VACAVILLE, Calif. – The Northern California Section of the PGA is pleased to announce that Tim Burr, PGA Director of Golf at Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, Calif., has garnered the 2014 NCPGA Patriot Award. The Patriot Award is presented to a PGA Professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America.
“I am very compassionate towards our veterans and to those actively serving. My father served in the Air Force as a fighter pilot and after his retirement, he enlisted in the National Guard. His commitment and service to the Armed Forces showed me honor, respect and a love of country to this day,” said Burr.
Burr has demonstrated his patriotism through his role as a PGA Professional. He recently recommended that the club waive the green fees for any person that is active duty military and is brought as a guest of a member. He has also led the Patriot Golf Day event at the club since 2009.
Patriot Golf Day is the primary fundraising event that golf facilities across the country use to raise funds for the Folds of Honor Foundation that assists the families of injured or fallen service people with educational scholarships. Burr took that concept and not only adapted it for his private country club, but expanded the program to include the local community and benefit three worthwhile causes.
It is a coordinated effort by the Golf staff, a team of country club members, and the Blackhawk Home Owners Association to reach out to every member of the club and home owner in the Blackhawk community asking for their support of our troops. They do this by dropping a flyer and donation card to each home in the community, setting up collection areas. Donation stations, that were once limited to the first tees on both courses, are now located at all Blackhawk community entrance gates and are commonly staffed by active duty service members and veterans alike. This provides an opportunity for donors to make a monetary contribution in person while saying “thank you” at the same time.
The Blackhawk Patriots are members of the Blackhawk Country Club and surrounding communities who express their gratitude to generations of America’s bravest by making a financial donation to three select military related causes over the course of a September weekend. For 2014, Blackhawk Patriots has chosen Folds of Honor, Troops Direct and Sentinels of Freedom. All are registered 501(c)(3) not for profit organizations. Donors can select from one or two of the three charities or simply make a “blanket contribution”. This support goes directly to helping active duty personnel, veterans and the wounded.
In addition, this year they have created a website called www.blackhawkpatriots.org to collect donations online that support the three charities. In the first year of participation of Patriot Golf Day in 2009, Blackhawk Country Club collected $1,800. It has dramatically increased to $63,000 in 2013 with a goal of $100,000 in 2014.
“Tim stands out for his leadership and dedication to the community. He exemplifies the authenticity and generosity of our golf professionals in his support of the military and their families,” said NCPGA Awards Chairman Mark Naylor, PGA. “What Tim has done is truly a best practice for public and private golf facilities alike.”
Burr 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
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