Stafford, VA – The MAPGA is proud to announce its 2012 Merchandisers of the Year: James Schouller, PGA of Fountain Head Country Club in Hagerstown, Maryland (Private Category), Nathan R. Presnal, PGA of Lake Presidential Golf Club in Upper Marlboro, Maryland (Public Category) and Joseph R. Burbee, PGA of Bay Creek Resort & Club in Cape Charles, Virginia (Resort Category). This award is bestowed on those MAPGA Professionals who have demonstrated superior skills as merchandisers in the promotion of golf.
James Schouller, PGA – Fountain Head Country Club
Born in Clarksburg, Massachusetts, Jim was destined to be a PGA Professional. His first work experience at a golf course was at Stamford Golf Club in New York, where he learned his tricks of the trade from his father James, who happened to be the head PGA Professional at the club. Through this experience, Jim made the decision to attend New Mexico State University and enter the PGA’s Professional Golf Management Program.
Jim’s first job as a golf professional was as an Assistant at Colonie Country Club in Albany, New York from 1997-1999. After Colonie, Jim moved into the Middle Atlantic Section and worked as an Assistant at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland until 2007. Jim was selected as the Head PGA Professional at Fountain Head Country Club in Hagerstown, Maryland and has been serving the members there since 2007.
Jim has achieved much success throughout his life, most recently being named in the Top 100 Golf Shops by Golf World in 2010. He was also awarded the Creative Sales Promotion Idea of the Year by American Golf Merchandisers in 2009, and has been published in three editions of The Little Book of Big Golf Promotions, 2008, 2010 and 2011. Jim’s community service and fund raising activities are also notable. He helped raise $5,000 for “Children in Need” in Hagerstown, Maryland and $4,000 for “Safe Place”, a child abuse center in Hagerstown. In one day, the members and staff at Fountain Head Country Club raised over 6,000 food items for a local food pantry.
Nathan R. Presnal, PGA – Lake Presidential Golf Club
Originally born in South Bend, Indiana, Nathan and his family finally settled their roots in Sanford, North Carolina where Nathan first showed interest in the game of golf. His parents supported Nathan’s golf pursuits to the fullest and encouraged him to find employment within the industry. This search landed him his first job as a “cart boy” and part-time grounds crew with Sanford Golf Club. With a successful amateur golf career and an interest in the golf industry, Nathan decided to enroll in the PGA Professional Golf Management program at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
From 2001-2004, Nathan worked as a PGA Apprentice at Essex Country Club in Manchester, Massachusetts. Shortly after his graduation, Nathan headed to the Midwest and worked as a First Assistant at Heritage Club in Mason, Ohio from 2004-2005. Making his way to the Middle Atlantic Section, Nathan landed a job as First Assistant at Chevy Chase Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland from 2005-2007. He has served as General Manager/ Head PGA Professional at Lake Presidential Golf Club in Upper Marlboro, Maryland since 2007.
Nathan credits his recent recognition to working with some of best PGA Professionals in the business. He encourages his professional staff to respect the traditions of their roots as PGA Professionals. Nathan states “learn as much as you can from fellow PGA Professionals who have blazed the trails. Talk to them and apply those lessons learned to the modern-day golf business.”
Joseph R. Burbee, PGA – Bay Creek Resort and Club
With roots in Cincinnati, Ohio, Joe fell in love with golf at the age of ten after watching another fellow Ohioan, Mr. Jack Nicklaus, capture national attention as a leader on the PGA Tour. Joe was intrigued by the game and ironically, at the age of fourteen, landed a job with the Jack Nicklaus Sports Center in Mason, Ohio. He continued in golf, playing for his high school golf team and then decided to attend Miami University in nearby Oxford, Ohio, where he graduated with a degree in Political Science.
Joe declared his professional status in 1992, and began working as an assistant at the Golf Center at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio in 1993. He was elected to PGA membership in 1995 and became the Golf Center’s Head PGA Professional in 1997. Joe was selected as the Southern Ohio Section’s Merchandiser of the Year (Resort Category) in 1997 and in the Middle Atlantic Section in 2006. In 2001, Joe moved to the Head PGA Professional position at The Signature at West Neck in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was selected as the Head PGA Professional at Bay Creek Golf Club in 2005.
Through Joe’s leadership, the Bay Creek Golf Club staff is trained to anticipate the needs of their guests and empowered to make decisions to meet those needs. Be hospitable, be helpful and be informed are the three essential tenants that Joe leads by and imparts to his staff on a daily basis.
About the Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America
The Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA (MAPGA), located in Stafford, Virginia, is one of 41 Sections of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA), headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. As a part of The PGA since 1925, the MAPGA consists of over 1,100 members and apprentices in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Together, the MAPGA golf professionals, volunteers and staff support the mission of The PGA to promote enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to the game’s growth by providing services to PGA Professionals and the golf industry.
Contact:
Stephanie Jennings, PGA
sjennings@pgahq.com
(540) 720-7420 ext. 116
