WA celebrates 2017 year of golf

POSTED ON March 21, 2018 @ 4:24 pm

The 2018 WA Golf Industry Gala Dinner was another glittering affair as representatives from all over Western Australian came together to celebrate a successful 2017 for golf.

The Astral Ballroom at Crown, Perth saw many recognised for their outstanding achievements, with the WA Golf Industry Gala dinner a chance for the WA golfing community to come together with representation from Golf WA, GMA – WA and the Course Superintendents Association all in attendance.

This year with the Holden Scramble Regional Finals aligning with the Dinner, attendees came from as far away as Broome to celebrate the hard work and outstanding results that WA has seen throughout the year, with numbers once again over 460.

WA PGA Chairman Rob Farley welcomed our the 2017 PGA Trainee graduates as full members of the Association, welcome to the PGA fraternity; Keenan Baatjes, Bronte Colbert, Andrew MacAuslan, Alex McKay, Simon Smith and Michael Long who completed the PGA Bridging program.

The significant contribution of many PGA Professionals was also recognised on the night and congratulations go to all the award recipients.

Hilary Lawler PGA Professional of the Year: Byron Clarkson – Spalding Park Golf Club

PGA Coach of the Year: Ritchie Smith – Melville Glades Golf Club

PGA Pro-Am of the Year: The Roy Hill Port Hedland Golf Classic

PGA Tournament of the Year: Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open – Royal Perth Golf Club

Last year saw Maxine Bishop, Eileen Dawson MBE, Terry Gale, Roger MacKay and Graham Marsh MBE inducted into the WA Golf Industry Hall of Champions. This year Dennis Bell was added to the illustrious list for his long list of achievements in the game which included three WA Open wins as an amateur.

This year the selection committee couldn’t split Hannah Green and Brett Rumford for honours of the 2017 Outstanding Golf achievement Award, so both were honoured with the title. Rumford won the inaugural ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth, tri-sanctioned by the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, European Tour and Asian Tour held at Lake Karrinyup CC in February 2017 and rejuvenated his career. Hannah Green had a breakout year on the Symetra Tour which included three wins which secured her full time status on the LPGA Tour for 2018.

Congratulations to all awardees:

WA Golf Industry Recognition Award: John Forrest
Outstanding Golf Achievement Award: Brett Rumford and Hannah Green
PGA Teaching Professional of the Year: Ritchie smith (Melville Glades GC)
Metropolitan Golf Course of the Year: Joondalup Country Club
Regional Golf Course of the Year: Bunbury Golf Club
GCSAWA Apprentice of the Year: Michael Vroom (Mandurah Country Club)
Superintendent of the Year: Phil Moylan (Gosnells GC)
Employee of the Year: Nicole Weatherhead (Mosman Park GC)
Volunteer of the Year: John Curnow (Melville Glades GC)
Outstanding Game Development Award: Tom Hughson (Empower Golf)
PGA Pro-AM of the Year: The Roy Hill Port Hedland Golf Classic