VACAVILLE, Calif. – The Northern California Section of the PGA is pleased to announce that Mike Dowd, PGA Head Golf Professional at Oakdale Golf & Country Club in Oakdale, Calif., has garnered the 2013 NCPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award. Dowd is being recognized with this award for his mentoring of PGA Professionals.
Dowd was the NCPGA Board of Directors Apprentice Mentor in his first term and hosted Apprentice Peer Clusters for numerous apprentices who have gone on to achieve membership, personally mentoring three of them.
Dowd is currently serving his second three-year term on the NCPGA Board of Directors and has chaired the Public Relations & Communications Committee for the past five years. In these leadership roles, he has been involved in the organization and support of numerous events and initiatives such as the NCGA Membership Drive and Branding Campaign, the Player & Teacher Forum, and The Professional National Championship.
He has regularly participated in many of the PGA Play Golf America initiatives and has held a Patriot Golf Day Event every year since its inception, raising money for the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides scholarships for the families of wounded or fallen service men and women. He is currently part of the PGA Ambassador Program for golf travel and is in the process of organizing a four-club trip that will bring more than 100 golf travelers to one of the sponsor destinations.
Dowd is also an active member in his local community. He is serving his second two-year term as a commissioner for the City of Turlock’s Parks & Recreation and Community Commission and participates on the Kiwanis Club of Greater Turlock, which raises money for various children’s charities in the Greater Turlock area.
Using his writing talents to educate others, Dowd has been featured in PGA Magazine’s Best Practices and has authored numerous columns for the magazine.
Dowd places a high value on integrity, ethics, and trust. He also believes in leadership by example, empowering people, and inspiring their creativity.
“Whether it is in my weekly staff meetings, my weekly Golf is Life Column, or in organizations outside of the game that I am involved with, I try to always incorporate ideas and concepts that teach people skills that they can use in nearly any endeavor,” said Dowd.
Dowd 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.
“Mike has touched and inspired many through his leadership roles and mentoring of young professionals,” said NCPGA Awards Chairman Ted Mattila, PGA. “We are appreciative of his service to our Section throughout the years.”
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
