newsspin
Gulf States PGA selects 2017 class of
Section and Chapter award winners
METAIRIE, La. – In recognition of his exemplary
role as a PGA member, PGA Head Professional Tim
Basel of R
eunion Golf & Country Club in Madison,
Miss. has been chosen as the 2017 Gulf States PGA
Golf Professional of the Year, the highest honor paid to
a Gulf States PGA Professional.
“I am extremely honored to represent the Gulf States
PGA as its Golf Professional of the Year for 2017,” said
Basel, who currently serves as President of the Gulf State
PGA’s Mississippi Chapter. “I am truly humbled to be
recognized for this great award. It is the highlight of my
career to date and I can’t thank the awards committee
enough for this recognition.
“We are called to serve in so many different ways. I
hope my willingness to serve at both the Chapter and
Section level is an inspiration to others.”
Basel added, “I would like to thank Mr. David Nutt
for allowing me the opportunity to be the Head Golf
Professional at Reunion G&CC. A special thank you
goes to the entire staff at Reunion for making me a better
golf professional every day. To add my name to the list
of great golf professionals of the GSPGA who have won
this award is truly an honor and I will forever remember
it.”
V.J. Trolio, PGA Teaching Professional at Old Waverly
Golf Club in West Point, Miss, has earned his third Gulf
States PGA Teacher of the Year Award. This award
recognizes the recipient’s exceptional teaching ability
and dedication to teaching the game.
Trolio stated, “Being a great coach or teacher is
not always easy.” “To be recognized for the effort and
working through the complexities of performance as
Teacher of the Year is awesome.” “I am humbled and
excited to earn the honor.”
In recognition of his continued efforts to grow the
game of golf at the youth level, Diamondhead (Miss.)
Country Club’s PGA Director of Golf Chris Altese has
been awarded the 2017 Gulf States PGA Youth Player
Development Award for the second year in a row. This
award acknowledges the recipient’s passion to promote
38
the game by sharing knowledge and skills with today’s
youth, benefiting the future of golf in the Section.
Billy Pomeroy, PGA Head Professional of Northwood
Country Club in Meridian, Miss. has been chosen as
this year’s Horton Smith Award winner, acknowledging
his commitment to furthering the education of fellow
professionals.
J.T. Crawford, PGA Head Professional at New
Orleans (La.) Country Club has been selected as the
Bill Strausbaugh Award winner in recognition of his
leadership and valued involvement with the community.
Crawford, who serves as secretary of the Gulf States
PGA, previously won this award in 2015 and 2010.
Justin Mann, PGA Assistant Professional at
Oakbourne Country Club in Layfette, La., has displayed
exemplary leadership as an assistant professional and
continues to serve as an outstanding representation of
his class earning him the title of Assistant Professional of
the Year. This marks Mann’s first Section award.
The Merchandisers of the Year are selected based
on their skills in the promotion of golf including
merchandising ability and technique, inventory levels
and turn rate, shop display and attention to detail.
Chris Burkstaller, PGA Director of Golf at Greystone
Golf & Country Club in Denham Springs, La., has been
named Merchandiser of the Year in the Public category
for the second year in a row.
In the Private category, PGA Director of Golf David
Marchand of Metairie (La.) Country Club has earned
the distinction of Merchandiser of the Year, an award he
has previously received in 2012, 2010 and 2002.
PGA Head Professional Chris Champagne of The
Preserve Golf Club in Vancleave, Miss. has earned his
fourth award from the Gulf States PGA, Merchandiser
of the Year in the Resort category (2017, 2016, 2013,
2009).
Accepted his first Gulf States PGA award is PGA
Head Professional Robbie Gueringer from Oak Wing
Golf Club in Alexandria, La. who has been named the
Section’s Player Development Award winner. This award