Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (October 11, 2024) — The Philadelphia PGA Section and its Hall of Fame Committee have inducted PGA of America Golf Professionals Jeff Kiddie and John Pillar into its Hall of Fame as the class of 2024. They are the 47th and 48th Philadelphia PGA Hall of Fame members.

Jeff Kiddie, PGA, the head golf professional at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, was the recipient of the 2023 PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year award, which is the highest annual honor given to a PGA of America Golf Professional, awarded for leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the Association and the game of golf. He was the Section’s first national Golf Professional of the Year.

A PGA Member for 25 years, Kiddie has spent the past 15 years at Aronimink following a seven-year stint at Applebrook Golf Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania, where he served as PGA general manager and head golf professional. Kiddie was the host PGA Professional during the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Aronimink, and will also be host to the 2026 PGA Championship.

A longtime, dedicated leader in the Philadelphia PGA Section, Kiddie has held numerous positions including president, vice president, secretary, district director, and director of Section affairs, and has member of the PGA of America Rules Committee for 11 years. In 2019, he was elected the 43rd President of the Philadelphia PGA Section; He served a two-year stint, followed by his honorary president role.

A decorated PGA Professional, Kiddie has received numerous awards and accolades, including being honored as the national 2011 PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Private Facilities, in addition to his Golf Professional of the Year award. He also received the Philadelphia PGA Section’s 2011 PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award; 2021 Bill Strausbaugh Award; 2016 PGA Professional Development Award; 2011 Philadelphia Section Golf Professional of the Year; and is a two-time recipient of the Philadelphia PGA Section Merchandiser of the Year Award – Private Facilities (2007, 2010).

Since Kiddie became a PGA head golf professional in 2001, a total of 13 of his assistant professionals have advanced to become head golf professionals across the country. His passion for the Rules of Golf has led him to become an instructor for PGA and USGA Rules of Golf Workshops, and has worked as a Rules official for six PGA Championships, two KPMG Women’s PGA Championships, and a Ryder Cup. Kiddie is a graduate of Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he competed on the golf team.

Outside of his day-to-day work, Kiddie served as a J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship trustee in 2016-2018, and coached the West Chester YMCA youth basketball team.

“Having been in the Philadelphia PGA Section for almost 25 years, I have so much appreciation for our Section and the great PGA of America Golf Professionals of today, as well those who paved the way in making our Section what it is,” said Kiddie. “When I arrived to the Section in 2000 as a brand new PGA Member, I could not have imagined the thought of one day being included in the Section’s Hall of Fame. To say that I am incredibly honored is a vast understatement. I am also honored to be inducted into our Hall of Fame with John Pillar, whom I think is one of the most well-rounded PGA Professionals in the country and someone that I admire greatly.”

John Pillar, PGA, the PGA director of golf at the Country Club at Woodloch Springs in Hawley, Pa., has consistently been one of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s best players for years, and was named a Section Playing Legend in 2022.

In addition to his playing accomplishments, Pillar has served the Association and Section in various capacities. He served on the PGA of America’s Board of Directors as District 2’s director in 2020-2023, was Section president in 2014-2015, vice president in 2013-2014, secretary in 2012-2013, honorary president, and a Section district director. Pillar was also the Section’s director of tournaments in 2002-2005, and has a member of the PGA of America’s Tournament & Championships Committee since 2020; he chaired the committee in 2014-2015.

On the course, Pillar won the 2009 Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship, the 2014 Pennsylvania State Open, the Philadelphia Senior PGA Professional Championship in 2019, 2020, and 2024, and the inaugural Pennsylvania Senior Open in 2021, in addition to over 20 other Section tournament wins. Pillar also qualified and competed in the 1997 U.S. Open, 2017 U.S. Senior Open, 2021 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, 15 PGA Professional Championships and four Senior PGA Professional Championships.

Philanthropically, Pillar leads a PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) chapter for U.S. military veterans at the C.C. at Woodloch Springs, has been chair for the Folds of Honor Golf Classic for 11 years, as well as being a committee member for BK Hope Cures for 20 years.

In 2004, he was named the Section’s Most Improved Player of the Year, and has also received several professional honors including being named the 2007 Philadelphia PGA Golf Professional of the Year award, 2020 Philadelphia PGA Patriot Award, four Philadelphia PGA Merchandiser of the Year awards in the Resort Category, and the 2019 Philadelphia PGA Patriot Award.

“As I reflect on this amazing honor I can’t help recall all who have lifted me along the way, as this journey doesn’t happen alone,” said Pillar. “My family and rock Eileen Pillar, who is my greatest fan and supporter in every way, my sons John Jr., Kyle, and Alex, who I have tried to be a role model for. My parents who had very little but gave everything, Woodloch and the Kiesendahl family, who took a chance on a 27-year-old to run their facility, which I call home, and to all the Philadelphia PGA Members, past and present, who have inspired me to give back to this great game. Golf saved my life, and the least I could do is give back to the game that has given me everything. To be included with past Hall of Fame members is truly humbling.”

Kiddie and Pillar will be recognized at the Section’s Fall Membership Meeting on Monday, October 28 at Medford Village Country Club, and will be formally honored at the Section’s Awards Banquet in early 2025.

About the Philadelphia PGA Section
The Philadelphia PGA Section, covering eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, is one of 41 geographical managing entities of the PGA of America. This Section manages nearly 900 PGA of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com