Ron Branca Announced as Utah PGA Professional of the Year

Author: N

   The name Branca holds a certain acknowledged reverence at The Country Club located on Salt Lake City‘s Eastside.  Much of that name respect comes from the fifty-some years that Tee Branca served as the Golf Professional at that premier Salt Lake golf club. Now they have another generation of Branca achievement to add to the legacy. Ron Branca has been named The Utah Section PGA Professional of the Year for 2011!

   Chris Stover Utah Section Secretary and Awards Chair noted that “Ron Branca has been a prominent member of the PGA for over 35 years and a member of the Utah Section PGA since its inception 25 years ago”. “Ron has served as an officer of the Central Chapter of the Rocky Mtn. Section which was a precursor to the Utah Section”. “He has won Section Awards on numerous previous occasions including Teacher of the Year, Merchandiser of the Year, and the Gentleman Jeff Award”. “He is not only a great recipient of this award but a great PGA Golf Professional”.

   This is Ron’s first Professional of the Year Award but probably not his last.  Ron’s commitment to quality service for the members at The Country Club, his service to his fellow golf professionals, and the interest in golf community at large has been inspiring to all of us. He is a proven leader and a great player of the game. He exemplifies the great qualities that we admire in a golf professional. Congratulations to Ron for achieving this the highest award bestowed on one of our PGA Members.

   Branca will be honored further in the December issue of the PGA Magazine and at the Utah Section PGA Honors Banquet in St. George, Utah on February 7, 2012. Other 2011/2012 Award winners will be honored at the banquet, are:

Assistant Professional of the Year- Dustin Volk, Davis Park GC

Teacher of the Year- Corey Badger, The Golf Lab

Junior Golf Leader- Quentin Sasser, Nibley Park GC

Merchandiser of the Year- Public Facilities- Jon Schneiter, Schneiter’s Bluff GC

Merchandiser of the Year- Private- Robert McArthur, Riverside CC

Horton Smith Award (Member Education & Mentoring)- Scott Brandt

Bill Strausbaugh Award (Member Employment & Community Activity)- Eric Nielsen, Willow Creek CC

Bill Howard Award (Amateur Golf Citizen of the Year)- Mark Yardley, Beaver High School Coach

Course Superintendent of the Year- Private- Tom Hulet, Bloomington CC

Course Superintendent of the Year- Public- Steve Larsen, Southgate GC

John Wallace Award (Salesperson of the Year)- Phil Deimling, TaylorMade

PGA President’s Plaque (Growth of the Game)- Chris Newson, Soldier Hollow GC

Gentleman Jeff Award (Professionalism)- Tom Costello