VACAVILLE, Calif. – The Northern California Section of the PGA is pleased to announce that Pat Finlen of The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif., is the recipient of the inaugural 2013 NCPGA Golf Course Superintendent of the Year Award. The award is given to an individual for their expertise in the maintenance, operations, and management of golf courses and their leadership contributions within the NCPGA Section.
“I believe the key ingredients to being a successful Golf Course Superintendent are having a love for the land, which we are blessed to maintain. It is that love that allows us to be good stewards of the land and environment,” said Finlen. “In addition, a superintendent should have a good understanding of the business of golf and a respect for the entire facility.”
Finlen has been in the golf business almost all his life. He started caddying in 1970 at the age of 11 and has been a golf course superintendent since 1984. He is currently the President of the Golf Course Superintendents Association (GCSA) of America, which represents 18,000 members.
He has held roles as the President of the Heart of America GCSA in Kansas City and GCSA of the Northern California. Finlen has also been involved with the California Alliance for Golf. Over the last 23 years, he has participated on more than 30 different local and national committees involved with golf.
Finlen has been the recipient of numerous awards throughout his career including 1994 Heart of America GCSA Superintendent of the Year, 1997 Heart of America GCSA Mendenhall Service Award, 2003 and 2011 GCSA of Northern California Superintendent of the Year, 2012 GCSA of Northern California Merit Award.
“Pat is well known for always being available to help anyone in the industry, whether it is to MC an event, be on a panel, or help with a resume,” said NCPGA Awards Chairman Ted Mattila, PGA. “His willingness to participate has contributed to the betterment of the Northern California PGA region.”
Finlen is among 19 recipients of the NCPGA’s 2013 Annual Section Awards. Section awards are given to PGA Professionals and industry leaders who have excelled in the game and business of golf. The NCPGA will recognize its 2013 Annual Section Award winners on Sunday, December 8 at the NCPGA Special Awards Ceremony & President’s Dinner at Contra Costa Country Club in Pleasant Hill, 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. E-Z-Go Textron is a presenting partner and PGA Resort and Spa and the Northern California Golf Representatives Association is a supporting partner of the Awards Ceremony & Annual Meeting.
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. For more information, please visit www.ncpga.com.
Contact:
Jennifer Noel – jnoel@pgahq.com
Nancy Maul – nmaul@pgahq.com
(707) 449-4742
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