Stafford, VA – Mark Beran, the Head PGA Professional at Woodholme Country Club in Pikesville, Maryland., has been selected as the recipient of the Middle Atlantic PGA’s 2015 Bill Strausbaugh Award. This award bestows special recognition on a PGA Professional who has outstanding integrity and has shown commitment to mentoring fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations, as well as involvement in community and charitable activities. The award is named in honor of the late “Coach” Bill Strausbaugh, former Head PGA Professional at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Md., and member of the MAPGA Hall of Fame Class of 1989. Beran will be recognized in front of his family, friends, and peers at the MAPGA Hall of Fame and Awards banquet to be held on March 14, 2015 at The Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland.
This is the second time in the past three years Beran has received the Bill Strausbaugh Award for his distinguished service mentoring PGA Professionals, especially in the area of employment and club relations, as well as his outstanding involvement in charitable and community activities.
Mark J. Beran was born the twin son of Emil and Alice Beran who then resided in the steel-driven town of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. By the time Mark was in the third grade, Emil and Alice packed up the family and moved to Warrington, Pennsylvania, a small suburban town outside Philadelphia. It would be in this town – in a small church yard – where Mark would find his love for the game that would impact his future.
Mark translated this passion for golf into an education and a promising career by attending Ferris State University to major in Professional Golf Management. During his time at Ferris State, Mark completed internships at his home course Warrington Country Club, at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, New Jersey, and at the famed TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Florida. With these diverse internship experiences, Mark was very open to moving where he needed to in order to get a head start on his career as a PGA Professional.
Mark graduated from Ferris State in 1988 and already had an Assistant Professional position lined up at Brick Landing Plantation in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. He stayed at Brick Landing for three seasons and then spent one season at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York before moving into the Middle Atlantic Section for an Assistant Position with Baltimore Country Club in 1991. Between the years of 1991-1994, Mark spent the summers in Baltimore and the winters in Bonita Bay, Florida at the Bonita Bay Club.
In 1995, Mark’s big break happened when he became the Head PGA Professional/General Manager at Minisceongo Golf Club in Pomona, New York. In this position, Mark started on a path, not only to make himself successful, but to also help others become successful in their own right. Mark had no problem hiring people from all walks of life. His female teaching professional was working at the local bagel shop and his Caddie Master was driving a bread route in New York City. Both are still in the business and doing very well. Others who worked with Mark are having success in their chosen career paths.
After ten great seasons in Pomona, Mark made a return to the Middle Atlantic Section by accepting the Head Professional position at Woodholme Country Club in Pikesville, Maryland. Since 2005, Mark has been leading his staff and guiding future PGA Professionals to achieve their goals. A former First Assistant of Mark, Rudy Virga, PGA Mark’s longtime friend and former assistant is now the Director of Operations for Empire Golf Management which is just one of many examples of how Mark’s mentoring has helped others succeed in golf and other professions.
In addition to leading and mentoring his staff, Mark has made a commitment to the Middle Atlantic Section. He started as Director-at-Large for the Northern Chapter and worked his way to his current position as the President of the Northern Chapter. With his successful history in employment services, he also chairs the MAPGA’s Employment and Club Relations Committee. A prime example of his commitment to employment was when he visited a stand-alone driving range, talked to the owner and found him a PGA Professional who would help increase his business. He has championed efforts to enhance communications regarding all the employment tools available to PGA Members. Mark has also been an examiner for Playing Ability Test (PAT) for the past 18 years.
About the Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America
The Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA (MAPGA), located in Stafford, Virginia, is one of 41 Sections of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA), headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. As a part of The PGA since 1925, the MAPGA consists of over 1,100 members and apprentices in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and small portions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Together, the MAPGA golf professionals, volunteers and staff support the mission of The PGA to promote enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to the game’s growth by providing services to PGA Professionals and the golf industry.
Contact:
Eric Southard
esouthard@pgahq.com
(540) 720-7420 ext. 101
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