Stafford, Va. – The 2016 Middle Atlantic PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award Winner is Andy Weissinger, PGA from The Pines Golf Course in Fort Eustis, Va. This award is presented to a PGA Professional for outstanding involvement in charitable and community activities; untiring and distinguished service mentoring PGA Professionals, especially in the area of employmentand club relations, integrity and character reflecting positivity upon the profession. These criteria reflect the characteristics and qualities that Bill Strausbaugh possessed during his lifetime, service to his
Association and his community and mentoring to his fellow PGA Professionals.
Andy was born on November 23, 1976 in Norfolk, Virginia to parents George and Mary?Ellen Weissinger.
He started playing golf regularly at age 13 because it gave him an opportunity to be outside, to be
involved athletically, and spend some great time alone with his dad. Andy’s dad taught him many things
about life, relationships, integrity and competition during their many rounds of golf together.
Andy got his start in the golf business working and learning from PGA Professionals in the Hampton
Roads area such as Mike Waugh, Andy Giles, Mike Fentress and Steve Clark. Andy received a golf
scholarship to Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in
Religion with a concentration in Pastoral Studies. Turning pro in 1997 at Ivy Hill Golf Club in Forest,
Virginia, Andy worked there as an assistant golf professional until 1999. He then worked at Chesapeake
Golf Club in Chesapeake, Virginia as a PGA apprentice from 1999?2001 where he eventually became the
PGA Head Professional. Andy was elected to PGA membership in 2001 and in that same year, he began
working at Lake Wright Golf Course in Norfolk as the Head PGA Professional.
Shortly after Lake Wright, Andy became the Head PGA Professional at Honey Bee Golf Club in Virginia
Beach from 2001?2003. In 2003 Andy moved up onto Virginia’s Peninsula as the Head PGA Professional
at the Pines Golf Course at Fort Eustis and has been their PGA General Manager since 2005. In 2013,
Andy was approached and agreed to take on the additional responsibility as PGA General Manager at
Eaglewood Golf Course a short ways down the road on Langley Air Force Base. He is honored to have the
unique responsibility to serve two military communities.
This is Andy’s third Section award. In 2011, he won the Youth Player Development Award and in 2009,
he won not only the Middle Atlantic PGA Player Development Award, but he was also the recipient of
The PGA National Patriot Award in only its second year of existence. Andy attributes his success to
keeping things simple ? and fun! He feels that golf is a game and games are played to have fun and if he
can show someone how much fun golf is then they will naturally become a lifelong golfer. Andy believes
that golf is a wonderful avenue to build everything from the relationships in a family to an individual’s
own self?confidence. He feels truly blessed that he has had the opportunity to help so many people fall
in love with the game that has given him so much.
As a PGA Professional Andy has dedicated himself to helping others improve. Many people believe that
the job of a PGA Professional takes place on the lesson tee, behind the register or at the scoreboard.
Andy has a proven track record that his job does not stop there. He invests in their careers and their
advancement in life. Andy has been an advisor to many PGA Professionals when they have needed a
friendly ear or an opinion of a trusted friend and colleague. Personal relationships with fellow PGA
Professionals have allowed Andy to get to know their likes and dislikes, their strengths and weaknesses,
their goals and their career aspirations.
Through many conversations over the phone, emails traded back and forth and countless personal visits to their facilities or hosting them at his facilities, Andy has provided advice and guidance that has led his friends to better places not only in their careers, but in their personal lives as well. The most effective way Andy has been able to do this is by helping people realize what they are good and what they enjoy and spurring them on in a direction that will highlight their strengths and catapult them toward their goals and more importantly, personal satisfaction of a
job enjoyed and job well done. Andy has helped PGA Professionals under his apprenticeship reach their
goals throughout the golf industry. He has seen his past assistants reach positions as Industry Salesmen,
Head PGA Golf Professionals, Directors of Instruction and even as PGA General Managers, one of which
is even serving the United States Air Force internationally.
Wisdom, honesty and integrity are qualities that can easily be used when describing Andy. His life at
and away from his facilities reflects the same values the same principles and the same beliefs no matter
what the situation. This is routinely recognized by those who spend some time with Andy. He has been
approached by several organizations to serve on their board of directors or to speak on many subjects
pertaining to personal integrity, ethics and management. Andy has taught classes, directed discussions
and led ministries for his local church to help others along in the continual shaping of their character.
He very much enjoys his involvement teaching Bible Study Skills Classes as well as teaching discipleship
classes for married couples to help them in their journey of life together. Andy is currently employed by
the United States Air Force and is a leader who lives a life worthy of the Air Force Core Values: Integrity
first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do.
Andy has been married to his best friend Jennifer since May 30, 1998 and they have since been blessed
with two boys; Alex (15) and Caleb (12).
Contact:
Eric Southard
esouthard@pgahq.com
(540) 720-7420 ext. 115
