Scott Reid: When you grow up in the wonderful world of Arizona golf, it’s difficult to leave and take another job in places with lesser climate, such as Florida. After all, it’s pretty hard to turn down 330 days of sunshine for a rain-drenched terrain that is not only muggy but buggy.

Scott Reid is the exception. After spending most of his life in Scottsdale, with just a brief stint in South Carolina, the marketing director for the Southwest Section of the PGA who also doubles as the tournament director of the Cingular Wireless/Arizona Open, has decided to make the big move: To ORLANDO!

“I’ve been there several times to attend the PGA Show, but this will be a new experience for me,’’ said “Reider’’ as he is called by his peers. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to Florida, having lived here in Arizona for all of my life. But I’ll try!’’

So why would the 38-year-old Reid jump from the beautiful High Sonoran Desert to Swamp City? “Obviously, the job had something to do with it,’’ he said, following that up with a big laugh. “The only downside was leaving all the friends I’ve made while living and working here.’’

Reid has been hired as the marketing/sales director for the Arnold Palmer Invitational by Mastercard (formerly the Bay Hill Invitational). “It’s definitely a new arena,’’ he said of the move to the PGA Tour. “But a lot of it will be things I’ve done here, just on a grander scale.’’

Reid grew up in Scottsdale, where he played golf for Shadow Mountain High School. “I was pretty decent,’’ he said of his younger years. “Good enough to get a scholarship at Grand Canyon University.’’

From there, he took a job with the SWPGA as its junior golf leader and tournament director. In 1999, he left Arizona and worked for South Carolina-based Matrix Golf, where he teamed up with an old friend, Scott Van Newkirk. But in 2002, he returned to Arizona and the SWPGA, assuming marketing duties while running the Arizona Open.

Somewhere along the line he met Scott Wellington, the tournament director for the Palmer event, who at the time was the executive director of the Colorado section of the PGA. “I just kept in touch with Scott over the years, and when this job came up he called me.’’

Reid takes over for Bob Young, who has handled marketing/sales for Palmer for the past 25 years. “(Young) will stay on through the next tournament (in March), and then they’ll turn it over to me,’’ Reid reported. “It’s going to be a great experience, because outside of the four majors and the Players Championship, this event always gets one of the best fields on the PGA Tour.’’

Of course, Reid still has to meet “The King.’’ “Mr. Palmer was in the office when I went back for my interview,’’ said Reid, who starts on the job Dec. 4. “I guess he’s still pretty involved in the event, and since our office is right next to his, I’ll meet him soon.’’

SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS

Arizona assault: This might be a record, as 28 players from the Valley have advanced from the first stage of the PGA Tour’s qualifying school to the second stage, which starts next week. Among the notables moving on are former Arizona State players Michael Derminio, Jin Park and Todd Demsey; Gateway guys like Chris Kamin, Andy Walker, Bret Guetz and John Douma; and former tour players Rob Rashell and Chris Sessler.

Senior moment: Jon Chafee of Scottsdale captured the Champions Tour qualifying school sectional at Beaumont, Calif., last week, running away to win by six shots thanks to a final-round 64. Also advancing was four-time Arizona Amateur champ Ken Kellaney of Phoenix. The finals are Nov. 13-18 at the TPC at Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Fla.

NOTEWORTHY

Clinic set: Noted instructor Chuck Hogan is offering a three-day clinic in conjunction with local pro John Gunby on Dec. 11-13 at Shalimar Country Club in Tempe. For more information, visit www.chuckhogan.com.

And, finally: The Wells Fargo Fiesta Bowl Million Dollar Hole-In-One presented by NetPro starts today at the Arizona Biltmore’s driving range and runs through Sunday Nov. 19, when the finals take place. For information, visit www.fiestabowl.org.