In a year in which the Victorian golf industry has been more severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic than any other state, the 2020 awards will recognise those who have fought through the challenges to provide exceptional service to their facility and their members.

“No one could have imagined at the start of the year the challenges that our Victorian PGA Members would be faced with,” says State Senior Manager, David Barker.

“We had the initial lockdown, a surge in golf activity and then the extended lockdown that for the most part kept our Members from working.

“When restrictions eased golf facilities had to be ready to manage the flood of golfers coming through their doors and allow their members to enjoy their golf in the safest possible manner.

“We’re so proud of the way our Members have dealt with such difficult circumstances and this list of nominees is testament to the skills and passion that all of our Victorian PGA Professionals bring to work every single day.”

The 1999 Masters champion at Huntingdale, Spence has been nominated as Coach of the Year for his work at the Albert Park Driving Range, his own former coach Dale Lynch also nominated in that category.

One-time Open Championship participant Tim Wood (Rosanna Golf Club) is also among the Coach of the Year nominees along with David Capaldo (Peninsula Kingswood), Andrew Cooper (Victoria), Dean Kinney (Victorian Institute of Sport) and Stuart Leong (Metropolitan).

Nominated for the Management Professional of the Year, Brad Alton instituted innovative work practices to not only keep his staff employed but provide valued services to members at Eynesbury Golf and Homestead and James Woite is in the running for the positive impact he has made to the bottom line at Gardiners Run, where he has overseen a 34 per cent increase in membership numbers, 15.6 per cent increase in green fee revenue and 14.7 per cent increase in social group revenue.

The Game Development Professional of the Year nominees are overflowing with innovation, including Sandy Jamieson’s 1Club Golf concept at Oakleigh Golf Course.

Determined to show newcomers that golf could be fun, easy and affordable, Jamieson designed the 1Club himself and the result was a 50 per cent increase in both rounds and revenue in the six months leading up to the COVID-19 outbreak.

There is a stellar field of nominees for the Club Professional of the Year honour including Richard Hatt at Royal Melbourne, Barwon Heads pair Ian Donnelly and Ashley Andrews and Box Hill’s Heath Streat who has built up a membership that is now bursting at the seams.

PGA Management Professional of the Year
Brad Alton (Eynesbury Golf & Homestead)
Heath Jones (Warragul Golf Club)
Michelle Scerri (Burnley Golf Course)
Brett Scothern (Medway Golf Club)
Haydn Thompson (Deep Creek Golf Club at Pakenham)
Andrew Weir (Ranfurlie Golf Club)
James Woite (Gardiners Run Golf Club)
David Wren (Rosanna Golf Club)

Game Development Professional of the Year
Andrew Cartledge (Ballarat Golf Club)
Travis Harrison (Spring Valley Golf Club)
James Hartley (Yarra Bend Golf Complex)
Jody Hawkins (Kooringal Golf Club)
Sandy Jamieson (Oakleigh Golf Course)
Jamie McCallum (Albert Park Driving Range)
Brandon Rave (Bulleen Golf Driving Range)
Angela Tatt (Ballarat Golf Club)

Coach of the Year
David Capaldo (Peninsula Kingswood Golf Club)
Andrew Cooper (Victoria Golf Club)
Dean Kinney (Victorian Institute of Sport)
Stuart Leong (Metropolitan Golf Club)
Dale Lynch (Yarra Bend Golf Complex)
Craig Spence (Albert Park Driving Range)
Tim Wood (Rosanna Golf Club)

Club Professional of the Year
Simon Angliss (Kew Golf Club)
Ashley Andrews (Barwon Heads Golf Club)
Luke Bleumink (Rosanna Golf Club)
Justin Burrage (Kingston Heath Golf Club)
Ian Donnelly (Barwon Heads Golf Club)
Craig Funch (The National Golf Club)
Richard Hatt (Royal Melbourne Golf Club)
Scott McDermott (Settlers Run Golf Club)
Alan Patterson (Patterson River Golf Club)
Heath Streat (Box Hill Golf Club)
Mark Williamson (Sorrento Golf Club)