Naples resident to be recognized at annual awards night on November 11
ATLANTIS, Fla. – Jeff Raimer, PGA Director of Golf at West Bay Club, has been named the 2014 SFPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award recipient. This award is presented to a PGA member who by their day-to-day efforts have distinguished themselves by mentoring their fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations and through service to the community.
A PGA member since 1987, Raimer has held several management positions at high end golf clubs in the Naples area. For the past three years, Raimer has served as the PGA Director of Golf at West Bay Beach & Golf Club, he was previously PGA Director of Golf at the Golf Club at Fiddler’s Creek and prior to that, Bay Colony Golf Club in Naples, while also serving as Head Professional at Gateway Golf Club in Fort Myers.
“The biggest thrill for me is having a personal sense of pride by being able to give back to the game that has been so wonderful to me and my family, it will never be enough,” said Raimer.
As a three time winner of this award, Raimer has been a dedicated PGA Professional and has held leadership roles at the Chapter, Section and National levels. He held officer positions within the Section and Southwest Chapter for 18 consecutive years. In addition, he served for six years on a National Committees, including the PGA of America National Employment Committee from 2008-2010, 2010-2012 and the PGA of America National Board of Governance Committee from 2006-2008, both positions were appointed by the President of the PGA of America.
Beyond his involvement with the PGA, Raimer also serves his community with a seat on the Resort and Hospitality Management Advisory Council and the PGA Golf Management Advisory Council at Florida Gulf Coast University. From the program’s inception, Raimer played a significant role in bringing the PGA Golf Management University Program to Florida Gulf Coast University. He has assisted with the creation of the “mentoring” program that includes over 60 local PGA Professionals who take on new freshmen each year to mentor from the PGM Program.
“Over my career I have passed on twelve assistants to their own job as Head Professional or Director of Golf,” said Raimer. “I am proud of all my staff over the years. There is nothing more important in what I do than being a ‘mentor’ to my staff to help them become a better person, professional and grow into a position that will help them make a better life for their families.”
Raimer’s career has included many well deserved awards throughout the years. He was named SFPGA Golf Professional of the Year in 2009, Southwest Chapter Golf Professional of the Year in 1996, SFPGA Merchandiser of the Year, Public in 1997 and 1998, Southwest Chapter Merchandiser of the Year in 1995 and 1996, Southwest Chapter Bill Strausbaugh Award in 2002 and 2003 and the SFPGA Bill Stausbaugh Award in 2002 and 2010.
“It is a tremendous honor to be a three-time recipient of the Bill Stausbaugh award,” says Raimer.
Jeff Raimer, along with nine (9) other South Florida PGA Annual Award winners, will be recognized at the SFPGA Awards Night on November 11 at the Country Club at Mirasol.
About the South Florida PGA
The South Florida PGA, one of 41 PGA Section offices throughout the United States, is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The South Florida Section is one link in the grass-roots network used to facilitate communication amongst the nation’s 25 million amateur golfers and the PGA’s 28,000 members. The South Florida Section PGA is comprised of over 1,700 men and women PGA Professionals dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.
Contact:
Tori Stock
tstock@pgahq.com
