PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The Carolinas PGA Section, the first to host a PGA Play Golf America Day when it was introduced in 2004, and which evolved into the most active Section to operate the popular growth of the game event, has been named recipient of the 2007 National Herb Graffis Award for extraordinary efforts in player development.
The Carolinas PGA Section began its commitment to support Play Golf America in 2004, when it hosted the inaugural PGA Play Golf America Day at Regent Park in Charlotte, N.C. This year, the Section managed its second consecutive nation-leading seven Play Golf America Days, spanning from February to June. The events involved an estimated 500 PGA Professionals who provided more than 1,500 hours of free lessons at sites between North and South Carolina.
The Carolinas PGA will be honored at The PGA of America Awards, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008, in conjunction with the 55th PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The program, featuring all 2007 PGA national award winners, will be conducted in the Convention Center's Linda W. Chapin Auditorium.
"The spirit of Play Golf America is never more in full bloom than it is among the hearts of the 1,900 men and women members and apprentices of the Carolinas PGA Section," said PGA of America President Brian Whitcomb. "Ever since Play Golf America was launched, the Carolinas PGA has taken this program under its wing and made an impressive commitment to serving golfers throughout its borders. We are very proud to be presenting the National Herb Graffis Award to the Carolinas PGA Section."
From its first efforts to host a Play Golf America Day, the Carolinas PGA Section has made Growth of the Game a key part of its annual budget. This year, the Section has elevated its efforts to promote Family Golf Day on its Section Web site in a "one-stop shop" method to boost local facility participation. In 2008, the Section also will develop the same concept for Play Golf America Days, featuring all the necessary information facilities may need to host their own Play Golf America Day.
Among its seven Play Golf America Days, the Carolinas PGA Section features an event every February in conjunction with the Section Annual Meeting in Myrtle Beach, S.C. This past year's event attracted some 1,200 visitors and involved 75 PGA Professional instructors.
"The Carolinas PGA Section is indeed honored to be the recipient of the Herb Graffis Award, which is an honor for to the contributions of so many," said Section President Rick Murphy, the PGA Director of Instruction at the Carolina Golf Practice and Learning Center in Greensboro, N.C. "Our Section has been a leader in developing Play Golf America and Family Golf Day and we will unfold a League Golf program in 2008 that we are excited about. This award is a tribute to the 1,900 Section members and apprentices, our Play Golf America Committee and our Section staff."
Included in the Section's past year's Play Golf America Day activities was the first Play Golf America appearance at a major championship. The Section hosted a free-lesson event at the entrance to The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, S.C., in conjunction with the 69th Senior PGA Championship.
Carolinas PGA Growth of the Game Chairman Del Ratcliffe of Charlotte, N.C., is in his fourth year at the helm of the Section's ambitious efforts.
"It has been a real positive experience for me to work with the Board on developing our programs," said Ratcliffe, the PGA Director of Golf at Sunset Hills Golf Course in Charlotte. "I'm proud of our Section's commitment of personal time, and our Section's overall commitment to devote funding to player development. I can only see bigger and better things happening for our Section as we go forward with our Web site efforts and League Golf program.
"We've got professionals who dedicate their time, realizing that what they do is for the good of the game. Our Section has many who think outside the box, and that is what you need to make success. We have had free clubs donated for kids, and they all went home with a new club that included a new Golf Pride grip. You can't beat, and it is that kind of enthusiasm that makes this job so much fun."
The Herb Graffis Award is presented by the PGA Board of Directors for exemplary contributions the Player Development. The Herb Graffis Award is named in honor of the golf historian and founder of several golf magazines, who died at the age of 95 in 1999.
The PGA of America is the world's largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf Professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf, while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives and award-winning golf promotions. Today's PGA Professional is the public's link to the game, serving an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country.
