Author: Jesse Dodson
The Utah Section PGA, experts in the game and business of golf in Utah, is proud to conclude another successful season with the releasing of the 2018 Utah Section PGA Awards. Utah PGA Executive Director Devin Dehlin shared the following message, “We have 350 Members and Associates in our Section that are making a difference in the game of golf on a daily basis. This year we had more nominees than ever before with so many deserving Professionals. We are very proud of this year’s winners and the overall group of Professionals in Utah.”
Winners of the annual awards are nominated by Utah Section PGA Professionals. Award winners are dedicated to their profession and work to improve the quality of golf in Utah, including growing and teaching the game.
2018 Utah Section PGA Awards and Recipients:
Professional of the Year: Ryan Kartchner, Promontory Club
Teacher of the Year: Corey Badger, Golf Lab
Youth Player Development Award: Todd Mullen, Cove View Golf Course
Player Development Award: Chip Wesley, Topgolf
Assistant of the Year: Pete Stone, Valley View Golf Course
Jon Unger Award: Phil Deimling, TaylorMade
Merchandiser of the Year (Private): Marty Bauer, Glenwild Golf & Country Club
Merchandiser of the Year (Public): Dustin Volk, Valley View Golf Course
Superintendent of the Year (Private): Ben Timmons, Jeremy Ranch Golf Club
Superintendent of the Year (Public): Spencer Mendenhall, Eagle Mountain Golf Course
Horton Smith Award: Doug Vilven
Bill Howard Award: Paul Pugmire, The First Tee Utah
Gentleman Jeff Award: Zach Johnson, Davis Park Golf Course
Presidential Service Award: Riverside Country Club
Governor’s Industry Service Award: Tony Finau
Highlighting the award season each year is the Professional of the Year award, won this year by Utah Section PGA President and Promontory Club Head Golf Professional Ryan Kartchner.
“To be put in a class of professionals that have won this award is very humbling,” Kartchner said. “I look up to and view many of those professionals as my mentors. I am truly honored to
have been voted by my peers as the recipient of this award. There are so many people in this industry that have helped shape me into the golf professional I am today.”
Kartchner has served as a Utah Section officer for the last six years, dedicated to the betterment of the Section and improving the quality of golf in Utah. Not only has he made a big impact to the Utah Section, he’s made large improvements to his newly appointed Promontory Club by focusing on the enjoyment of the game for the members he serves.
A common focus of all Utah PGA award winners is the current state of the game and improving golf in Utah. A stalwart example of this comes from 2018 Player Development Award Winner Chip Wesley, director of instruction at Topgolf Salt Lake City.
“My passion is to help grow the game of golf,” Wesley said. “My motivation behind teaching the game of golf is to give back to the game that has given me so much. This is my first PGA Award and I consider being acknowledged by my peers to be the biggest accomplishment I could receive as a teacher.”
In addition to the Utah Section PGA award recipient announcement the following Section Members, through their exceptional play on the golf course, have been named 2018 Omega Players of the Year:
Zach Johnson of Davis Park Golf Course is the 2018 Player and Assistant Player of the Year. Ryan Rhees of The Oaks Golf Course is the Senior Player of the Year.
Darci Olsen from Glenmoor Golf Course has been named the Section’s first-ever Women’s Player of the Year.
The Utah Section PGA’s mission is to be a leader in promoting the enjoyment of and involvement in the game of golf. The Utah Section PGA seeks to be a strong prominent organization within the golf community by providing quality programs and services to both PGA members and all golfers in Utah.