PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Jack Barber, PGA head professional at Meridian Hills Country Club in Indianapolis, Ind., whose leadership efforts for more than three decades have been a study in inspiring youth and aspiring PGA Professionals, has been named the 56th recipient of the PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award, the highest annual honor bestowed by The PGA of America on a PGA Professional.
A 33-year member of The PGA of America, Barber is the second member of the Indiana PGA Section to be so honored. Barber, a native of Ashland, Ky., earned the 1985 Kentucky PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award and served as President of the Kentucky PGA Section in 1984-85. He later went on to be named the 1996 Golf Professional of the Year in the Indiana PGA Section.
On the course, Barber's highlights include winning the 1978 Kentucky State Open and the 2002 Indiana Senior PGA Championship.
Barber will be recognized at The PGA of America Awards, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, during the 57th PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The program also will honor the following PGA Award recipients for 2009:
* Mike Bender, Mike Bender Golf Academy, Lake Mary, Fla. – PGA Teacher of the Year
* Derek Hardy, Talega Country Club, Santa Ana, Calif. – Horton Smith Award
* Dennis Satyshur, Caves Valley Golf Club, Owings Mills, Md. – Bill Strausbaugh Award
* Vikki Vanderpool, Approaching the Green, Murfreesboro, Tenn. – PGA Junior Golf Leader
* Kyle Heyen, Hiwan Golf Club, Evergreen, Colo. – PGA President's Plaque
PGA Merchandisers of the Year
* Brian Morrison, Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club – Private Facilities
* Nevin Phillips, Mahogany Run Golf & Tennis, St. Thomas, V.I., – Public Facilities
* Caroline Basarab-Dennison, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island, S.C. – Resort Facilities
The PGA of America also will honor the recipients of two additional national awards on Nov. 14, at the 93rd PGA Annual Meeting in New Orleans, La.:
* Andy Weissinger, Pines Golf Course, Ft. Eustis, Va. – Patriot Award
* Midwest PGA Section – Herb Graffis Award
"Our 2009 award winners reflect the best of our Association," said PGA of America President Jim Remy. "The recipients have each left an impact upon the game long before they were designated for this past year's accomplishments. By their example in benefiting the lives of others, working with their customers or members and inspiring both juniors and young professionals they have made us very proud to say that PGA Professionals are the experts in the game and the business of golf."
For bio information about each of The PGA's 2009 National Award Winners, click on the link below. http://www.pgamediacenter.com/pganews/index.cfm?articleID=2078&linkID=2065
About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry.
By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf. Visit pga.com or PlayGolfAmerica.com to learn more.
