The Philadelphia Section PGA recently handed out its awards
for 2016 and Robert Kleckner of Linfield National Golf Club heads the list as
he was named Golf Professional of the Year.
Kleckner is all-in at Linfield as he is also the owner of
the course. He has been generous in making Linfield National available as the
home track for college and high school teams and in hosting a Junior Tour stop
each year and staging Patriot Golf Days.
He has also played the often overlooked role of mentoring
many young assistant pros.
The Philadelphia Section PGA has pros at some of the most
prestigious courses in the country, but, obviously with a choice like Kleckner
at a public-fee course like Linfield National as its top pro in 2016, it does
not overlook the job all of its pros are doing, no matter what the address.
“I am truly humbled
and honored to accept this award,” Kleckner told the Philadelphia Section
website. “It is humbling because the Philadelphia Section has so many
outstanding professionals who inspire me daily and I am honored to be a part of
such a distinguished group of professionals.
“There are so many people along my journey who have helped
me become the PGA professional I am today. I love what I do and I believe that
equates to success.”
The Philadelphia Section also went to a public-fee course,
Ed Oliver Golf Club in Wilmington, Del., in naming Rebecca Dengler its Teacher
of the Year. It is the first time the Philadelphia Section has recognized
Dengler as its top teacher, but she has previously received top teacher
designations from the LPGA, Golf Digest
and U.S. Kids Golf.
“I am truly grateful for being selected as the 2016
Philadelphia PGA Teacher of the Year,” Dengler told the Philadelphia Section
website. “As a member of the Philadelphia PGA, I am honored to be surrounded by
fellow section staff and members who are working diligently to promote the game
of golf.
“My greatest appreciation goes to all the players that have
shared with me their joy, love and struggles of the game. I believe these
challenges make us all better at the game of life.”
The pro shop at Aronimink Golf Club earned a pair of 2016
honors, including the Horton Smith Award that went to Aronimink head pro Jeff
Kiddie.
Kiddie serves as the secretary of the section’s executive
committee and is the co-chairman of the Philadelphia PGA education committee.
In addition to being a member of the section’s rules committee, he is a member
of the PGA of America’s rules committee.
His education committee put together a two-day education
summit on a variety of subjects in November and he lends his rules expertise to
PGA/USGA Rules of Golf workshops.
Kiddie was named the Philadelphia Section’s Professional of
the Year in 2012 and was recognized by the PGA of America as its Merchandiser
of the Year for private courses in 2011.
Aronimink assistant Bryan Kienke was named the section’s
Assistant Professional of the Year. Kienke is a co-chairman of the Philadelphia
Assistants’ Organization. He has also been involved in Gregg’s Wings, Inc., an
organization that has raised nearly $340,000 for the Cancer Center for Kids at
Winthorp University in Mineola, N.Y.
The section’s Bill Strausbaugh Award went to Joe Hughes, the
PGA general manager and head professional at the Penn State University Golf
Clubs.
The Penn State operation also produced the winner of the
section’s Player Development Award, which went to Steve Wager. He has worked in
a variety of programs aimed at developing golfers of all skill levels.
The winner of the section’s Youth Player Development Award
went to Steve Sieracki, the director of instruction at Indian Spring Golf
Course.
The section’s Merchandiser of the Year awards went to Bob
Doria of Makefield Highlands Golf Club among public courses, Sara Muldoon of
Hershey Country Club among resort courses and Tom Gilbert of Gulph Mills Golf
Club among private courses.
The section’s Salesperson of the Year award went to Mark
Krahe of TaylorMade.
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