18 winners to be recognized at annual meeting in December
VACAVILLE, Calif. – The Northern California PGA today announced the 18 recipients of its 2011 Annual Section Awards. Section awards are given to PGA Professionals and industry leaders who have excelled in the game and business of golf.
Monte Koch, PGA Director of Golf at Chardonnay Golf Club (Napa, CA) and NCPGA Section president, has garnered the 2011 NCPGA Golf Professional of the Year Award, one of the highest honors the Association can bestow on a working club professional whose total contributions to the game best exemplify the complete PGA Professional. Koch is being recognized for his dedication, leadership, inspiration, and service.
“Our honorees do so much every day to help people enjoy their golfing experience, whether it’s by improving their playing ability, creating special events, donating to the community, informing the public or even making sure the right merchandise is available in the Pro Shop,” said NCPGA Awards Chairman Cathy Jo Johnson, PGA. “We want to acknowledge and celebrate their many contributions to the game.”
Keith Lyford, PGA Director of Instruction of The Golf Academy at Old Greenwood in Truckee, Calif., has garnered the 2011 NCPGA Teacher of the Year Award. Lyford is being honored for his contributions to golf instruction for players and professionals at the facility, PGA Section, and National level. People of all ages and playing levels can take advantage of the resources at the local facility. There are PGA Golf Instructors there who can help them learn or improve their golf skills.
Demetria “Dede” Moriarty, PGA Teaching Professional at the Presidio Golf Course, San Francisco, Calif., has garnered the 2011 NCPGA Horton Smith Award. Moriarty is being recognized for being a model educator for PGA Golf Professionals and for her outstanding and continuing contributions to professional education. Mark Wotherspoon, PGA Director of Golf of Buckingham Golf & Country Club, Kelseyville, Calif., has garnered the 2011 NCPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award. Wotherspoon is being recognized for his leadership, mentoring and charitable involvement throughout the region.
Dan Schwabe, PGA Teaching Professional at Presidio Golf Course, San Francisco, Calif., has garnered the 2011 NCPGA Junior Golf Leader Award. Schwabe is being recognized for outstanding leadership and dedication in developing and implementing programs for young golfers.
The NCPGA Merchandiser of the Year awards span three categories: Public, Private and Resort. Justin Williams, former PGA Head Golf Professional of Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, Calif., is the Public Merchandiser of the Year. Eric Goettsch, PGA Assistant Professional at Tehama Golf Club in Carmel, Calif., is the Private Merchandiser of the Year. Pete Smith, PGA Head Golf Professional at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in Truckee, Calif., is the Resort Merchandiser of the Year. All three award winners and their merchandising teams have excelled in golf shop operations.
Joseph Wisocki IV, PGA General Manager of Ridge Creek Dinuba Golf Club in Dinuba, Calif., has earned the 2011 NCPGA Club Fitter of the Year Award. Wisocki is receiving this award for his expertise in fittings golfers with the proper equipment. Club fitters directly help the golf playing public to improve their playing ability and their enjoyment of the game. Brant Wilson, PGA Assistant Golf Professional of Carmel Valley Ranch in Carmel, Calif., has garnered the 2011 NCPGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Award. Wilson is being recognized for his leadership within the NCPGA Assistant/Apprentice Division.
Ron Kuwata, PGA Head Golf Professional and Director of Instruction at Sevillano Links at Rolling Hills Casino in Corning, Calif., has garnered the 2011 NCPGA Growth of the Game-PGA President’s Plaque Award. Kuwata is being recognized for developing innovative programs to bring golf to the lives of women, juniors, veterans and stroke victors. Most golf facilities have innovative programs and fun events for all ages and skill levels in which the public can participate.
PGA Head Professional Mitch Lowe of Half Moon Bay Golf Links in Half Moon Bay, California earns top honors as Player of the Year (Regular Division) proudly presented by Yamaha Golf Cars. PGA Head Professional Shawn Kelly of Ridge Golf Club in Auburn, California garnered the Senior Player of the Year (50-64 years) honors and Jim Collart of Lincoln, California earned the Super Senior (65+ years) Player of the Year award, both presented by Nike Golf. PGA Apprentice Joe Dolby of Palo Alto Hills GCC in Palo Alto, California wins the Assistant Player of the Year award. All Players of the Year were awarded this distinction based upon their 2011 tournament year point standings.
John Vetter is the recipient of the 2011 NCPGA Sales Representative of the Year Award. The award is given to an individual for their service to Northern California PGA Professionals, their merchandising team members and to the Section. Dan Hinxman of the Reno Gazette-Journal in Reno, Nevada has been selected as the 2011 NCPGA Sports Media Person of the Year. Hinxman is being recognized for his support and coverage of local Golf Professionals, events, and charities.
Awards Ceremony
The NCPGA will recognize its 2011 Annual Section Award winners on Sunday, December 4 at the NCPGA Special Awards Ceremony & President’s Dinner at Marin Country Club in Novato, Calif. This event, a highlight for the year, will be held the evening prior to the NCPGA Annual Meeting. There are more than 200 golf professionals and industry leaders expected to attend.
About the Northern California Section of the PGA of America (NCPGA)
Organized in 1920 to promote interest in the game of golf, the birth of this association was heralded as an important step to the advancement of the game in this district. The Northern California Section is one of the forty-one designated Sections of the PGA of America, the world’s largest working sports organization. With over 1,100 dedicated PGA Professionals and apprentices at over 500 golf facilities in Northern California and Northwestern Nevada, the association continues to have a positive impact on the game of golf and communities both regionally and nationally.
Contact:
Jennifer Noel – jnoel@pgahq.com
Nancy Maul – nmaul@pgahq.com
(707) 449-4742
