The Bill Strausbaugh Award is designed to recognize PGA Professionals who by their day-to-day efforts have distinguished themselves by mentoring their fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations and through service to the community.
 

Bill Strausbaugh Award Guidelines:

• Demonstration of record of service to the Section and the Association.

• Proven leadership ability.

• Involvement in civic activities and local charitable causes within the community.

• Recognized as someone of outstanding character.

Award Winners

The "Deacon Palmer Award" bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional who personally displays outstanding integrity, character and leadership, in the effort to overcome a major obstacle in their life. This individual is an unsung hero/heroine at their facility and in their community, who serve to inspire, empower and assist others, both inside and outside of the game.

Requirements

• Candidate must be a PGA member in good standing.
• Candidate must be well regarded as a model PGA member.
• Demonstration and acknowledgement as an individual of outstanding leadership and strong moral character.

Eligibility

The following persons are ineligible:

• Previous National PGA Golf Professional of the Year award winners;
• Past Presidents of the Association;
• Current members of the Association Board of Directors;
• Nominees for National Office;
• Class "F" or "Inactive" members;
• Apprentices;
• PGA National Headquarters Staff and PGA Section Staff are not eligible for National Awards (Excluding Employees of PGA Golf Properties or Section Golf Properties).

Criteria

Deacon Palmer Award minimum criteria:

• Candidate must have been a Class ‘A’ PGA member in good standing and/or Apprentice for a minimum total of 10 years combined.
• Candidate must be well regarded as a model PGA member, demonstrating outstanding leadership traits and strong moral character.
• Candidate has developed the image, reputation, and ability to inspire, empower, and encourage success and achievement in individuals regardless of obstacles, disabilities, and personal challenges or otherwise.
• Candidate must have maintained a substantial record of service to the PGA of America, fellow PGA Professionals, their facility and the community in the effort to enhance and improve the quality of life for all individuals.
• Candidate must have maintained a continual record of service and promotion of the game of golf and golf industry.

Guidelines for Selection

• The candidate will be considered on the following:
• Their entire PGA career with the primary emphasis on the service and commitment for others and their success regardless of situation; 
• The performance and service to the Association, fellow PGA Members, and the community to include contributions to building and growing the image of the PGA Professional, the Association and the game of golf while dealing with their own personal difficulty;
• The significant impacts made on others and ability to inspire and encourage success and achievement in individuals regardless of the personal challenges they face;
• The significant influence made on Golf Professionals, facilities, and employers in the effort to assist others and better the community;
• Overall integrity and recognition as a person of outstanding character by PGA Professionals and leaders within the community;
• Other contributions provided to The PGA.

Other Considerations:

The Deacon Palmer Award will be presented annually at the 99th PGA America Annual Meeting. Consideration for The Deacon Palmer Award will be at the National level only.

The Ely Callaway Award was dedicated to the man who inspired a revolution in the club industry and grew the Callaway Golf Company from a 4-man operation into a giant of the industry. Ely Callaway's dedication to research and technology was matched only by his belief that an educated golf professional and consumer was at the backbone of his business. Mr. Callaway actually appeared at the Met PGA's Spring Forum as a featured speaker in April of 2001, just 3 months before his death from pancreatic cancer.

The Ely Callaway Award recognizes a Met PGA Professional for his or her dedication to education, service and involvement. The award is presented annually at the Section's Spring Meeting to the PGA Professional who amasses the greatest number of MSR credits in the previous year.

Award Recipients

The Herb Graffis Award is designed to recognize a PGA of America Section for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of Player Development. This award considers initiatives conducted by the Section, involvement of members in Section and National growth of the game programs, and overall impact on growth of the game.

Herb Graffis Award Guidelines:

• Section’s commitment to growth of the game initiatives.
• Quantity, quality and diversity of player development programs.
• Active involvement in National player development programs.
• Participation of Section members in Play Golf America.
• Inspiration of fellow Sections in the area of player development.
• Overall impact on growing the game.

The PGA Horton Smith Award recognizes the PGA Professional who is the model educator of PGA Golf Professionals. This award is designed to give special recognition to an individual PGA Professional for outstanding and continuing contributions to professional education.

Horton Smith Award Guidelines:

• Demonstration of outstanding qualities of leadership.
• Demonstration of strong moral character.
• Maintain a substantial record of service to the Association and the game of golf.
• Well-regarded as a model educator of PGA Golf Professionals.
• Continuing education records will serve as a resource for verification of programs taught by the nominee.

The Merchandiser of the Year Award is designed to recognize those PGA Professionals who have excelled as business persons / merchandisers in the promotion of golf. The PGA honors PGA Professionals in three categories: Private, Public and Resort facilities.

• PGA member in good standing
• Overall credit rating
• Credit rating within the industry
• Community involvement

The Patriot Award is presented to 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 of America.

The Patriot Award Guidelines:

• Contributions and support to the United States Armed Forces and its Activity Duty personnel and veterans.
• Proven interest, concern, and ability to provide opportunities and experience for active duty personnel and veterans to learn and play golf.
• Demonstration and acknowledgement as an individual of outstanding leadership and strong moral character.

The Player Development Award is designed to recognize a PGA Professional for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development. This award considers the PGA Professional’s growth of the game leadership commitment at the Section and National levels and the impact made at the facility. Player Development Award Guidelines: Contributions to Section and National Play Golf America initiatives. Quantity, quality and diversity of player development programs. Use of Play Golf America tools and resources. Quality of best practices, including uniqueness of ideas, increase in rounds / revenues, retention and customer satisfaction. Inspiration of fellow PGA Professionals in the area of player development.

In 1973, the legendary Slammer came to Westchester Country Club for the Met PGA's Annual Spring Forum. During the program, he was also honored by the Section as one of the five greatest players of all time. Snead's appearance drew a record crowd that still stands to this day of over 400 professionals and guests. In addition to honoring Snead for his history of playing accomplishments, the Met PGA announced that in his honor the Sam Snead Award would be presented annually for distinguished service.

The Sam Snead Award Criteria
The Snead Award criteria was left intentionally vague although the intent was obvious. The award would be presented to an individual in recognition of his or her contributions to the game of golf, the PGA and the Met Section. While all of the other Special Awards are presented only to PGA Members, the Snead Award could honor professionals or amateurs and its list of recipients reads like a who's who of golf in the Metropolitan area.

The Teacher of the Year Award is designed to recognize a PGA Professional who is an outstanding teacher of golf among the ranks of PGA membership. This award is based on a professional’s overall performance in teaching; unusual, innovative and special teaching programs initiated or implemented; articles published; as well as outstanding golfers the professional has instructed.

Teacher of the Year Award Guidelines

• Recognized as an outstanding teacher of golf among the ranks of PGA membership.
• Initiation and/or implementation of unusual, innovative and/or special teaching programs.
• Publication of articles, books, magazines, etc.
• Instruction of outstanding golfers.

The PGA Youth Player Development Award (formally the Junior Golf Leader Award) recognizes the PGA Professional who is a leader in junior golf and who reflects the ideals of those who work with youth.

Youth Player Development Award Guidelines:

• Demonstration of involvement in the promotion and development of junior golf at the club level.
• Support of National junior golf programs.
• Proven interest, concern and ability to provide opportunities and experience for junior to learn and play golf.
• Recognized as someone of outstanding character.