GRESHAM, ORE. – Every year, the OGA gives out its Annual Awards to members, clubs, PGA Professionals and more for their commitment and diligence in working with the OGA, with their community and with other allied golf organizations. These awards were presented at this year’s OGA Annual Meeting, held October 23rd at Persimmon Country Club in Gresham, Ore.
Earning Member of the Year honors was Terry “T Mac” McEvilly of Creekside Golf Club. He has volunteered thousands of hours working at OGA, USGA, and high school events, also serving on many different Creekside committees. As a Senior Rules Official, McEvilly co-writes the monthly, “Rule of the Month” feature on the OGA website. He has also made a difference working with the local Creekside community.
The Club of the Year went to Charbonneau Golf Club for their work in helping grow the game. The club itself has worked with the Wilsonville High School Girls Golf Team, giving free instruction to players and even having some students work in the pro shop. The Charbonneau Niners Club has donated over $6,000 to the girls golf team the past eight years, and has donated clubs and other materials to players.
Arrowhead Golf Club earned Facility of the Year honors, as the course hosted three OGA Championships in 2017 – The OGA Tournament of Champions, Oregon Mid-Amateur, and Women’s Interclub Play (WIP) Season Finale. The facility is widely known for its impressive playing conditions all year long, and was an excellent host to not only OGA events, but plenty of other small and large gatherings throughout the year.
The Club Executive of the Year award went to Bryce Poulin, Director of Player Development at Camas Meadows Golf Club. Poulin has focused exclusively on growing the game initiatives in the Camas community and beyond. He helped develop and create the Washington Youth Golf Academy, also traveling and visiting local elementary schools and introducing the game to young people. He’s come up with programs that include entire families, while scheduling them to fit their needs.
Peter Goodling of Club Green Meadows was honored with the Superintendent of the Year. Goodling, a third-generation superintendent, hs worked tirelessly to improve troubled spots on the course in an environmentally sensitive way, decreasing fungicide and pesticide use while restoring natural habitats and food sources for the bumble bee and other insects.
Handicap Chair of the Year honors went to Carole Prall of the McNary Women’s Golf Club. Prall, Handicap Chair for 26 years, has played golf at McNary Golf Club for 44 years, working with local club members to improve play. While she started calculating Handicap Indexes by hand, Prall now works with the OGA and McNary Golf Club in many different facets, including helping facilitate her club to play combo tees next year.