The PGA of America Awards Ceremony brought out a mix of strong emotions, entertaining stories and gratitude to open the Association’s 2024 Annual Meeting. Held in the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Nov. 5, the elegant event honored 12 PGA of America Golf Professionals for their remarkable work serving golfers and each other.
The awards ceremony, hosted by Sirius XM’s David Marr III, highlighted 2024 winners like PGA Golf Professional of the Year Tony Pancake, PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year Joe Hallett and PGA Golf Executive of the Year Kelly Williams.
“The PGA of America Awards Ceremony is one of the most inspiring evenings every year,” said outgoing PGA of America President John Lindert. “Our 2024 PGA of America Award recipients have dedicated their lives to helping countless individuals enjoy this game we all love, and they do it exceptionally well. Their passion, dedication and accomplishments are a great representation of what our more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals do on a daily basis.”
The evening also spotlighted the many connections between PGA of America Golf Professionals across the country and across award categories.
For example, 2024 PGA of America Player Development Award winner Dean Kandle and 2024 Bill Strausbaugh Award winner Jim Smith Jr. shared the stage in accepting their awards, and discussed their shared past – Kandle is one of the 40-plus PGA of America Members who worked for Smith that have gone on to other jobs in the golf industry.
In winning the 2024 PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year Award, Hallett became a two-time national award winner following his 2018 PGA Professional Development Award recognition. As he accepted this year’s award, he disclosed that he received a congratulatory text message from Jim McLean, who also won both of those prestigious honors. And Deacon Palmer Award winner Mark Egly discussed his personal relationship with Arnold Palmer, and how his mentorship made winning the award named for Palmer’s father even more special.
Family also played a starring role in the evening. Williams was joined onstage by his son, Cameron, who helped Marr conduct his Q&A session. And at the conclusion of Pancake’s Q&A as the 2024 PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year, Marr invited the winner’s family up on stage as a “stack of Pancakes” to share in the special moment.
Pancake summed up what he’s learned while reflecting on his career.
“I’ve realized I need to slow down and enjoy every day a little more,” said the PGA of America Director of Golf at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana. “We all spend so much time taking care of people, I see we need to take the time to enjoy it.—Don Jozwiak