By Joe Robinson, courtesy GolfWA
Hannah Green’s breakout 2019 season on the LPGA tour was recognised last night when she won the Outstanding Golf Achievement Award at the ADH Club Car Western Australia Golf Industry Virtual Awards.
Green’s season was spectacularly highlighted by her win at the KPMG PGA Championship, making her WA’s first major champion. A second victory at the Cambia Portland Classic capped off a remarkable season for Australia’s new golden girl of golf.
In a ground-breaking first for the Australian golfing industry, the WA Golf Industry Committee moved to a virtual award ceremony due to Covid-19 restrictions. Broadcasting from Mount Lawley Golf Club, the awards were hosted by Kim Felton (PGA of Australia) and Gary Thomas (GolfWA).
PGA Life Member Len Thomas joined the illustrious list of winners of the WA Golf Industry Recognition Award for his enormous contribution to golf in WA over the past 60 years.
Ritchie Smith was again recognised for his outstanding work as WA’s ‘coach to the stars’ as he took out his second consecutive PGA Coach of the Year title.
With a stable of athletes that includes Hannah Green, Minjee Lee, Min Woo Lee, Jarryd Felton, Hayden Hopewell and Maddy Hinson-Tolchard to name just a few it is easy to see why Ritchie is so highly regarded.
Mark Tibbles’ contribution to the development of golf in Western Australia was recognised when he received the Outstanding Game Development of the Year honour.
Mark’s Ready Steady Golf all abilities program at The Vines Resort & Country Club had over 280 participants in 2019 and he is now recognised as one of Australia’s leading all abilities instructors. Mark was also named PGA Game Development Professional of the Year.
Tony Howell, Mosman Park Golf Club General Manager and Head Professional saw his tireless commitment to the club rewarded when he was named MiClub Employee of the Year.
2019 was a difficult year for Mosman Park Golf Club as they faced lease extension issues with their local council. Despite these challenges taking up a significant amount of his time, Tony also absorbed the role as the club’s Bar and Functions Coordinator which has led to an increase in bookings and bar profitability. Tony is truly an asset to Mosman Park Golf Club and a more than worthy recipient of this year’s MiClub Employee of the Year award.
Volunteers are an asset within any organisation and Busselton Golf Club member Mal Rigoll has seen an extended period of dedication to the club honoured with the Bowra & O’Dea Volunteer of the Year award.
Mal is most famous for his tireless work in coordinating the West Coast Open, Ladies Geographe Classic and Leaney Cup, three major events in the South West. Despite having spent time as both Captain and President of Busselton GC, Mal continues to selflessly offer his time and services to the club whenever the need arises.
Keeping with the South West theme, Bunbury Golf Club had a night to remember taking out awards in three different categories.
Bunbury GC was recognised as both the Regional Course and Regional Facility of the Year. The club has started a greens replacement program that will see the course transition to pure distinction greens over the next few years. Off the course, the club became more active in the way they engaged and communicated with their members. This positive change in club culture has helped to create a more engaged membership base resulting in membership numbers exceeding 800 for the first time in 12 years. The Nexus Risk Services South West Open held at Bunbury GC was also named PGA Tournament of the Year.
Designed by internationally acclaimed architect Robert Trent Jones Jr, Joondalup Golf & Country Club has been honoured as the ADH Club Car Metropolitan Golf Course of the Year.
Joondalup’s dedication to the continuous improvement of tees, fairways and greens ensures the course always presents in brilliant condition despite exceeding 80,000 rounds a year. Maintaining a 27-hole course to the highest standard is no small feat and Joondalup Superintendent Ashley Watson’s hard work was also recognised when he was named McIntosh & Son and Jacobsen Superintendent of the Year Award.
Watson first joined the team at Joondalup in 1988 and moved into the Superintendent’s role in 2008. His tireless commitment and attention to detail over many years makes him a worthy recipient of this award.
Finally, Mandurah Country Club’s stunning $1.3 million clubhouse renovation has seen them crowned as 2019 Metropolitan Golf Facility of the Year.
Despite the inconvenience of a clubhouse renovation, Mandurah Country Club increased membership by 10% and rounds played by 5%. These increases saw the club record an operating surplus of $166,000 over their estimates. These outstanding new facilities will place the club in a tremendous position for many years to come.
Mitchell Clay added to Mandurah Country Club’s accolades by being named Apprentice of the Year. Mitch’s apprenticeship has seen him involved in a greens replacement program, clubhouse extension and an irrigation wiring upgrade. Mitch has since been promoted to the position of course foreman and the consistent presentation of Mandurah CC’s course is testament to his skill and knowledge.
A full list of award winners can be found below:
Hilary Lawler PGA Professional of the Year:
Tristan McCallum, Sea View Golf Club
PGA Management Professional of the Year – Sponsored by Golf Car World EZGO
Josh Madden, Wembley Golf Complex
PGA Game Development Professional of the Year
Mark Tibbles, MTI Golf Academy – The Vines Golf & Country Club
PGA Pro-Am of the Year – Sponsored by Golf Car World EZGO:
Urban Quarter Dunsborough Lakes Pro-Am, Dunsborough Lakes Golf Club
PGA Tournament of the Year – Sponsored by Golf Car World EZGO:
Nexus Risk Services South West Open, Bunbury Golf Course
PGA Coach of the Year:
Ritchie Smith, Royal Fremantle Golf Club
Apprentice of the Year:
Mitchell Clay, Mandurah Country Club
Superintendent of the Year – Sponsored by McIntosh & Son Jacobsen:
Ashley Watson, Joondalup Golf & Country Club
WA Golf Industry Recognition Award:
Len Thomas
Outstanding Game Development of the Year:
Mark Tibbles, MTI Golf Academy – The Vines Golf & Country Club
Employee of the Year – Sponsored by MiClub:
Tony Howell, Mosman Park Golf Club
Volunteer of the Year – Sponsored by Bowra & O’Dea:
Mal Rigoll, Busselton Golf Club
Regional Golf Course of the Year – Sponsored by ADH Club Car:
Bunbury Golf Club
Regional Golf Facility of the Year – Sponsored by ADH Club Car:
Bunbury Golf Club
Metropolitan Golf Course of the Year – Sponsored by ADH Club Car:
Joondalup Golf & Country Club
Metropolitan Golf Facility of the Year – Sponsored by ADH Club Car:
Mandurah Country Club
Outstanding Golf Achievement Award – Sponsored by Nexus Risk Services & NGI:
Hannah Green
