Northern California PGA Announces 2019 Section Award Winners

14 PGA Professionals and Industry Leaders Recognized For Excellence in the Game and Business of Golf; Eric Lippert, PGA Head Golf Professional at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Leads Award Winners as 2019 Golf Professional of the Year

The Northern California Section of the PGA of America (NCPGA), has announced its 2019 Section Awards, honoring 14 PGA Professionals and industry leaders who have excelled in the game and business of golf. The 2019 award recipients include:

• Golf Professional of the Year
  • Eric Lippert, PGA, Head Golf Professional, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, CA
• Teacher of the Year
• Ross Kroeker, PGA, Core Instructor, Pebble Beach Golf Academy,  Pebble Beach, CA
• Player Development Award
  • Shawn Kelly, PGA, Head Golf Professional, Ridge Golf Course, Auburn, CA
• Youth Player Development Award
  • Justin Russo, PGA, Bayonet Blackhorse Golf Courses, Seaside, CA
• Assistant Associate of the Year
  • Donn Achen, PGA, Assistant Golf Professional, Del Monte Golf Course, Monterey, CA
• Horton Smith Award
  • Tom Morton, PGA, Director of Coaching & Development, Morton Golf/Haggin Oaks, Sacramento, CA
• Bill Strausbaugh Award
  • Tom Morton, PGA, Director of Coaching & Development, Morton Golf/Haggin Oaks, Sacramento, CA
• Patriot Award
  • Robert Lee Smith, PGA, Director of Instruction, Granite Bay Golf Club, Granite Bay, CA
• Merchandiser of the Year – Resort
  • Travis Alley, PGA, Director of Instruction, Tahoe Mountain Club, Truckee, CA
• Merchandiser of the Year – Private
  • Mike Dowd, PGA, Head Golf Professional, Oakdale Golf and Country Club, Oakdale, CA
• Merchandiser of the Year – Public
  • Derek Zachman, PGA, Director of Golf/Head Golf Professional, Timber Creek Golf Courses, Roseville, CA
• Club Fitter of the Year
  • Tom Rezendes, PGA, Founder, NorCal Golf Academy, Walnut Creek, CA
• Golf Course Superintendent of the Year Award
  • Doug Heinrichs, Superintendent, Montreux Golf Club, Reno, NV
• Sales Representative of the Year Award
  • Mark Attebery, Carmichael, CA
• Sports Media Person of the Year
  • Dave Marzetti, Host, Shagbag Golf Show, Monterey, CA

“The NCPGA is extremely proud to recognize our 2019 Award Winners, which include an accomplished list of PGA Professionals whose is dedication to the game is unmatched, as well as several industry executives who have been catalysts for the business of golf in Northern California,” said Len Dumas, Executive Director, Northern California PGA. “These individuals represent the best of their profession. We thank them for their service and commitment to golfers and golf facilities across the region.”

Golf Professional of the Year

Eric Lippert, PGA, Head Golf Professional at Pebble Beach Golf Links, is the 2019 NCPGA Golf Professional of the Year. The award honors an individual whose total contributions to the game best exemplify the complete PGA Professional. Since he became a PGA class A member in 2007, Lippert has built his career based on four important principles: teaching and playing ability; community service and volunteerism; integrity; and mentoring. Lippert has exceeded even his own expectations in each of these areas and has built a strong reputation as a leader in the game and business of golf. During his career, he has served the NCPGA Section as a member of the board of directors and is currently Secretary of the Board. He is also a member of the education committee and is liaison to the 2020 PGA Championship. Additionally, he has held several officer positons at the chapter level. Lippert is well known for inspiring his fellow golf professionals through his passion to deliver excellence, including guests and employees alike.

Teacher of the Year

Ross Kroeker, PGA, the Core Instructor at Pebble Beach Golf Academy in Pebble Beach, CA, is the 2019 NCPGA Teacher of the Year. Kroeker boasts over 30 years of experience in teaching golf and has been mentored by some of the top instructors in the world, including Jim Flick, Martin Hall, Ben Doyle and Laird Small. Using a straight forward approach, time proven techniques and the benefit of advanced technology, Kroeker is able to create an enjoyable and memorable lesson experience for his students. Teaching and coaching juniors is one of his greatest joys, as he has served as the Varsity Golf Coach at Carmel High School for the past ten years, while creating specific junior programs focused on developing high school golfers and competitive junior golfers. Many of his students have received college golf scholarships.

Player Development Award

Shawn Kelly, PGA Head Golf Professional at Ridge Golf Course in Auburn, CA is the 2019 NCPGA Player Development Award winner. Along with teaching more than 200 lessons a year, Kelly has mentored many professionals on the creation and implementation of instruction programs at their own facilities. At the Ridge, Kelly offers the Operation 36 program, where students start at 25 yards and must shoot 36 to advance to the next five distances. Kelly also goes into local public schools with the snag program for younger students and works with local high school players for individual and group lessons. More than 20 of Kelly’s past students have received college golf scholarships and a few of his junior golfers have gone on to become PGA Professionals.

Youth Player Development Award

Justin Russo, a PGA golf instructor at Bayonet Blackhorse Golf Courses in Seaside, CA, is the 2019 NCPGA Youth Player Development Award winner. For the past 20 years, he has been a leader in youth golf, while serving as the tournament and clinic director for AT&T Pebble Beach Junior Golf, while growing the organization to record levels. He has run more than 250 junior golf tournaments on the Monterey Peninsula, and his Justin Russo Golf Academy, PGA Jr. League Golf teams and summer sports academy have all contributed to growing the game. He also partners with the Santa Catalina School for unique programs to develop student’s skills and passion for the game. As Head Golf Professional for Monterey Peninsula College, he has mentored over 25 players who have become PGA Class A Professionals.

Assistant Associate of the Year

Donn Achen, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Del Monte Golf Course in Monterey, CA, is the 2019 NCPGA Assistant Associate of the Year Award winner.  For 14 years, Achen has been an involved supporter and mentor to PGA/PGM students, while leading the training department and coaching new associates and PGA members in providing world-class service. Most recently, he created a “yardage guide” for new hires. Each hole has specific training focus to address customer service, retail merchandising, resort, F&B, and more. He also wrote and distributed “Be the TIDE,” a booklet based on the concept that a rising tide raises all boats … a format of coaching he created for both associates and supervising professionals. The goal was to leverage resources and maximize teamwork to benefit the PGA in achieving PGA membership.

Horton Smith Award

Tom Morton, PGA, Director of Coaching & Development at Morton Golf/Haggin Oaks, in Sacramento, CA is the 2019 NCPGA Horton Smith Award winner, given to a PGA Professional for outstanding and continuing contributions to professional education. From an early age, Morton was taught that giving back and contributing to his peers was the right thing to do. Even as a PGA Associate, he was involved in the NCPGA and now serves and contributes to the PGA of America. Every day he considers himself  “under construction,” believing today he will be a little bit better than he was yesterday, and tomorrow a little bit better than he is today. This mentality has created a life spent reading, attending education seminars and becoming better educated on matters that affect his team, his business, and his ability to connect with the consumer.

Bill Strausbaugh Award

Tom Morton is also the 2019 NCPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award recipient, recognizing an individual who mentors fellow PGA Professionals by improving their employment situations through service to the community. His impact can be realized in one-on-one relationships, and through creating opportunities for PGA Professionals to learn, grow, and reach their career goals. He has also been a speaker at the Youth and Family Golf Summit at the PGA Merchandise Show, and at the Canadian PGA’s National Teaching and Coaching Conference. After becoming the PGA of America’s very first PGA Master Professional in player development in 2016, he was asked to mentor others beginning the process, including PGA of America President, Suzy Whaley. He has served on several national PGA committees, and for over 20 years has served on and chaired the NCPGA’s section player and teacher development forum.

Patriot Award

Robert Lee Smith, PGA Director of Instruction at Granite Bay Golf Club in Granite Bay, CA, is the 2019 NCPGA Patriot Award winner, given to a PGA Golf 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. Since 1992, Smith has made an impact with veterans and their golf activities, and helping  disabled veterans to learn the game of golf. In 1999, he took a more formal role by specializing in psychology skills and obtained certifications in neuro linguistic programming and time life therapy. His daily motto is to strive to be a better version of your very best self each day not only for yourself…but for others to benefit.

Merchandiser of the Year – Resort

Travis Alley, PGA, Director of Instruction at Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, CA, is the 2019 NCPGA Resort Merchandiser of the Year Award winner. With a season that lasts only 150 days, from mid-May to mid-October, there is much to be done in a short amount of time. Alley spends almost half of his time in the merchandising area of the facility, changing displays every two weeks in season with a minimum of 10 shuffles per year. With almost 50 manufacturers represented in his shop, his philosophy is to buy what sells. Overall, he recognizes the importance of knowing the customer. He says buy for them…and do a thorough job of monitoring the results.

Merchandiser of the Year – Private

Mike Dowd, PGA Head Golf Professional at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Oakdale, CA, is the 2019 NCPGA Private Merchandiser of the Year Award winner. With primarily the same customers in the shop, Dowd wants them to feel like they’re walking into a new shop every month. He does this with new merchandise displays that are rotated in and out, and seasonal décor. He will even completely switch or move physical displays to other parts of the shop so that people are forced to move around and see with a fresh set of eyes. Dowd feels that introducing new promotions and sales every year keeps members looking for the latest event while keeping interest at a high level.

Merchandiser of the Year – Public

Derek Zachman, PGA Director of Golf/Head Golf Professional at Timber Creek Golf Courses in Roseville, CA, is the

2019 NCPGA Public Merchandiser of the Year Award winner. His merchandising philosophy is to provide quality products at a fair price. He goes for high turnover at a slightly lower margin, as he wants customers to feel they are getting the best deals available when they shop at his course, which creates a sense of customer loyalty along with a personal relationship with each sale. He also changes his displays every month and rotates inventory so the shop has a fresh look along with new products.

Club Fitter of the Year

Tom Rezendes, PGA, Founder of the NorCal Golf Academy in Walnut Creek, CA, is the 2019 NCPGA Club Fitter of the Year Award winner. Rezendes believes that club fitting and instruction should complement each other and go hand in hand.  In the past year, he has fit almost 200 students with drivers, putters and full sets alike. He uses high speed Foresight Sports GC quad launch monitors for precise tracking of club path, face angle, attack angle, impact location, lie angle, spin, and more. He was selected by Golf Magazine as one of the 25 elite club fitters in the country for 2019. He has also been selected as a California top 50 instructor by Golf Digest, and has made numerous appearances on Golf Channel’s Morning Drive Show.

Golf Course Superintendent of the Year

Doug Heinrichs, Superintendent at Montreux Golf Club in Reno, NV, is the 2019 NCPGA Golf Course Superintendent of the Year Award winner. He has been in the golf business for 38 years with the last 21 at Montreux. He has hosted the Barracuda Championship, several Nevada state amateurs, U.S. Amateur qualifiers and more. He has also been very active in recruiting and training interns at Montreux saying there is no better way to use his skills than to share them with others. Heinrichs is proud to have trained 8 assistants who have gone on to become local superintendents. In 2007, he began the lengthy process to certify Montreux under the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, and the facility is now certified in environmental planning, water conservation and quality management, chemical use reduction, and more.

Sales Representative of the Year Award

Mark Attebery of Carmichael, CA is the 2019 NCPGA Sales Representative of the Year Award winner. Representing multiple lines, Attebery has always been quick to support the NCPGA Section, sponsoring the NCPGA North State Chapter Pro/Pro, the San Joaquin Valley Chapter Match Play, and supplied staff caps and shirts for the First Tee of Greater Sacramento. In addition, he provided 22 young men on the Paradise High School golf team with new Cobra golf bags and clubs, and Puma apparel and footwear. This joint effort was supported financially by Morton Golf Foundation and Cobra Puma Golf. He has grown his Cobra Puma account by more than double to $1.7 million. Attebery operates about 70 demo days a year and conducts as many as 30 trunk shows.

Sports Media Person of the Year

Dave Marzetti, host of the Shagbag Golf Show in Monterey, CA, is the 2019 NCPGA Sports Media Person of the Year Award winner.  Marzetti has been broadcasting live on Saturday mornings for the past 17 years from Del Monte Golf Course. The show is dedicated to spotlighting and promoting the game of golf and the people who work in it. Local NCPGA Professionals are often guests on the show to talk not only about their home courses, but also to offer playing tips to make the game more fun for families and junior golf. Marzetti has also broadcast live from the AT&T Pro-Am for the past 25 years. Additionally, he has broadcast from U.S. Opens at Pebble Beach, First Tee Opens, the U.S. Amateur and more.

For more information on the Northern California PGA, please visit www.ncpgalinks.com, or call (707) 449-4742.

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.

Media Contact: Jared Minski, Vice President, Mastro Communications, Inc./732-469-5700 or jared@mastrocomm.com