Jeff Fitzherbert Named 2026 South Florida PGA Golf Professional of the Year

Longtime PGA Director of Golf at BallenIsles Country Club Recognized for Mentoring PGA of America Professionals, and Building a Strong Team Culture

When the club where you are employed names a tournament in your honor, it's a recognition of the respect and admiration that a PGA Professional has engendered among the members of that facility. When other PGA Professionals, be they those to whom you report, those you have mentored over the years, or those outside of your club, rave about you as a person and as a golf professional, it's an appreciation for you as a leader in your chosen vocation. And when the PGA Section that you have served admirably bestows upon you its highest honor, well, for Jeff Fitzherbert, the longtime PGA Director of Golf at BallenIsles Country Club, it's a celebration of a distinguished career dedicated to excellence and driven by a commitment to a strongly rooted culture that permeates among the entire operation at the sprawling, 54-hole private facility in Palm Beach Gardens.

A PGA of America Member since 1997, Fitzherbert is the 2026 South Florida PGA Golf Professional of the Year, an award that recognizes a PGA of America Professional for overall performance, level of service to the Association, leadership, image, and ability to inspire fellow professionals and promote the game of golf. It is entirely fitting that Fitzherbert's name is now added to an honor previously earned by some of the most distinguished PGA Professionals in the country. 

"Jeff has always represented the very best of what our profession stands for," says Eric Veilleux, the PGA Director of Golf at The Bear's Club in Jupiter and the President of the South Florida PGA Section. "He has set a standard that many of us in the golf business can learn from -- not just in how to run a successful golf operation, but in how to lead, build relationships, represent the profession, and treat people with genuine respect."

Fitzherbert says that receiving the congratulatory call from Veilleux "was a super proud moment. I was thrilled and honored, and it's an amazing feeling. Look, I love coming to work, I have a terrific general manager, Board, and membership at BallenIsles, and great people around me inspiring me to want to do better. We've been able to build something very special here, and I'm so happy to be able to share this award with my team, both current and past."

To meet the needs of the 1,025 full-golf members at a venue where 96,000 rounds are played and a robust 200 events -- there are many for South Florida PGA Professionals -- are staged each year, Fitzherbert oversees a full- and part-time staff of 54 at BallenIsles.

That number includes nine PGA Members and five Associates who are striving to become PGA Members themselves. His steadfast focus has been to help elevate all PGA Professionals he works with to a higher standard, and it's a self-defining mandate that continues to drive Fitzherbert.

"Throughout my career, I have viewed the role of the PGA Professional as much more than operating a club or managing golf operations," he says. "We are educators, leaders, mentors, business professionals, and ambassadors for the game. I have made it a priority to help the next generation understand both the responsibility and the opportunity that comes with PGA Membership."

For Fitzherbert, a native of Swampscott, Massachusetts, located 10 miles north of Boston, the dream of becoming a PGA of America Professional began at 16. He had started caddying at Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts, at 12, and four years later, while working in outside operations at the private facility, the realization of what he wanted to do in life hit Fitzherbert like a perfectly struck 5-iron.

"I was hooked," he says now. "After watching the golf professionals at Tedesco, I decided right then that I wanted a career in golf."

Fitzherbert went to work as an apprentice under Dave Salerno at Boca Woods Country Club in Boca Raton, in 1990. He then followed Salerno when his boss was named the PGA Director of Golf at BallenIsles in 1994, succeeding the legendary PGA Professional, Harry Pezzullo, the 1958 PGA Golf Professional of the Year.

"Dave showed significant interest in me and taught me so much about the business," says Fitzherbert. "He also gave me a chance to teach at a very young age, which helped my growth as a golf professional. The opportunities that Dave gave me shaped who I became as a PGA Professional."

That form of cross-training, of being given multi-faceted responsibilities in the workplace, inspired Fitzherbert to co-create the On Course Professional Program at BallenIsles in 2011. Fitzherbert was aided by PGA Professional Brian Kelly, who had followed Salerno as the club's Director of Golf, with the program designed to recruit and train entry-level Associates while teaching them the fundamentals of the profession, including member engagement, service, communication, decision-making, and professionalism.

"Rather than simply preparing someone to work in a golf shop," Fitzherbert explains, "we wanted these individuals to learn how to manage a golf course, take ownership, make decisions, and develop the confidence to lead."

The On Course Professional Program, Fitzherbert says, "has had a lasting impact." Four of the Associates he and Kelly hired during his first year have gone on to become PGA Head Professionals or Directors of Golf. More recently, three Associates earned their PGA Membership within a four-month span in late 2025.

One of those who benefitted from his time in the On Course Professional Program at BallenIsles is Miles Harris, the PGA Director of Golf at Parkland Golf & Country Club in Parkland, Florida.

"Jeff has been instrumental in my professional development, serving as a mentor and providing guidance throughout every stage of my career," Harris says. "Jeff is the consummate 'pro's pro,' and through his leadership and example, he has instilled in me the importance of building a strong team culture, and developing impactful teaching and coaching programs. Jeff's approach to the profession emphasizes that success is built on relationships, a commitment to continuous improvement, and a genuine investment in the people we serve."

John Bednar IV, who worked for Fitzherbert over a six-year span at BallenIsles, echoes the feelings expressed by Harris.   

"Jeff really mentored me early in my career and played a big role in helping me understand the golf professional business and what it takes to be successful in this profession," says Bednar, now the PGA Head Professional at Eastpointe Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens. "He was a leader, but also a friend—someone I could always go to for honest, trusted advice."

Fitzherbert, who has been the Director of Golf at BallenIsles since 2013, also points with pride to he and Kelly's creation of the BallenIsles Junior Cup in 2011, two years before he became the Club's Director of Golf. The BallenIsles Junior Cup annually brings together 36 highly skilled junior golfers (boys and girls) in a Ryder Cup-style format, with sponsors outfitting players in uniforms and golf bags. The event has created significant media exposure for BallenIsles, and the players are treated to a premier event. Still, for Fitzherbert, the greatest impact of the BallenIsles Junior Cup has been the opportunity to speak directly with young golfers and their parents about the PGA Member profession.

"Over the years, I have stood in front of hundreds of junior golfers and explained that a career as a PGA Professional can be incredibly rewarding," he says. "Those conversations have been met with great interest, as there have been countless Junior Cup participants who have gone on to enter the PGA Golf Management University Program. Knowing that an experience that we created helped influence a young person's decision to pursue a career in the PGA is incredibly meaningful to me."

There is yet another yearly tournament held at BallenIsles for which Fitzherbert has a natural affinity. That's because it's the Fitzherbert Invitational, which has become a staple of the club's event calendar since it was launched in 2022.

PGA Professional Ryan Walls, the General Manager at BallenIsles, explains why the Club determined it was far better to unveil "The Fitzy," as it has become known, in the present than at a random time in the future. 

"Often we wait too long to honor and/or acknowledge our great ones," Walls says. "We are very proud that our Club, with direction from our membership and support of the Board, has honored Jeff for his dedication to BallenIsles, in a timeframe he can enjoy it. Jeff has been an important part of the BallenIsles culture for more than three decades, and today he is as eager, dedicated and as engaged in the day-to-day oversight of our significant golf operation like it was his first day here. It is not often that you will find a gem like Jeff, who is so woven into the fabric of our Club and Community."

For Salerno, now the Golf Operations Manager at Delaire Country Club in Delray Beach, there is enormous pride and joy in observing the recognition and appreciation that has been bestowed on the man whose professional life he helped mold, and who now gets to celebrate an award that is privy to an elite group.

"The highest honor for a PGA Professional is being nominated by your peers for Golf Professional of the Year," says Salerno, a PGA Member since 1982. "That honor is reserved for a select few that have devoted their career to growing the game, serving their membership and grooming future generations of PGA Professionals. Jeff Fitzherbert defines the role of the consummate PGA Professional."

Teacher of the Year - Grayson Zacker, PGA

Director of Instruction, Jim McLean Golf School at The Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables

Grayson Zacker, PGA, the Vice President of the Southern Chapter of the South Florida PGA, is recognized for his elite instructional leadership, technology integration, and exceptional record of growing the game. As a PGA Member and Director of Instruction for the Jim McLean Golf School for 18 years, including 12 years leading its global headquarters, Zacker has delivered over 20,000 hours of instruction and currently oversees a team of 26 instructors and assistant professionals. He spearheaded the school’s landmark transition to The Biltmore Hotel, expanding annual golf school enrollment from under 100 to over 425 students and junior participation to more than 400 young golfers annually, while propelling total instructional revenue from $2.85 million in 2021 to $4.54 million in 2025.

Combining cutting-edge performance technology like TrackMan, GEARS, Smart2Move, and SAM PuttLab with proven coaching methodologies, Zacker works with golfers of all skill levels, from juniors and corporate executives to touring professionals. A nationally recognized leader, author, and speaker, he has been featured in Golf Digest, PGA Magazine, and GOLF.com, and has presented at the PGA Show and Section education events. Deeply committed to service, Zacker actively supports PGA HOPE, the SFPGA Foundation’s Smiling Fore Life initiative, and local high school coaching. His achievements have earned him Golf Digest Best Young Teacher in America, Golf Digest Best in State, GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher to Watch, two SFPGA Southern Chapter Teacher of the Year awards, and the SFPGA Southern Chapter Professional Development Award.

Bill Strausbaugh - Ken McMaster, PGA 

Master Professional / General Manager, Miromar Lakes Golf Club, Miromar

Ken McMaster, PGA, a leader and mentor in the South Florida PGA Section, is recognized for his exceptional commitment to advancing PGA Golf Professionals and Associates through intentional mentorship, education, and service. McMaster’s leadership philosophy was shaped by his early career as a PGA Apprentice, where navigating his development without a dedicated mentor highlighted the critical need for guidance. After finding a pivotal mentor in Bob Ford, PGA, McMaster built his own approach around genuine care, helping professionals discover their “why,” delivering guidance, and providing growth opportunities. A primary example of this impact is Kitty Nicastro, PGA, whom McMaster guided from an aspiring young professional into the Director of Golf at Old Barnwell Golf Club, where she now mentors the next generation of women in the golf industry.

Beyond individual mentorship, McMaster has actively worked to elevate the profile of the PGA Professional through Section governance, innovative programming, and community involvement. As Chair of the South Florida PGA Membership Outreach Committee, he established structured support systems for new members, associates, and unemployed professionals, while pioneering initiatives like “In-Network Reciprocity” to expand leadership platforms. McMaster has also leveraged the game for broader community impact through the Congaree Global Golf Initiative, FGCU’s R.I.S.E. program, and various Section activities. For McMaster, the true measure of success is the ripple effect, seeing former mentees develop into leaders and colleagues who create opportunities for others.

PGA Professional Development - Jason Baile, PGA 

Director of Instruction, Jupiter Hills Club, Jupiter

Jason Baile, PGA, the 2022 PGA of America National Teacher & Coach of the Year is a key contributor in golf education and mentorship. Baile led the creation of the Jupiter Hills Performance Center, bringing together top leaders in instruction, club fitting, putting, fitness, and performance.

In the past year, Baile delivered 19 national presentations across nine PGA Sections and hosted 74 shadow days for fellow professionals. Through initiatives like Jupiter Hills University and Coaches Club, he has educated over 85 young professionals and aspiring coaches, propelling many into leadership roles at facilities nationwide. As a former Chair of the South Florida PGA Teaching and Coaching Committee, Baile actively builds pathways that empower young coaches, measuring his success by helping fellow PGA Professionals become leaders who create opportunities for others. 

Player Development - Kristine Bonham, PGA

Director of Instruction, Heritage Palms Golf & Country Club, Fort Myers

Kristine Bonham, PGA, Bonham is an accomplished PGA Professional and instructor focused on player development within the South Florida PGA Section. She is dedicated to creating welcoming, structured pathways for golfers of all skill levels to learn, develop, and grow in the game. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes building confidence through course management and helping players translate what they learn during lessons into effective on-course performance. Through a combination of clinics, group sessions, and individualized coaching, Bonham blends technical instruction with practical application, empowering golfers to better understand their game, make confident decisions, and enjoy greater success on the course.

At Heritage Palms, Bonham’s player development initiatives have delivered standout engagement and growth. Alongside conducting 636 individual, couples, and playing lessons from January through August 2026, she achieved a 52% surge in clinic participation, serving 218 golfers and demonstrating her exceptional dedication to growing the game and elevating the impact of the PGA Professional.

Youth Player Development - Dan McCarthy, PGA

Director of Instruction, Grande Oaks Golf Academy, Plantation

Dan McCarthy, PGA, a dedicated teacher of the game in the South Florida PGA Section, and a leader in youth golf advancement, combining cutting-edge technology with a holistic coaching philosophy to inspire the next generation of players.

With 27 years of experience, McCarthy utilizes his proprietary DMAC Golf framework (Develop, Measure, Apply, Compete) to build confidence, discipline, and game-management skills in young athletes. By integrating TrackMan data, AI-powered 3D motion capture, and his ongoing work co-developing wireless motion technology with Sports FX AI, he delivers measurable, highly individualized instruction tailored to every junior's goals. Through his commitment to innovative coaching, structured PGA youth programming, and continuous digital engagement, McCarthy sets a premier standard for junior golf development across the Section.

Assistant of the Year - Dakun Chang, PGA

Assistant Golf Professional, Seminole Golf Club, Juno Beach

Dakun Chang, PGA, Assistant Professional at Seminole Golf Club, is a valued mentor and contributor within the South Florida PGA Section. Working alongside Matt Cahill, PGA, Chang delivers over 200 hours of instruction annually, plays a vital role in club events, oversees custom club fitting, and supports his peers with hands-on training in teaching, fitting, and the attainment of their PGA membership.

As an advocate for player development, he utilizes advanced teaching technology across private lessons, clinics, and junior programs. Believing deeply in the collaboration of teaching, competitive play, and Section involvement, Chang exemplifies the highest standards of the modern golf professional.

Patriot Award - Sean Kicker, PGA

Multi-Facility Manager / Southern Chapter President

Sean Kicker, PGA is more than a PGA HOPE Instructor. He is a giver of his time in an effort to support the golf community, and has become a driving force in veteran outreach and is being recognized for his devotion to using golf to serve military veterans. Inspired by a family legacy of military service, Kicker uses the game to honor those who have worn the uniform.

Since 2016, Kicker has delivered over 25 six-week PGA HOPE seasons and 150 classes across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. He oversees the Miami-Dade County Parks VICTORS Veterans Program across five facilities, supports America’s Heroes Golf Program for over 1,000 combat veterans annually, and reaches hundreds more through Mission United and First Tee Broward. Recently, he partnered with Dick's Sporting Goods and TrackMan to create a simulator-based service-branch league as a model for national expansion.

Reaching more than 1,200 veterans annually, Kicker combines instruction with camaraderie and wellness, actively recruiting and mentoring fellow PGA Professionals to build sustainable veteran programming.

Merchandiser of the Year: Private Category – Matt Sheperd, PGA

Head Golf Professional, McArthur Golf Club, Hobe Sound

Matt Sheperd, PGA, has been honored for his retail leadership and sales excellence in private facility merchandising.

During the 2025–2026 season, Sheperd led McArthur Golf Club’s merchandise operation to achieve more than $1.4 million in gross revenue, reflecting a 9% year-over-year growth. After expanding the shop to 1,000 square feet, the facility recorded $1,483 per square foot in sales, while average sales per round jumped nearly 20% to $102.89. Sheperd enriched the member retail environment by refining the inventory receiving process, broadening lifestyle, women’s, and children’s lines, and building strong vendor relationships.

Merchandiser of the Year: Public Category – John Oyler, PGA

Head Golf Professional at Normandy Shores Golf Club and Miami Beach Golf Club, Miami

John Oyler, PGA, is recognized for his proven success and excellence in public facility merchandising within the South Florida PGA Section.

Oyler oversaw a retail division that reached over $1.2 million in sales for 2025, with 2026 sales trending 17% ahead through April at $586,993, alongside generating over $500,000 in yearly club rental revenue. Across both municipal venues, which hosted 111,478 rounds, the operation delivered $300 per square foot in sales and $11.50 per round. Oyler set a benchmark for public golf merchandising by introducing a 60-day inventory rotation cycle, utilizing digital marketing and GPS platforms, and customizing products for 400 members, 20 partner hotels, and 50 corporate outings.

Merchandiser of the Year: Resort Category – Anthony Schmid, PGA

General Manager, JW Marriott Marco Island Members Club, Marco Island

Anthony Schmid, PGA, is recognized for his exemplary performance and outstanding management of resort facility merchandising at the JW Marriott Marco Island Members Club.

Schmid oversaw a retail division that reached over $1.3 million in gross merchandise sales for 2025. Across the 36-hole resort, which hosted 35,000 rounds during the year, the operation delivered $680.50 per square foot in sales and $38.89 per round. Schmid set a benchmark for resort golf merchandising by closely monitoring category mix and sales trends, including men's versus ladies' sales, prints versus stripes, and seasonal demand patterns. He further elevated the retail operation by expanding direct sales to in-house resort groups, leveraging Marriott Golf vendor programs for purchasing power, and hosting ladies' trunk shows to gather member feedback and facilitate special orders.

Deacon Palmer- Katie Dixon, PGA

Head Golf Professional, The Club at Quail Ridge, Boynton Beach

Katie Dixon, PGA, stands as an extraordinary beacon of strength, resilience, and compassionate leadership within the South Florida Section, exemplifying unwavering devotion to her family, her membership, and the PGA Professional community.

Having achieved a major career milestone upon her appointment as Head Golf Professional at Quail Ridge, Dixon faced an unexpected, profound personal crisis when her husband, former PGA Member Chris Brady, was diagnosed with rapid-onset ALS. Transitioning into the roles of primary caregiver and medical advocate for Chris while caring for their young daughter, Emma, Dixon has chosen to lead with courage, vulnerability, and purpose. Overcoming past personal trials, including a life-threatening medical emergency in 2019, Dixon embodies the belief that personal hardship can coexist with profound professional excellence and empathetic mentorship.

Being a former South Florida PGA Tournament Committee Member, Dixon’s leadership is rooted in building deep, meaningful relationships and lifting those around her. Her commitment to her peers, staff, and leadership team, including Director of Golf Dan Brosnihan, has created a culture of mutual trust, gratitude, and support at Quail Ridge. The profound impact of her service was vividly reflected when members and friends across the South Florida golf community united to raise nearly $100,000 to assist with Chris’s medical care. Through her inspiring endurance, mentorship of young professionals, and dedication to the Association, Dixon continually demonstrates that adversity does not define our potential, leaving a lasting legacy of hope, character, and service across the Section.

Salesperson - Paige Golibart, PGA

Account Executive, Summit Golf Brands

Paige Golibart, PGA, a trusted partner of the South Florida Section, is a standout leader in golf sales and was recently recognized as both the 2024 Summit Golf Brands Salesperson of the Year and the 2024 Southeast Chapter Salesperson of the Year. The awards highlight her commitment to serving accounts and building lasting industry relationships.

Drawing on her green-grass background, Golibart understands the daily demands of PGA Professionals and consumers, and focuses on true partnership over simple transactions. She acts as a strategic advisor, helping clubs make smart purchasing decisions through active on-site presence, inventory support, and proactive communication. Golibart also greatly supports the Section, with her company outfitting the South Florida PGA Section staff, marking its third year outfitting the ladies' staff and first year outfitting the men’s staff.