VACAVILLE, Calif. – The Northern California Section of the PGA is pleased to announce that Pat Jones, PGA Director of Golf at Bayonet and Black Horse Golf Courses in Seaside, Calif. has garnered the 2014 NCPGA Golf Professional of the Year Award – the finest exhibition of leadership, determination, business acumen, professionalism, and service to the Section and the Association.
“Pat inspires all those around him, in particular, by leading through example. He has mentored and motivated young golfers in their pursuits to build a successful career in the golf industry,” said NCPGA Awards Chairman Mark Naylor, PGA.
Jones is the consummate golf professional with business acumen across many aspects of the industry. His focus over recent years has been on increasing membership, rounds, and merchandise sales in the Bayonet and Black Horse Pro Shop, through a new online store as well as hosting demo days every weekend and instituting an annual Golf Expo. He has introduced the game and up-leveled the skills of many through his lessons, club fittings, and the Bayonet and Black Horse Golf Academy and Performance Center. In addition he has grown the game through an Adult School, Get Golf Ready program, Junior Camp, Golf Fore Ladies, and Supervised Practice for juniors. Jones also served as the host professional for numerous tournaments including the 45th PGA Professional National Championship. All of these initiatives have led to improving the customer experience while generating additional revenue for the facility.
According to Jones, “I truly believe that it’s my responsibility to help grow my staff as individuals through life skills to set them up to be successful in the future. By instilling the values of hard work, commitment, integrity and determination there are no limits in life.”
He added, “The goal is to provide them with the proper training and the tools to be successful. I believe in challenging the staff to come up with ideas to improve the way we conduct our business as well as empower them to make decisions. Sometimes we need to take chances to be successful. I believe that my mentoring program which involves teaching my apprentices the daily operations of the facility, inspire them to be creative and take ownership of their responsibilities.”
Serving the Section and the Community
Jones is a leader among the Northern California Section of the PGA. He became a Board Member for the Monterey Bay Area Chapter in 2013. Jones currently is serving as its Secretary and resides on the Sponsorship and Communication Committees. As a member of the Sponsorship Committee, he secures sponsorship dollars in support of Chapter tournaments. As the head of the Communication Committee, he writes the monthly newsletter and maintains the Chapter’s Facebook page. In 2013, he became the NCPGA Club Fitter of the Year.
He contributes a significant amount of time helping the community through events such as the America Heart Association Saving Strokes golf clinics, Patriot Day fundraising events, partnering with the YMCA on junior golf clinics, participating in the Carmel Mission Youth Program, and hosting a Hospitality Open Golf Clinic for employees who work in the golf hospitality industry.
Jones is among 19 recipients of the NCPGA’s 2014 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 2014 Annual Section Award winners on Sunday, December 7 at the NCPGA Special Awards Ceremony & President’s Dinner at Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San Jose, California. 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 & Spa and the Northern California Golf Representatives Association are supporting partners of the Awards Ceremony & Annual Meeting.
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
