Teaching Professional at Blue Mash Golf Course in Laytonsville, Md., and Owner of Joyland Golf Studio, Recognized for Tireless Effort, Unwavering Dedication, and Exceptional Contributions to the Game of Golf
Stafford, Va. – The Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America (MAPGA) has honored PGA/LPGA Professional Joy Bonhurst of Kensington, Md., a teaching professional at Blue Mash Golf Course in Laytonsville, Md., and owner of the Joyland Golf Studio, with the prestigious President’s Award. This award bestows special recognition on an individual whose tireless effort, unwavering dedication, and exceptional contributions to the game of golf result in significant benefit to the Middle Atlantic PGA Section, its members and apprentices, and to the entire golf community.
“Each year, the MAPGA selects the President’s Award winner to recognize an individual who has been working ‘under the radar,’ to improve our game, our industry, and our Association,” said Lynne Hunter, President, Middle Atlantic PGA. “This year we proudly honor PGA/LPGA Member Joy Bonhurst for her tireless support of the Section, her fellow PGA Professionals, local charities, and the betterment of the game of golf.”
A 1989 graduate of Methodist College with a BS in Business Administration and a concentration in Professional Golf Management, Bonhurst boasts over 30 years of experience teaching golf at all levels of play, while serving as an accomplished golf business leader. A Class A member of the PGA of America since 1995, and a Class A member of the LPGA since 1994, Bonhurst is one of only 200 golf professionals nationwide to hold the dual membership distinction.
Bonhurst, who has held a variety of teaching positions throughout her career, is a decorated golf professional having earned numerous honors and accolades, including 2019 Middle Atlantic PGA Section Teacher of the Year; 2017, 2013, 2009, 2004 LPGA Professional Northeast Section Teacher of the Year; ‘24-‘25, ‘22-‘23, ‘20-‘21, ‘17-‘18 LPGA Professional Top 50 Best Teachers worldwide; ‘22-‘23, ‘11-‘12, ‘09-‘10, ‘07-‘08 Golf Digest Presents Best Teachers in Your State (Maryland); and 2010 Golf Digest “the 50 Best Women Teachers in America,” among others.
She is also an accomplished player who has enjoyed extensive success, including the 2009 and 2008 MAPGA Women’s Section Player of the Year; ‘18, ‘15 & ‘13 Winner of the LPGA T&CP National Team Championship with Lisa Grimes; 2012 Winner of the PGA Winter Championship Women’s Stroke Play Championship; 2012 Winner of the LPGA Northeast Section Championship Challenge Division; ’20 & ‘08 Winner of the MAPGA Women’s Section Championship; and 2024 Winner of the MAPGA Women’s Senior Section Championship, among others.
A longtime, dedicated golf business leader, Bonhurst has held numerous association positions, and presently serves on the MAPGA Tournament Committee, the LPGA Professional National Tournament Committee, and in the LPGA Professional Northeast Mentoring Program. She also founded a memorial tournament in honor of Troy Beck, PGA/LPGA, who is the only female member of the MAPGA Hall of Fame, and which raises money for LPGA Girls Golf.
“I am extremely proud to be named the 2025 MAPGA President’s Award recipient,” said Bonhurst. “My passion for teaching and playing this game still grows every day. My personal golf philosophy is to always have fun in this game of golf and that it is a game of a lifetime. What attributes to my success is that I listen to what my students want out of their game of golf and create a roadmap to help them achieve their goals with a realistic coaching plan.
For more information on the Middle Atlantic PGA, visit www.mapga.com.
About the Middle Atlantic PGA Section
The Middle Atlantic PGA Section (MAPGA), located in Stafford, Virginia, is one of 41 Sections of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA), headquartered in Frisco, Texas. The MAPGA has been a part of The PGA since 1925 and consists of over 1,200 members and associates in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and small portions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. There are over 900,000 golfers playing more than 16.5 million rounds of golf a season in the Middle Atlantic region. As player development remains a driving force in the golf industry, the MAPGA provides a wide variety of programs and assistance to support its members who teach the game, promote goodwill and share the game’s values to their golfing customers and their communities in general. Locally, MAPGA Professionals assist in raising over $6 million annually for charities.
