New Jersey PGA Announces Special Award Winners For 2016

The New Jersey PGA and Special Awards Committee have selected the Special Award winners for 2016. Each recipient will be honored on Monday, Oct. 31 at the Fall Meeting, and the Celebration of Golf on Thursday, Nov. 3.

Two National PGA Special Award winners are from the New Jersey Section: Mike Adams of Hamilton Farm won the National Teacher of the Year and Bryan Jones of Black Oak was named the 2016 National Horton Smith Award winner.(See below)

This year's winners are:

Club of the Year – Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club

Golf Professional of the Year – Doug Steffen, Baltusrol

Assistant Golf Professional of the Year – Michael Marvin, Upper Montclair

Bill Strausbaugh Award – David Reasoner, Ridgewood

Horton Smith Award – Keith Stewart, Springdale

Patriot Award – Walt Baker, Willowbrook Golf Center

Teacher of the Year – Jason Carbone, Baltusrol

Player Development – Kevin Beirne, Eagle Ridge

Youth Player Development – Debby Murphy, Trump Bedminster

Public Merchandiser of the Year – Pat Lawler, Rockleigh

Private Merchandiser of the Year – Kevin Syring, Alpine

Salesperson of the Year – Joe Testa, PING

Mike Adams, the Head Director of Instruction at Hamilton Farm has taught former U.S. presidents, PGA, LPGA, European, Champions, and Web.com Tour Players. He has been recognized as one of the top instructors in the country in Golf Magazine and Golf Digest, and teaches at Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida, in the winter. The three-time New Jersey Section Teacher of the Year is also a 2016 inductee for the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame.

Black Oak Golf Club’s Head Professional Bryan Jones, a two-time Section Horton Smith Award recipient and winner of four Section Awards, has served on the Section’s Board as President, Vice President and Secretary, Honorary President, and President of the Section’s charitable arm, the New Jersey Golf Foundation.