PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (Nov. 10, 2021) — In honor of our nation’s Veterans, PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, has announced that Thursday — Veterans Day — will serve as the 5th Annual PGA National Day of HOPE. This nationwide Veterans celebration has two goals: Commemorate our nation’s heroes who protect our freedom, and raise awareness and support for PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), the signature military program for PGA REACH.

PGA HOPE has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which enables Recreational Therapists to refer Veterans to the PGA HOPE program as a form of therapy. Through a robust program strategy, PGA HOPE aspires to create a physically and emotionally healthier Veteran community by shaping lives, changing lives, and possibly saving lives through the game of golf.

The rehabilitative golf program helps Veterans assimilate back into their communities through the social interaction the game provides. Led by PGA Professionals, the program is currently being offered at 165 PGA HOPE Chapters across the country, positively impacting more than 3,500 Veterans annually. Additionally, more than 1,200 PGA Members have been trained in military culture and adaptive golf techniques.

“Thanks to the passion and dedication of PGA Professionals who continue to drive the success of the program, PGA HOPE helps Veterans find inspiration and rehabilitation through the game of golf,” said PGA President Jim Richerson.  “Every Veteran that we inspire through golf is a success story,
and we want to reach as many of our nation’s heroes as possible who need our help and support.”

In support of this year’s PGA National Day of HOPE activities, PGA REACH has launched a OneCause fundraising campaign where individuals and organizations can contribute to meaningful fundraising events in support of Veterans and future PGA HOPE programming.

To donate to PGA REACH Philadelphia and their PGA HOPE Philadelphia program, click here.

2021 PGA National Day of HOPE campaign highlights:

• 14 Teams of four Veterans and one PGA Professional each will participate in the 4th Annual PGA REACH Carolinas HOPE Cup at Kiawah Island Resort on Monday, Nov. 8 — the annual season-ending event showcases the life-changing PGA HOPE program for our Veterans.

• PGA REACH Southern Texas will host a Veterans Day PGA HOPE clinic at the Mac Wylie Golf Center, where the new South Texas PGA HOPE Ambassador Sergio Avendano will join PGA Professionals to introduce the game to more Veterans.

• PGA HOPE Fayetteville will host a PGA HOPE graduation on Veterans Day where Veterans will have an opportunity to play nine holes of golf at North Carolina’s Highland Country Club.

• Tennessee PGA HOPE will host a graduation on Wednesday, November 10th at Old Fort Golf Club where Veterans will play the Bloomfield Links six-hole Course in Murfreesboro.

• GOLFTEC will make a $1 donation to PGA HOPE for every lesson given during November through its DRIVE FOR HOPE campaign. The goal is to raise over $100,000 through lessons and donations.

PGA National Day of HOPE comes on the heels of the 2021 PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week at historic Congressional Club, where 20 Veterans from across the country participated in a four-day specialized golf and wellness training program. The new PGA HOPE Ambassadors will help champion the growth of PGA HOPE programming across their respective PGA Sections.

For more information on PGA National Day of HOPE or to make a donation, visit PGAREACH.org.

About PGA REACH
PGA Foundation, Inc. d/b/a PGA REACH is the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. The mission of PGA REACH is to impact lives through golf. For more information, visit PGAREACH.org, follow @PGAREACH on Twitter and find us on Facebook.

• Rolex Haverford Trust Player of the Year:
  Zac Oakley, PGA, Bidermann G.C.|
• Rolex Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Player of the Year:
  Dave McNabb, PGA, Applebrook G.C.
• Super Senior Player of the Year:
  Brian Kelly, PGA, Bucknell G.C.
• F. Edward DeBaufre Trophy for Scoring Average:
  Zac Oakley, PGA, Bidermann G.C.
• Comeback Player of the Year:
  Mike Moses, PGA, Concord C.C.
• Ike Turner Most Improved Player:
  Braden Shattuck, PGA, Bidermann G.C.
• Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization Player of the Year:
  Brian Bergstol, PGA, Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. (Oct 20, 2021) – Longtime Philadelphia PGA Member Martin “Marty” Lyons, and Albert “Al” Watrous, one of the earliest Members of the PGA of America, a member of the first two United States Ryder Cup teams and a three-time Senior PGA Champion will be inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame, along with PGA Professionals Kyle Heyen, Ed Ibarguen, PGA Past President Paul K. Levy, Martin “Marty” Lyons and Gary Reynolds, during the 105th PGA Annual Meeting on Nov. 3, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Originated in 1940 at the suggestion of famed sportswriter Grantland Rice, the PGA of America Hall of Fame honors and recognizes individuals who through their lives, careers, service and support have made significant and enduring contributions to the PGA of America in its mission to grow the game of golf. Inductees include PGA Golf Professionals, Tour Professionals or Ambassadors who throughout their lives have supported and elevated the image of the PGA Professional, the PGA of America and the game of golf. It is the highest honor that the PGA of America can bestow.

Watrous was one of the most decorated golfers in the Michigan PGA Section’s history. Heyen is an advocate for the game as part of the Colorado PGA Section. A staple in the Carolinas PGA Section leadership ranks, Ibarguen is renowned for his dedication to PGA Education. Levy served as the 40th president of the PGA of America. Lyons was a pioneer in the Philadelphia PGA Section, and Reynolds had a distinguished career in the Connecticut PGA Section.

“The PGA of America takes tremendous pride in honoring the people who have dedicated their professional lives to furthering our mission of elevating the standards of our profession, and growing interest and participation in the game,” said PGA President Jim Richerson. “These six new inductees into the PGA of America Hall of Fame are a source of great inspiration, mentorship and pride for their peers and to future generations of PGA Members. Their countless contributions to the game of golf will be honored forever as an indelible part of our Association’s storied history.”

About the 2021 PGA of America Hall of Fame Inductees

Kyle Heyen, PGA
Colorado PGA Section
Heyen was named the Colorado PGA Section’s Golf Professional of the Year twice (2005-2006), won the Section’s Professional Development Award four times (1993, 1999-2001) and Player Development Award twice (2007-2008), and served two years as President. He also sat on the Board of Directors for 23 years (eight as an Officer) and was a Committee Chair for 17 years. On the national level, he has won the PGA Player Development Award (2009), and served as a PGA of America Board of Control Member (2008-2012), Co-Chairman of the Governance Committee (2006-2008) and as Player Development Co-Chair (2012-2014). He also served on the Play Golf America Committee (2009), Hall of Fame Selection Committee (2009-2010), Golf 2.0 Platinum Committee Member (2011-2012), PGA of America Membership Committee (2014-2016) and the PGA of America Awards Committee (2015-2016 and Committee Chair in 2017). Heyen created an annual trip to the VA hospital to visit Veterans who were either hospitalized or in for a routine check up and thank them for their service. He was also instrumental in local efforts to grow the game, becoming involved in different capacities in PGA Jr. League, the Colorado PGA’s Golf in Schools Program and Get Golf Ready. Heyen has spent 40 years at Hiwan Golf Club, serving as PGA Head Professional since 1985. He was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.

Ed Ibarguen, PGA
Carolinas PGA Section
A PGA Member for more than 42 years, Ibarguen has worked at Duke University Golf Club since 1988, where he currently serves as General Manager and PGA Director of Golf. He was also a Carolinas PGA Section Officer (1992-1995) and a seven-time Section award winner, including Golf Professional of the Year (2001), Teacher/Coach of the Year (1991, 2003), Bill Strausbaugh (1993) and the Professional Development Award (1990, 1998, 2004). He was inducted into the Carolinas Section Hall of Fame in 2015. He earned two national PGA awards: Bill Strausbaugh Award (1995) and the Professional Development Award (1998) and served on the national Board of Control from 2003-2007. Ibarguen has served as Chairman of several national committees for a total of 12 (2-year) terms, including Teaching/Coaching, Membership and Education. He has been the national chair for PGA Education since 2017. A PGA Master Professional, Ibarguen has been a nationally recognized teacher/coach as a GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher (since 2001), GRAA Top 50 (since 2012) and Golf Digest Best in State (since 2001). Throughout his time as a PGA Member, he has used education and learning as a tool to grow the game to different audiences.

Paul K. Levy, PGA
PGA Past President – PGA of America
Southern California, Southern Texas and Southwest PGA Sections
The 40th President of the PGA of America, Paul Levy is also the President and CEO of PKL Golf Management and Club Services in Pinetop, Arizona, specializing in operational management and consulting services for the golf and club industry. Additionally, Paul is President of Distinguished Golf Destinations, a company that recognizes the best golf facilities in America that allow play to the general public. As an Officer, he also has served two-year terms as PGA Honorary President, PGA Vice President and PGA Secretary. Levy also served on the PGA Board of Control (2004-2008), as President of the Southern Texas Section (1998-2000) and was named the Southern Texas Golf Professional of the Year (2000). An advocate for junior participation, he is a three-time Section PGA Junior Golf Leader recipient (1992, 1993, 1998) and also earned the Section’s Bill Strausbaugh Award (1999). As PGA President, Levy was influential in the deal to relocate PGA Headquarters to Frisco, Texas, and spearheaded growing the employment consultant arm of PGA of America‘s Career Services and executive search. The $550 million PGA Frisco development will bring 26 PGA of America championships, approximately 150 jobs and a new Northern Texas PGA Section Headquarters. A 1983 LSU graduate, Levy played on the Tigers golf team.

Marty Lyons, PGA (posthumous)
Philadelphia PGA Section
Lyons was a two-time Philadelphia Section Golf Professional of the Year (1956, 1958) and was named to the Section’s Hall of Fame in 1994. He served as Section President from 1942-1947. Lyons was instrumental in bringing the 1958 PGA Championship to Llanerch Country Club, and he advocated aggressively for the Association to change the format from match play to stroke play, which the 1958 Championship adopted. Lyons lived the PGA of America’s mission most notably through his passion for introducing and teaching the game to Veterans returning home from war and to juniors. He established the junior program at his first stop as a PGA Professional in Maple Shade, New Jersey. When he arrived at Llanerch, the program was not open to boys under 16, so Lyons changed that rule and then opened the program to boys and girls of all ages.

Gary Reynolds, PGA
Connecticut PGA Section
Reynolds, a PGA Life Member, earned the Section’s Golf Professional of the Year honor in 1989, and he’s a three-time winner of the Section’s Bill Strausbaugh Award (1996-1998), which he also won nationally in 2001. Reynolds was elected to the Connecticut PGA Professional Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Connecticut Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2011. During his career at The Hartford Golf Club, Reynolds led a variety of initiatives to grow the game, including free instructional clinics, a nine-hole women’s group and programs for health and wellness. He was also a founding board member of First Tee – Connecticut and the Connecticut PGA Section Golf Foundation, which awards grants to youth, diversity, disability and military veteran golf programs. Reynolds also played a considerable role in the City of Hartford restoring Keney Park Golf Course and Goodwin Park Golf Course. 

Al Watrous, PGA (posthumous)
Michigan PGA Section
A three-time Senior PGA Champion, Watrous was named the Michigan Section’s Golf Professional of the Year in 1958 and 1967. He won the Michigan PGA Championship nine times and the Senior Michigan PGA Championship five times. He also won eight PGA Tour events and was a member of the first two U.S. Ryder Cup teams in 1927 and 1929, as well as competing in the 1926 challenge matches (precursor to the Ryder Cup). He finished runner-up to Bobby Jones in the 1926 Open Championship and twice made the PGA Championship semifinals when it was a match-play event. Watrous had a 37-year career as the PGA Professional at Oakland Hills Country Club and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1962, the Polish American Hall of Fame in 1979, the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame in 1982, and the Michigan PGA Hall of Fame in 2011. He served as Michigan Section President from 1936-1937. In addition, Watrous penned a regular column designed to reach new golfers in the Detroit Times called “How to Play Golf.”

For a full list of PGA of America Hall of Fame Members, click here.

About the PGA of America

PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of nearly 28,000 PGA Professionals who work daily to grow interest and inclusion in the game of golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Media Contact

Michael Abramowitz  PGA of America  mabramowitz@pgahq.com 561-389-4647

Anthony Witrado      PGA of America   awitrado@pgahq.com        561-446-4763

Bethlehem, Pa. (October 14, 2021) — The Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) retained their title in the 29th Philadelphia Challenge Matches, defeating the Philadelphia PGA Section 10 points to 8 on a beautiful autumn day at Saucon Valley Country Club.

To view the full results of the 29th Challenge Matches, click here.

The Philadelphia Challenge Matches would not be possible without the support and energy of Robin McCool. McCool was instrumental in getting the matches started nearly 30 years ago and revitalizing them by bringing in support from Jim Wilson of Ping, Jim Ravina of Donald Ross, and our host facility, Saucon Valley Country Club. McCool serves as the Honorary Captain for the GAP team and serves as Honorary Chair of the event. Everyone owes Robin a debt of gratitude for all of his efforts.

The Philadelphia Challenge Matches pits two 12-person teams, including at least two senior contestants, from GAP and the Philadelphia PGA Section in a concurrent individual match and better-ball match. Each match is worth one point. Ties are halved. The Philadelphia Section leads the series, 21-3-4. There were no contests in 2019 and 2020 due to severe weather and the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively.

The GAP team included John Barone of Glenmaura National Golf Club, Michael Brown Jr. of Lulu Country Club, Jeff Frazier of Carlisle Country Club, Jack Irons of Little Mill Country Club, Andrew Keeling of Kennett Square Golf & Country Club, Patrick Knott of Merion Golf Club, Sean McMonagle of Tavistock Country Club, Scott McNeil, Oscar Mestre of Overbrook Golf Club, Ross Pilliod of LedgeRock Golf Club, Josua Ryan of 1912 Club, and Troy Vannucci of Little Mill Country Club.

The team of Philadelphia PGA Professionals was led by Captain Michael Little and also featured Trevor Bensel of Overbrook Golf Club, Brian Bergstol of Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, George Forster, Mike Furey of Saucon Valley Country Club, Brian Kelly of Bucknell Golf Club, Chris Krueger of Kings Creek Country Club, Hugo Mazzalupi of Patriots Glen National Golf Club, Dave McNabb of Applebrook Golf Club, Zac Oakley of Bidermann Golf Club, Braden Shattuck of Bidermann Golf Club, and Dustin Wallis of Honey Run Golf Club.

To view the full results of the 29th Challenge Matches, click here.

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 Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

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