FRISCO, Texas (Jan. 13, 2026) ー The PGA of America is proud to announce its 2025 Players of the Year, with Ben Polland (Jackson, Wyoming), Sandra Changkija (Daytona Beach, Florida) and Justin Hicks (Wellington, Florida) earning their respective PGA Professional, Women’s PGA Professional and Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year Awards presented by Rolex. PGA Professional Player of the Year Award Ben Polland, the PGA Director of Golf at Shooting Star of Jackson Hole in Teton Village, Wyoming, made the most of the PGA TOUR exemptions that came with his 2024 PGA Professional Championship victory. The 35-year-old made four cuts at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches (T-62), Puerto Rico Open (T-70), Corales Puntacana Championship (T-53) and Barracuda Championship (T-23). “Those starts are really fun to get back and play competitively,” said Polland. “I had the right mindsight the whole time. My mentality was better compared to the time when I was trying to play full time. I knew my job was back at Shooting Star and they were really supportive and great to me. I was comfortable with where I was at in my life, recently getting married, loving my job and good golf came a little easier to me.” Polland also posted a T-35 finish in the 2025 PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. His success at the Section level continued when he shot 6-under-par 138 to win by three and repeat as Rocky Mountain PGA Section Champion at The Valley Club in Sun Valley, Idaho. He won Rocky Mountain PGA Player of the Year for the second straight year and third time in his career. As the new year begins, Polland has turned his focus to the 2026 PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes in April and the PGA Cup, which will take place at The K Club in Ireland in September. “This year being at Bandon, which is one of my favorite places on earth, I’m definitely going to enjoy that,” said Polland. “We’re going to be working really hard and having all the focus on that. The other part is this being the second year of the PGA Cup points cycle. I know how to get on the team. It’s pretty cut and dry, you have to play well and earn your way. I need to go out and play well and try to hopefully travel to Ireland with the team.” Polland totaled 1,048 points to win his second consecutive PGA Professional Player of the Year Award. He is the ninth PGA of America Golf Professional to win back-to-back POY awards. Michael Block (Mission Viejo, Calif.) finished second with 687.5 points, followed by Andre Chi (Queens, N.Y.) in third with 640 points and Dylan Newman (Stamford, Conn.) in fourth at 635. Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year Award Sandra Changkija, PGA/LPGA Assistant Professional at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida, delivered yet another solid season in 2025, finishing with 917.5 points to win her second career Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year Award (2022). Changkija is the second two-time winner of the Award (Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth, 2023-24). “It’s great to win another Player of the Year award,” said Changkija. “I had a really good year. I know it doesn’t contribute to winning Player of the Year, but winning the Assistant PPC was pretty cool. I’m always trying to improve and stay ahead of the game.” Changkija, a 16-time winner at Nova Southeastern University, finished runner-up in the Women’s Stroke Play Championship at the PGA Winter Championships in February. In April, she appeared in her third PGA Professional Championship, shooting 71–73-72-74 en route to a T-35 finish at PGA Golf Club. Changkija made her ninth start in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship last June, playing as a member of the Corebridge Financial Team at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco. Her T-6 performance (3-under 213) at the 2025 LPGA Professionals Championship secured a spot in the 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Changkija made history in November when she became the first woman to win the Assistant PGA Professional Championship, registering a final-round 72 to finish at 8-under-par 280 and win by five. Additionally, Changkija captured North Florida PGA Player of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year honors. She won the NFPGA Section and Women’s Section Championship in August after shooting 18-under-par 198 at Streamsong Resort. Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth (Fleming Island, Fla.) finished second in the Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year race with 600 points, followed by Ashley Grier (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) in third at 568.5 and Kim Paez (Frisco, Texas) in fourth at 460. Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year Award Justin Hicks enjoyed a standout 2025 as the PGA Teaching Professional at Stonebridge Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida, and claimed his first Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year honor. The South Florida PGA Member totalled 845.83 points, narrowly finishing ahead of Bob Sowards (Powell, Ohio), who finished second with 734.30 points. Mick Smith (Summit, Wis.) was third with 522.30 points followed by Alan Morin (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) in fourth with 431.50. “It’s certainly a tremendous honor because there’s not many times in your life where you’re able to be in that type of position no matter who you are competing against,” said Hicks. “There are so many good players out there. “I think our section is definitely a very competitive section and having to beat the young guys down here year round in an effort to win our points race, it pushes me all the more. Our section is a big part of that. I’ve got a 14-year-old son, Owen, who is trying to chase me down so that’s a big part of my motivation, too.” The 51-year-old Hicks recorded a T-9 finish at the PGA Professional Championship in April en route to a spot in the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club as a member of the Corebridge Financial Team. After competing in the U.S. Open at Oakmont in June, Hicks won the Senior PGA Professional Championship in October at PGA Golf Club, where he shot a final-round 1-under-par 71 to finish at 8-under-par 280 and win by one. Hicks collected his second consecutive South Florida PGA Player of the Year title after posting top-10 finishes in all four Section majors. “I’ve got a really good network of people I work with,” said Hicks. “I'm always trying to think that my best golf is ahead of me. I’m looking forward to the chance at qualifying for majors again this year. I’m looking forward to playing my first senior major at the Senior PGA. There are so many firsts that are still coming. It’s a very exciting time because I’m playing more golf than ever.”

As a junior in high school attending a family reunion, Nicole Triano, PGA, and her father made a spontaneous stop at Latrobe Country Club in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to browse the golf shop. Unexpectedly, the visit turned into a defining moment when they crossed paths with legendary golfer Arnold Palmer. When Triano shared her dream of becoming a PGA Professional, Palmer smiled and offered his signature thumbs up—a brief interaction that left a lasting impression. Nearly a decade later, that moment comes full circle as Triano, now an Assistant Golf Professional at Wilderness Country Club in Naples, Florida, is named the 2025 South Florida PGA Deacon Palmer Award recipient. The award honors the legacy of Palmer’s father, Deacon Palmer, and recognizes PGA Professionals who demonstrate perseverance, service, and dedication to the game while overcoming personal adversity. “To be presented with an award carrying the Palmer name is a huge honor,” Triano said. “It doesn’t feel like it was earned alone. It reflects the people and the PGA community that lifted me up.” Raised in Westchester, New York, Triano was a multi-sport athlete before discovering golf at a young age. What began as reluctance quickly became a passion that would shape her future. “I grew up playing a lot of sports—soccer, basketball, softball,” Triano said. “They introduced golf to me at Yorktown Athletic Club in Yorktown Heights, New York, and I immediately said, ‘no’. My dad told me, ‘Just give it a try,’ and after that first clinic, I fell in love.” As Triano began to envision a career in golf during high school, her path took an unexpected turn in her junior year when her health rapidly declined. Once a competitive athlete, she suddenly struggled with everyday physical demands. Triano was diagnosed with Dysautonomia, a disorder affecting the autonomic nervous system. Facing uncertainty about graduating high school, she leaned heavily on the support of her family and mentor Skip Marini, her golf coach and an Assistant Golf Professional at Mohansic Golf Course in Yorktown Heights, New York. With their encouragement, Triano persevered, graduating high school and continuing her education. She enrolled in the Professional Golf Management program at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she encountered additional challenges. The heat intensified her symptoms, and the physical demands of the Playing Ability Test (PAT) posed significant obstacles. With perseverance and the support of the university staff, Triano ultimately passed the PAT and graduated. “The staff embraced me and were willing to work with me,” Triano said. “Eventually, I passed my playing ability test and went on to become a PGA Professional.” Triano began her professional career in 2021 at Wilderness Country Club in Naples under PGA Director of Golf Sara Dickson. There, she found a supportive environment that allowed her to contribute meaningfully while prioritizing her health. She remains at the facility today, playing an integral role in daily operations and member engagement. “Sara Dickson took a chance on me,” Triano said. “She, my teammates, and the membership have been absolutely fantastic, and we’ve been able to carve out a plan that allows me to still give back through the game of golf.” At Wilderness, Triano is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere, particularly for members facing physical limitations of their own. Her personal journey has shaped a leadership style grounded in empathy, adaptability, and service.  Triano’s story exemplifies the spirit of the Deacon Palmer Award, which honors those who persevere through adversity while uplifting others. Through resilience, service, and a deep commitment to the game, she continues to inspire golfers and PGA Professionals throughout the South Florida PGA Section.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – In 2022, Joe Downey, PGA made a career-changing decision. Downey decided to move on from his role as Director of Golf at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club in Jupiter to become a Sales Representative with Holderness & Bourne. A vastly different avenue within the golf industry but a new endeavor he took head on, increasing sales in the Florida and Caribbean territory by 235%, making it now a top-3 territory in sales for the company. The significant increase and level of customer service Downey delivers earned him the recognition of 2025 South Florida PGA Salesperson of the Year. The Salesperson of the Year Award annually honors a sales representative serving the Section who has made significant contributions to the game of golf at the Section level and within his/her company and those overall performance as a sales representative including service to accounts, overall integrity, courtesy and professionalism is second to none. Downey’s journey in golf began in high school, when he first started taking the game seriously. He knew that making it as a touring professional was a long-shot, but with his uncle as a PGA Professional, Downey was intrigued by the idea of working in the business. Upon graduating high school, Downey headed off to Campbell University in Bules Creek, North Carolina where he set out to study Professional Golf Management. During this time, Downey interned at Atlantic Golf Club in Bridgehampton, New York. Upon graduation, Downey moved into an Assistant Professional role at Atlantic Golf Club, serving under longtime Head Professional, Rick Hartmann, PGA who turned into a valuable mentor for a young Downey. Hartmann was genuine with members and guests, making everyone feel welcomed, and he knew how to create a comfortable atmosphere, an essential skill trait that Downey observed early on. “You don’t have to change who you are to be the best,” Downey said about the important lessons he learned from Hartmann. Downey also worked seasonally at Floridian National Golf Club in Palm City, where he had his first experience with sales and merchandising. At Floridian, it was solely the job of the golf professionals to oversee the merchandise, and Downey was tasked with the responsibility. Under the leadership of Morgan Jewell, the PGA Head Golf Professional at Floridian National, Downey experienced first-hand how growing sales and revenue in a golf shop can be fun, treating it like a game with the goal of growing year after year. “It was my first time being involved and engulfed in the business side of golf,” Downey said about his experience at Floridian National Golf Club. “I loved it!” After five seasons working between Atlantic Golf Club and Floridian National Golf Club, Downey decided to make Florida his permanent home. His move included working summers at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club while being led by then PGA Director of Golf, Neil Lockie. After one season of working at both Floridian and Jonathan’s Landing, Downey transitioned to Jonathan’s Landing full-time. Downey was hired as the Head Golf Professional at Jonathan’s Landing under the guidance of Lockie, a mentor and friend to Downey. After three years as the Head Professional and with Lockie accepting a role in Texas, Downey was promoted to Director of Golf. Downey stayed in the role for three years before ultimately accepting the position with Holderness & Bourne. Since joining the Holderness & Bourne team in 2022, Downey has had incredible success with the line, and believes in the product and brand.. “I was fortunate enough to join Holderness & Bourne, a company that I already knew and believed in,” said Downey. “This gave me the ability to ‘sell’ without ‘selling.’” Secondly, maintaining communication and transparency with partners is vital to success by building a “two-way street of trust.” Some examples Downey gives of communication and transparency are lead dates, pricing, and revenue statistics. Downey explains, “by being transparent, a sales representative becomes an asset, molding the partnership into a collaborative effort between salesperson and partner.” Thirdly, a salesperson has to be likable. Be the person that people feel comfortable being around. Through this, better relationships and trust can be built. “When you get to know someone, you ultimately develop a deeper and more trusted relationship with them,” Downey says about the importance of likability. “I want partners to enjoy their hour-long meetings with me or when I am there for events.” Downey also emphasizes the importance of providing excellent service by assisting clubs when they need product at an event or providing last-minute tournament packages at a member-guest, as an example. “Every club gets the same attentiveness that Augusta National does,” Downey says, “It is well worth whatever challenges we're going to go through to get this done, and I think that's how we see things.” Downey’s journey, working seasonally in the Hamptons and in South Florida, to becoming Director of Golf at Jonathan's Landing, and now paving the way in sales at Holderness & Bourne, reveals how each step of the way has led him to earning the Salesperson of the Year Award. Now, after significantly increasing his territory’s sales revenue over three years, Downey presses forward to continue the path of growth at Holderness & Bourne.

FRISCO, Texas (December 18, 2025) - George Puchinsky, golf instructor at Bonita Bay Club in Bonita Bay, Fla., has earned PGA Master Professional status, the highest educational designation available within the PGA of America. Receiving his designation in Teaching & Coaching, the South Florida PGA Section Member is the 478th to earn the recognition, joining a special group among the more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals within the Association. The program was established in 1969 to recognize PGA of America Members who make a significant effort to improve as golf professionals and maintain the highest degree of excellence for themselves and their operations. The curriculum is designed to ensure golf professionals are prepared to meet the growing demands of the marketplace within the Executive Management, Golf Operations and Teaching and Coaching Designations. The PGA Master Professional Program is available to those with at least 10 years of PGA of America Membership along with having achieved advanced certification through the PGA Specialized and Certified Professional Programs. The curriculum includes an extensive project based on the specific certification previously acquired by the PGA of America Golf Professional. Master Professional status is earned upon successful completion of the project’s presentation at the Home of the PGA of America in Frisco, Texas. “Just 30 years ago I was picking the driving range at Brown Deer Golf Course, watching in awe the best players in the game compete in the Greater Milwaukee Open,” said Puchinsky. “Now to be considered a PGA Master Professional and a part of this special group is a culmination of that journey. Achieving this designation is the highlight and pinnacle of my teaching career within the PGA of America.” Puchinsky fell in love with the game at age 30 and got his first job in golf picking the driving range at Brown Deer Golf Club during the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open. A PGA of America Member since 2009, Puchinsky spent the first decade of his career within the Wisconsin PGA Section serving as head professional at New Berlin Hills Golf Course in New Berlin and director of instruction at Greenfields Golf Center in Greenfield, among other facilities in similar positions. In 2012 he moved east as the director of instruction at Greenhouse Golf in New Jersey and then the Golf Club at Chelsea Piers in New York in 2014 as a senior golf instructor. In 2017 Puchinsky transitioned to the South Florida PGA Section as an instructor at Valencia Golf & Country Club and has remained in the Section ever since. Puchinsky transitioned to Bonita Bay Club in 2023. Passionate for teaching all skill levels, Puchinsky’s instruction is focused on golf fitness training as a Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) fitness instructor and utilizes Wright Balance Technology, founded by his mentor Dr. David Wright. Puchinsky’s teaching emphasizes balance, posture and core stability. Furthermore, he uses the latest golf instruction technologies such as Swing Catalyst Force Plates and Trackman, among others. Puchinsky graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1995 with a bachelor of science in health care administration and management. He resides in Naples Fla., with his wife Suzanne and their two little dogs Coco and Bailey. About the PGA of America The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow us on X , Instagram and Facebook .

Naples, FL - The South Florida PGA capped off its 2025 tournament season today at Wyndemere Country Club in Naples, Florida, with the SFPGA Pro-Lady, welcoming a sold-out field of 100 players. The home team from Wyndemere Country Club, led by PGA Head Professional, Alex Derksen, and amateurs, Kitty Kemp, Judy Lanfrit, and Tammy Escott, secured first place honors with a score of 2-under, 70. Wyndemere defeated the team from The Country Club of Coral Springs, led by PGA General Manager Corey Henry and amateurs, Ivy Henry, Claire Menard, and Ivania Arrechavaia, and the team from Hunter’s Run Country Club, led by PGA Assistant Professional Ralph Garofano and amateurs Lori Kirsch, Tammie Harris, and Gail Boyce, in a scorecard playoff.

When members walk into the Boca West Country Club golf shop, they’re greeted by more than apparel, equipment, and displays. They’re met with an energy shaped by intention, creativity, and a standard of hospitality that reflects the vision of Travis Wehrs, PGA. That vision, cultivated over two decades of learning, leading, and innovating, has now earned him recognition as the 2025 South Florida PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Private Category. For Wehrs, the Director of Golf at Boca West, the honor is meaningful because it celebrates retail excellence, and it acknowledges a lifelong passion rooted not in spreadsheets or inventory, but in style, personality, and connection. “One of the reasons I got into the golf business was the retail and the clothing,” Wehrs says. “The way you can show your personality and how golf drives fashion, it’s really meaningful to me.” Wehrs’ path to one of the industry’s largest private club retail operations began far from resort-style clubhouses. He grew up on a small farm outside Lincoln, Nebraska, running hurdles and pole vaulting rather than playing golf. Golf wasn’t in the plan, at least not yet. After two years at the University of Nebraska, Wehrs felt drawn toward something bigger. With family in Southwest Florida, he moved to Fort Myers, unsure where it would lead but certain he wanted a career centered on people and hospitality. Soon after arriving, he opened the Yellow Pages and began calling golf courses. “I wanted to work at a golf course because I wanted to showcase my personality,” he recalls. “I wanted to meet people and be in the hospitality space.” One call led to Olde Hickory Golf & Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida, where he was hired in outside operations in 2000. It quickly became more than a job. He moved into the golf shop and discovered the business side of the game, including customer service, merchandising, and relationship-building that would define his career. Olde Hickory lacked a dedicated retail director, and the responsibility fell to whoever had the passion for it. That was Wehrs. “None of the professionals there really enjoyed retail,” he says. “I was always looking for a way to differentiate myself.” He began meeting with vendors, studying color palettes, designing headwear, and helping redesign the club’s brand mark that lasted for decades. That early exposure to buying, branding, and merchandising philosophy laid the foundation for everything that followed. Even though Wehrs was just 23 and had not earned his Class-A PGA Membership, the Olde Hickory board made a bold decision, naming him the Head Professional. “They said, ‘OK kid, we’re putting all our eggs in one basket. Are you ready?’” Wehrs says. “I knew I wasn’t going to fail.” During this time, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Florida Gulf Coast University through night classes. Wehrs made the board's decision look good, as he spent 11 years as Head Professional at Olde Hickory. He then moved to Fiddlesticks Country Club in Fort Myers, and ultimately to Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida, where his passion for retail innovation found its ideal platform. With more than 6,000 members and a stand-alone retail building at Boca West, opportunity was everywhere and Wehrs embraced it. Holiday Bazaars became full-ballroom shopping events. Demo days evolved into “Golfapalooza,” a multi-vendor experience he describes as a “demo day on steroids.” Seasonal sales, brand partnerships, and curated collections expanded dramatically. But the most significant shift came in hard goods. “I felt there was a big hole,” Wehrs says. “Members wanted someone they trusted recommending golf balls, wedges, irons, everything.” The solution was hiring Jacob Huizinga, a former Florida State Amateur champion, as Boca West’s dedicated club fitter. The impact was immediate. In his first year, Huizinga completed nearly 500 fittings. Hard-goods sales jumped from roughly $600,000–$700,000 annually to over $1 million. Still, Wehrs emphasizes, it was never about revenue. “The goal was creating hospitality around club fitting, offering a boutique experience.” That experience includes a state-of-the-art fitting studio, advanced loft-and-lie technology, in-house regripping, and meticulous follow-up communication. Alongside service expansion came a renewed focus on brand identity. Boca West’s hibiscus logo has become a defining visual, one Wehrs believes could be globally recognizable. “When you see that hibiscus, you think of Boca West,” he says. “This is one of the finest facilities in the world.” As the Director of Golf, Wehrs oversees more than 230 staff members, including agronomy, golf operations, and retail. His leadership philosophy is simple: be present. “I spend the first couple of hours every day interacting with the team,” he says. “Being visible and being a servant leader matters.” He asks about families, weekends, milestones, focusing on seeing staff as people first. “That connection allows us to rely on each other’s strengths, especially when things get heavy,” he says. Being named the 2025 Merchandiser of the Year is meaningful, but Wehrs views it as a reflection of his team. “I’m surrounded by incredibly gifted, hardworking people,” he says. “I feel really fortunate.”

Fort Myers, FL – In the spirit of the holiday season, the South Florida PGA Foundation had the great honor of visiting Golisano Children’s Hospital on December 16th to present a check for $126,000. Each year, the SFPGA Foundation raises nearly $900,000 to support the local community through the game of golf. This contribution was made possible through the second annual West Coast Play Yellow Birdie Bash, held October 13th at The Glades Golf & Country Club in Naples, where PGA Professionals and supporters came together to make a meaningful impact for local families. The Birdie Bash is one of six major fundraising events conducted annually with the support of PGA Professionals across South Florida. This year’s check presentation brought together SFPGA Foundation Board Members, hospital leadership, patient families, and event participants to celebrate the Birdie Bash’s continued success and its growing impact on children’s healthcare in Southwest Florida. “The Play Yellow Birdie Bash is truly an amazing event,” said Toni Primeaux, Program Director at Golisano Children’s Hospital. “From the generosity of the PGA Professionals to the incredible support from their members, every dollar raised goes directly to helping children in our community. Seeing that level of passion and impact makes this event truly special.” During the 2025 Play Yellow Birdie Bash, 24 PGA of America Professionals competed in an 81-hole team challenge, with every birdie backed by pledged donations. The event raised more than $255,000, benefiting both Golisano Children’s Hospital and the SFPGA Foundation. Play Yellow, founded by Jack and Barbara Nicklaus in partnership with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, unites the golf community to support children’s hospitals across the country, helping the 10 million kids treated annually at CMN facilities. Donations to Golisano Children’s Hospital directly enhance its capacity to provide world-class pediatric care. As the only accredited children’s hospital between Tampa and Miami, Golisano continues to receive national acclaim, including multiple “Top Hospital” distinctions from The Leapfrog Group. Since 2022, the SFPGA has hosted six Birdie Bash events, four on Florida’s East Coast and now two on the West Coast. Collectively, these events have generated over $2.1 million to support youth, military personnel, and families throughout the region. The SFPGA Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the South Florida community. Guided by the SFPGA and its 2,200 PGA of America Professionals, the Foundation leverages the game of golf to create meaningful opportunities and strengthen the communities it serves.

Naples, Fl. – The Cadillac Pro-Am benefiting the South Florida PGA Foundation brought together PGA Professionals and amateurs for a day of competitive golf and meaningful impact at The TwinEagles Club. A full field of 25 teams, each comprised of one PGA Professional and three amateurs, competed in an 18-hole, team two-best-ball format. A separate low professional Stableford competition was also conducted, giving PGA Professionals an additional opportunity to compete individually. Taking home top honors with a score of 16-under was the team from Colonial Country Club, led by Tim Jankowski, PGA, and amateurs Dale Barina, Dale Ewalt, and Mike Scroggins. In the Low Professional Stableford competition, Justin Bertsch, PGA, claimed the title with a total of 50 points. The South Florida PGA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Section, is dedicated to changing lives in the South Florida community through the game of golf. Funds raised from this event directly support the Foundation’s three pillars: youth, military, and families. The 2025 Cadillac Pro-Am was presented by Cadillac and supported by The Baldwin Group and COURSE RECORD. The South Florida PGA Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to The Club at TwinEagles, including General Manager Bob Radunz, PGA, Director of Golf Justin DeFont, PGA, and the entire staff for their outstanding hospitality and support in hosting this year’s event. Leaderboard

The first paycheck PGA member Cody Sinkler ever earned came from a small-town golf course in Three Rivers, Michigan. Nearly two decades later, he found himself at another public course, this time not as an employee hired to fill a role, but as the person responsible for building an entire golf operation, brand, and identity from scratch. That full-circle journey, from Pine View Golf Club to The Park in West Palm Beach, Florida now frames the significance behind his newest recognition, being named the 2025 South Florida PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Public, an honor that represents far more than retail success. It reflects a vision, a mission, and a deeply personal connection to the place where his career began. At just 16, Sinkler wasn’t thinking about the PGA of America, merchandising plans, or running a nationally recognized operation. He didn’t even play golf. He simply needed a job. Pine View Golf Club, an unpretentious local public golf course was close to home, and that was enough. He cleaned carts, picked the range, handled trash runs, and stayed long after his shift ended, drawn to the unique energy of a public golf course. “What I remember most is the atmosphere,” he said. “It felt like a community. Pine View was where everyone went to be part of something.” What began as a job became a passion. Sinkler worked throughout high school and college, taking on increasing responsibility and learning the ins and outs of daily operations. That path ultimately led him to become a B-1, Associate head golf professional at just 22 years old, an unusually early leadership milestone that shaped his confidence and accelerated his growth in the industry. Even after earning a degree in supply chain management, Sinkler made a defining choice, passing up an opportunity with an aerospace company to pursue a full-time career in golf. That decision, he said, was fueled by the same love for the game that started at Pine View. After college, Sinkler’s career took him to Florida, where he joined the staff at Quail Ridge Country Club in Boynton Beach, Florida and spent nearly six years refining his operational approach, deepening his leadership experience, and developing a strong interest in merchandising. A season at Kalamazoo Country Club (Michigan) broadened that interest, giving him exposure to a top-tier retail environment and the artistry behind great visual presentation. It was through these experiences that he discovered that golf merchandising wasn’t just selling products, it was storytelling. It was about creating an emotional connection between a facility and the people who walked through its doors. But even as he advanced professionally, Sinkler was searching for a role with deeper purpose. The Park offered exactly that. A public golf facility built around accessibility and youth development, The Park represented something rare in the industry as a mission-first model that used golf as a tool to create opportunity. “It reminded me of Pine View,” he said. “A place where anyone could show up and feel like they belonged, only with a mission to help kids in ways my hometown course simply didn’t have the resources to do.” Sinkler was hired as the very first golf employee, stepping into a project still in its early construction stages. Rather than maintaining an existing framework, he had the responsibility and creative freedom to build one. “It wasn’t about following a playbook,” he said. “We were writing it.” When The Park opened its doors in April 2023, excitement was high, but something huge was missing. A visual identity. “We didn’t have a logo,” Sinkler said. “Everything in the shop simply said ‘The Park.’ We needed something that represented the energy of this place.” That identity arrived a few months after opening in the form of a neon green parrot, drawn from the flocks that spontaneously fly across the property every day. The reaction was instant. Items featuring the parrot sold out within days. Guests asked specifically for “the parrot hat.” The 350-square-foot golf shop quickly became a signature part of the experience. Today, The Park is projected to surpass $1.5 million in retail revenue, well beyond its initial $500,000 projection in year one. “We wanted a brand that felt alive,” Sinkler said. “Something fun, bold, and uniquely us. The parrot became that.” Even with the merchandising success, Sinkler remains most proud of The Park’s purpose. The facility reinvests around $1 million annually into youth programming, providing mentorship, academic support, internships, and athletic opportunities for local kids. “A public golf course gave me my start,” he said. “Now I’m helping build a place that gives those same opportunities on an even bigger scale. That’s the part that means the most.” He’s equally focused on his staff, helping PGA Associates move through the program, offering guidance, and supporting the next generation of golf professionals. “Developing people is a huge part of what we do,” he said. “It’s what keeps the culture strong.” Sinkler doesn’t naturally pause to celebrate accomplishments, but what he has been able to build at The Park while reflecting on where he started, the recent recognition allowed him to feel a level of success that is special. “It hit me that everything I’m doing now traces back to that first job,” he said. “I learned what a public golf course can be. Now I get to help build one that pushes that idea even further. That’s a full-circle moment.” The Merchandiser of the Year Award highlights a standout retail program, but the story behind it reaches deeper. A kid who fell in love with golf at a local muni, grew professionally through years of hard work and consistency, and ultimately helped bring an entirely new golf experience to life. At The Park, that story continues one operation, one idea, and one bright green parrot at a time.