Manne earns prestigious
2018 Gulf States PGA
Professional of the Year Award
“I am extremely
humbled to receive
such a high honor.
Knowing this award
stems from your
peers is what is most
satisfying.”
–Gamon Manne,
2018 Gulf States
Section Professional
of the Year
18
In recognition of his exemplary role as
a PGA member, PGA Head Professional
Gamon Manne of The Country Club of
Louisiana in Baton Rouge (La.), has been
selected as the 2018 Gulf States PGA Golf
Professional of the Year, the highest honor
paid to a Gulf States PGA Professional.
“I am extremely humbled to receive such
a high honor. Knowing this award stems
from your peers is what is most satisfying,”
said Manne.
“I am extremely lucky to have been
mentored by some of our Section’s greats,
including James Leitz, JT Crawford, Frank
Gumpert, and Jake Narro.”
Regarding some of his strengths that
helped him achieve this great honor, Manne
added, “Attention to detail is imperative
in our line of business. It’s the little things
that matter most! Being ‘proactive’ and not
reactive is the key as well. We need to stay one
step ahead to be the best, whether it’s with
innovative ideas on program development
or just making sure the practice range is
ready for the next member.”
Clay Weems, PGA Teaching Professional
at the Clay Weems Golf Academy as
well as the Assistant PGA Professional at
Frenchman’s Bend Golf & Health Club in
Monroe, La., has earned the Gulf States
PGA Teacher of the Year Award. This
award recognizes the recipient’s exceptional
teaching ability and dedication to teaching
the game.
Weems stated, “Just to be nominated is
an honor, but to actually be named Teacher
of the Year is mind- boggling to me because
I am inspired by so many great teachers
in our PGA Section. I have learned so
much from our incredible network of PGA
Professionals, and I am thankful for them.”
“I’d like to thank James Moore and the
owners and staff of Frenchman’s Bend Golf
& Health Club for all their support as I have
built the Clay Weems Golf Academy over
the past few years. They have allowed me to
teach at this great facility and partnered with
me to grow the game of golf in our area.
I appreciate being nominated by James at
Frenchman’s Bend Country Club and Obie
Agbasi, and I am proud to represent them
as Teacher of the Year.”
Weems stated that he is also thankful to
have so many Professionals who invested in
him over the years, including Billy Pierot,
Debbie Rivers and Bob Ledbetter.
“Lastly, I am thankful for my lifelong
friend, Mike ‘Magic’ Williamson, who
gave endlessly of his time when I made the
leap into full-time golf as a career. He also
encouraged me to stay in the game and
keep doing what I love – teaching – when
times were tough.”
In recognition of his continued efforts to
grow the game of golf at the youth level,
Diamondhead (Miss.) Country Club’s PGA
Director of Instruction Hoppy Smith has
been awarded the 2018 Gulf States PGA
Youth Player Development Award. This
award acknowledges the recipient’s passion
to promote the game by sharing knowledge
and skills with today’s youth, benefiting the
future of golf in the Section.
Robbie
Gueringer,
PGA
Head
Professional of OakWing Golf Club
in Alexandria, La., has been chosen
as this year’s