Stafford, VA – Jim Fitzgerald, the Head PGA Professional at Chevy Chase Club in Chevy Chase, Md., has been selected as the recipient of the Middle Atlantic PGA’s 2014 Bill Strausbaugh Award. This award bestows special recognition on a PGA Professional who has outstanding integrity and has shown commitment to mentoring fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations, as well as involvement in community and charitable activities. The award is named in honor of the late “Coach” Bill Strausbaugh, former Head PGA Professional at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Md., and member of the MAPGA Hall of Fame Class of 1989. Fitzgerald will be recognized in front of his family, friends, and peers at the MAPGA Hall of Fame and Awards banquet to be held on March 8, 2014 at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Va.
Service to the MAPGA Employment Committee, mentoring of his assistants to become Head Professionals, and support of local charities and his community are characteristics of Jim Fitzgerald, PGA. These, along with his commitment to being a better professional and helping others see and fulfill their potential, are the qualities that have earned him his first Bill Strausbaugh Award.
Originally born on New York’s Long Island, Fitzgerald and his family moved to Maryland when he was 11. It was then when he enjoyed his first golf experiences as a caddie for his father at Falls Road Golf Course in Potomac, Md. He started playing golf regularly at the age of 13 and carried his talents all the way to college as a member of the University of Maryland Golf Team.
While at UMD, Fitzgerald won the Bubby Worsham Championship in 1976 and qualified for the 1973 & 1974 US Junior Amateur Championships as well as the 1977 US Amateur Championship. In 1978, he turned professional after graduating from UMD and worked at Montgomery Village Golf Club in Gaithersburg, Md. before accepting the teaching and playing professional position at Columbia Country Club. He left Columbia in 1982 to become the head golf coach for George Washington University and also worked at Sandy Lane Golf Club in Barbados over the winter months. Fitzgerald worked on the island of Nantucket, Mass. at Sankaty Head Golf Club prior to accepting his current position as Head PGA Professional at Chevy Chase Club.
Yet, it was his time spent at Columbia Country Club that left the biggest impression on his life. He had the privilege of working for the esteemed “Coach” Bill Strausbaugh whom he most admired and looked up to. While working under Strausbaugh, he was selected as the Middle Atlantic Section’s Assistant PGA Professional of the Year in 1981. Later, in 1996, he was selected as the MAPGA’s Teacher of the Year. In 2004, he won Merchandiser of the Year (Private Category) and in 2011 he earned the Section’s highest active recognition of Professional of the Year. This award (Professional of the Year) bestows special recognition on a PGA member whose total contributions to the game best exemplify the complete and consummate PGA Professional.
Fitzgerald feels fortunate to be able to spend his career doing something he enjoys so much. He cares deeply about the golf profession, his role as a PGA Professional, his staff, and his membership as is evident through his mentoring of 17 Assistants who have moved on to take Head Professional positions. He tries to be consistent every day and treat everyone the same. Fitzgerald continually strives to improve personally and professionally and adapt to the times.
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
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