The Huntingdale Golf Club hosted 220 members of the Victorian Golf Industry on Friday August 18^th.

The night saw Golf Victoria, Golf Management Victoria, the Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association & the PGA of Australia come together to celebrate the achievements of the people and clubs within the Victorian Golf Industry.

Harold Knights, a 50-year member of the PGA, was amongst eight new Victorian Golf Hall of Fame inductees. Knights was the Club Professional at the Southern Golf Club for over 40 years which included nurturing the career of Bob Shearer and several other high profile players. Knights was an excellent player in his own right winning the Victorian Assistant Professional title twice and playing in four Australian Opens with a best finish of 7^th in 1951.Currently living in Drouin Knights was unfortunately unable to attend due to health issues but his Award was accepted by good friend and PGA Member John Toyne.

Other Hall of Fame Members in attendance were Brian Simpson, Brian Twite OAM, Bruce Green and Sandra McCaw.

The 2016 Victorian Order of Merit was won by Andrew Martin with the Eynesbury Masters claiming the 2016 Metropolitan Pro-Am of the Year. The 2016 Regional Pro-Am of the Year was won by the Portarlington Golf Club with the Victorian Senior Open held at the Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort & Black Bull Golf Club claiming the 2016 & 2017 Victorian PGA Ladbrokes Legends Pro-Am of the Year.

Victorian PGA Committee Chairman Tim Moore and PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman were on hand to present the PGA Awards. These winners are now in the running for the National Awards in their category which will be presented at the Greg Norman Medal Dinner during the Australian PGA Championship in November.

The Victorian PGA Manager of the Year was won by Jeff Graham from the Goonawarra Golf Club. Appointed General Manager in 2010 Graham has taken a struggling club with declining memberships and debt and turned it into a successful club returning a profit for the last two years.

The Victorian PGA Coach of the Year was won by Denis McDade from the Yarra Bend Golf Complex. McDade has students on the US, European, Asian & Japanese PGA Tours. His clients are some of the most successful Australian golfers including Marc Leishman, Marcus Fraser, Matthew Griffin, Ashley Hall, and Ryan Ruffels.

The Victorian PGA Teaching Professional of the Year was won by Christian Hamilton, Golf Australia National Inclusion Manager. Hamilton primarily works with people with a disability and has held countless coaching sessions at events all around Australia. Hamilton is a leader in inclusive golf programs encouraging people with physical and intellectual disabilities to play golf.

Bruce Green presented the Bruce Green Victorian PGA Club Professional of the Year Award to Travis Harrison from the Brighton Public Golf Course. Harrison is also the General Manager of Brighton Public and is currently overseeing the Storm Water harvesting project, conducts mygolf junior programs, has attended many ACE seminars both in Australia and overseas, hosts various charity days, try golf days, golf tours, lectures at Trainee Schools, mentors many Trainees whilst running a successful and profitable Pro Shop.

During the Dinner, the Hon Daniel Andrews MP, Premier of Victoria, spoke about his love of golf and the importance of golf to the community and the economy of Victoria.

Golf Management Victoria acknowledged the work of two long standing employees with Barbara Kelly, General Manager at the Chirnside Park Country Club for 28 years, winning the Excellence in Management Award and Clayton Howell, Superintendent at the Eastern Golf Club for 27 years, winning the Employee of the Year Award.

The Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association acknowledged Michael Freeman with the Superintendent Recognition Award and Apprentice at the Anglesea, Joel Manson, won the Apprentice of the Year Award.

Below is a full list of Award recipients on the night:

Golf Victoria

• 2016 Golf Victoria Volunteer of the Year
  • Dorothy Mortlock
• 2016 Golf Victoria Club of the Year
  • Bairnsdale Golf Club
• 2016 Golf Victoria Amateur of the Year (Female)
  • Alizza Hetherington
• 2016 Golf Victoria Amateur of the Year (Male)
  • Brett Coletta

Golf Management Victoria

• GMV Employee of the Year Award
  • Clayton Howell, Eastern Golf Club
• GMV Excellence in Management Award
  • Barbara Kelly, Chirnside Park Golf Club

Victorian PGA

• 2016 Victorian PGA Pro Am of the Year (Metropolitan)
  • Eynesbury Masters
• 2016 Victorian PGA Pro Am of the Year (Regional)
  • Barwon Cleaning Supplies Portarlington Pro Am
• 2016 Victorian PGA Legends Pro Am of the Year
  • Shepparton BMW Victorian Senior Open – Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Resort & Black Bull Golf Club
• 2017 Victorian PGA Legends Pro Am of the Year
  • Shepparton BMW Victorian Senior Open – Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Resort & Black Bull Golf Club
• 2016 Victorian PGA Order of Merit Winner
  • Andrew Martin
• 2016/17 Bruce Green Victorian PGA Club Professional of the Year
  • Travis Harrison
• 2016/17 Victorian PGA Manager of the Year
  • Jeff Graham
• 2016/17 Victorian PGA Coach of the Year
  • Denis McDade
• 2016/17 Victorian PGA Teaching Professional of the Year
  • Christian Hamilton

Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association

• Apprentice of the Year
  • Joel Manson
• Superintendent Recognition Award
  • Michael Freeman

Victorian Golf Hall of Fame – New Inductees

• Sam Berriman – Eminent golf course architect
• Harold Knights – Decorated golf coach and long-time PGA Member
• David Inglis – Founder of the Australian Masters and The National Golf Club
• Jack Dillon – Long serving golf journalist
• Bill Richardson – Renowned golf administrator
• Rosemary Wakeham – Golf administrator and advocate for women and girls golf
• Vi Teesedale – Golf administrator much loved personality
• Claude Crockford – Illustrious golf course architect