The COVID-19 pandemic means that a presentation function is not possible in 2020 with the four award winners to be revealed on Friday. The Victorian nominees and winners will be released next week.

In a year that has presented challenges that no one could have foreseen, the way the NSW and ACT PGA Professionals have coped with the difficulties imposed by the pandemic and then adapted to make play available to members and guests is testament to their unique skill set.

The four awards that will be announced on Friday are Club Professional of the Year, Coach of the Year, Game Development Professional of the Year and Management Professional of the Year and Senior State Manager David Barker praised not just the nominees but all of the NSW/ACT PGA Professionals who have operated under trying conditions this year.

“From lockdowns to an explosion in demand that we haven’t seen in many years, there’s no question that 2020 has thrown absolutely everything at our PGA Professionals,” Barker said.

“Every Professional has had to adapt the way they operate and introduce new work practices to be compliant with Government regulations, all while having hordes of eager golfers coming through the pro shop doors.

“These awards celebrate our very highest achievers but in many ways all the PGA Professionals who have kept the game going in 2020 deserve recognition for their tireless efforts this year.”

In addition to some of the elite metropolitan golf clubs such as The Australian and The Lakes, PGA Professionals in regional locations have been identified for their willingness to go above and beyond in 2020.

General Manager Chris Longbottom has been nominated for the Management Professional of the Year for the change he has instituted at Harden Country Club 90 minutes west of Goulburn.

In need of a governance overhaul, Harden Country Club has gone from strength to strength since Longbottom’s arrival but it was the way he guided the club through the challenging COVID-19 waters that underlined his professionalism.

Port Macquarie Golf Club Head Professional James Single is a nominee for Club Professional of the Year, the second time he has been nominated since 2016, while Mark Lazenby is the sole nominee representing the ACT, also in contention for the Club Professional of the Year award for his work at Federal Golf Club.

The only female Professional nominated for an award is Joanne Bannerman, Head Professional at Cumberland Country Club in Sydney’s western suburbs. The Banners Golf Tech Centre utilises all the modern technology available to coaches and her Junior Academy is home to some 40 participants between the ages of 5-15, a weekly fitness class just part of the development opportunities she provides.

The Coach of the Year award is one that is always hotly contested and this year sees Gary Barter (The Australian Golf Club), Charles Kares (The Lakes Golf Club), Ben Paterson (Avondale Golf Club) and Jason Wood (Thornleigh Golf Centre) recognised for their efforts in developing elite players.

Barter has seen strong performances from the likes of Australian Open champion Matt Jones and Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year Stephanie Kyriacou and Jason Wood was nominated for the work he has done improving the games of countless amateurs and the expertise he brings to Thornleigh in terms of his technological education.

NSW/ACT PGA Awards
Club Professional of the Year
Joanne Bannerman (Cumberland Country Club)
Paul Davis (Beverley Park Golf Club)
Mark Lazenby (Federal Golf Club)
Daniel Paton (Monash Country Club)
James Single (Port Macquarie Golf Club)

Coach of the Year
Gary Barter (The Australian Golf Club)
Charles Kares (The Lakes Golf Club)
Ben Paterson (Avondale Golf Club)
Jason Wood (Thornleigh Golf Centre)

Game Development Professional of the Year
Mark Ingrey (Jack Newton Junior Golf)
Warren Moses (Nelson Bay Golf Club)
Josh Rindfleish (The Australian Golf Club)

Management Professional of the Year
Jason Atkins (Pymble Golf Club)
Nigel Gibson (Manly Golf Club)
Sam Howe (Oatlands Golf Club)
Christopher Longbottom (Harden Country Club)
Brett Parker (Bexley Golf Club)