Stafford, VA – Tom Barry, the 31-year Head PGA Professional at Jefferson Lakeside Country Club in Richmond, Va. will become the 47th inductee into the Middle Atlantic PGA Hall of Fame. He will be honored in front of his family, friends, and peers at the annual MAPGA Hall of Fame and Awards banquet on Saturday March 8, 2014 at the historic Jefferson Hotel in Richmond.
Tom Barry’s unparalleled service and contributions to the Middle Atlantic PGA and the PGA of America span over thirty years. Since assuming the Head PGA Professional position at the Jefferson Lakeside Country Club in 1983, the MAPGA recognized his excellence and dedication with numerous awards, most notably the Horton Smith Award three times: 1989, 2000, and 2008 for excellence in PGA member education; the President’s Award in 1990; the Bill Strausbaugh Award in 1992 for service to fellow members in employment and club relations; and the MAPGA Professional of the Year Award in 1994. In 2012, the Virginia State Golf Association acknowledged him with their “Service to the Game” award.
Additionally, within the Section’s Southern and then Virginia Chapter, Barry held the Director-at-Large position of the Virginia Chapter in 1987 and 1988, served as Secretary of the Southern Chapter for three years between 1990 and 1992, and the Presidency of the Southern Chapter for three years between 1993 and 1995, and as the Honorary President of that Chapter in 1996-1997. As a Committee member, he has held seats on both the Membership Committee and Club Relations & Employment Committee for some fifteen years. He is also known for his knowledge of the Rules of Golf and has not only become the “go to guy” for clarity on rulings but has also volunteered his time to be a rules official for many MAPGA and VSGA tournaments.
Originally from Waterbury, Connecticut, Barry along with his parents and seven siblings relocated to Chicago Heights, Illinois where his golf career began at a local nine-hole venue, Cherry Hills Golf Course, at the age of nine. At age 13, he joined the caddie ranks at Cherry Hills, his first golf-related job. From there on out, he worked every summer at the golf course, then becoming the shop assistant before turning professional in 1973.
While Barry was still a young man, David Ogilvie III, Head PGA Professional at Flossmoor Country Club in Flossmoor, Illinois, won over his esteem to such as extent that it subsequently influenced his decision to make the golf business a career. He says that Ogilvie “stressed the importance of professionalism and demonstrating a gentleman’s persona at all times.” David Ogilvie himself ultimately received the PGA of America “Professional of the Year” award in 1986. Interestingly enough, David Ogilvie’s father held the Head PGA Professional position at Jefferson Lakeside for some seventeen years, 1961 – 1978.
Barry was elected to PGA membership in September 1979 while working at Flossmoor Country Club as an Assistant Golf Professional. He then accepted his first Head PGA Professional position at Oregon Golf Club in Oregon, Illinois. After a few short years at Oregon Golf Club, Barry made the move to Virginia in 1983 and has been faithfully serving Jefferson Lakeside Country Club as their Head PGA Professional.
Barry believes that he has been most fortunate to work for outstanding professionals who provided him excellent advice. And, that golf is a great game that can be played at any age and it is truly a thrill for him to be able to lend his assistance to enhance the experience for his members and to become involved in MAPGA activities.
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
