PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Bob Baldassari, Middle Atlantic PGA Section president and The PGA of America's 2006 President's Plaque award winner, has been named the new General Manager of The PGA Golf Club, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Baldassari will be charged with leading the operations of the award-winning PGA Golf Club, PGA Learning Center, PGA Country Club and PGA Historical Center. Joining Baldassari's operational team at The PGA Golf Club is new PGA Director of Golf Maintenance John Lee, formerly of PGA National Resort and Spa.
Baldassari, 44, has served both nationally as the chair of The PGA of America's Communications and Public Relations Committee and regionally for the Middle Atlantic PGA Section since 1997, as he led PGA members in gaining recognition for the critical role they play in attracting new players to the game. Lee's work earned impressive reviews for the quality of PGA National's Champion course, home of this year's Honda Classic.
"The PGA of America is thrilled to welcome an award-winning leader in Bob Baldassari as the new General Manager of The PGA Golf Club," said Joe Steranka, PGA of America Chief Executive Officer. "Bob's innovations in grassroots growth of the game initiatives, leadership skills and communications expertise have demonstrated his tremendous abilities at the highest of levels. We look forward to him taking the helm and elevating these highly rated properties to even greater heights. We also are very excited to add John Lee to our team and believe his leadership will deliver premium course conditions befitting of The PGA brand."
Recently honored as among the "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America" by Golf Digest and "America's Top Golf Courses 2007/08" by ZAGAT, The PGA Golf Club is the only daily-fee facility owned and operated by The PGA of America.
"It is a tremendous honor to join the unique properties at The PGA Golf Club as General Manager," said Baldassari, a second-generation PGA member who was General Manager at Cannon Ridge Golf Club, in Fredericksburg, Va., where he worked for Past PGA President Gary Schaal and former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman. "The PGA Golf Club's facilities have certainly gained a host of impressive honors throughout their 11 years of excellence. I am excited by the many ways we can elevate The PGA Golf Club to unprecedented levels."
His father, Robert Baldassari Sr., is a PGA Life Member in Wilmington, Mass.
Lee, 59, will supervise golf course maintenance and agronomy for The PGA Golf Club, PGA Learning Center and PGA Country Club. Formerly the Director of Maintenance and Agronomy at PGA National Golf Resort & Spa, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Lee was widely praised for the renovations made for the 2007 Honda Classic on the Resort's Champion Course and its famous "Bear Trap." Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the Course received high marks by Tour players as one of the best tests in golf. Lee handled course maintenance responsibilities for the Resort's five courses, two golf ranges and its golf academy.
"I am proud to join the grand tradition of The PGA Golf Club, PGA Learning Center and PGA Country Club," said Lee, who has previously served in various supervisory and golf course maintenance capacities for Arnold Palmer Golf Management, Benchmark Management and Agronomy Shore Golf, sculpting and crafting some of the world's most famous courses including: Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Pinehurst Plantation Golf Club, Turtle Bay Resort, Moss Creek Plantation, Hawaii Prince Golf Course and the Dunes Club, to name a few. "With course designers such as Tom Fazio, Pete Dye and Rees Jones at The PGA's award-winning facilities in Port St. Lucie, it is with incredible pride that I will be able to craft their magnificent creations into some of the best courses in the world for both PGA Professionals and the public to enjoy."
About The PGA Golf Club:
The Ryder, Wanamaker and Dye Courses form a trio of world-class public courses at The PGA Golf Club, in Port St. Lucie, Fla., a resort community that features the award-winning PGA Golf Club, PGA Learning Center and PGA Historical Center. The PGA Golf Club, The PGA of America's first owned and operated public golf facility, also has all three of its courses as members of the Audubon International Signature Status for environmental compliance.
About The PGA of America:
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.
