Are you or someone that you know making significant contributions to the game of golf in your community, or are you thinking outside the box and advancing the game? The Northern California PGA presents the following special awards to recognize the outstanding performances and superior achievements of our NCPGA PGA Professionals, PGA Associates and Industry Representatives. Based on the individuals’ entire career, emphasis is placed on the last five years of achievements and is presented to recognize extraordinary accomplishments both on and off the course.
2026 NCPGA Special Awards Committee
The Special Awards Committee is here to assist you with the nomination process. Please contact your chapter representative or the committee chair with your questions.
| Committee | Title/Representation | Facility | |
| Eric Lippert, PGA | Honorary President/Chair | Pebble Beach Golf Links | lipperte@pebblebeach.com |
| Brant Wilson, PGA | Committee Member | Seascape Golf Club | brant@seascapegc.com |
| Len Dumas, PGA | Committee Member | Retired | lenordcdumas@gmail.com |
| Ashley Marsay, PGA | Committee Member | San Francisco Golf Club | ashley.marsay@sfgolfclub.com |
| Tom Morton, PGA | Committee Member | Haggin Oaks Golf Complex | tmorton@hagginoaks.com |
| Geoff Bisi, PGA | Committee Member | Sharon Heights Golf & CC | geoff@shgcc.com |
| Justin Saragueta, PGA | Committee Member | Winchester Country Club | justinsaragueta@gmail.com |
| AJ Musser, PGA | Committee Member | North Ridge Country Club | aj@northridgegolf.com |
| Pat Jones, PGA | Committee Member | Bayonet & Black Horse | pjones@bayonetblackhorse.com |
| Caitlyn Doyle, PGA | Staff Liaison | NCPGA Office (Executive Director) | cdoyle@pgahq.com |
| Jenna Andersen | Staff Liaison | NCPGA Office | jandersen@pgahq.com |
Golf Professional of the Year**
The NCPGA Golf Professional of the Year Award is one of the highest honors the Association can bestow on a working club professional whose total contributions to the game best exemplify the complete PGA Professional. This award embraces a wide range of services executed by the club professional (the finest exhibition of spirit, determination, business acumen, professionalism, promotion of the game of golf as well as service to the NCPGA and the Association).
NOTE: In order to be submitted on behalf of the NCPGA to the PGA National Awards Program, the NCPGA Award Winner must be a Class A PGA member in good standing for a minimum total of 10 years.
Teacher & Coach of the Year**
The NCPGA Teacher & Coach of the Year Award is designed to recognize a PGA Professional who is an outstanding teacher of golf among the ranks of PGA membership. This award is based on a professional’s overall performance in teaching; unusual, innovative and special teaching programs initiated or implemented; articles published; as well as outstanding golfers the professional has instructed.
NOTE: In order to be submitted on behalf of the NCPGA to the PGA National Awards Program, the NCPGA Award Winner must be a Class A PGA member in good standing for a minimum total of 10 years & Candidate must be a Master Professional or Certified Professional in Teaching & Coaching OR, must have attended or conducted a minimum combined total of TEN (10) national teaching workshops, teaching/coaching summits or sectional teaching workshops or teaching/coaching summits within the last FIFTEEN (15) years.
PGA Professional Development Award**
The NCPGA Professional Development Award recognizes the PGA Professional who is the model educator of PGA Golf Professionals. This award is designed to give special recognition to an individual PGA Professional for outstanding and continuing contributions to professional education.
NOTE: In order to be submitted on behalf of the Section to the PGA National Awards Program, the NCPGA Award Winner must be a Class A PGA member in good standing for a minimum total of 10 years & must be one of the following: Master Professional, Certified Professional, served as an Association Subject Matter Expert (SME), adjunct PGA faculty member, OR have conducted and/or taught at a minimum combined total of TEN (10) national education programs/workshops (to include PGA PGM) or sectional education programs/workshops within the last TEN (10) years.
Bill Strausbaugh Award**
The NCPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award is designed to recognize PGA Professionals who by their day-to-day efforts have distinguished themselves by mentoring their fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations and through service to the community.
NOTE: In order to be submitted on behalf of the Section to the PGA National Awards Program, the NCPGA Award Winner must be a Class A PGA member in good standing for a minimum total of 10 years.
Youth Player Development Award**
The NCPGA Youth Player Development Award (formerly the Junior Golf Leader) recognizes the PGA Professional who is a leader in junior golf and who reflects the ideals of those who work with youth.
NOTE: In order to be submitted on behalf of the Section to the PGA National Awards Program, the NCPGA Award Winner must currently be a Class A PGA member in good standing and involved in youth player development efforts as either a PGA Associate or Member for a minimum total of 10 years.
Merchandiser of the Year**
The NCPGA Merchandiser of the Year Award is designed to recognize those Class A PGA Professionals who have excelled as business persons / merchandisers in the promotion of golf. The NCPGA honors PGA Professionals in three categories: Private, Public and Resort facilities.
Player Development Award**
Awarded to PGA Professionals for their extraordinary & exemplary contributions to player development and promotion of the game.
NOTE: In order to be submitted on behalf of the NCPGA to the PGA National Awards Program, the NCPGA Award Winner must currently be a Class A PGA member in good standing and involved in player development as either a Member or Associate for a minimum total of 10 years.
Patriot Award**
The Patriot Award is presented to a PGA Professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America.
NOTE: In order to be submitted on behalf of the NCPGA to the PGA National Awards Program, the NCPGA Award Winner must currently be a Class A PGA member in good standing and involved in military programming efforts as either a PGA Member or Associate for a minimum total of 10 years.
Assistant Professional of the Year
The NCPGA Assistant Professional of the Year Award is designed to recognize a PGA Assistant Professional (A-8), or Associate (B-8) for their overall performance as an Assistant Professional. This award is based on a professional’s overall performance in leadership, service to the NCPGA and community and promotion of the game of golf.
Club Fitter of the Year
The NCPGA Club Fitter of the Year Award is designed to recognize a PGA Class A Professional who has exhibited great knowledge in club fitting while striving to improve the game through properly fitted equipment.
Golf Course Superintendent of the Year
The NCPGA Golf Course Superintendent of the Year Award is bestowed an individual for their service and contributions to the game of golf within the Northern California PGA.
Sales Representative of the Year
The NCPGA Sales Representative of the Year Award is awarded to an individual for their service to Northern California PGA Professionals, their merchandising team members and to the NCPGA.
Sports Media Person of the Year
The NCPGA Sports Media Person of the Year Award is awarded to an individual who has done an exceptional job in promoting and reporting the story of the PGA Professional in the Northern California PGA.
2025 NCPGA Special Awards Recipients
Golf Professional of the Year
John Hermans, PGA
Montreux Golf & CC
Assistant Golf Professional of the Year
Desmond Maisel
Sharon Heights Golf & CC
Player Development Award
Meredith Lobeck, PGA LPGA
Granite Bay Golf Club
Youth Player Development Award
Terry Sullivan, PGA
Santa Teresa Golf Club
Teacher and Coach of the Year
Richard Marik, PGA
MarikCoaching.com
Salesperson of the Year
Richard Davison
Club Fitter of the Year
Kevin Bresnahan, PGA
The Olympic Club
Merchandiser of the Year (Private)
Kelsey Jo Holsten, PGA
Monterey Peninsula Country Club
Bill Strausbaugh Award
Matt Jordan, PGA MP
The Olympic Club
Superintendent of the Year Award
Michael Knoll
Del Monte Golf Course
Professional Development Award
Will Robins, PGA
Will Robins Golf
Patriot Award
Shannon Kahahane, PGA
Lincoln Hills Golf Club
2025 Section Players of the Year
Player of the Year honors are awarded to the top PGA Professionals and Associates for exemplary play throughout the tournament season and are based upon the Year to Date Points List in the following five categories: Section POY, Senior POY, Super Senior POY, Women’s Division POY, and Assistant-Associate POY. Congratulations to the following players:
Section Player of the Year – Chelso Barrett, PGA (CordeValle)
Assistant / Associate Player of the Year – Trevor Clayton, PGA (Ridge Creek Dinuba Golf Club)
Women’s Player of the Year – Pat Hurst, PGA
Senior Player of the Year – Lance Johnson, PGA
Super Senior Player of the Year – Mike Paul, PGA (University of Nevada, Reno)
