FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/21/2012 Sara Beth Gardocki Ph: 843-399-2742 E: sgardocki@pgahq.com Carolinas PGA Section Announces Special Awards and Honors Winners Ten of the Carolinas top PGA Professionals will be awarded for their contributions to the game of golf Browns Summit, N.C. (November 21, 2012) - The Carolinas PGA Section Awards and Honors are distributed each year to the ten Carolinas PGA Professionals who not only excel in their fields of expertise, but also contribute to the growth of the game in the Carolinas. These individuals have dedicated themselves to maintaining the integrity of the golf industry, and day in and day out exemplify what it means to be a PGA Professional. Our Special Awards and Honors committee chair, and the 41 st Inductee into the Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame, Mike Harmon, PGA of Secession Golf Club, is proud to announce the ten professionals, nominated by their peers, who have risen to the top in 2012. These ten professionals will be recognized at the 20 th Annual Special Awards and Honors Ceremony on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR- Gary Hobgood, PGA Happy Valley Country Club This year s Carolinas PGA Golf Professional of the Year is Gary Hobgood, PGA, Head Golf Professional at Happy Valley Country Club in Wilson, NC. The Golf Professional of the Year award is the highest annual honor that can be bestowed upon a Carolinas PGA Professional. The award is given to a PGA Professional who throughout their career, has shown a deep commitment to the game of golf, a high level of service to the Section, overall success as a Golf Professional, and dedication to inspiring the next generation of PGA golf professionals. To be eligible for this award, the Awards and Honors Committee takes into consideration not only the past year of a Professional s career, but also his or her life-long contributions to the game of golf. Hobgood was first brought into the golf business by a dedicated PGA Professional, Tom Braswell. He credits Braswell with instilling upon him the jack of all trades approach that he uses today as a PGA Professional. At Happy Valley Country Club he fills the roles of golf professional, superintendent, golf shop owner, snack bar owner, partial golf course owner, and friend. Today s PGA Professionals are expected to perform a wide range of roles to run a profitable golf operation, and Hobgood demonstrates this to his employees and fellow CPGA Professionals. Overwhelmed would be the best way to describe how I felt after receiving the phone call from President Casto, Hobgood said about being named the 2012 Carolinas PGA Golf Professional of the Year. It is such an honor to receive this award that was voted on by all of my peers. Hobgood has been a PGA member since 1990 and always presents himself as a PGA Golf Professional everywhere he goes. His goal is to show people and golf facilities the importance of PGA Professional for the game of golf. Hobgood previously won the Carolinas Section Merchandiser of the Year Public Award in 2001 and 2011.
PALMER MAPLES TEACHER OF THE YEAR- Eric Alpenfels, PGA Pinehurst Resort This year s Palmer Maples Teacher of the Year is Eric Alpenfels, PGA, Director of Golf Instruction at Pinehurst Resort. The Palmer Maples Teacher of the Year award goes to the Teaching Professional who has performed outstanding service as a golf instructor. Emphasizing the past five years of the professional s career, the professional must demonstrate an impact on teaching and golf instruction in the Section, involvement in junior golf activities at his or her facility and the community, innovative contributions of golf instruction, and any articles written for publication. As the Director of Golf Instruction at Pinehurst Resort and the Director of the Pinehurst Golf Academy, Eric Alpenfels, PGA plays an active role in all aspects of the golf instruction programs that Pinehurst Resort has to offer. He has been influential in hosting numerous Section and National teaching workshops and seminars at Pinehurst Resort. In 2011, The PGA of America asked him to help organize the Inaugural PGA Junior Golf Summit, which Pinehurst Resort hosted in March of that year. Alpenfels has also been involved with conducting research that has been included in all levels of the current PGA Professional Golf Management program that students all over the country use as they are studying to become the next generation of PGA Professionals. He regularly contributes articles to Golf Magazine that highlight the research conducted at the Pinehurst Golf Academy. Some of the topics on which he has researched include the influence that grip size has on a golfers performance, and the most effective view for amateur golfers to determine the break of a putt. Alpenfels previously won the Palmer Maples Teacher of the Year Award in 1995. HORTON SMITH TROPHY- Tom Mason, PGA- The Woodlands Golf & Country Club Tom Mason, Head PGA Professional at The Woodlands Golf & Country Club in Columbia, S.C. is this year s Horton Smith Trophy winner. The Horton Smith Trophy is awarded to the PGA Professional who continually exhibits a commitment to the development and improvement of golf education for the PGA Professional. This includes contributions to the Section s education program including meetings and seminars held within the Carolinas Section, development of articles and materials which benefit and relate to education, and building the image of both the PGA Golf Professional and the Association. Mason has taken great steps to increase awareness of what role the PGA Professional has in upholding the tradition of golf and helping grow the game. He promotes fellow PGA Professionals in the Columbia, S.C. area by contributing to local and state newspapers, and as a frequent guest on Sports Talk Radio programs. In 2012, Mason, along with fellow CPGA Professional George Bryan, created a South Carolina PGA Teaching and Coaching Summit held at the Woodlands Golf & CC. Over 30 participants attended the inaugural event and listened to speakers including, CPGA President Mike Casto. Mason served on the Carolinas PGA Board of Directors as the Area II Director from 2003-2006. During that time, he helped keep fellow CPGA Professionals up to date about educational programs taking place at both the Section and National levels. Mason is currently the president of the SC Chapter of the Carolinas PGA Section. While this is Mason s first Carolinas PGA Section award, he was awarded the 2011 South Carolina Golf Course Owner s Association Employee of the Year.
BILL STRAUSBAUGH AWARD- John Marino, PGA- Old Chatham Golf Club This year s Bill Strausbaugh Award winner is John Marino, PGA, General Manager of Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, N.C. The Bill Strausbaugh Award is given to the PGA member who by, his or her day-to-day efforts, has made significant contributions to the game and the business of golf through mentoring PGA professionals and the furtherance of their careers. While the award centers on the qualities of a PGA Professional that allow him or her to prepare tomorrow s leaders in the golf industry, considerations such as the character and integrity of the member, service to the Section and involvement in community and charitable activities are also part of the selection process. At Old Chatham Golf Club, Marino manages his assistants with a hands-on approach that helps them become better PGA Professionals as they move forward with their careers. He has seen past assistants develop under him, and go on to become Head Professionals and first assistant professionals at top golf facilities all over the Carolinas and the United States. Marino also takes time to mentor students at the North Carolina State University Professional Golf Management program. Marino s current first assistant, Brian Stewart, PGA was awarded the 2012 Carolinas PGA TaylorMade adidas Assistant Professional of the Year. Marino currently serves as Secretary of the Carolinas PGA Section. Before he was elected as Secretary, Marino served as the Area IX Director for almost six years. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the First Tee of the Triangle. Over the past three years, Old Chatham Golf Club has raised over $300,000 to benefit the First Tee of the Triangle. This is Marino s first Carolinas PGA Section award. JUNIOR GOLF LEADER- Ben Grandy, PGA- The First Tee of Greater Charleston This year s Junior Golf Leader is Ben Grandy, PGA Executive Director of the First Tee of Greater Charleston. The Junior Golf Leader Award is given to the PGA Professional who has proven that his or her commitment to junior programs and initiatives has truly made an impact on the lives of junior golfers at their facility and in their community. The PGA Professional selected for this award readily contributes to Section junior events and PGA junior golf programs, is accepted by junior golfers as a person of outstanding character, and provides opportunities and experiences for juniors to learn and play golf. Grandy was first hired as the Program Director of The First Tee of the Greater Charleston when the chapter was launched in 2008. As the program began to spread to youths across Charleston County, he was promoted to the position of Executive Director. Grandy s main focus was to develop new locations, create more participant opportunities, and be a mentor to all involved with the program. Over the past four and a half years, 280 programs offering golf and life skills instruction have been created that have reached over 10,000 Charleston youths. Grandy served as the Standard Bearer Committee Chair for the 2012 PGA Championship, where he managed 85 junior standard bearers. During the 2012 PGA Championship, he also managed a group of over 100 juniors and volunteers that were responsible for Championship program sales during the week. This is Grandy s first Carolinas PGA Section award. PRESIDENT S PLAQUE AWARD- Chad Newton, PGA, Head Golf Professional, Pinewood Country Club Chad Newton, PGA Head Golf Professional at Pinewood Country Club is this year s President s Plaque recipient. The President s Plaque is awarded to the PGA Professional who has become a leader in the area of player
development. Player development covers all manners of golf activities relating to Growth of the Game. The recipient of this award is so honored for their exemplary and extraordinary contributions to player development with consideration for the professional s growth of the game leadership commitment at Section and National levels as well as the impact made at his or her own facility. Chad Newton, PGA has been an active member of the Carolinas PGA Section by serving on the Board of Directors since 2006. He is currently serving as the Vice President of the Carolinas PGA Section. During his time on the Board of Directors, Newton has attended and represented the CPGA at PGA of America Annual Meetings and Leadership Conferences where the main focus was player development. As the Head PGA Professional at Pinewood Country Club, Newton has demonstrated that it is possible to have successful player development programs at a small private facility. He and his staff offer initiatives including Free Lesson Month, Junior Golf Camps, and Beginner Ladies Golf Schools. These programs are all aimed at turning social members into full golf members and getting youths involved in the sport at an earlier age. Newton previously received the 2006 Carolinas PGA Private Merchandiser of the Year and the 2011 Carolinas PGA Horton Smith Award recipient. Merchandisers of the Year Divided into three separate categories that represent the very different facets and markets of golf merchandising, each of the Golf Merchandisers of the Year have proven themselves to be successful in their respective niche, supplying quality merchandise to their patrons, presenting their staff with effective ideas and tools, and superior merchandising techniques, performance, and shop operations. Public: Jessica Stewart, PGA, of Duke University Golf Club in Durham, N.C. is the 2012 Public Merchandiser of the Year. The Duke University Golf Club Pro Shop is located inside the renowned four-diamond Washington Duke Inn. Stewart and her staff capitalize on their connection to Duke University and create their merchandising plan around both the University sports seasons and the golf season. Being located on a University campus requires the golf shop to keep a variety of goods, at all price points, in stock to appeal to the wide range of demographics that might walk through their doors on any given day. Private: Rocky Brooks, PGA, Director of Golf at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. is this year s Private Merchandiser of the Year. The merchandising philosophy at Sedgefield CC is to provide the members and guests the best possible experience every visit to the golf shop. One way Brooks and his staff accomplish this is to change out floor displays every two weeks. This keeps the golf shop fresh and highlights new products to members each time they visit. He also credits becoming part of the McConnell Golf Family and taking advantage of their corporate partnerships, as part of their success over the past few years. Resort: Stephen Youngner, PGA, Head Golf Professional at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is this year s Resort Merchandiser of the Year. During 2012, one of the key components to a successful year for merchandising at The Ocean Course was the integration of the 2012 PGA Championship logo into their line. The combination of mixing the club logo with the Championship logo allowed guests to not only capture the brand of the course, but also that of the 2012 PGA Championship. Youngner previously won the Carolinas PGA Resort Merchandiser of the Year Award in 2008.
TaylorMade adidas Assistant Professional of the Year Brian Stewart, PGA- Old Chatham Golf Club This year s TaylorMade- adidas Assistant Professional of the Year is Brian Stewart, PGA of Old Chatham Golf Club. The PGA of America and its PGA Head Professionals have always been committed to mentoring and developing the golf industry leaders of tomorrow. The Assistant Professional of the Year is awarded to the Class A-8 Assistant Professional who exhibits the promise and dedication that will lead us into the coming years. A candidate for this award continually demonstrates a high level of excellence at his or her facility and service to the Section while promoting the game of golf and projecting the image of a Golf Professional. As the first assistant golf professional at Old Chatham Golf Club, Stewart has made it his daily philosophy to put all members needs at Old Chatham Golf Club ahead of his own while at work. Some of Stewart s responsibilities at Old Chatham include assisting with the budget, running five major golf tournaments a year, and teaching an average of 100 lessons a year. He also takes a lot of pride in serving as a mentor and role model for the other assistants and apprentices with whom he works. Stewart currently serves as the President of the Carolinas PGA Assistant Association Program. During 2012, the CPGA Assistants Association held nine tournaments with steady participation of around 25 players. The association will also host a Winter Education Series that will cover a variety of topics. Stewart was also influential in starting a mentor support group from area assistants. This will provide assistants the opportunity to reach out to leaders of the Carolinas PGA for advice and networking opportunities. Along with this award, Stewart will receive $1,500 from TaylorMade - adidas to use for educational and career advancement. He is also eligible to receive a one-year, full staff line contract including a full set of clubs, clothing, footwear, golf balls, and gloves. About the Carolinas PGA Section Since its inception in 1923, the Carolinas PGA Section has been committed to nurturing and improving the quality of the game for the thousands of golfers using its member facilities. Now the largest of the PGA s forty-one sections, the Carolinas PGA Section of the Professional Golfers Association boasts nearly 1,900 professional members and represents more than 800 golf facilities within North and South Carolina as well as portions of southern Virginia. PGA Professionals are responsible for conducting a variety of golf-related functions which include human resource management, golf shop merchandising, golf instruction, tournament operations, junior golf programs, growth of the game initiatives, golf club repair, administering the rules, public relations, and much more. For more information, contact Sara Beth Gardocki, Media and Promotions Director at (336) 398 2742. XXX