Award winners from around the country gathered recently in Philadelphia to network and share ideas at the 2025 PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Conference. The eighth annual conference, part of the PGA Magazine Conference Series, provided an opportunity for two dozen PGA of America Golf Professionals to discuss their future plans and hear from industry experts.
The conference was held Oct. 26-28 at The Union League Liberty Hill in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania. Attendees spent time together meeting, sharing meals and playing golf at Liberty Hill and the Landings short course at The Union League’s Torresdale facility – a recipe for networking and discussing the golf business with peers at similar points in their careers.
“It was really amazing to meet other golf professionals like me, do some networking and learn from the panel discussions,” said attendee Bea Mauricio, the 2025 North Florida PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year from St. Johns Golf Club in Elkton, Florida. “I took a lot of notes and will bring those ideas to my facility, and have plenty to think about regarding my future and my journey. It was a really great experience and I’m really thankful to be able to have attended.”
Mauricio and her peers took part in breakout sessions around the conference theme of “Navigating Your Career Roadmap,” covering areas like retailing, leadership, career planning and education. Attendees were also joined throughout the conference by 2015 PGA Golf Professional of the Year Tom Henderson and 2020 Deacon Palmer Award winner J.P. Lunn, who served as group mentors and shared their personal journeys from the assistant ranks to becoming leaders in the golf business.
“When I was a Head Golf Professional and hiring assistants, I was always looking for people with that passion for the golf business,” said Henderson, the longtime PGA of America Head Professional at Connecticut’s Round Hill Club. “If I saw that passion, I knew that person would work out. That’s why you need to make sure you find the part of this business that you feel passionate about and let it shine.”
“One of the toughest things for young professionals in this business is making time to get out and meet other golf professionals in person,” added Lunn. “Texting and Zoom calls are great, but make the effort to go to your Section meetings and tournaments so you have a chance to have the sidebar conversations during a round or at dinner that will build relationships. That’s what this business is built on.”
The 2025 PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Conference included an in-depth Q&A session with Lunn and Henderson, and PGA of America Career Consultants Joe Doughty and Jonathan Gold were also on hand to provide guidance and discuss the career-building resources available to less experienced golf professionals.
Attendees also participated in a panel discussion with event partners, providing them insights into the golf business and how current and future trends are impacting the industry – and will impact their careers moving forward.
Presenting partners of the 2025 PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Conference included Antigua, Full Swing, the PGA of America, Ping, Pukka and UST Mamiya. —Don Jozwiak
