SFPGA professional and partner to be honored at 2014 awards dinner
Atlantis, Fla -Longtime South Florida PGA Partner, Steve Sponder and renowned South Florida PGA Professional, Fred Harkness are the newest members elected to the SFPGA Hall of Fame. Both men will be recognized at the SFPGA Annual Awards and Hall of Fame Dinner in November (location and time to be announced). Sponder and Harkness will be the 32nd and 33rd inductees into the SFPGA Hall of Fame, created in 2002.
The SFPGA Hall of Fame recognizes individuals that have significantly impacted the golfing lives of the south Florida community through dedication and contributions to the game of golf. Individuals are first nominated by a nominating committee and then voted on by a committee made up of current Hall of Fame members and the SFPGA Executive Board.
Steve Sponder is recognized for his outstanding support of the South Florida PGA that has spanned over 20 years through his partnership with Global Golf Sales. Sponder started out his career as a sales representative in south Florida in 1976. In 1994 he founded Global Golf Sales to provide excellent customer service and provide consumers with high quality golf products at a very competitive price.
“I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to have my career in golf with the South Florida PGA. I have had a great life because of the South Florida PGA and the Professionals that reside in this section,” says Sponder. With over 40 years of service, Sponder has created many great relationships and built a successful company to service the golf industry. Sponder and his company are known for their exceptional customer service to PGA Professionals. It would not be unheard of for Global Golf Sales to deliver products with one day or even same day delivery.
Global Golf Sales has been a partner of the South Florida PGA since 1995 and Sponder has created unique methods to support the South Florida Section. He has organized closest to the hole contests and provided participants with a beverage oasis and grip giveaway at countless South Florida PGA tournaments. For three years, Global Golf Sales has hosted the Global Golf Sales Cup, a summer long program promoting participation in Section events. In addition, the company also sponsors a Million Dollar Shootout and a Par 3 Skins Game for South Florida PGA Professionals. In addition to his support of the Section, Sponder also supports all three mainland chapters: Southern, Southeast and Southwest.
Through his service to the South Florida PGA, Sponder has received numerous awards. In 2004 and 2007 he was recognized as Southeast Chapter Sales Representative of the Year, Southern Chapter Sale Representative of the Year in 2005 and 2006, South Florida PGA Salesperson of the Year in 2010 and Southeast Chapter Distinguished Service Award in 2008.
“I am flattered and honored to be inducted into the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame,” says Sponder. “I am blown away to be in the same Hall of Fame as so many greats in the golf industry. It means the world to me.”
For his unwavering support of the South Florida Section, Steve Sponder will be honored as a Class of 2014 inductee into the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame.
Fred Harkness is honored for his dedication and infectious love of the game of golf. A PGA member since 1975, Harkness began his career at the Apawamis Club in Rye, NY where he worked towards attaining his PGA membership. Since that time, he has served as the PGA Director of Golf at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club and recently retired in June after 36 years of service to the facility.
“The best part about my time at Jonathan’s was interacting with the members and the staff,” said Harkness. Due to his long tenure at Jonathan’s Landing, Harkness has established many lasting relationships with members and staff. He was known as the ultimate host to all those that visited Jonathan’s Landing and had a way of making everyone feel welcome and comfortable.
“Everyone loves to be around him. No one loves the game of golf more than Fred,” says Neil Lockie, current PGA Director of Golf at Jonathan’s Landing who worked under Harkness for 9 years. Harkness has made an incredible impact on the over thirty PGA Professionals who have worked for him. He demonstrated passion for the game of golf, leadership and strong customer service that PGA Professionals could learn from. Harkness has been a mentor to all those who have worked with him as he demonstrated how to be a successful PGA Professional by leading by example.
In addition to his success at Jonathan’s Landing, Harkness was active in the community. He was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Jupiter Medical Center and actively helped in their fundraising efforts. He also hosted the Jupiter Medical Center Pro-Am for numerous years at Jonathan’s Landing.
Always willing to host SFPGA Section and Chapter events, Harkness was a strong supporter of the South Florida PGA. He has served in several roles with the South Florida PGA, including Awards Chairperson, in addition to serving on many committees throughout his career. He has won multiple South Florida PGA awards including Golf Professional of the Year in 1998, Merchandiser of the Year in 1990, the Bill Straughsbaugh award in 2006 and the Florida State Senior Honoree in 2011.
“I am humbled by this induction into the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame. It is quite the honor and is the icing on the cake of a long career,” says Harkness.
For his passion and commitment to the game of golf, the South Florida PGA welcomes Fred Harkness as a member of the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame, Class of 2014.
The South Florida PGA Section will induct both Steve Sponder and Fred Harkness as part of its Annual Awards and Hall of Fame dinner in November.
Contact:
Tori Stock
tstock@pgahq.com
