Golf Professional of the Year

Denny Dennis – Bloomington Country Club, Bloomington

This award is the highest honor paid to a PGA Professional. Some of the guidelines used to determine the recipient are overall performance as a golf professional at his or her facility and level of service to his or her Section and to the PGA of America. Other criteria include leadership, image, the ability to inspire fellow professionals and promotion of the game of golf.

Dennis was nominated and awarded this high honor based on his demonstrated success in all of these areas. He started as Head Professional in 1993 and was appointed Director of Golf in 2006. During his time there, he has taught thousands of students, run the Club’s junior program and assisted with instruction to the Bloomington South High School golf teams. He has also been an active community member by giving lectures to local service clubs, speaking with Indiana University Recreational Sports classes, and teaching at Indiana Special Olympics events.

His leadership ability was demonstrated when he lead Bloomington C.C. through the reconstruction process after a clubhouse fire. This rebuilding occurred while he maintained normal golf activity levels and even increased memberships. Another lead role he played was in establishing a turf and course improvement master plan, which is currently being implemented. Furthermore, he was active in the development of the Gongaware Junior Academy at the Indiana Golf Foundation.

The Indiana Section has benefited greatly from Dennis’ service. He served as Section President 2003-2004 after holding an officer position since 1999 and sitting on the board since 1996. From 1997-1998 he served as Indiana’s Education Committee Chairman, again exemplifying his desire to contribute to the betterment of the game and its professionals. Another Indiana Section Special Award that he has received is the Horton Smith Award for his contributions to professional education. This honor was given to him for three consecutive years from 1997-1999. Furthermore, the IGF Board and IGA-PGA Board both elected him a member in 1999 where he presently serves.

Mike Abbott – The Bridgewater Club, Carmel

Exemplary instruction, leadership, ability and involvement are key criteria for selecting the recipient of this award. Abbott was honored for his dedication to teaching and outstanding service as a golf instructor.

In 2007, he was able to give 2,200 golf lessons at The Bridgewater Club. A very popular practice program for high school and college players he developed is utilized April through October; the players are invited to the club twice a month for a three hour practice session. During the school year, Abbott also coaches the Carmel and Clay Middle School team and the Noblesville High School girls golf team as well as traveling to West Lafayette to teach at Purdue University.

At the Indiana High School Athletic Association’s State Finals last year, 11 of his girl students and seven boys competed for the title and four of the girls made the All-State Team. This fall he will have seven players playing Division I college golf. The success of his students shows his enthusiasm for the game and commitment to teaching.

Dan Ross – Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, West Lafayette

The Horton Smith Award is awarded annually to a PGA member for his outstanding contributions to professional education. Ross reflects this commitment through his day-to-day activities and involvement in the Indiana Section.

While serving as Apprentice Chairman on the Indiana PGA Board of Directors, he worked with the Education Chairman to develop an Orientation Program as well as a Mentorship Program. He also organized a Player Development Program to help apprentices pass their Playing Ability Test. PGA Members are available to join apprentices for an hour to discuss the mental side of taking the PAT as well as play a practice round to improve their chances of passing.

Ross has also contributed to building the image of PGA Professionals by co-hosting a radio show with PGA Professional Tom Guipe called “Golf Talk” which aired on ESPN Radio during the 2007 golf season. He constantly promoted the PGA Professional as being the true expert in all areas related to the playing and teaching of the game of golf. He included golf tips, etiquette, and informed the community of upcoming golf events.

Few people are as devoted to the education and development of PGA Professionals and Apprentices in Indiana as Dan Ross, and it is recognized by his peers and acknowledged with the Horton Smith Award.

Tony Pancake – Crooked Stick Golf Club, Carmel

Established in 1979, this award is presented to a PGA Professional who has distinguished themselves by mentoring their fellow PGA Professionals with improving their employment situations and through service to the community. The award reflects the characteristics and qualities of Strausbaugh, a Middle Atlantic PGA Master Professional who died in 1999.

He is someone of outstanding character and success who has demonstrated a record of service to his Section and community. He is honored for his efforts to assist other golf professionals with resume and interview ideas as well as advice on contract negotiations. “In a typical year I will consult with 12 to 15 individuals regarding their employment situation,” stated Pancake. He has also given presentations and provided sample materials at section meetings on each topic during his 15 years of service. In addition to section presentations, he was selected as an original faculty member of the PGA’s Golf Professional Training Programs and has instructed at 15 of the programs.

Pancake inspires golf professionals with his professionalism and class and encourages people to reach their goals. He credits others before him for getting him where he is today by sharing their advice and experiences and wishes to make it a priority to pass that information along to others.

Steve Cohen – Greenbelt Golf Course, Columbus

The award is presented annually to the PGA member who demonstrates leadership within the junior golf community and reflects the ideals of those who work with youth. Cohen’s interest and ability to provide opportunities and experience for juniors to learn and play golf has significantly impacted junior golfers and junior golf programs.

For the past 31 years he has organized, administered and taught yearly summer junior programs for area youth. High school and middle school teams benefit from his yearly seminars and clinics on game fundamentals, rules and etiquette. He helped originate and organize middle school golf teams over seven years ago and continues to provide a facility for the matches.

The Pepsi Indiana Junior Golf Program has also benefited from his dedication to hosting an Aquafina Prep Tour event for the past 10 years. The “Hook a Kid on Golf” program is also provided a host facility along with equipment and clinic instruction. Cohen has clearly demonstrated his devotion to promoting and developing junior golf in Indiana.

Nick Kowalczyk – Briar Ridge Country Club, Schererville

The Assistant of the Year Award was established in 2001 to recognize individual assistant golf professionals for dedication to customer service, leadership and the game of golf. The 2008 Assistant Golf Professional of the Year has been a tremendous asset to Briar Ridge C.C. for five years now.

As an assistant, Kowalczyk makes it his priority every day to go above and beyond what the members and management expect while demonstrating professionalism and exceptional customer service. His natural leadership abilities have lead to the institution of two new programs at Briar Ridge C.C. The first is a tournament software program he invented that meets the needs of his 27-hole facility. It makes the golf shop more efficient and enables him to spend more time improving other areas.

Second is a caddie program started in 2006 after he spent an entire spring recruiting, training and preparing 20 new caddies. “It is a job that I hold dear, because it is how I began in this business when I was 13 years old,” said Kowalczyk. This year he hopes to grow the program to over 30 caddies.

His leadership extends into the community when, during the winter months, he introduces golf to people of all ages through a program with the Munster Parks and Recreation Department.

In 2003 he graduated from Webber International Univesity in Babson Park, Fla., after receiving the Four Year Golfer Award for showing the greatest dedication, enthusiasm and loyalty. Since college, he has shown those same strengths as a model assistant at Briar Ridge C.C.

The winners of this award are professionals who have demonstrated excellence in golf shop operation.

Public: Bo Wright – Rozella Ford Golf Course, Warsaw

In the Public Course category, Wright earned the award with his approach of servicing both his membership and the public daily-fee play. He makes sure to provide equipment and apparel at reasonable prices that satisfy both the predictable purchasing habits of his members as well as the public players’ tendencies to buy more of the latest trends. During the winter months, he travels around the country to get new ideas from top golf shops. His successful display techniques include developing seasonal color themes and rotating products on a weekly basis. This is Wright’s second time receiving Merchandiser of the Year; he was also presented with this award in 2006.

Private: George Arvanitis – Country Club of Indianapolis, Indianapolis

Arvanitis received the Private Course Award based on his innovative approach to offer more specialized items to set his club apart from the Indianapolis area competition. He carries more lines that are not available at the bigger retail outlets and sells items such as button-down shirts, cashmere sweaters and leather jackets. To keep his members aware of recent arrivals, he sends out emails of new apparel and equipment. Also impressive is that staff working in the shop go through product training with vendors to become knowledgeable on the merchandise.

Resort: Jeff Schroeder – Brickyard Crossing, Indianapolis

The Resort Course award goes to Schroeder, whose merchandising philosophy incorporates taking advantage of the widely recognized association between Brickyard Crossing and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by providing and selling as many logoed items as possible. He has also worked hard to increase sales and product awareness through the use of the Internet on the IMS website. Schroeder also received Merchandiser of the Year in 2005.