Stafford, VA – Richard Cromwell, the PGA Director of Golf at The Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, has been selected by the Middle Atlantic PGA as their 2013 PGA Professional of the Year. This is the highest honor given to an MAPGA Professional and bestows special recognition for overall performance as a PGA Professional, leadership, service, and promotion of the game of golf. Cromwell will be recognized in front of his peers at the MAPGA Hall of Fame and Awards banquet to be held on March 9, 2013 at the Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, Md.
Much of Cromwell’s childhood was spent along the Treasure Coast of Florida where he first played baseball until an unfortunate pop fly incident at the age of 14 left him with a broken jaw and plenty of time to work on his new hobby, golf. His commitment to golf through high school paid off with a scholarship to play for Texas A&M University. While at A&M, Cromwell achieved All-American status during the 1977-78 and 1979-80 school years. Following graduation, he pursued a playing career and spent some time on the Asian and European circuits before earning his PGA Tour card in 1988.
Cromwell began his PGA Club Professional career in 1991 and within four short years, earned his PGA membership and received recognition from the Southern Texas PGA Section as their Assistant Professional of the Year and also their Player of the Year. In 1998, Cromwell and his family made a move to the Middle Atlantic Section where he became the Group Director of Golf and Club Relations at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va. He accepted his current position at the Country Club of Virginia in 2001.
At The Country Club of Virginia, Cromwell has enhanced his career both as a Golf Professional and as a Business Executive since he is responsible for the Golf Professional and Golf Course Maintenance departments at the Club. In 2007, he became a Board member with the Virginia Chapter of the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA). He served as a Board officer and is the current President of the Chapter. In addition to the CMAA, Richard has served on the Virginia Golf Council as a Board member since 2007 and filled the duty of Executive Secretary from 2009-2010. He also held a seat on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Golf Course Owners Association and was the Secretary/Treasurer from 2009-2010. To further his education, Cromwell became a Certified Club Manager (CCM) with the CMAA and is also a Certified PGA Professional in the areas of General Management and Golf Operations.
Cromwell has demonstrated a passion for playing and teaching the game and for leading a quality driven organization. “Take pride in your performance,” he states, “and be on a relentless mission to improve and learn every day.” He recognizes that success is not achieved on your own. He has surrounded himself with strong team members and recognizes that it takes the coordinated efforts of many to accomplish any significant goals.
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, the District of Columbia and small portions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. 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
