Director of Golf Jeremy Craft named Resort Merchandiser of the Year while Head Professional Sean Stewart earns Player Development Award for East Central Chapter.
ORLANDO, Fla. – The honors keep rolling in for the Grand Cypress Golf team at Central Florida’s Evermore Orlando Resort with two members of the golf staff earning distinction from the North Florida PGA Section.
Director of Golf Jeremy Craft was named Merchandiser of the Year in the Resort category for both the North Florida PGA Section as well as the East Central Chapter of the Section. This award recognizes the PGA Golf Professional who excels as a merchandiser of products and services at a resort facility.
Grand Cypress Head PGA Professional Sean Stewart took home honors for the Player Development Award for the East Central Chapter. The Player Development Award recognizes a PGA Golf Professional for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in player engagement. This award considers the PGA Golf Professional’s growth of the game leadership commitment and the impact made at the facility.
“We are incredibly proud that the North Florida PGA recognizes what we see every day, that Jeremy and Sean embody the excellence and dedication it takes to make the Grand Cypress Golf operation at Evermore stand apart. Their tireless efforts, creative approaches and commitment to making our guests feel special ensures an unforgettable golfing experience,” said Elizabeth Mullins, president of Evermore Orlando Resort.
These 2026 awards come on the heels of Darin Hoff, the Director of Golf and Sports Sales at Evermore Resort, being named the 2025 recipient of the Section’s Bill Strausbaugh Award for having distinguished himself by mentoring fellow PGA Golf Professionals in improving their careers and through service to the community.
“I’m incredibly proud to be singled out among my distinguished fellow PGA professionals,” said Craft of taking home the Merchandiser of the Year awards. “There are some great golf facilities in the North Florida section, and I’ve got a ton of respect for these great professionals and properties. It’s definitely a meaningful award.”
Craft, who has worked at Grand Cypress five different times, including the last 20 years straight as the buyer, head professional and director of golf for the past 10 years, credits his team for its creativity, hard work, and input.
“We just have a tremendous group of people here,” Craft said. “We take great pride in the retail operation, whether it’s creativity, attention to detail, or the commitment to an exemplary guest experience. That’s what makes Grand Cypress Golf a welcoming and memorable experience.”
Stewart is also proud to have been honored by his peers. “Player development has always been one of my favorite parts of being a PGA Professional,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to work in this industry for many years and helping people learn and enjoy the game is a rewarding part of this job that I’ve always been passionate about.”
A Decidedly Modern Pro Shop
The Grand Cypress Golf operation at Evermore Orlando Resort is somewhat unique. In recent years, the 36-hole resort was rebranded, renovated, and re-imagined. Among the newest improvements is the 3,000-square foot Golf Pro Shop, which is located near the Evermore’s alluring gathering spaces that include The Landing, Twin View Restaurant, and eight-acre Evermore Bay. There is also a surf and resort shop next to Evermore Bay, and Craft and his team also conduct all the merchandise buying for that venue, which means they are looking way beyond the normal golf shop offerings, especially considering the resort’s guests are visiting from all around the globe.
“The golden rule is you always buy for your customers, not yourself,” said Craft, who credits his mentor, Jennifer Duffy, a national Merchandiser of the Year winner from whom he learned in the 1990s, for instilling his work ethic and enthusiasm for merchandising. “We need to offer a great selection of premium brands but also have some unique merchandise that they won’t find in a typical shop.”
To achieve this, he empowers his team. “If they see something new and exciting that they think would be a good fit, then we won’t hesitate to try it and bring it in.”
He also credits the support he receives from the resort’s management and ownership.
“Ever since Evermore opened in January of 2024, they gave us all the resources, flexibility not only to assemble the team that we have, but to develop a merchandising program that reflects the quality of the resort,” said Craft, a University of Central Florida graduate.
For the past three years, Stewart has focused on creating and expanding instructional opportunities for golfers of all ages and skill levels at Grand Cypress Golf. His dedication to player development has included developing the resort’s Junior Golf Academy, organizing clinics, offering individual and group instruction, and creating structured lesson plans that help golfers improve while enjoying the learning process.
“My goal has been to provide something for everyone, whether it’s a junior picking up a club for the first time, an adult just getting started, or an experienced golfer looking to take their game to the next level,” he said. “A big part of that is making sure our programs are organized, welcoming, and enjoyable so golfers want to continue learning and coming back.”
Stewart loves seeing golfers improve and gain confidence.
“Before becoming a PGA Professional, I worked in education and coaching, so teaching has always been a big part of who I am,” he said. “There’s something very rewarding about helping someone accomplish something they didn’t think they could do. I also love the relationships you build along the way. Golf is a game people can enjoy for a lifetime, and knowing I’ve played even a small part in someone’s enjoyment of the game is pretty special.”
Both the Cypress and Links courses are open to resort guests and the public. Resort guests receive preferred rates with extended advance booking windows; public tee times may be booked up to 60 days in advance, based on availability.
To learn more about one of Florida’s most intriguing golf destinations, visit EvermoreResort.com.
About Evermore Orlando Resort
Evermore Orlando Resort is a first-of-its-kind, thoughtfully built destination crafted to offer experience-collecting travelers more ways to stay and play. The resort offers two signature experiences: Conrad Orlando at Evermore, a world-class luxury hotel to anticipate your every need, and Evermore Residences, premium vacation homes purpose-built for large families and gatherings. The unique destination is enveloped within two Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole golf courses and showcases Evermore Bay, Orlando’s first and only beach designed for both relaxation and recreation, featuring 8-acres of crystal-clear water and 20 acres of soft white sand all conveniently located right next door to Walt Disney World. Guests can dig into 13 different mouth-watering options, each with incredible service and exceptional value. The resort provides a plethora of experiences for families and all ages, such as paddleboarding and kayaking on Evermore Bay, playing classic games at the Arcade, complimentary fitness classes, exploring daily and seasonal events and activities at The Landing and on Boathouse Lawn, multiple sports courts including a basketball court, bocce ball and shuffleboard court, pickleball court, sandy volleyball court, and more. Learn more by visiting www.evermoreresort.com.
About Conrad Orlando at Evermore
Nestled in Evermore Orlando Resort, Conrad Orlando at Evermore is Central Florida’s world-class AAA Five Diamond luxury hotel offering sophisticated design, elevated dining, family activities, attentive service to meet every need, and more. Along with upscale accommodations with breathtaking views, the 433-room hotel offers exclusive access to Evermore Bay, Orlando’s only beach with eight acres of crystal-clear water and 20 acres of soft white sand, transformative wellness experiences at the Forbes Four-Star Conrad Spa Orlando, five unique dining offerings including contemporary rooftop Mexican cuisine at Ceiba with views of Disney fireworks to coastal-inspired Southern Italian cuisine at Sophia’s Trattoria, educational programming and activities at Conrad Kids Club, a 24-hour fitness center and movement studio with specialty classes, access to highly acclaimed Grand Cypress Golf Club courses, more. Learn more by visiting www.conradorlando.com.
Media Contacts:
KFPR
Carl Mickelson
(512) 797-2673
carl@kevinfrischpr.com
Kevin Frisch
(989) 614-0241
kevin@kevinfrischpr.com
