2026 Special Award Nominations are OPEN!

Nominations are OPEN for the 2026 Kentucky PGA Special Awards! We encourage you to take a few minutes to nominate your peers for one of these special honors due to their hard work as a PGA Member in the respective areas. We would like to have as many qualified candidates as possible, so you are welcome to submit more than one nomination per category, if you would like.

This document outlines the nomination and selection process, overall eligibility requirements for all awards, who can nominate, and the structure of the selection committee.

CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE

📅 Deadline Date & Time: Friday, September 26 at 11:59pm ET

With any questions, please reach out to Sally Morgan, PGA - smorgan@kygolf.org

2025 Special Awards Winners

The Kentucky PGA Section is honored to announce the 13 individuals serving in various capacities in the golf industry in Kentucky who are receiving recognition with a Special Award. Each award focuses on a specific sector of the industry, with these individuals exemplifying success in their respective categories. These individuals were celebrated at the 2025 KPGA Spring Member Conference on Monday, March 24.

Golf Professional of the Year
Eric Gilliland, PGA (Audubon Country Club)
One of the highest honors the PGA can bestow, Eric Gilliland, PGA, becomes the 70th recipient of the Kentucky Golf Professional of the Year award for his outstanding services as an overall PGA of America Golf Professional. 
WATCH ERIC'S AWARD VIDEO HERE

Please join us in congratulating all of our 2025 Special Award Winners below!

Assistant Professional of the Year
Aaron Eldridge (Traditions Golf Club)
WATCH AARON'S AWARD VIDEO HERE

Golf Executive of the Year
Keith Reese, PGA (Valhalla Golf Club)
WATCH KEITH'S AWARD VIDEO HERE

Bill Strausbaugh Award
Tom Walters, PGA (Summit Hills Country Club)
WATCH TOM'S AWARD VIDEO HERE

Professional Development Award
Erin Horn, PGA (Valhalla Golf Club)
WATCH ERIN'S AWARD VIDEO HERE

Teacher & Coach of the Year
Jon Hardesty, PGA (Idle Hour Country Club)
WATCH JON'S AWARD VIDEO HERE

Player Development Award
Karissa Hardesty, PGA (Persimmon Ridge Golf Club)
WATCH KARISSA'S AWARD VIDEO HERE

Youth Player Development Award
Adam Webb, PGA (Calvert City Golf & Country Club)
WATCH ADAM'S AWARD VIDEO HERE

Patriot Award
Bryan Slone, PGA (Weissinger Hills Golf Course)
WATCH BRYAN'S AWARD VIDEO HERE

Deacon Palmer Award
Tennye Ohr, PGA (Man O' War Golf)
WATCH TENNYE'S AWARD VIDEO HERE

Merchandiser of the Year - Private
Gary Bebelaar, PGA (Big Spring Country Club)
WATCH GARY'S AWARD VIDEO HERE

Merchandiser of the Year - Public
Kyle Sheffer, PGA (Oldham County Country Club)
WATCH KYLE'S AWARD VIDEO HERE

Sales Representative of the Year
Tyler Chilson (Callaway)
WATCH TYLER'S AWARD VIDEO HERE

Kentucky PGA Special Awards

Click here for the history of KPGA Special Award winners

Golf Professional of the Year

One of the highest honors the Association can bestow on a working club professional whose total contributions to the game best exemplify the complete PGA Professional.

Assistant Professional of the Year

Awarded for overall excellence as an assistant professional.

Teacher of the Year

Recognizes a PGA Professional who is an outstanding teacher of golf among the ranks of PGA membership.

Sales Representative of the Year

Recognizes an outstanding Golf Sales Representative in the Kentucky.

Youth Player Development Award

Recognizes the PGA Professional who is a leader in junior golf and who reflects the ideals of those who work with youth.

Media Representative of the Year

Recognizes an outstanding Golf Media Representative in the Kentucky.

Bill Strausbaugh Award

Recognizes PGA Professionals who by their day-to-day efforts have distinguished themselves by mentoring their fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations and through service to the community.

PGA Professional Development Award

Recognizes the PGA Professional who is the model educator of PGA Golf Professionals.

Player Development Award

Recognizes a PGA Professional for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development.

Merchandiser of the Year

Recognizes those PGA Professionals who have excelled as business persons & merchandisers in the promotion of golf at a private, public or a resort facility.