ORLANDO, Fla., (Oct. 26, 2010) – It was announced today that Golfweek Senior Writer Ron Balicki, who has covered college golf since joining the magazine in 1983, will be the first non-coach inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Hall of Fame. As one of seven inductees this year, Balicki will be officially honored at the GCAA Hall of Fame Reception and Awards Banquet Dec. 6 at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas.
“There are a lot of great coaches – in many cases, legends of college golf – who are enshrined in the GCAA Hall of Fame, so to be a part of this list is a great honor,” said Balicki. “And, to be the first non-coach ever elected for induction makes this the highlight of my career as a golf writer.”
Joining Balicki in the 2010 Hall of Fame Class are active coaches Bob Alpers of Saint John’s (Minn.), Kyle Blaser of Oklahoma City, Michael Carlisle of South Carolina-Aiken, Bobby Cornett of Texas Wesleyan and Steve Desimone of California, as well as former coach Floyd Horgan of Brevard (Fla.) Community College and Centenary.
Balicki, 62, of Mount Ida, Ark., began covering golf in 1980 for the Northwest Florida Daily News. At Golfweek, he has covered 26 consecutive NCAA Division I Men’s Championships. In addition to this honor from the GCAA, Balicki has received numerous awards from such prestigious organizations as the Golf Writers Association of America, the International Network of Golf and the Texas Golf Writers Association.
“Around here, Ron Balicki doesn’t cover college golf – he IS college golf,” said Golfweek Editor Jeff Babineau. “He has covered so many great teams, back to the talented University of Houston squads coached by Dave Williams, and has written about so many great players for nearly three decades that he has built a body of work in college golf no one ever will come close to matching. But what I think Ron would tell you he has enjoyed the most in covering the college game is the collection of friends he has assembled. He has made lifelong friends from all over the world, and that speaks to the great ambassador Ron has been for Golfweek.
“We are proud to call him a Hall of Famer. It’s a high honor, and he deserves it.”
To read college golf stories by Ron Balicki, visit Golfweek.com.
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Founded in 1975, Golfweek is the most authentic, authoritative and independent voice in golf. Reaching more than 1.3 million readers each week, the magazine delivers the most complete news and information about the game, its players and the golf lifestyle – all to golf’s most important audience. The Golfweek brand also extends beyond the print publication to include Golfweek.com, Golfweek OnDemand, GolfweekHomes.com, Golfweek Custom Media and such industry wire services as The Golf Wire, The Apparel Wire and The Tour Van. Golfweek is part of Turnstile Publishing Company, one of the nation’s leading media brands specializing in high-end publications for active and affluent audiences. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Orlando, Fla., Turnstile Publishing Company is also the parent corporation of The Art Wire, Community Media Holdings LLC and the TurfNet Media Network, as well as such publications as Art Calendar, The Seminole Voice and The Winter Park/Maitland Observer.
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