VACAVILLE, Calif. – The Northern California Section of the PGA is pleased to announce that Tom Morton, PGA Director of Player Performance for Morton Golf in Sacramento, Calif., has garnered the 2014 Player Development Award. Morton Golf encompasses four facilities – Haggin Oaks, Bing Maloney, Bartley Cavanaugh and William Land Golf Course. Morton is being recognized for his dedication and leadership in bringing innovative golf programs to juniors, seniors, families, and disabled golfers to help grow the game. An increasing number of golf facilities have developed programs and exciting events for all ages and skill levels in which the public can participate.
“From an early age I was always taught that giving back and contributing to your peers is not only desirable but also the right thing to do. I have taken this to heart in my career as golf professional,” said Morton.
Providing Hope for the Underserved through Golf
Among his many achievements, Morton is most proud of two. First, Morton helped establish and is President of the Morton Golf Foundation. Its mission is to “provide funds to programs offering a healthy outdoor recreational environment that stresses the building of lasting personal relationships while seamlessly instilling life’s core values for the youth, disabled and underserved communities of Sacramento.” Since the foundation’s inception, it has donated more than $500,000 in six years to youth oriented golf programs that improve the lives of young people.
His second achievement is coming to fruition as he is leading a team that is building a $500,000 golf and life skill learning facility at Leattata Floyd elementary school in Sacramento in an area of town where the children desperately need some hope. The school is located in the center of over 700 subsidized housing units, the largest low income housing development west of the Mississippi, where the average annual family income is $7,000. The goal is to have the facility open in spring 2015.
A Program for Everyone
Morton’s junior golf and player development achievements include being NCPGA Junior Golf Committee Chairman and holding leadership positions with The First Tee of Greater Sacramento. He developed, implemented and hosted numerous programs including the LPGA/USGA Mother/daughter Program, Latino Junior Golf Program, Little Linker and Junior Linker Playing Program, Boys and Girls Club, Center for Father’s and Families Program, Play Golf America Day, Saving Strokes Disabled Golf Program, and the California Eagles Special Olympics Program to name only a few.
In 2009, Morton became a The First Tee recognized coach, an important distinction for the kids in the community as there are fewer than 100 recognized The First Tee Coaches in the United States. His involvement has impacted more than 6,500 kids annually and raised more than $350,000 over the past few years. He has since developed a plan to double the reach to 12,000 kids by the end of 2014.
“Growing the game of golf is one of the greatest things we can do as PGA golf professionals. Through many years of trial and error we have landed on an approach that we believe has not only increased participation but raised our retention rates to create more golfers at our area facilities. Our step by step approach to our programs gives a golfer the tools to better understand how to go from point A to point Z, usually a beginner to brand new golfer striving to become a proficient player that feels comfortable playing in a golf outing or with friends,” said Morton.
Morton has received numerous other accolades including being honored as 2014 PGA of America Youth Player Development Award, named a Top 50 Kids Teacher and Top 50 Master Kids Teacher in America by U.S. Kids Golf, 2014 PGA Certification in Player Development, 2012 NCPGA Player Development Award, 2012 NCPGA Junior Golf Leader Award, 2008 NCPGA Junior Golf Leader Award, the 2006 NCPGA Horton Smith Award, and the 2002 NCPGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Award.
“Tom’s is not only a leader in the NCPGA Section but also in the broader Sacramento community. His dedication and determination combined with a sense of creativity and caring are unmatched,” said NCPGA Awards Chairman Mark Naylor, PGA.
Hand in hand with player development, comes PGA Professional development. Recognizing this connection, Morton has served as Chairman of one of the largest Section education events in the nation – the annual Northern California PGA Player and Teacher Forum. For the past 16 years he has managed this two-day event, bringing in the nation’s top instructors to share their knowledge with approximately 300 LPGA Professionals and Apprentices and other coaches.
Morton 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 Bluebird Wines are supporting partners of the Awards Ceremony.
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
