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Main MenuDANA GARMANY HONORED AS SOUTHWEST PGA GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Dana Garmany, Executive Chairman of Troon in Scottsdale, has been named the
47th recipient of Southwest PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award, the highest annual honor bestowed by the
Southwest PGA on a PGA Professional.
Garmany heads the 2020 Southwest PGA Awards class for “qualities of leadership, strong moral character,
and a substantial record of service” to the Southwest PGA and the game of golf. He will be honored at the Southwest
PGA Awards Ceremony on February 18, 2021.
The Southwest PGA Golf Professional of the Year – Dana Garmany, Executive Chairman of Troon in
Scottsdale, and 31-year member of the Southwest PGA, is the 47th recipient of Southwest PGA Golf Professional of
the Year Award, the highest annual honor bestowed by the Southwest PGA on a PGA Professional. Born in
Michigan and raised in Fort Payne, Ala., since the age of eight., Garmany earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Restaurant and Hospitality Management from the University of Alabama. He began his professional career in golfworking at Terrapin Hills Country Club, his hometown golf course. He moved on to Woodward Golf & Country
Club in Bessemer, Ala., as the General Manager and Director of Golf. While at Woodward, Garmany earned his
membership in the PGA of America in 1983. In October of 1989, he made a decision that ultimately would go on to
change the landscape of the golf industry. Garmany was offered the Project Manager and PGA Director of Golf
position at a new course being built in a then-remote part of North Scottsdale named Troon North Golf Club. The
following year he founded Troon Golf as a payroll services company to assist the developer and his partners in
managing and limiting their risk. With the immediate success of Troon North, it didn’t take long before other courses
were added to the Troon Golf portfolio. From those beginnings Troon now has a presence at over 460 locations
around the world, operating at over 515 courses. Troon today has a diverse portfolio that includes 10 distinct brands:
Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Honours Golf, OB Sports, Green Golf Partners, CADDIEMaster, True
Club Solutions, Cliff Drysdale Management and RealFood.
Under Garmany’s leadership, Troon has become the largest employer of PGA Professionals in the world. He has been named as one of the most powerful and influential people in golf by Golf Inc., Golf Digest and Golfweek. Among his numerous honors, Garmany was inducted into the Southwest PGA Hall of Fame, Arizona Golf Hall of Fame, University of Alabama Hospitality Hall of Fame and DeKalb County Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. He has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the HSBC International Golf Forum and the 2019 Southwest PGA PING Anser Award for advancing and promoting the game of golf throughout Arizona. In addition, Garmany was recognized by the PGA of America as the inaugural recipient of the newly created PGA of America Executive of the Year Award for 2020. He serves on the Advisory Board of the PGA of America and the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy.
The Southwest PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year – Josh Ostler, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Tucson (Ariz.) Country Club, has been named the Southwest PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year for his leadership, ability to inspire fellow PGA Professionals, promotion of golf and service to the PGA. Ostler developed his love of the game at an early age in Orem, Utah from his uncle, who is a PGA Professional, and his grandfather, who managed a golf course. He attended Brigham Young University before going on a service mission for two years to the Philippines. Upon returning, he moved to San Jose, Calif., to begin his professional career in the golf industry. After earning his membership in the PGA of America in 2017, Ostler relocated to the Southwest PGA for his current position at Tucson Country Club. He strives to make an impact beyond running day-to-day golf operations. To achieve that goal each day he provides lessons, creates new programs and tournaments, and plays golf with various groups. As a result of the worldwide pandemic, he created a website where members could shop their current inventory and make purchases all online. His commitment to giving back to the community is evident as he annually volunteers his time with Special Olympics and the Southern Arizona Food Bank. Ostler created a Summer Series to provide additional playing and networking opportunities for Southern Chapter members. He joined the Southern Chapter Board of Directors and currently serves as the chairman of the Education Committee.
The Southwest PGA Teacher of the Year – Martin Chuck, PGA Director of Instruction at Tour Striker Golf Academy in Gilbert, Ariz., has been named the Southwest PGA Teacher of the Year for his outstanding performance as a golf teacher, innovator and coach. In 2011, after a 16-year career as a PGA General Manager and Head Golf Professional, Chuck started the Tour Striker Golf Academy which provides camps and one-on-one individual instruction for juniors, adults, college and professional players and coaches from around the world. Martin has consulted and taught PGA Tour Winners, Ryder Cup members, President’s Cup members and Major Champions. Professionals whom he has consulted with and use his training products include Darren Clarke, Mike Weir, Jason Day, Matt Kuchar, Nick Taylor, Jimmy Walker, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Graham McDowell and Justin Rose. Chuck developed a line of training products used by coaches and players worldwide. One of his products, “The PlaneMate,” was awarded the “Best New Product,” at the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show. A native of Toronto, Canada, Chuck developed his passion for instruction being around Canadian ball-striking legends Moe Norman and George Knudson. He worked as a teaching assistant for Knudson and credits him for his success as an instructor today. He has been named one of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers and one of Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America. Chuck serves on the PGA of America Teaching and Player Development Committee. Chuck regularly mentors young professionals and coaches by inviting them to shadow any of his golf schools. His goal is to help educate them on how to build a successful coaching business by giving a solid lesson and then keeping in touch, in a supportive role with their students.
The Southwest PGA Youth Player Development Award – Ryan Mahoney, PGA Teaching Professional at Troon North Golf Club of Scottsdale, Ariz., is the recipient of the Southwest PGA Youth Player Development Award. The honor recognizes a PGA Professional who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievement in the area of youth player development. Mahoney began his career as an apprentice at Troon North and made his first contribution to teaching juniors in 2009 by getting certified as a U.S. Kids Golf instructor. After earning his PGA membership in 2011, Mahoney was put in charge of the Troon North Junior Academy which consists of junior clinics, summer and winter camps, Elite-Masters year long program, Troon North Players Club, PING Junior Interclub and PGA Junior League. The Troon North Junior Academy has become one of Arizona’s premiere junior programs for kids of all abilities to learn, develop, and grow their passion for the game of golf. Mahoney encourages the involvement of fellow PGA Assistant Golf Professionals and strives to inspire their passion for growing the game with juniors. He encourages them to assist in everything from organizing, setting up and teaching the junior clinics and camps alongside himself. He assists them in developing lesson plans for the junior camps and creates an open dialog and sharing of ideas on how they can continue to improve the academy and grow the game of golf at Troon North. Mahoney has been recognized as one of U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 Coaches, Honorable Mention over the past five consecutive years.
The Southwest PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award – Chuck Bombard, PGA Director of Golf at Bali Hai Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nev., is the recipient of the Southwest PGA’s Bill Strausbaugh Award, presented to a PGA Member who demonstrates exceptional character, integrity and leadership by way of teaching and mentoring other PGA Professionals. A member in the PGA of America since 1985, Bombard has mentored countless individuals in and out of golf. Throughout his 24 years in the Las Vegas community, he has personally mentored and worked with students in golf and hospitality sharing his knowledge and expertise in operations, best practices and life lessons. Bombard also serves as a mentor for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Professional Golf Management (PGM) program and as a mentor for the UNLV William Harrahs Business College. He has been assisting and advising UNLV hospitality students since 1998. His passion to give back extends to governance as well having served on the Southern Chapter and Southern Nevada Chapter of the Southwest PGA Board of Directors. He served on numerous committees and chaired the Education for the Southern Chapter. Bombard has been honored with numerous awards including winning the PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award for all three distinctions – Private, Public and Resort. He was honored as the Golf Professional of the Year in 1990 by the Southern Chapter of the Southwest PGA.
The Southwest PGA Professional Development Award – Brian Jones, PGA Assistant Golf Administrator of the Professional Golf Management program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is the recipient of the Southwest PGA Professional Development Award. The award is presented annually to a PGA Professional who exhibits commendable additions to the education of PGA Professionals. Originally from Fallbrook, Calif., Jones enrolled in the Professional Golf Management program in 2008 at UNLV, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 2011 and Master of Science degree in 2014. During his time at UNLV Jones completed internships at TPC Summerlin, City Golf in San Diego and Tuscany Golf Club. He earned his membership in the PGA of America in 2012 and returned to Tuscany as the PGA Head Golf Professional and later, Assistant General Manager. In his current role at UNLV, Jones is responsible for student internship placement and facility correspondence, teaching, academic advising, and management of campus golf shop operations. This past year he revamped the internship handbook at UNLV and created standards for the students to continue to be looked at as future industry leaders. He takes great pride in mentoring and assisting individuals in their personal journeys in achieving their goals. Annually, Jones places over 100 PGM internships across the country which helps aspiring PGA Professionals network and receive valuable field experience. The Southwest PGA Professional Development Award is Jones first award in the Southwest Section.
The Southwest PGA Player Development Award – Tim Skophammer, PGA Teaching Professional at Painted Desert Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nev., is the recipient of the Southwest PGA Player Development Award, which recognizes a PGA Professional for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development. Since earning his membership in 1981, Skophammer has been a part of four different PGA Sections across the country. Along the way he learned, taught and developed creative programming designed to get juniors, adults and seniors involved in the game of golf. He spent five years at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, Calif., working for PGA Hall of Famer Ken Morton Sr. The last full year he was there, over 2,100 adults attended and complete the group lesson program. Skophammer is very involved in PGA Junior League and PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), which he teaches Veterans and runs numerous clinics annually through the Veterans Administration. In his lengthy career, he created his own version of “Get Golf Ready.” His six-session classes are taught from the hole outward with a concluding hour on the course. He instructs students taking individual lessons in the same manner. He has created and given different lesson series for juniors and young adults with special needs, The PGA Player Development Award is Skophammer’s first award in the Southwest PGA. He earned numerous awards while in the Inland Empire Chapter of the Southern California PGA.
The Southwest PGA Patriot Award – Michael Haywood, PGA Director of Coaching & Performance for The Player’s Institute in Tucson, Ariz., is the recipient of the Southwest PGA Patriot Award, which bestows special recognition on a PGA 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. Haywood is a fourth generation Army Veteran who served in multiple deployment operations for humanitarian relief operations. He was the recipient of the United States Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and Good Conduct Medal. During his 27 years as Tucson Country Club, Haywood established numerous programs and invitationals that benefited veteran organizations including the Folds of Honor Foundation through Patriot Golf Day. He has been instrumental in growing the PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program throughout the Southwest PGA. Always willing to give back and be involved, Haywood served on the PGA of America Board of Directors, as President of the Southwest PGA and Southern Chapter PGA and currently serves as the President of the Southwest PGA Foundation. Among his numerous awards in the Southwest PGA, Haywood was honored twice as the Southwest PGA Golf Professional of the Year (2006, 2012).
The Southwest PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Private Facilities – Tim Rafferty, PGA Head Golf Professional at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., and 25-year member of the Southwest PGA, is the recipient of the Southwest PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Private Facilities. The award recognizes PGA Professionals who have excelled in business and merchandising in the promotion of golf. Rafferty has been at Troon Country Club his entire career, starting out as an apprentice in 1991. After earning his membership in the PGA in 1995, Rafferty was promoted to the PGA Head Golf Professional just a year later, where he remains today. His merchandising philosophy is developed annually through initiatives he creates for the golf shop including keeping the membership interested with engaging physical displays both in the shop and online. He hosts numerous key merchandising events that draw in customers and offers a unique experience for the membership. His many career achievements include being honored as the Southwest PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 2016 and the Southwest PGA Private Merchandiser of the Year in 2004. He served on the Southwest PGA Board of Directors and as chairman of the Junior Golf and Membership Committees. Rafferty was instrumental in Troon hosting the Arizona Open Championship a record 11 times.
The Southwest PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Public Facilities – Randall Mudge, a member of the Southwest PGA for eight years and PGA General Manager of Mountain Falls Golf Club in Pahrump, Nev., is the recipient of the Southwest PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Public Facilities. The award recognizes PGA Professionals who have excelled in business and merchandising in the promotion of golf. Mudge earned his membership in the PGA of America in 2001 while he was an assistant professional at Villages Golf & Country Club in San Jose, Calif. Mudge constantly speaks with members and guests on what they like and are looking for to make sure the golf shop at Mountain Falls stocks those items in a variety of styles. He takes pride in negotiating competitive pricing from retailers so he can offer his customers the lowest prices on name-brand merchandise. Mudge ensures the displays are always current and updated to showcase the newest merchandise. His leadership, knowledge and expertise in business has transformed Mountain Falls into one of the premier golf shops in Nevada. This is Mudge’s second Public Merchandiser of the Year Award, having previously earned the same recognition in 2003 from the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the Northern California Section PGA.
The Southwest PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Resort Facilities – Dillon Molinar, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Omni Tucson (Ariz.) National Golf Resort & Spa, is the recipient of the Southwest PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award for Resort Facilities. The award recognizes PGA Professionals who have excelled in business and merchandising in the promotion of golf. Molinar earned his membership in the PGA of America in 2019. Through research and networking, Molinar brings the newest and best quality merchandise to the golf shop at Omni Tucson National. He frequently communicates new products and promotional deals via email to all members and guests of the facility and provides a wide selection of variety in each brand. If a desired product for a customer is not in stock or not carried, Molinar goes the extra mile to special order items for members and guests alike. He provides a number of special merchandise events as well as demo days that allow members and guests to try out new golf clubs and technology prior to purchasing. His commitment to merchandising has continually exceeded financial expectations for the golf shop. Molinar was named the 2017 Southern Chapter of the Southwest PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year.
About The Southwest Section PGA:
The Southwest Section of the PGA of America is a professional organization serving the men and women golf professionals in Arizona and Southern Nevada who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf. The Southwest PGA is responsible for the administration of competitive golf tournaments, junior golf programs and events, educational opportunities, support programs and growth of the game initiatives. With 1284 members and associate Professionals, the Southwest PGA is the fifth largest of the 41 regional entities or Sections that comprise the PGA of America. For more information about the Southwest PGA, please visit www.southwestpga.com and join us on social media at www.facebook.com/swsectionpga, twitter.com/swsectionpga and www.instagram.com/southwestpga.
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