VACAVILLE, Calif. – The Northern California Section of the PGA is pleased to announce that Phil Green, PGA Professional and owner/manager of Home on the Range in Newcastle, Calif., has garnered the 2013 Player Development Award. Green is being recognized for his dedication and leadership in bringing innovative golf programs to juniors, seniors, families, and disabled golfers to help grow the game. An increasing number of golf facilities have developed programs and exciting events for all ages and skill levels in which the public can participate.
Green has developed and run more than 100 programs in the past 20 years. His programs are being featured in golf magazines, television and radio shows, local newspapers, and numerous school online newsletters. In fact, more than 15 different schools have featured his golf programs in the past two years.
Green is known for having built Home on the Range, a driving range, golf academy, and developmental golf course that offers a family friendly learning environment for golfers of all ages and abilities. This past year, he formed a partnership with the Auburn Recreation District to bring golf to juniors and to special needs adults. He also began partnering with Placer High School to bring golf to special needs students. Over the years, Green has run programs for the hearing impaired, the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, and the Police Activities League. His latest growth effort has brought him together with the Special Olympics as a golf coach for their skilled players.
“I take it as a challenge to get PGA Professionals out of their office and into schools to promote our great game,” said Green. “I measure the impact of growth by seeing a noticeable difference in the number of customers at my facility and all other facilities in the Auburn/Lincoln areas. My own business is up over 100 customers per week since establishing and running these programs.”
Innovative Programs for New Golfers
A few of Green’s many innovative programs include “Free Lessons to Women and Their Children on Mother’s Day” and “Free Clubs for Beginners.”
“While competing with many other sports, it is our responsibility to beat the bushes and stir up new players. Instilling joy in golfers at a young age will essentially keep them coming back and offering free lessons to mothers and their kids is a great way to get started,” said Green.
With “Free Clubs for Beginners,” Green offers new customers a free set of clubs that have been donated by other golf professionals. More than 500 sets have been given away in the twenty years that he has been running this program.
“Phil is a true ambassador of the game of golf,” said NCPGA Awards Chairman Ted Mattila, PGA. “He has worked with the PGA of America to provide materials and data to help local PGA Professionals grow the game through the PGA Sports Academy, Get Golf Ready, and Boys’ and Girls’ Club Partnership initiatives.”
Green 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
