Awards

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The Golf Professional of the Year Award is awarded for overall performance as a golf professional at his/her golf facility, level of service to his/her Section and to the Association, leadership ability, image and the ability to inspire fellow professionals and promotion of the game of golf.

Previously known as Junior Golf Leader Award

The Junior Golf Leader award is designed to pay recognition to a PGA golf professional who is a leader in junior golf, reflects the qualities and ideals of those who work with our nation’s youth, and provides opportunities and experiences for juniors to learn and play golf.

The Bill Strausbaugh Award is designed to recognize PGA Professionals who by their day-to-day efforts have distinguished themselves by mentoring their fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations as well as through service to the community.

This award is presented to those PGA members who truly reflect the characteristics and qualities that Bill Strausbaugh possessed during his lifetime. Award candidates should demonstrate a record of service to their Section or Association; leadership ability; contributions to building the image of the game of golf, the PGA Professional and the Association; involvement and significant contributions towards improving the skills of fellow PGA Professionals; involvement in civic activities within his/her community; involvement with local charitable causes; overall integrity and recognition as a person of outstanding character.

All Class A-8 members are eligible for the Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Award based on his/her efforts as an assistant professional and involvement in Assistants’ Association, Chapter, Section and PGA of America activities.

The Merchandiser of the Year Award recognizes a PGA Professional who has demonstrated superior skills as a merchandiser in the promotion of golf. (Private, Public, & Resort Categories).

The Merchandiser of the Year Award recognizes a PGA Professional who has demonstrated superior skills as a merchandiser in the promotion of golf. (Private, Public, & Resort Categories).

The Merchandiser of the Year Award recognizes a PGA Professional who has demonstrated superior skills as a merchandiser in the promotion of golf. (Private, Public, & Resort Categories).

Previously known as President’s Plaque

The Player Development Award is designed to recognize a PGA Professional for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development. This award considers the PGA Professional’s growth of the game leadership commitment at the Section and National levels and the impact made at the facility.

The Patriot Award is presented to a PGA Professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America.

NEW FOR 2021: The “PGA Golf Executive of the Year Award” bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional who has performed outstanding services for a multiple facility/course management/ownership operation, Allied Association or golf industry executive management position. As one of the highest honors the PGA can bestow, candidates must possess outstanding qualities of leadership, vision, courage, strong moral character, and a substantial record of service to the Association and the game of golf. Individuals honored with the PGA Golf
Executive of the Year award will be held as a model PGA Golf Professional.

REQUIREMENTS, ELIGIBILITY & CRITERIA: Candidate must be a PGA member in good standing, well regarded as a model PGA member and demonstrate outstanding leadership and strong moral character. Candidate must have been a Class A PGA member in good standing for a minimum total of 10 years; Candidate has developed the image reputation, and ability to inspire fellow PGA members as a PGA Professional; Must have served in an executive management position for at least three years; Candidate must have maintained a substantial record of service to the Association and game of Golf, as well as helping to further educate and train their fellow PGA professionals; Candidate must have maintained a substantial record of leadership, service and promotion toward the game of Golf.

This award bestows special recognition on a PGA Professional for outstanding service and contributions to developing and improving educational opportunities for fellow PGA Professionals.

The Deacon Palmer Award bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional who personally displays outstanding integrity, character and leadership, in the effort to overcome a major obstacle in their life.  This individual is an unsung hero/heroine at their facility and in their community, who serve to inspire, empower and assist others, both inside and outside of the game.

The George S. Wemyss Award is presented each year to an individual who has consistently been a friend to the NEPGA and/or its members over the years, and made a significant contribution to the game of golf. The individual should consistently demonstrate a high moral character, and has performed a distinctive service to the NEPGA to meet its goals or enhance its image.

The George S. Wemyss Award was originally called the “Man of the Year Award” and was first presented in 1977 to Cuz Mingolla.  In 1978 Dick Tarlow was the recipient followed by Gael Coakley in 1978 and Joe Lazaro in 1980.

The “Man of the Year Award” became the “Golden Golf Award” when the Committee decided to give this prestigious award to Pat Bradley in 1981 and realized that a name change was in order.  In 1982 Manny Francis was the recipient followed in 1983 by George S. Wemyss.  This award was not given in 1984, 1987, 1988, and 1989.  Geoge W. Page was the recipient in 1985 and George S. Wemyss, again in 1986.

Eugene Wogan began his distinguished golf career when he began caddying at Oakley Country Club in Watertown, Massachusetts at the age of twelve. The eminent Donald Ross was the Head Professional at Oakley and he picked “Skip” as he liked to call him as his personal caddie and later as his assistant golf professional. When in 1910, Donald Ross took the Head Professional job at Essex County Club in Manchester, Massachusetts, he took young Wogan with him. After three years, Ross left Essex to serve at Pinehurst, recommending Skip Wogan as his replacement. Wogan remained as Head Professional and greens keeper at Essex until his death in 1957. As a protégé of Ross, Skip became active in course design and in expanding the concept of the Essex style four ball. Some of Wogan’s courses during this period were Blue Hills in Canton, MA; Bellevue in Melrose, MA; Sankaty Head on Nantucket Island in MA; and Webhannet and a nine-hole course for an Essex member appropriately named “Labor in Vain.” Skip also became a renowned maker of scoreboards locally, then gained national attention for his board designs. He was a guru of the Rules of Golf and could quote them verbatim when necessary. Skip Wogan was one of the founders of the PGA of America as the Current New England PGA and was the Section’s first President. Skip was also active on national PGA’s Board of Directors. In recognition of his tireless work on behalf of the Association, the NEPGA named its Player of the Year Award after him. Essex County Club has also named their premier trophy the Skip Wogan Trophy, in recognition of his outstanding service to their members. In 1957, after forty-seven years at Essex, Skip Wogan passed away.

The Sales Representative of the Year is an award given to the salesperson who has achieved outstanding performance and success in their sales role over a given period of time. This award recognizes the individual who has demonstrated exceptional sales skills, exceeded sales targets, and consistently provided excellent customer service. The Sales Representative of the Year award highlights the individual’s commitment, dedication, and contribution to the company’s overall sales success.