Medinah CC's Scully named IPGA professional of the year
Mike Scully, PGA head golf professional at Medinah Country Club, has been named the 54th recipient of the Illinois PGA Golf Professional of the Year, the highest honor bestowed on a PGA professional.
A member of The PGA of America since 1999, Scully is the second head golf professional at Medinah Country Club to be honored as the Illinois PGA Golf Professional of the Year. In 1997, long-time Medinah head golf professional Mike Harrigan was named the Illinois PGA Golf Professional of the Year. This award recognizes the individual who best exemplifies the promotion of golf, community, charitable involvement, dedication, leadership and the ability to inspire fellow PGA professionals.
"To be recognized by my fellow PGA professionals as the 2008 Illinois PGA Golf Professional of the Year is an honor that I accept with great pride and humility," said Scully. "I believe my success within the golf industry can be attributed to a strong work ethic, a dependable staff, and the never-ending support of my family and friends. I will cherish this award as a symbol of my achievements within the Illinois PGA for many years to come."
Scully will be honored at the Illinois PGA Special Awards Reception sponsored by E-Z-GO on Wednesday, October 22 at Medinah Country Club. The award program begins at 8:00 p.m., preceded by a 7:00 p.m. dinner reception. The evening's program will feature all 2008 Illinois PGA Award winners:
• Ryan Holland of Rolling Meadows - Assistant Golf Professional of the Year
• Brett Packee of Vernon Hills - Teacher of the Year
• Rick Anderson of Decatur - Junior Golf Leader
• Bruce Patterson of Clarendon Hills - Bill Strausbaugh Award
• Jim Opp of Palatine - Horton Smith Award
• Carol Rhoades of Lockport - The President's Plaque
• Brian Morrison of Flossmoor - PGA Merchandiser of the Year (Private Facilities)
• Dennis Johnsen of Grayslake - PGA Merchandiser of the Year (Public Facilities)
• Randy Bolstad of Bloomingdale - PGA Merchandiser of the Year (Resort Facilities)
• Ken Weiler of Park Ridge - Bill Heald Career Achievement Award
Scully attended the University of Illinois, where he played on a Big Ten Championship team and in the 1984 Rose Bowl. After earning his degree in hospitality management, Scully was signed as a free agent with the NFL's Washington Redskins in 1988. His NFL dream was cut short by injuries after brief stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks.
Scully made the transition to the golf business in 1994 when he accepted a position as the fourth assistant golf professional at The Forest Country Club in Fort Myers, Fla. In 1999, as he quickly moved up the ranks, he would ultimately gain PGA membership and his first head golf professional position at The Forest. Scully had a clause in his contract allowing him to leave The Forest for the head golf professional position at only one other facility in the country - Medinah Country Club. That clause was prompted by Scully's visit to Medinah in 2002 to speak to the members about joining The Forest for a winter membership.
As fate would have it, the former NFL offensive linemen returned home. Coming into Medinah, he knew the club had the PGA Championship on the calendar in 2006 and the administrative demands would be extremely time-consuming. Not only did he welcome the challenge, but he excelled in providing a most prestigious setting for the PGA's premier event. He became the "face of Medinah," being seen and heard on television and radio stations throughout the country - the whole time projecting a positive image for Medinah, the Illinois PGA and its members.
His contributions to the game of golf extend beyond The PGA of America. He serves on both the Illinois PGA Tournament and Finance committees and is currently a candidate for a three-year term on the Illinois PGA Board of Directors. He also serves on the Executive Committee for the 39th Ryder Cup which will be held at Medinah Country Club in September 2012 - the first ever Ryder Cup Matches held in Illinois.
Illinois PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year - Since gaining PGA membership in May of 2007, Ryan Holland, PGA assistant golf professional at Barrington Hills Country Club, has achieved a great deal in a short amount of time. Holland, 28, is currently the only Illinois PGA member (and one of 18 members nationally) to hold PGA Certified Professional status in all six areas the PGA of America offers. Even more impressive, Holland accomplished the feat in just over six months. He is a regular contributor to PGA.com, with two featured articles in the past six months. Holland is actively involved with the Illinois PGA as a member of the Career Enhancement Committee and Chairman of the Apprentice Education Committee. Originally from Bushnell, Holland attended Western Illinois University, graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration, and currently lives in Rolling Meadows Prior to his current position, he served as an apprentice assistant golf professional at Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove He was a 2007 recipient of the Acushnet Scholarship and a member of the President's Council on Growing the Game.
Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year - Brett Packee of Vernon Hills, is the PGA director of instruction at CORE Golf in Libertyville Packee, 40, a PGA member since 1997, founded CORE Golf in 2001 to provide instruction for juniors and adults through the local park districts in Vernon Hills and Libertyville. He has written numerous instructional tips and produced various golf videos to media outlets. He has been a head instructor for the Golf Digest Golf Schools and for three years he was an assistant golf coach at Northwestern University. In addition, he has coached and instructed top collegiate and PGA Tour players including Luke Donald (1998-1999) and Jess Daley (1998-2000). Packee played collegiate golf from 1986-1989 at the University of Miami (Fla.) on a college scholarship and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from DePaul University. He is a former PGA assistant golf professional at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest and Ravinia Green Country Club in Riverwoods He was the 1996 Illinois PGA Assistant Player of the Year and the 1986 Illinois Junior Golf Association Player of the Year.
Junior Golf Leader Award - A PGA member since 1988, Rick Anderson administers the operation of four Decatur golf facilities: Hickory Point Golf Course, Nelson Park Golf Course, Scovill Golf Club, and Red Tail Run Golf Club. He has also served as administrator of the Park District's Junior Golf Program since 1983, helping to build and enhance the skills of thousands of young golfers over the years by implementing programs such as the Junior Golf Clinic, Winter Junior Program, Family Golf Night and Family Sundays. Anderson has also initiated outreach programs like Hook A Kid, First Tee, SNAG (Start New at Golf) and Career Days to name a few. Anderson, 57, is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Parks & Recreation. Anderson was honored with the 1993 National Golf Foundation Public Golf Achievement Award, and in 1997 he was named the Central Illinois Chapter PGA Golf Professional of the Year.
Bill Strausbaugh Award - As PGA head golf professional at Butler National Golf Club in Oak Brook, PGA master professional Bruce Patterson exemplifies the award's namesake - the late Bill Strausbaugh. This award is presented to PGA members who distinguish themselves by mentoring their fellow professionals and improving employment situations in the Illinois PGA. Patterson, 52, Clarendon Hills, has developed training programs that helped 17 of his former associate golf professionals move on to positions of their own. A dedicated supporter of junior golf programs, Patterson takes great pride in mentoring juniors to provide a better world using golf as the vehicle. A 1979 graduate of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Patterson played four years of varsity golf, earning Playboy All-American honors in 1978. He was elected to PGA membership in 1982 - the same year he was named head golf professional at Butler National. Patterson has been heavily involved with the Illinois PGA, having served as secretary (1991-1992), vice-president (1993-1994) and president (1995-1996). He is currently the president of the Illinois PGA Foundation, a position he has held for the past 17 years. In 2001, Patterson was honored as the Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year and is a two-time recipient of the Illinois PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award (1993, 1996).
Horton Smith Award - A perennial contributor to PGA education opportunities and initiatives, Jim Opp, Palatine, personifies the essence of the Horton Smith Award. This award honors a PGA professional for outstanding and continuing contributions to developing and improving education opportunities for fellow golf professionals. Opp, 58, is the PGA head golf professional at Bonnie Dundee Golf Course in Carpentersville, and was instrumental in securing nationally acclaimed instructor Hank Haney for a seminar that was attended by over 100 Illinois PGA members in the spring of 2008. He has served on the Illinois PGA Board of Directors for the past three years and is currently chairman of the Illinois PGA Education Committee, which works in conjunction with the Career Enhancement Committee to present educational programs to the membership. He is a former president of the Central Illinois Chapter PGA, where he dedicated his time to provide multiple educational programs and opportunities utilizing the talent within the Chapter and the community. He was elected to membership in the PGA of America in 1985. This is Opp's third consecutive Illinois PGA Horton Smith Award.
The President's Plaque Award - Carol Rhoades of Lockport, is in her third season as the PGA head golf professional at Stony Creek Golf Course in Oak Lawn The President's Plaque recognizes individual PGA member professionals for their extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development and growth of the game leadership. Elected to PGA membership in 1992, Rhoades, 45, is an active member of the professional golf community serving on the Illinois PGA Board of Directorsnois PGA Foundation Board of Governors, chairwoman of the Growth of the Game Committee, LPGA National Club Professional Advisory Committeenois Golf Hall of Fame Committee and is a member of the PGA of America's President's Council, a position she has held since 2003. In 2006, Rhoades chaired the community relations initiative for the 88th PGA Championship at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club. She has served on the Illinois PGA Board of Directors since 2004 and is actively involved with a number of committees. Prior to her current position at Stony Creek, Rhoades served as the PGA director of instruction at Flagg Creek Golf Course in Indianhead Park In 2002, Rhoades was named "Top 50 Teachers in America" by Golf for Women a Golf Digest publication. That same year she was honored by the Illinois PGA with the Bill Strausbaugh Award.
PGA Merchandiser of the Year (Private Facilities) - Brian Morrison of Flossmoor, is the PGA director of golf at Olympia Fields Country Club. Morrison, 55, is a 1975 graduate of University of Arizona in Tucson with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Radio & TV Production. Born and raised in Kirkwood, Mo., Morrison grew up caddying in his hometown at Greenbriar Hills Country Club. He began his professional career as an assistant at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Morrison was elected to PGA membership in December of 1980. He served as PGA director of golf at The Landings Club in Savannah, Ga. (1998-2000) and Baltimore Country Club in Timonium, Md. (1991-1997). Morrison started his current position as the PGA director of golf at Olympia Fields in 2001. His golf shop has been in Golf World's Top 25 Private Golf Shops in America for the last six years. He was honored with the 1985 New Jersey Merchandiser of the Year Award and the 2004 Illinois PGA Private Merchandiser of the Year Award.
PGA Merchandiser of the Year (Public Facilities) - Dennis Johnsen of Grayslake, is in his fourth season as the PGA general manager at Pine Meadow Golf Course in Mundelein Elected to PGA membership in 1976, Johnsen, 55, served as the PGA head golf professional at Pottawatomie Golf Club in St. Charles from 1979-1980. He then became PGA head golf professional at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles from 1980-2004, before accepting his current position. Since his arrival at Pine Meadow, Johnsen has increased revenues almost 40 percent by creating a private club experience for the public golfer. He has upgraded lines, added a Zelocity launch monitor, hired a full-time club-fitter and increased demo days with a wide range of manufactures. Johnsen has served the Illinois PGA in various positions including the board of directors and a two-year term as president (2003-2004). This is Johnsen's ninth Illinois PGA award including being honored twice as the Illinois PGA Golf Professional of the Year (1999, 2001).
PGA Merchandiser of the Year (Resort Facilities) - A PGA member since 1991, Randy Bolstad, Bloomingdale, is in his 22nd year as PGA director of golf at Oak Brook (Ill.) Hills Resort, a position he has held since the resort's opening in 1987. Prior to that, Bolstad has worked at three of the most exclusive clubs in the country - Butler National Golf Club in Oak Brook Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in Wellington, Fla., and the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Fla. Bolstad, 49, recently renovated the golf shop including changing the lighting, adding several new accents, updating displays and reframing photos in the shop to enhance the atmosphere. Bolstad focuses on building long term relationships with staff, vendors, sales representatives, and most importantly, his members and guests. He has served on both the Illinois PGA and the Illinois PGA Foundation board of directors. This is the 12th PGA Resort Merchandiser of the Year Award Bolstad has received - the most of any individual Illinois PGA award. He also is a three-time recipient of the Illinois PGA Horton Smith Award (1995-1997).
Bill Heald Career Achievement Award - In a career that would span six decades, Ken Weiler has dedicated his life to the game of golf. It began at the age of 13 when he first donned a Park Ridge (Ill.) Country Club caddie bib. He would move on to compete on the Maine (Ill.) South High School golf team and eventually return to Park Ridge Country Club, this time as an assistant golf professional for three seasons. Weiler, 78, was elected to PGA membership in 1954, at which time he was offered and accepted the head golf professional position at Kishwaukee County Club in DeKalb It didn't long for Weiler to find a way back home, and in 1956, he accepted the head golf professional position at Park Ridge County Club. He would remain there for the next 45 years until his retirement in 1990, when he was given emeritus status. Weiler, a PGA Life Member, is a past recipient of the Illinois PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award, and in 1997 he was honored as the Illinois PGA Professional of the Year. Weiler served the Illinois PGA in every capacity including the board of directors, numerous committees and ultimately as president from 1978-1979. He was instrumental in bringing the Illinois PGA to a fully-functional organization by securing staff and office space. Weiler also excelled on the golf course as a competitor. In 1985, he won the Illinois PGA Senior Match Play Championship and the Illinois Senior Open Championship. By doing so, he was honored as the 1985 Illinois PGA Senior Player of the Year. Weiler's commitment to growing the game can still be seen today as he regularly attends educational seminars and is a personal mentor to many young professionals who benefit from his knowledge, experience and leadership. Over 12 of his former assistants went on to achieve their PGA membership and become head golf professionals. The Bill Heald Career Achievement Award is presented to a PGA member of the Illinois PGA for a career of service to employers, mentoring, community service, playing ability, teaching, junior golf, education and going above and beyond the normal duties of a PGA Professional.