By Jim Nugent
They have been described as the backbone of American golf.
They are instructors, small businessmen, tournament administrators, rules officials, employers, mentors and knowledgeable golf equipment ambassadors. Many are talented merchandisers, overseers of golf car fleets and unlicensed psychologists called upon to counsel struggling amateur golfers. Some of these men and women are all of the above and more.
Of course I am referring to PGA of America golf professionals.
For all they accomplish in their respective operations – which is substantial in and of itself – many of these individuals also play the game at a remarkably high level both nationally and locally. To recognize their competitive achievements, Global Golf Post is proud to salute the best on-course performance among PGA golf professionals by naming our 11th annual PGA of America All-Pro Team.
Here’s our criteria to be considered: the professional had to be classified A-1 (head golf professional at a golf course), A-4 (director of golf) or A-13 (general manager). We limited the pool of candidates to these classes because we want to recognize the pros who perform a wide variety of leadership tasks while continuing to perform in tournaments.
We looked at finishes in several key tournaments in 2025, including the PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship, the PGA Professional Championship, Senior PGA Professional Championship, U.S. Open, U.S. Senior Open and PGA Tournament Series. We then considered performance in section events, utilizing player-of-the-year points as proxy for sustained excellence.
This year, we narrowed our selection to 37 PGA professionals who posted outstanding results. They are to be applauded for their strong play and respected for competing at a high level while balancing all of the duties that come with their jobs.
As we have done in previous years, we also identified the Pro’s Pro – one exemplary professional who embodies the spirit of our All-Pro effort. This year’s selection is Tony Pancake, the longtime director of golf and club operations at Crooked Stick Golf Club near Indianapolis. As John Steinbreder explains in his accompanying profile, Pancake sought advice from several highly regarded professionals as he embarked on his first head-pro job at Kentucky’s Valhalla Golf Club nearly four decades ago. In the years since he has paid the lessons he learned forward as a mentor to his assistant professionals, helping more than 40 of them secure head-pro positions, while helping club members and his own children develop their games.
More than anything, Pancake’s dedication to being a caretaker – whether that means guiding facilities or the game of golf in a broader sense, as his service to the PGA in positions of governance in the Indiana section and nationally reflects – makes him a perfect fit to be our Pro’s Pro.
If one of these All-Pro selections is your club pro, drop him a note and congratulate him on being selected; he’ll appreciate it. And even if your pro is not among those honored here, consider thanking him or her for advancing the game of golf in America.
PGA professionals are the irreplaceable lifeblood of our game, and we hope this small effort shines light on all that these individuals do.
