Bill Castner Of Plainfield West 9 Receives National PGA Award

Each year, the PGA of America selects the Youth Player Development Award winner from its 27,000 members, “to the member who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contribution and achievement in the area of youth player development. The award considers the PGA Professional’s focus on Youth through their growth of the game leadership, commitment at the Section and National levels in youth player development area, and the meaningful impact made upon youth through the introduction and participation in the game.”

The 2015 award recipient is Bill Castner, Head Golf Professional at the Plainfield West 9 Golf Course and Program Director of the First Tee of Plainfield. This award recognizes Bill’s more than 40 years of dedication to the growth of the game and helping young golfers reach their full potential.

Castner believes that the learning process goes beyond the tee line. Youngsters not only need to learn good golf fundamentals but also develop an understanding of scoring and developing a healthy respect for the game. Bill believes that this includes being a role model for juniors, setting a good example both on and off the golf course, and integrating the First Tee’s “Nine Core Values” and “Nine Healthy Habits” into everyday life.

His ultimate goal is to have each student become the best player possible. He encourages his junior golfers to go to the best possible college, stressing both academics and their golf opportunities. His students have played golf at college programs around the country including, most recently: Rutgers, West Point Military Academy, Furman University, Penn State, Iona University, Johnson & Wales (Miami), California State University-Bakersfield, and Dalton State College (GA).

Castner Golf alumnus Sean Elliott, originally from Westfield, who attends Dalton State (Ga.), recently won the NAIA Golf Championship and is a 2015 Jack Nicklaus Award recipient, among the highest honors in college golf.

Castner is very proud to be the Program Director of the First Tee of Plainfield program, one of the most diverse and successful First Tee programs in New Jersey. The First Tee of Plainfield is the only First Tee program located on the grounds of a private country club, Plainfield Country Club, host of the upcoming Barclays PGA TOUR Fed Ex Cup Playoff event at the end of August.

Castner is a five-time winner of the NJ PGA Youth Player Development Award (formerly Junior Golf Leader Award) and a former member of the NJ PGA Board of Directors and NJ Golf Foundation.

He lives with his wife, Marian, and two children, in Colts Neck, N.J.