Local professional among 2023 PGA of America National Award winners

PGA Golf Professional of the Year Jeff Kiddie, Teacher & Coach of the Year Kevin Weeks and PGA Golf Executive of the Year Bernie Friedrich headline the Class of 2023 PGA of America National Awards honorees. Among this year’s winners is Grace Hurley, director of sports retail at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.

All 13 award recipients were announced at the 2023 PGA Show on Jan. 25 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

Here are the 2023 PGA of America National Awards Recipients:

• PGA Golf Professional of the Year Jeff Kiddie, Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
• PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year Kevin Weeks, Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, Lemont, Illinois.
• PGA Golf Executive of the Year Bernie Friedrich, Boyne Resorts, Petoskey, Michigan.
• Bill Strausbaugh Award: Jack Druga, Life Member, Metropolitan PGA Section, Southampton, New York.
• PGA Professional Development Award: Nick Papadakes, Onwentsia Club, Lake Forest, Illinois.
• Deacon Palmer Award: Jamie Nieto, The Preserve at Oak Meadows, Addison, Illinois.
• PGA Patriot Award: John Carpineta, Bensalem Township Country Club, Bensalem, Pennsylvania.
• PGA Player Development Award: Josh Tremblay, Springfield Golf & Country Club, Springfield, Virginia.
• PGA Youth Player Development Award: Susie Redman, The Woodlands Country Club, The Woodlands, Texas.
• Herb Graffis Award: Southern Texas PGA Section
• PGA Merchandiser of the Year — Resort Category: Grace Hurley, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Ponte Vedra Beach.
• PGA Merchandiser of the Year — Private Category: Katie Wiedmar, Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, New York.
• PGA Merchandiser of the Year — Public Category: Ian Ziska, American Dunes Golf Club, Grand Haven, Michigan.

Hurley is the 2023 PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award — Resort Category winner. The award recognizes PGA professionals who excel in business and merchandising for the promotion of golf.

Hurley’s merchandising philosophy is to create featured displays that tell a story throughout the golf shop. She and her team provide a customized shopping experience to everyone who walks through the doors.

She is a two-time winner of the North Florida Section PGA Merchandiser of the Year — Resort Category award (2021, 2022) and an Association of Golf Merchandisers Platinum Winner (2017, 2018).

She is a graduate of the University of Idaho PGA Golf Management Program, where she also played Division I Golf for the Vandals.

The formal National Awards ceremony is scheduled for November during the 2023 PGA Annual Meeting in Frisco, Texas. The Herb Graffis Award will be presented during the annual meeting content that week as well.