ELMSFORD, N.Y. — The Mickie Gallagher Family will be honored as the Family of the Year by the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association at their 56th National Awards Dinner, Monday, June 18, at the Hilton Rye Town in Rye Brook, N.Y.
Mickie Gallagher Jr., the PGA head professional of the Members Club at PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., is the patriarch of this extraordinary golf family.
Mickie Jr., 77, a PGA Professional since 1964, was part of the famous Wake Forest University team in 1950 that included Arnold Palmer, Buddy Worsham, and Dick Tiddy. His wife, Bette, has worked as a buyer and golf shop manager for 35 years. Their children, Mickie III, and Kathy Jorden, are highly-regarded in the golf industry.
Mickie III, a third-generation member of The PGA of America, is in his second year as head professional at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. He served as president of the New Jersey PGA Section from 2005-06. Prior to being hired at Trump, Mickie III spent 11 years as head professional at Maplewood (N.J.) Country Club.
Kathy has been at The PGA of America since 1988. As a manager of Broadcasting and now consultant, she supervises the network television coverage of major PGA of America events including the Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship. No one is more loved in the TV golf business. Her teenage boys, Kyle and Kevin, are both fine golfers and members of the varsity team at The King's Academy in West Palm Beach, Fla.
The Gallagher Family's love affair with golf began over a century ago. The late Mickie Sr. had strong ties to the metropolitan area, starting as an 11-year old caddie in 1906 at Dunwoodie Golf Course in Yonkers, N.Y. During his 39-year career as a professional at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Mickie Sr. also served as chairman of the Titleholders Championship (then an LPGA major) until his retirement in 1965. His wife, Gertrude, worked alongside him in the pro shop.
"The Mickie Gallagher family is living proof that golf is a timeless game with great traditions and honor," said PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka. "As professionals, administrators and players of the game, they have made impressive contributions in so many areas at the local and national level. On behalf of The PGA of America I thank them for their service and wish a hearty congratulations to the entire family."
Each year since 1963, the MGWA has honored a family "for its contributions to the game and for representing the virtues and ideals of golf and family."
The Gallaghers will join an impressive list of families who have been honored, including the Turnesas, Claude Harmon, Robert Trent Jones, Gary Player, Raymond Floyd, George Bush, and Jack Nicklaus.
The MGWA will also honor: Ernie Els (Gold Tee Award); Al Barkow (Linc Werden Golf Journalism Award); Bernadette Castro (Distinguished Service Award); Val Skinner (Winnie Palmer Award); Pat Browne Jr. (Mary Bea Porter Award); Salesmanship Club of Dallas (Bing Crosby Tournament Sponsor Award); and Piping Rock Club (Club of the Year).
The MGWA's National Awards Dinner is the largest (and longest running) golf dinner held annually in the U.S. All of golf's governing bodies support the dinner — the USGA, PGA of America, LPGA, PGA Tour and Champions Tour — and some 700 industry leaders and local golfers attend. Proceeds from the dinner are distributed to the Metropolitan (New York) area caddie scholarship programs and the MGA Foundation. More than $900,000 has been raised for these charitable endeavors.
For tickets or additional information, please contact Ann Rold at (914) 347-4653 or arold@mgagolf.org.
