our entire industry, and I feel incredibly lucky that I can discuss my work with him. I told him the other day that we were getting close to securing a number of sports and entertainment celebrities for a special event. When I proudly shared the names of those who had committed so far, he wasn’t as impressed as I thought he would be. “Wouldn’t you be excited to see these celebrities play golf?” I asked. “They’re good, Dad, but don’t you want great?” He then grabbed his iPhone and showed me videos of artists that he and his friends listen to — Migos, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore, etc. — artists who have millions of followers on Instagram. “Now, I would watch them play golf,” he explained. Touché, young man. Touché!

What’s one of the more memorable moments of your career?

It was October 25, 1999. I had just finished moderating a news conference where two-time major champion Curtis Strange was introduced as the 22nd U.S. Ryder Cup Captain. It was a fantastic moment — until a colleague franticly approached me and whispered, “You need to take Curtis to the CEO’s office now!” When we arrived, we learned that Ryder Cup team-member and major champion Payne Stewart was on a chartered Learjet that had lost communication with air traffic controllers. Moments later, the jet crashed in a field in South Dakota, and all onboard perished. Nothing in life can prepare you for a moment like that. One moment, I was watching a friend achieve his lifelong dream; and the next moment, I experienced, in real time, the tragic loss of one of our sport’s most popular athletes — someone who had helped lead our country to a stunning Ryder Cup victory just a month before. That day, I learned in heartbreaking fashion that you are never guaranteed tomorrow, and life is too short to not have a smile on your face.

How have certain candidates stood out to you (in a good way) during the hiring process?

I always admire candidates who do their research – the ones who go the extra mile to learn as much as they can before stepping in the door. This sort of dedication demonstrates hunger and passion.

What have you read or listened to recently that you’d recommend?

New York Times best-selling author John Feinstein takes the reader on an incredible journey behind the scenes of one of the greatest sporting events in the world in The First Major. It’s the inside story of the 2016 Ryder Cup, which saw Europe’s 12 best golfers go up against America’s in match-play format. They compete for pride and country, not prize money. It’s David vs. Goliath. It’s the World Cup final on a golf course. It’s leadership and team building. It’s a reality TV show in 312 pages. Basically, it’s awesome.

Do you have a favorite motto or saying that keeps you motivated?

I love the quote, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.” In the world of sports PR, working long hours can be the norm, and at the end of a very long day, the hope is that the result is something you and your coworkers are proud of. This quote reminds me to stop and smell the roses. It should be a requirement to take a step back, reflect, smile, celebrate, and enjoy the beautiful portrait you and your team just painted.

The PGA of America is a Jopwell partner company.

Images by Montana Pritchard, PGA of America

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