Stafford, VA – Leadership, volunteerism, dedication, mentoring… these traits embody the 2012 Middle Atlantic PGA Professional of the Year John C. Malinowski III, Head Golf Professional at Montgomery Country Club in Laytonsville, Maryland. With a military upbringing and determination to make a difference, John embraces his past experiences to lead his fellow MAPGA Professionals as the Section’s 44th President.
Introduced to the game by his dad at the age of nine, John dabbled in golf yet baseball would consume most of his life as a teenager. Then, during his college years, John turned his focus to golf and landed a spot on the golf team at Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, North Carolina where he graduated with Bachelors degrees in both Economics and Political Science. While in college, John worked at the Medal of Honor Golf Course on the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia as a cart attendant and then as an assistant. He would later move on to Catawba Country Club in Newton, North Carolina and declare his professional status.
In a matter of fifteen months after declaring his professional status, John was elected to PGA membership. He left Catawba and accepted a head professional position at Montclair Golf Club in Montclair, Virginia. After 2 years, John moved to the PGA Director of Instruction position at Capital City Golf School in Washington, DC and in 2003, he became the Head PGA Professional at River Run Golf Club in Ocean City, Maryland. In the spring of 2010, John left Ocean City to accept his current position as Head PGA Professional at Montgomery Country Club in Laytonsville, Maryland.
Prior to his Presidency, John served as the Section’s Education and Membership Chair. One of his most notable accomplishments as Membership Chair was his redevelopment of the apprentice orientation. The goal of the orientation program is to get apprentices on the right track early in their careers and get them involved with The PGA to help make a difference. John is also a member of the National PGA Education Committee and has achieved certification in all six areas of the PGA Certified Professional Program. Other Section awards on John’s resume include the 2009 Bill Strausbaugh Award, 2006 Horton Smith Award and the 2002 President’s Award.
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
