The 2024 PGA Golf Professional of the Year Conference provided a group of more than two dozen award-winning PGA of America Golf Professionals a unique opportunity to discuss the continuing changes to the business of golf and their lives as the sport continues to boom across the country.
The invitation-only annual conference, held Nov. 17–20, 2024, was hosted for a 15th consecutive year at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon. A theme of “Embracing Constant Change” gave attendees at the event for national and Section PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year Award winners a chance to share their thoughts and learn about what their peers are experiencing.
The gathering, part of the PGA Magazine Conference Series, featured four days of authentic, in-depth discussions about the booming business of golf that spanned panel discussions, breakout group meetings and networking opportunities on and off the golf course.
“Our goal with this conference is to provide you with the platform to exchange ideas, experiences and lessons learned,” PGA Magazine President Brian Folino said at the outset of the conference. “We’re excited to talk about what motivates you to respond to and embrace change, and how you have embraced change personally and professionally.”
The assembled award winners were led by 2024 PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year Tony Pancake and included PGA of America Professionals with dozens of various national and Section awards between them.
In a fireside chat during the opening session of the conference, Pancake discussed how his fellow PGA of America Professionals helped him navigate change and continue to grow on his journey as PGA of America Head Professional at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana.
“I think the reason I won this award is because of the help I’ve had along the way, and the mentors I’ve had,” Pancake told attendees. “I was at this conference five years ago and the experience helped me build relationships with so many great PGA of America Golf Professionals from around the country. I was so glad to get a chance to come back this year, and I know I’ll take a lot of great ideas back to my club.”
The “Embracing Constant Change” theme of the 2024 PGA Golf Professional of the Year Conference allowed attendees to share ideas from their home facilities, while framing discussions on the state of the industry that occurred in meetings and on the golf course.
Each morning breakout session featured a different mix of attendees, ensuring every PGA Professional was able to meet and hear from all of their peers over the course of the conference. Attendees at the conference were also able to extend their conversations and camaraderie to the fairways and greens, as as PGA of America Professionals played three of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort’s highly ranked golf courses: Pacific Dunes, Sheep Ranch and Old Macdonald.
“The breakout sessions were especially valuable, offering practical insights that I’m eager to incorporate at my clubs,” said Nic Ingram, PGA of America Club Manager at The National Golf Club of Kansas City and The Bluffs Golf Club in Missouri, and the 2023 Midwest PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year. “It was a great opportunity to connect with other professionals and exchange ideas.
“I leave the conference feeling inspired and excited to continue growing in the golf industry.”
Another highlight of the 2024 PGA Golf Professional of the Year Conference was an in-depth chat with PGA of America President Don Rea Jr. just 10 days after he was sworn into the office.
“As Secretary and Vice President of the Association for four years, everyone knows I’m very passionate and outspoken about our profession,” Rea said. “As President, I need to approach things differently. I need to listen more and encourage others to speak in the boardroom. Externally, I want to be the representative of our 30,000-plus PGA of America Members who express that passion every day. PGA Members love golf, and we love people who love golf even more.”
Representatives from PGA Golf Professional of the Year Conference presenting partners Bandon Dunes, E-Z-GO, the PGA of America, Ping, Pukka and UST Mamiya also participated in a panel discussion on golf industry trends. In addition, conference attendees were welcomed to Bandon Dunes by Jeff Simonds, the facility’s PGA of America General Manager.
Simonds discussed upcoming projects at Bandon Dunes, which recently celebrated its 25th year in business. The resort is looking to add a sixth 18-hole golf course south of the existing property, along with more accommodations on-site, and will be hosting the 2026 PGA Professional Championship on its Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes courses.
Presenting partners of the 2024 PGA Golf Professional of the Year Conference were Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, E-Z-GO, Golf Genius, the PGA of America, Ping, Pukka and UST Mamiya. Supporting partners were BN3TH, Bioesque, Motocaddy, Premier Golf and Stracka Line.