PGA of America Member Scott Chisholm Headlines 2024 Philadelphia PGA Awards Class
Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (December 20, 2024) — The Philadelphia PGA Section has announced its 2024 award recipients, highlighted by Philadelphia PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year Scott Chisholm, the PGA director of golf at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa. Nearly 150 award nominations were received for the 2024 awards class, of which the Philadelphia PGA Awards Committee chose 12 winners, including:
- Golf Professional of the Year: Scott Chisholm, PGA; Rolling Green Golf Club, Springfield, Pa.
- Teacher & Coach of the Year: John Rudolph, PGA; Fieldstone Golf Club, Greenville, Del.
- Bill Strausbaugh Award: Scott Nye, PGA; Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pa.
- Professional Development Award: Sean Palmer, PGA; Union League of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.
- Patriot Award: John Pillar, PGA; Country Club at Woodloch Springs, Hawley, Pa.
- Player Development Award: Tessa Teachman, PGA; Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pa.
- Youth Player Development Award: Daniel Mrozinski, PGA; Commonwealth National Golf Club, Horsham, Pa.
- Merchandiser of the Year – Private Category: Michael Shank, PGA; Wilmington (Del.) Country Club
- Merchandiser of the Year – Public Category: Matthew Hoffman, PGA; Carlisle (Pa.) Barracks Golf Course
- Deacon Palmer Award: Fred Heller, PGA; Rolling Green Golf Club, Springfield, Pa.
- Justin Riegel Assistant Golf Professional of the Year: Beatrice Smith, PGA; Gulph Mills Golf Club, King of Prussia, Pa.
- Salesperson of the Year: Lori DesRuisseaux; Belyn Key, Criquet, Corkcicle, 2Undr, VimHue, Skoni, Melly M, Cappai Designs, and OTG247
Scott Chisholm, PGA, the PGA director of golf at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa., has been named the 2024 Philadelphia PGA Golf Professional of the Year. This is the highest annual honor given to a Philadelphia PGA of America Golf Professional, awarded for qualities of leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the Philadelphia PGA Section and the game of golf.
A PGA of America Member since 2011, Chisholm started his professional career in the New Jersey PGA Section, working at Morris County Golf Club, Plainfield Country Club, and Baltusrol Golf Club, before being hired at Rolling Green as PGA head professional; he was promoted to his current role in 2022.
When Chisholm arrived at Rolling Green, he presented a roadmap to the club’s Board of Governors to address the facility’s challenges. As part of his plan, Chisholm expanded the golf staff, growing from a head golf professional and two assistant golf professionals to a PGA director of golf, PGA head golf professional, PGA director of instruction, four PGA assistant golf professionals, a golf shop manager, and a director of outside services.
Chisholm believes that one of his most important roles is to recruit, train, and mentor the golf operations staff, and claims to have one of the best staff in the Philadelphia PGA Section, if not the country. He prides himself on creating a culture that is conductive to success, which includes setting clear expectations, leading by example, implementing standardized training and operating procedures, and communicating with continued feedback. In addition to his own accomplishments, his staff boasts the 2023 PGA Professional National Champion and 2024 PGA Championship Low Club Professional Braden Shattuck, PGA, two-time Philadelphia PGA Deacon Palmer Award recipient Fred Heller, PGA, two-time Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) Player of the Year Anthony Sebastianelli, and Bud Jennings PGA Golf Management Scholarship recipient Greg Rhoads, PGA. He has helped two of his assistants be hired as PGA head golf professionals, and two more as PGA directors of instruction. Chisholm says that staff development is one of the club’s greatest success stories, and a big point of pride for its membership.
When Rolling Green undertook a golf course improvement plan with world-renown golf course architect Gil Hanse, Chisholm helped to lead the project. The end result returned the course to its reputation of being one of the best in the Section. Thanks in part to his relationships with the Philadelphia PGA Section and the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP), the William Flynn-designed layout has hosted many major events, including the 2024 Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship. Chisholm also helped secure a 10-year agreement with GAP to host many more events in the years to come.
While Chisholm oversees Rolling Green’s day-to-day operations, he is no stranger to golf instruction and growing the game though player development programs; he was previously named the 2017 New Jersey PGA Player Development Award recipient, and has appeared on Golf Digest‘s “Best Young Teachers in America” and “Best Teachers in Every State” lists. His goals for the club’s golf instruction are to provide world-class instruction tailored to the needs of the student; offer diverse clinics and schools to appeal to all abilities, ages, and genders; train a staff that is current with the industry’s latest technology and best practices; and to develop a culture that encourages learning, improvement, and enjoyment of the game. In addition to private and group lessons, the facility offers several player development initiatives, which include programs for women and junior golfers, as well as special events.
Last winter, Chisholm led a significant golf shop renovation project, which he kept on time and on budget. The project resulted in a 15-percent increase in sales, a figure made more impressive considering the shop was closed for multiple months. Chisholm’s merchandising philosophy provides personalized shopping experiences, knowledgeable staff members, efficient planning, and improved vendor relations.
Outside of Rolling Green, Chisholm is no stranger to Association service and growth of the game initiatives. He served on the New Jersey PGA Section’s Board of Directors in 2016-2017, and currently serves as a District 6 director on the Philadelphia PGA Section’s board. Furthermore, Chisholm was a member of the New Jersey PGA’s Education and Assistants committees, and is a member of the Philadelphia PGA’s Awards Committee.
John Rudolph, PGA, the director of instruction at Fieldstone Golf Club in Greenville, Del., has been named the 2024 Philadelphia PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year for his “outstanding services as a golf teacher, innovator and coach.” He earned his PGA of America membership in 2006, and has spent the last 15 years at Fieldstone; he worked as PGA head golf professional in the first 11 years, and took on his current role in 2021.
Rudolph’s teaching philosophy is to help build players’ better contact, direction, and distance, in that order, while achieving and/or maintaining good rhythm and swing tempo, encouraging positive thoughts, and tailoring the instruction to the students’ needs. He says that measuring is critical in the analysis, and helps build player confidence.
Good teachers often want to learn as much as they can for continual improvement, and Rudolph is no different. He has earned six PGA Certifications, and has been certified in the American Development Model, Titleist clubfitting, Ping clubfitting, SuperSpeed Golf, Trackman, BodiTrak, the Positive Coaching Alliance, and EyeLine Golf. He is also a U.S. Kids Master Instructor. His hard work has paid off, as he has been recognized as a Golf Digest “Best Teacher” in Delaware, and has appeared on U.S. Kids’ “Top 50 Instructors” and “Honorable Mention” lists.
Outside of his lessons for adults, Rudolph is a true youth golf leader. He revitalized Fieldstone’s junior golf programming by implementing U.S. Kids curriculum, rebranding youth golf camps, and developing a high school performance program. Additionally, Rudolph has served as coach of Fieldstone’s PGA Jr. League team for the past seven years. The PGA Jr. League program has become so popular at Fieldstone that he offers programming in each of the four seasons.
To realize Rudolph’s success in teaching, one need not look further than his student’s resumes. His students have become Drive, Chip, and Putt national finalists, individual, and team champions, at the local, regional, and national levels.
Scott Nye, PGA, the longtime PGA director of golf at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., is the recipient of the 2024 Philadelphia PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award, an honor he also received in 2014. The award recognizes a PGA of America Golf Professional who demonstrates exceptional character, integrity and leadership, by way of teaching and mentoring other PGA Professionals. Nye was elected to PGA of America membership in 1988, and has been working as a PGA head golf professional or PGA director of golf for the past 35 years. Since April 1, 2024, he has worked in three different roles: PGA director of golf at Merion and High Grove in Venus, Fla., and as championship director at Merion (Nye is stepping down as Merion’s PGA director of golf, but will remain on as the club’s championship director). Nye says the most important characteristic that he employs professionally is to treat everyone the same, from staff to club members. He also spends a great deal of time helping people improve professionally, by helping them do a better job in their current role, and helping them navigate through the process of being hired for a better job. Nye does not stop with his current or former staff, in fact, he has helped other golf facilities with their PGA Professional searches, most recently the Country Club of York. In addition to help improve professional staff, Nye has also played a role in securing six USGA events through 2050, including the 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship, the 2034 and 2046 U.S. Women’s Opens, and the 2030, 2040, and 2050 U.S. Opens. He says he is extremely proud of the relationship he has maintained with the USGA, while representing the PGA of America with the highest of standards. Nye was named the PGA of America’s Merchandiser of the Year in the Private Category in 2014, and was awarded the same award at the Section level in 2012. He was also named the 2012 Philadelphia PGA Golf Professional of the Year, and earned the Section’s Professional Development Award in 1996 and 1997.
Sean Palmer, PGA, the chief operating officer of the Union League of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pa., is this year’s Professional Development Award recipient. This honor goes to a PGA Member who displays commendable contributions to the education of PGA Professionals. Palmer says that his contribution to educating his fellow PGA Professionals stems from his leadership with the Union League’s golf team and intern training. Palmer is a member of Penn State University’s PGA Golf Management Alumni Board, and helps to further the success of the program. Connecting his facility with his alma mater has allowed him to invite PGA Golf Management University students, and local PGA Professionals, to educational sessions that cover a variety of topics. In 2019, Palmer developed a curriculum that he named Union League University, which was designed to train PGA Golf Management University students in every aspect of the private club business. Additionally, the Union League annually hosts PGA Magazine conferences, such as the PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Conference, and their General Managers program. In addition top his service with Penn State, Palmer also sits on the Section’s Education Committee. Prior to accepting his current role, Palmer worked as the Union League’s PGA head golf professional, and then PGA director of golf, where, among his other duties, has made it a priority to promote the PGA of America Golf Professional and redefine what it means to be a PGA Member in the 21st century. Palmer was named the 2021 Philadelphia PGA Golf Professional of the Year, and the Section’s Justin Riegel Assistant Golf Professional of the Year in 2014.
John Pillar, PGA, is the PGA director of golf at the Country Club at Woodloch Springs in Hawley, Pa., and is the recipient of the Section’s 2024 Patriot Award. The award bestows special recognition on a PGA of America Golf Professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates an unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected our country. A Philadelphia PGA past president, and passionate about honoring the lives of local military servicemen and servicewomen, he established a new PGA HOPE chapter for the PGA of America REACH Foundation Philadelphia, the Section’s 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and hosted the inaugural District 2 Patriots Cup in October. He has also embraced the Folds of Honor Foundation, whose mission is to provide educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service-members. Backed by Pillar’s leadership, the facility has helped raise over $1.3 million over 15 years for veterans and their families, resulting in over 200 scholarship for families of the fallen. Additionally, Woodloch Springs provides complimentary vacations for eight to ten Folds of Honor families each year, at no cost. Pillar was inducted into the Philadelphia PGA Hall of Fame earlier this year, was named one of the Section’s Playing Legends in 2021, and was the Section’s 2007 Golf Professional of the Year. He won this award previously in 2019.
Tessa Teachman, PGA, a PGA assistant golf professional at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., is the recipient of the Section’s 2024 Player Development Award. This honor bestows special recognition to a PGA of America Member who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development. Teachman was elected to PGA of America membership in 2022 while working at the Quarry Golf Club in Florida, and joined the Aronimink team in 2023. Since the move to the Philadelphia PGA Section, she has run 26 different programs that targeted specific segments of the club membership, such as non-golfers, women, and youth golfers. Teachman has also utilized Operation 36 to help beginners improve their games, and encourage their play on the golf course. Her efforts have helped increase participation in the club’s women’s sessions by over 40 percent, and in PGA Jr. League by nearly 50 percent. As a 200-hour trained yoga instructor, Teachman also offers yoga classes for golfers in Aronimink’s new performance center. Outside of the club, Teachman serves on the Section’s Education Committee, has mentored PGA Golf Management University students, and has created a comprehensive winter education plan to support professional growth at Aronimink.
Daniel Mrozinski, PGA, is the PGA head golf professional and junior golf director at Commonwealth National Golf Club in Horsham, Pa., and the Section’s 2024 Youth Player Development Award recipient. The award is given annually to a PGA of America Golf Professional who has made extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of youth player development. Mrozinski has developed comprehensive youth programs at Commonwealth National, which encompass various age groups and skill levels. In developing his curriculum, he makes sure to emphasize skill development, character-building, and safety. Outside of his facility, Mrozinski has championed efforts to engage diverse communities to introduce the game of golf to a wider range of youth. He also has mentored PGA Professionals, both at the local level, and via the Section’s Youth Golf Committee. Additionally, he has always made it a priority to participate in education workshops and seminars to not only boost his own youth golf programs, but some of the programs the Section and PGA REACH Philadelphia offers as well.
Michael Shank, PGA, the PGA director of golf at Wilmington (Del.) Country Club, has been named the Section’s 2024 Merchandiser of Year for the Private Category. The award recognizes PGA of America Golf Professionals working at a private golf facility who have excelled in business and merchandising in the promotion of golf. Shank was elected to PGA membership in 2000, and worked at clubs in the Middle Atlantic and Metropolitan PGA Sections, before arriving in Wilmington. Shank’s merchandising philosophy is based on exceeding member expectations. He participates in all major vendor meetings, attends merchandise shows, and determines the merchandise mix of lines for the golf shop. His shop operations places an emphasis on fill-in orders and special orders, as their operation has evolved to be very nimble. Shank and his team have also created digital lookbooks for the club membership, with some products modeled by his professional staff. He and his team believe in a soft sell approach to merchandise; the staff is knowledgeable about the products for sale, and also wear the brands that are carried in the shop. The golf shop’s vision is based on the larger golf operation goals: promote golf, provide outstanding service, be well-informed, present an impeccable image, provide consistent policy, and attain constant improvement. Shank was previously awarded the Professional Development Award twice by the Metropolitan PGA Section.
Matthew Hoffman, PGA, the PGA head golf professional at Carlisle Barracks Golf Course in Carlisle, Pa., has been named the Section’s 2024 Merchandiser of Year for the Public Category. The award recognizes PGA of America Golf Professionals working at a public golf facility who have excelled in business and merchandising in the promotion of golf. The job of a PGA Professional is far-reaching, but Hoffman has been sure not to neglect the facility’s merchandise operation, which is owned by the United States Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs. By spending approximately 35 percent of his time on the golf shop floor, he has been able better interact with the facility’s daily fee customers to understand what they look for when they walk into any golf shop, not necessarily just ours. Over the years, Hoffman has slowly dropped the amount of stock hard goods in the shop, as most sales are a result of custom clubfitting.
Fred Heller, PGA, is the PGA head golf professional at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa., and the Section’s 2024 Deacon Palmer Award recipient, an honor that he also received in 2023. The award bestows special recognition to a PGA of America 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 serves to inspire, empower and assist others, both inside and outside of the game. In 2006, Heller was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, and had his knee and seven and a half inches of his tibia removed. In 2018, the cancer returned, and he had his right leg amputated above his knee following an infection. Heller said experiencing this challenging situation completely changed his outlook on life; every day, he simply wants to smile and make everyone around him smile and appreciate life, given it can change in an instant. Since his amputation, Heller works to teach at as many disabled golf clinics as possible each year, including the Good Shepherd Learn to Golf Clinic, Drexel University classes, the National Amputee Golf Association’s clinics, and the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s (GAP) adaptive golf programming. He also serves on GAP’s Adaptive Golf Committee. He recently started coaching a youth golfer who also lost his leg to amputation, and has since made his high school golf team. Heller also says that many Rolling Green members have told him that he is an inspiration when they see him play golf, which only motivates to promote the game of golf more.
Beatrice Smith, PGA, a PGA assistant golf professional at Gulph Mills Golf Club in King of Prussia, Pa., and the Section’s 2024 Justin Riegel Assistant Golf Professional of the Year. The award recognizes PGA of America Golf Professionals who have excelled in business and merchandising in the promotion of golf, and is named for the late Justin Riegel, a past Section Assistant Golf Professional of the Year. Smith believes that the keys to success as a PGA assistant golf professional are flexibility and versatility, having learned the approach from a mentor who encouraged her to become a “Swiss Army Knife” golf professional – capable of handling various tasks regardless of specialization or preference. She says that she has embraced that philosophy, and that it has helped her become a well-rounded PGA Professional. Maintaining a positive attitude and having a willingness to learn are essential to her success. Smith leads the buying program at Gulph Mills, and strives to introduce new lines and products each year, while also offering the beloved brands that their members cherish. She says it is vital to understand their members’ preferences to create an efficient and productive buying plan. Outside of her normal teaching and coaching routine at the club, Smith also hosts multi-day golf schools at PGA Golf Club in Florida during the offseason, ensuring that she stays connected with her students year-round. At the Section level, Smith has engaged with and is a member of the Philadelphia PGA Women’s Committee, helping women PGA Professionals connect and network to improve their careers and facility operations. In terms of community impact, Smith has not slowed down; she is an assistant varsity golf coach and youth development director at the Agnes Irwin School in Bryn Mawr, Pa., and has been involved with organizations and events such as HerClub, Women Golfers Give Back, and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Lori DesRuisseaux is a sales representative for Belyn Key, Criquet, Corkcicle, 2Undr, VimHue, Skoni, Melly M, Cappai Designs, and OTG247, and is the Section’s 2024 Salesperson of the Year. This award recognizes a sales representative who contributes to the Section and is involved with sponsoring Section events. They are also respected among their fellow Section clubs and have implemented new ideas to assist growing the game of golf. Lori has been a longtime supporter of the Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals. Her philosophy in approaching her business and being a great partner is to be a great listener, have attention to detail, be very responsive, never oversell, and be passionate about what she does. DesRuisseaux is sure to keep her clients up-to-date on what is selling well, what the current trends are, and provide new ideas for their merchandise and event operations. She serves on the Women’s Central Penn Golf Association Board of Directors, and has volunteered for several USGA events, including championships at local facilities such as Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club, and Stonewall.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this press release unintentionally omitted the piece about our 2024 Professional Development Award recipient, Sean Palmer, PGA. We sincerely apologize and regret the error.
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 300 golf facilities in our region.
Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com
