OGA Announces 2011 Award Recipients

Portland, Ore. (Saturday, October 15, 2011) - At its Annual Meeting Friday night at Riverside Golf & Country Club, the Oregon Golf Association recognized many of its important stakeholders including members, member clubs, golf courses as well the golf course superintendents and golf professionals who support the game.

Pictured (l to r) -- Sean Watts, Don Clark, Roger Aggson, GM, Pumpkin Ridge, John Denny, Scott Erdmann, Terri Frohnmayer,
Jim Oberg, Peter Pittock, Ted Morehouse, Veterans Golf Club, Ralph Marconi and Jeff Weigant, Veterans Golf Club

This year’s award winners included Member of the Year Jim Oberg of Wilsonville, Ore., Handicap Chair of the Year,  Ralph Marconi of Lake Oswego, Ore., OGA Director of the Year, Don Clark of Harbor Links Golf Club in Klamath Falls, Ore.,  OGA Member Club of the Year, Veterans Golf Club of White City, Ore., Facility of the Year, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore., Dale Johnson Media Award to John Denny, Sports Editor of the Clackamas Review, Golf Professional of the Year, Scott Erdmann from Oswego Lake Country Club ; Superintendent of the Year, Sean Watts from Skamania Lodge, and; Golfer of the Year, Terri Frohnmayer of Salem, Ore.

MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Nominated with unanimous support by presidents of the Charbonneau Men’s Club, Women’s Golf Association, Women’s Club and The Nine’s  and with 15 letters of recommendation from golfers and non-golfing residents alike for his “Together We Can Do It!” campaign, Member of the Year honors are bequeathed to Jim Oberg of Wilsonville, Ore.  

Oberg stepped forward to research and then address many of the issues faced by Charbonneau Golf Club.  He invested hundreds if not thousands of hours of personal time to implement a strategic plan to protect the residential community’s centerpiece, the golf course.  With no ability to assess the community and generate necessary funds, he worked closely with the Country Club Board of Directors, an organization independent of the golf course, to create a comprehensive financial plan to ensure donor contributions would be spent wisely on over $1 million in deferred maintenance. 

He organized a team of volunteers to educate residents about the value of the golf course to the entire community and increase awareness of the financial threats to its very existence.  Attracting significant volunteer support and talent, his team created and managed a website to promote the campaign (www.charbonneautogether.com), produced a campaign video, helped create a cocktail table book, and conducted face-to-face neighborly house parties with nearly 800 homeowners to discuss the issues addressing their legal green space requirements.   Non-golf events and activities were also created using the golf course to bring the community together.  Events included a Concert on the Green, regular “walks in the park”, photo contests and more.

Transparency was the hallmark of his campaign, ensuring free discussions and commentary from everyone involved.
As a result of all these efforts, to date more than 450 homeowners have made voluntary contributions exceeding $110,000. 

“The real question to all,” asked Jan Heiling, “is why did you move here? I am not a golfer, but fully understand the value of the course.   I am willing to make a small monthly payment ‘for the ambiance that we all enjoy and bought into.”

“I am not a golfer,” said Dean Forseth, “but on reflection I concluded that Jim inspired me (and many other non-golfers) to join a major campaign to strengthen and preserve our Charbonneau golf course.”  His campaign is, “being done in a way that is building long-term support and understanding…and is building community.”

As the OGA Member of the Year, Jim Oberg has created a model that similar independent facilities based in residential communities may be able to follow to help sustain them during times of economic stress.

HANDICAP CHAIR OF THE YEAR
Of all club members, the Handicap Chair often has the greatest workload and responsibilities.  Not only do we, as overseers of the USGA Handicap System™ rely on these volunteers, so does each golfer that hopes to have a level playing field when they compete - whether in their daily game among friends, in a club tournament or in an OGA Championship.

Without a knowledgeable and dedicated chair, it would be far more difficult for the OGA to ensure a fair and equitable handicap system.  The 2011 Handicap Chair of the Year is presented to Ralph Marconi, a member of Willamette Valley Country Club in Canby, Ore.

About three years ago, after eight seasons at Willamette Valley, Ralph decided it was time to give back to the club and was looking for a way to become more involved.   As luck would have it, the Handicap Chair position was becoming vacant, so he gladly volunteered. Ralph not only wears the handicapping hat, he also serves as OGA Director, Secretary on the WVCC Board, and Director of the Men’s Club.  

Willamette Valley Head Golf Professional, Danny Moore noted, “Ralph puts in an extraordinary amount of time at the club, and is always looking for feedback from both the membership and the employees. He’s a superstar and he even keeps me in check!”

Ralph consistently takes time to audit tee sheets against scores actually posted – a project he feels has had a great impact over time in educating members about the need to post. He terms his audit approach as “rigorous and random” – a successful formula that has seen a sharp rise in the percentage of scores posted.

His son Dominic, the Director of Golf at Pumpkin Ridge, has been influenced by his dad to put a process in place at his own club to increase awareness of the importance of the Handicap System.   “The most difficult thing I think he does well is that he is not afraid to make tough decisions to post penalty scores to those who do not post their rounds in a timely manner,” said Dominic.  “I know some people may take serious offense to this, but he seems to make good of a negative situation. I learned that from him.”  

Ralph has also served as an indispensable catalyst for the men’s club, taking it to participation levels not seen before at WVCC. He saw the need to retain members for the underserved 20 to 50-year-old age group.   Not only do they provide several events throughout the year, the men’s club has enthusiastically provided a season-long club-to-club competition to determine members for team play at season end. “This has really energized our membership,” says Ralph.

His philosophy about golf has been actively carried through to his handicapping position. “Golf is a noble game and the Handicap System provides an opportunity for all members to compete on an equal basis. I especially like the fact that the Handicap System promotes values inherent in the game of golf – like honesty, integrity, and the attempt to always do your best.”   With this perspective, it’s no wonder Ralph Marconi has been able to positively influence all those around him.

OGA DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Of great importance to the OGA is our Directors, those that serve as liaison between the OGA and the regular OGA Member Clubs they are elected to represent, and who vote whether or not to ratify the actions of the Association’s Executive Committee.

This year, with Nate Swanner joining the OGA Staff as Manager of Event Operations and Program Development, we are focusing more efforts on our communication with OGA Directors, to provide greater transparency with the Association as well as to elevate the position to the stature it deserves.  For this reason we have added a new award, the OGA Director of the Year.  The inaugural recipient of this award is Don Clark, an OGA Director representing Harbor Links Golf Club in Klamath Falls, Ore.

“In my short time here, Don has proven himself to be an asset and a blessing to the OGA,” noted Swanner. “Don has always been supportive as he is kind, and communicative as he is gentle.  Don is a perfect candidate for the inaugural award for OGA Directors.”

Swanner added, “Don works tirelessly to support OGA in any way possible, and embraces us and our programs wholeheartedly.  He is never shy to communicate his concerns or praise, but never waivers in his diligence in service to his club and the Association.  When I think of an ideal Director for both the club and OGA, Don Clark is at the top of the list. “

CLUB OF THE YEAR
For their dedication to promoting the game of golf, and for the services they provide those that have served our country,
Veteran’s Golf Club in White City, Ore., is identified as the OGA Member Club of the Year. 

Formed in 2007, and based at Veteran’s Memorial Golf Course in White City, Ore. on the campus of Veteran Affairs Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics, the purpose of the club is to stimulate interest in the game of golf and bring together veterans and their friends that desire to support and assist their fellow comrades in their health and well-being.  All funds donated or generated by the club are spent in support of inpatients or on community veteran programs.

This includes free membership in their OGA Member Club to those inpatients that desire to play the game and have successfully completed prerequisites including demonstrating knowledge of basic rules of golf and etiquette.  Inpatients are also offered free entry into their tournaments, with prizes awarded in the form of VA Canteen Coupon Books, ensuring compliance with the rules of amateur status.  Three volunteer golf instructors also provide free golf lessons to anyone interested.

Regular golf trips to various Southern Oregon courses such as Centennial, Quail Point, and Running Y have been sponsored along with the Ashland Elks Lodge with each event including transportation, prizes and dinner for inpatients.
Additionally, this club of 30 members annually donates more than $3,000 to United Voluntary Services in support of other inpatient programs including the annual 4th of July picnic, Christmas party gifts and other activities.

As noted by OGA Manager of Handicapping and Course Rating, Gretchen Yoder, after releasing their courses’ rating in September, “Veterans Golf Club is more than just a club.  It’s about volunteers, who continue to serve their brethren, giving vets a place to heal.  It’s about giving back to people who gave their all for our country.”

FACILITY OF THE YEAR
Over its 20 year history, Witch Hollow and Ghost Creek have regularly received accolades atop various Top 100 lists.   Managed by American Golf Corporation and currently led by General Manager Roger Aggson and Director of Golf Dominic Marconi, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore., a facility that includes both a public daily fee (Ghost Creek) and private golf course (Witch Hollow) adds yet another award as the OGA acknowledges it as Facility of the Year. 

Pumpkin Ridge has a proud history of serving golf and the community.   In fact, the founding partners were committed to providing a venue where championship golf could be played in Oregon at the local, regional, state and national levels and also partner with local charities in their mission to assist those less fortunate.

In its first ten years, Pumpkin Ridge hosted more USGA Championships (six) than any other golf facility in the country. It played host to the Tiger Woods' "three peat" in the 1996 U.S. Amateur Championship and then stepped up at the request of the USGA to host the U.S. Women's Open a year later. In 2000, it became only the second golf club in history to concurrently host the U.S. Junior Amateur and Girls' Junior Championships. In 2003, it again hosted the U.S. Women's Open and followed that with the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship in 2006.  

It has regularly hosted OGA championships including the Oregon Amateur and Oregon Junior Amateur, and a number of USGA qualifiers.  In 2009 with just 5-days’ notice, it stepped up to host the Hudson Cup matches.

For the past three years, Pumpkin Ridge has hosted the Safeway Classic, which gives over one million dollars each year to charity.

Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club also has a history of giving back to the community through its involvement in philanthropic causes. The staff and members have committed over 300 volunteer hours this year alone assisting such charities as the Brian Grant Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and SW Washington. Our facility serves bimonthly dinners for Ronald McDonald House guests residing at the East House. Last year the PGA Professional staff created a new event (now in its second year) called the "Rockin' Range in support of the First Tee of Portland” and have contributed $11,000 to support youth golf.  Furthermore, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club has donated over $70,000 in value through the donation of foursomes to charitable causes in the greater Portland area.

In giving back to the community through golf, Pumpkin Ridge hosts Glencoe and Liberty High School golf teams, Portland State University, University of Portland and Pacific University golf teams. The facility has also accommodated Westview High School and Banks High School on occasion. Additionally, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club has hosted collegiate competitions such as Lewis and Clark and Concordia College Invitational.

Finally, Pumpkin Ridge has been a leader in protecting the environment from the very beginning and continuing today as one of 19 certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries in the region.

DALE JOHNSON MEDIA
The Dale Johnson Media Award, named in honor of Oregonian Golf Editor (1947 - 1958) and OGA/Pacific Northwest PGA Executive Director (1964 - 1990), is conferred upon John Denny.

With many daily papers reducing the number of pages devoted to sports in general, several have also reduced the number of stories devoted to the achievements of local athletes, especially those that do not compete in team sports, notably golfers.  “More and more, we find that the local papers will focus on those athletes in their community,” said Eric Yaillen, the OGA’s Director of Marketing and Communication.  “John Denny has been one of the sports editors consistently contacting the OGA to report on any golfer that has succeeded in OGA championships and events.  He’s responsible for making the editorial decision to include golf in his paper.”

“Regardless of age or skill level, amateur golfers in Clackamas, Oregon City, Milwaukie and Gladstone can find their story being told in their hometown paper,” added Yaillen.  Along with typical high school coverage in the Clackamas Review, stories appeared throughout the summer on the likes of Pee Wee golfer Samuel Pyon, Intermediate Girl Angela Lu, former OSU golfer Tyler Simpson (runner-up at the Oregon Amateur, perennial senior champion Pat O’Donnell, Net Co-medalist Mike Cavanaugh and the First Tee’s Austin Landis.

"I think their passion and success says something about the quality of the courses they play on, and the instruction that they have received,” said Denny.    "It's an honor to receive this award from the OGA, but I just cover community news.  I wouldn't even have been in the running for the honor if it weren't that north Clackamas County has had so many golfers achieve success.”

Denny has been reporting local sports in north Clackamas County for 35 years including 17 years at the now defunct Oregon City Enterprise Courier and the last 17 at the Clackamas Review.  He is currently Sports Editor of the Clackamas Review and Oregon City News newspapers, which serves the communities of Clackamas, Oregon City, Milwaukie and Gladstone.  The Clackamas Review & Oregon City News, owned by the Pamplin Media Group, is delivered to roughly 18,000 homes every Wednesday and is third largest free distribution newspaper in Oregon.

GOLFER OF THE YEAR
For the 2011 season Golfer of the Year honors were bestowed upon Terri Frohnmayer of Salem, Ore. , a member at Illahe Hills Country Club.

This year, Frohnmayer, 55 became only the ninth OGA Member and tenth Oregonian to win a USGA National Championship when she captured the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship title with a 2 and 1 win over defending champion Mina Hardin, 51, of Fort Worth, Texas at the Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tenn.

In a field of experienced competitors, Frohnmayer was playing in just her third national championship. She lost to Betsy King in the second round of the 1973 U.S. Girls’ Junior and was a member of the Rollins College team that played in the 1978 National Women’s Collegiate Championship.

After college she went to work in real estate and put away her golf clubs. She began playing again in 2003. After her mother passed away in 2007, Frohnmayer returned to competition because her mother had urged her to. Last year she won the Pacific Northwest Senior Women’s Championship, and this year was the runner-up.

Past national amateur champions hailing from Oregon include H. Chandler Egan (U.S. Amateur, 1904, ’05), Carole Jo Kabler (US Girls Junior Amateur, 1955), Fred Haney (US Public Links, 1971), Bob Allard (US Public Links, 1972), Mary Budke (US Women’s Amateur, 1972), John Fought (US Amateur, 1977), Eric Johnson (US Junior Amateur, 1980), Jason Allred (US Junior Amateur, 1997), and Jeff Quinney (US Amateur, 2000).

In addition to the Golfer of the Year award, the OGA also recognizes the achievements of OGA Members who actively participate in OGA Championships. 

At the top of their respective Performance Points lists, are the Boys Player of the Year, Dylan Wu of Medford, Ore.;
Men’s Performance Points Leader, Nick Sherwood of Albany, Ore.; Senior Men’s Performance Points Leader, Scott Hval of Portland, Ore.; Girls Player of the Year, Gigi Stoll of Beaverton, Ore.; Women’s Performance Points Leader, Jillian Carlile of Vancouver, Wash., and; Senior Women’s Performance Points Leader, Loree McKay of Hillsboro, Ore.

GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Scott Erdmann, 34, of Tigard, Ore. who has been an Assistant Golf Professional at Oswego Lake Country Club the past four years, is recognized as the OGA Golf Professional of the Year.   

A native of Christchurch, New Zealand who immigrated to the US at age 2 hardly seemed a prospect to play in a major.  He was a member of the Sunset High School 1994 Class 4A championship team, but was usually the No. 5 golfer and was left off the state tournament roster.    Although he worked his way up to No. 2 his senior year, he realized he wasn't good enough then to play at a Division I school.  Still, the golf bug bit him hard, especially after he got his first golf job at Sunset Golf Center, a driving range in Beaverton.
 
So, in 1996, he decided to turn professional and enrolled in the Professional Golfers Career College -- a trade school in Temecula, Calif.   He took classes in the rules of golf, teaching techniques, pro shop operations, cart fleet management, food and beverage and even calligraphy.  He decided to turn professional in 1997 and was hired as an Assistant at Pumpkin Ridge.  He earned PGA of America membership in 2005.   

This past season, he had one of the best competitive seasons he’s ever had.   Erdmann earned the opportunity to play in the PGA Championship by finishing runner-up in the PGA Professional National Championship in Hershey, Pa., the biggest tournament he's ever played in, to date. 

Although he missed the cut at the PGA Championship, he had the opportunity to play practice rounds with US Open Champion Lucas Glover and Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love.  He also played with Ernie Else and Robert Allenby.    Along the way, he represented Oregon Golf in a "Road to the PGA Championship" special on CBS.   A network crew spent 14 hours with him at the club and his house to gather footage for a segment that ran about five minutes.   CBS also filmed a feature on Scott and Ernie as they both have kids with the same special needs.

With his finish at the PNC, he also earned the chance to represent the United States in the PGA Cup, a Ryder Cup-style event featuring a team competition between the top PGA Club Professionals from the US playing against their counterparts from Great Britain & Ireland.  Erdmann finished 2-2-0 in his matches to help the US to a 17-1/2 to 8-1/2 win.  He also finished second at the Pacific Northwest PGA Professional Championship after a one-hole playoff loss to Tim Feenstra of Seattle, Wash.   

"I'm the run-of-the-mill assistant golf professional," said Erdmann, whose duties include managing the bag room, running tournaments, teaching and selling merchandise. Erdmann, who has never applied for a Head Professional position, feels a strong tug from competitive golf so he spends his summers traveling the region to compete in tournaments.  This year he was living the dream.

"I've certainly settled into family life," he said. "But yeah, it's a dream. If things change and I start to play more consistently, then maybe that could happen. But I've always felt like if I'm playing well, the way I know I can play, and then yeah, maybe I could play the PGA Tour. But it's incredibly difficult to do that on a daily basis."

Erdmann was also recently recognized as the Oregon PGA Chapter’s Assistant Golf Professional of the Year.     "He's just a great young man," Oswego Lake member Mickey Morey said. "He has a great sense of who he is, and he's wonderful with the members, great with kids."
 
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR
In recognition of golf course superintendents who are accountable for the quality of the courses that we play, the Superintendent of the Year award goes to Sean Watts of Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, Wash. 

As Director of Facilities, Watts, and his small crew, are responsible for ALL interior & exterior building maintenance as well as all grounds maintenance including the golf course and 3 hiking trails.  He does all of this while sharing the Lodge’s golf maintenance equipment with Orchard Hills Country Club, Hood River Country Club and Beacon Rock Golf Course.

Watts, who is also Vice President of the Oregon Golf Course Superintendents Association, took over an operation that had many unfinished projects on the golf course which he led to completion in two years resulting in increasing the health and playability of the course from tee to green, which they’ve maintained to this day.  He also dedicated significant effort in getting Skamania to be just the 12th golf course in Washington to achieve certification as an Audubon Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuary.

In his nomination, Phil Dodd, the former Golf Sales Manager for Skamania Lodge noted, “I’ve been a personal witness to his skills and abilities in supervision and management as well as golf and grounds maintenance.”  

“He’s a natural leader,” he added.   “Because of his leadership skills, crew morale rose significantly in a short period of time.  He is friendly and soft spoken but firm in his direction. His leadership style has gained him respect from everyone at Skamania Lodge.”

Under Sean’s direction, Skamania Lodge regularly hosts High School students in job-shadow experiences as well as the Forest Youth Success Program, an annual summer program sponsored by Skamania County.  This program teaches students environmental stewardship, providing hands-on experience learning how to take water samples to determine quality and enhancing wildlife habitat by monitoring nest sites.

OGA Announces 2011 Award Recipients

Portland, Ore. (Saturday, October 15, 2011) - At its Annual Meeting Friday night at Riverside Golf & Country Club, the Oregon Golf Association recognized many of its important stakeholders including members, member clubs, golf courses as well the golf course superintendents and golf professionals who support the game.

Pictured (l to r) -- Sean Watts, Don Clark, Roger Aggson, GM, Pumpkin Ridge, John Denny, Scott Erdmann, Terri Frohnmayer,
Jim Oberg, Peter Pittock, Ted Morehouse, Veterans Golf Club, Ralph Marconi and Jeff Weigant, Veterans Golf Club

This year’s award winners included Member of the Year Jim Oberg of Wilsonville, Ore., Handicap Chair of the Year,  Ralph Marconi of Lake Oswego, Ore., OGA Director of the Year, Don Clark of Harbor Links Golf Club in Klamath Falls, Ore.,  OGA Member Club of the Year, Veterans Golf Club of White City, Ore., Facility of the Year, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore., Dale Johnson Media Award to John Denny, Sports Editor of the Clackamas Review, Golf Professional of the Year, Scott Erdmann from Oswego Lake Country Club ; Superintendent of the Year, Sean Watts from Skamania Lodge, and; Golfer of the Year, Terri Frohnmayer of Salem, Ore.

MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Nominated with unanimous support by presidents of the Charbonneau Men’s Club, Women’s Golf Association, Women’s Club and The Nine’s  and with 15 letters of recommendation from golfers and non-golfing residents alike for his “Together We Can Do It!” campaign, Member of the Year honors are bequeathed to Jim Oberg of Wilsonville, Ore.  

Oberg stepped forward to research and then address many of the issues faced by Charbonneau Golf Club.  He invested hundreds if not thousands of hours of personal time to implement a strategic plan to protect the residential community’s centerpiece, the golf course.  With no ability to assess the community and generate necessary funds, he worked closely with the Country Club Board of Directors, an organization independent of the golf course, to create a comprehensive financial plan to ensure donor contributions would be spent wisely on over $1 million in deferred maintenance. 

He organized a team of volunteers to educate residents about the value of the golf course to the entire community and increase awareness of the financial threats to its very existence.  Attracting significant volunteer support and talent, his team created and managed a website to promote the campaign (www.charbonneautogether.com), produced a campaign video, helped create a cocktail table book, and conducted face-to-face neighborly house parties with nearly 800 homeowners to discuss the issues addressing their legal green space requirements.   Non-golf events and activities were also created using the golf course to bring the community together.  Events included a Concert on the Green, regular “walks in the park”, photo contests and more.

Transparency was the hallmark of his campaign, ensuring free discussions and commentary from everyone involved.
As a result of all these efforts, to date more than 450 homeowners have made voluntary contributions exceeding $110,000. 

“The real question to all,” asked Jan Heiling, “is why did you move here? I am not a golfer, but fully understand the value of the course.   I am willing to make a small monthly payment ‘for the ambiance that we all enjoy and bought into.”

“I am not a golfer,” said Dean Forseth, “but on reflection I concluded that Jim inspired me (and many other non-golfers) to join a major campaign to strengthen and preserve our Charbonneau golf course.”  His campaign is, “being done in a way that is building long-term support and understanding…and is building community.”

As the OGA Member of the Year, Jim Oberg has created a model that similar independent facilities based in residential communities may be able to follow to help sustain them during times of economic stress.

HANDICAP CHAIR OF THE YEAR
Of all club members, the Handicap Chair often has the greatest workload and responsibilities.  Not only do we, as overseers of the USGA Handicap System™ rely on these volunteers, so does each golfer that hopes to have a level playing field when they compete - whether in their daily game among friends, in a club tournament or in an OGA Championship.

Without a knowledgeable and dedicated chair, it would be far more difficult for the OGA to ensure a fair and equitable handicap system.  The 2011 Handicap Chair of the Year is presented to Ralph Marconi, a member of Willamette Valley Country Club in Canby, Ore.

About three years ago, after eight seasons at Willamette Valley, Ralph decided it was time to give back to the club and was looking for a way to become more involved.   As luck would have it, the Handicap Chair position was becoming vacant, so he gladly volunteered. Ralph not only wears the handicapping hat, he also serves as OGA Director, Secretary on the WVCC Board, and Director of the Men’s Club.  

Willamette Valley Head Golf Professional, Danny Moore noted, “Ralph puts in an extraordinary amount of time at the club, and is always looking for feedback from both the membership and the employees. He’s a superstar and he even keeps me in check!”

Ralph consistently takes time to audit tee sheets against scores actually posted – a project he feels has had a great impact over time in educating members about the need to post. He terms his audit approach as “rigorous and random” – a successful formula that has seen a sharp rise in the percentage of scores posted.

His son Dominic, the Director of Golf at Pumpkin Ridge, has been influenced by his dad to put a process in place at his own club to increase awareness of the importance of the Handicap System.   “The most difficult thing I think he does well is that he is not afraid to make tough decisions to post penalty scores to those who do not post their rounds in a timely manner,” said Dominic.  “I know some people may take serious offense to this, but he seems to make good of a negative situation. I learned that from him.”  

Ralph has also served as an indispensable catalyst for the men’s club, taking it to participation levels not seen before at WVCC. He saw the need to retain members for the underserved 20 to 50-year-old age group.   Not only do they provide several events throughout the year, the men’s club has enthusiastically provided a season-long club-to-club competition to determine members for team play at season end. “This has really energized our membership,” says Ralph.

His philosophy about golf has been actively carried through to his handicapping position. “Golf is a noble game and the Handicap System provides an opportunity for all members to compete on an equal basis. I especially like the fact that the Handicap System promotes values inherent in the game of golf – like honesty, integrity, and the attempt to always do your best.”   With this perspective, it’s no wonder Ralph Marconi has been able to positively influence all those around him.

OGA DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Of great importance to the OGA is our Directors, those that serve as liaison between the OGA and the regular OGA Member Clubs they are elected to represent, and who vote whether or not to ratify the actions of the Association’s Executive Committee.

This year, with Nate Swanner joining the OGA Staff as Manager of Event Operations and Program Development, we are focusing more efforts on our communication with OGA Directors, to provide greater transparency with the Association as well as to elevate the position to the stature it deserves.  For this reason we have added a new award, the OGA Director of the Year.  The inaugural recipient of this award is Don Clark, an OGA Director representing Harbor Links Golf Club in Klamath Falls, Ore.

“In my short time here, Don has proven himself to be an asset and a blessing to the OGA,” noted Swanner. “Don has always been supportive as he is kind, and communicative as he is gentle.  Don is a perfect candidate for the inaugural award for OGA Directors.”

Swanner added, “Don works tirelessly to support OGA in any way possible, and embraces us and our programs wholeheartedly.  He is never shy to communicate his concerns or praise, but never waivers in his diligence in service to his club and the Association.  When I think of an ideal Director for both the club and OGA, Don Clark is at the top of the list. “

CLUB OF THE YEAR
For their dedication to promoting the game of golf, and for the services they provide those that have served our country,
Veteran’s Golf Club in White City, Ore., is identified as the OGA Member Club of the Year. 

Formed in 2007, and based at Veteran’s Memorial Golf Course in White City, Ore. on the campus of Veteran Affairs Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics, the purpose of the club is to stimulate interest in the game of golf and bring together veterans and their friends that desire to support and assist their fellow comrades in their health and well-being.  All funds donated or generated by the club are spent in support of inpatients or on community veteran programs.

This includes free membership in their OGA Member Club to those inpatients that desire to play the game and have successfully completed prerequisites including demonstrating knowledge of basic rules of golf and etiquette.  Inpatients are also offered free entry into their tournaments, with prizes awarded in the form of VA Canteen Coupon Books, ensuring compliance with the rules of amateur status.  Three volunteer golf instructors also provide free golf lessons to anyone interested.

Regular golf trips to various Southern Oregon courses such as Centennial, Quail Point, and Running Y have been sponsored along with the Ashland Elks Lodge with each event including transportation, prizes and dinner for inpatients.
Additionally, this club of 30 members annually donates more than $3,000 to United Voluntary Services in support of other inpatient programs including the annual 4th of July picnic, Christmas party gifts and other activities.

As noted by OGA Manager of Handicapping and Course Rating, Gretchen Yoder, after releasing their courses’ rating in September, “Veterans Golf Club is more than just a club.  It’s about volunteers, who continue to serve their brethren, giving vets a place to heal.  It’s about giving back to people who gave their all for our country.”

FACILITY OF THE YEAR
Over its 20 year history, Witch Hollow and Ghost Creek have regularly received accolades atop various Top 100 lists.   Managed by American Golf Corporation and currently led by General Manager Roger Aggson and Director of Golf Dominic Marconi, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore., a facility that includes both a public daily fee (Ghost Creek) and private golf course (Witch Hollow) adds yet another award as the OGA acknowledges it as Facility of the Year. 

Pumpkin Ridge has a proud history of serving golf and the community.   In fact, the founding partners were committed to providing a venue where championship golf could be played in Oregon at the local, regional, state and national levels and also partner with local charities in their mission to assist those less fortunate.

In its first ten years, Pumpkin Ridge hosted more USGA Championships (six) than any other golf facility in the country. It played host to the Tiger Woods' "three peat" in the 1996 U.S. Amateur Championship and then stepped up at the request of the USGA to host the U.S. Women's Open a year later. In 2000, it became only the second golf club in history to concurrently host the U.S. Junior Amateur and Girls' Junior Championships. In 2003, it again hosted the U.S. Women's Open and followed that with the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship in 2006.  

It has regularly hosted OGA championships including the Oregon Amateur and Oregon Junior Amateur, and a number of USGA qualifiers.  In 2009 with just 5-days’ notice, it stepped up to host the Hudson Cup matches.

For the past three years, Pumpkin Ridge has hosted the Safeway Classic, which gives over one million dollars each year to charity.

Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club also has a history of giving back to the community through its involvement in philanthropic causes. The staff and members have committed over 300 volunteer hours this year alone assisting such charities as the Brian Grant Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and SW Washington. Our facility serves bimonthly dinners for Ronald McDonald House guests residing at the East House. Last year the PGA Professional staff created a new event (now in its second year) called the "Rockin' Range in support of the First Tee of Portland” and have contributed $11,000 to support youth golf.  Furthermore, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club has donated over $70,000 in value through the donation of foursomes to charitable causes in the greater Portland area.

In giving back to the community through golf, Pumpkin Ridge hosts Glencoe and Liberty High School golf teams, Portland State University, University of Portland and Pacific University golf teams. The facility has also accommodated Westview High School and Banks High School on occasion. Additionally, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club has hosted collegiate competitions such as Lewis and Clark and Concordia College Invitational.

Finally, Pumpkin Ridge has been a leader in protecting the environment from the very beginning and continuing today as one of 19 certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries in the region.

DALE JOHNSON MEDIA
The Dale Johnson Media Award, named in honor of Oregonian Golf Editor (1947 - 1958) and OGA/Pacific Northwest PGA Executive Director (1964 - 1990), is conferred upon John Denny.

With many daily papers reducing the number of pages devoted to sports in general, several have also reduced the number of stories devoted to the achievements of local athletes, especially those that do not compete in team sports, notably golfers.  “More and more, we find that the local papers will focus on those athletes in their community,” said Eric Yaillen, the OGA’s Director of Marketing and Communication.  “John Denny has been one of the sports editors consistently contacting the OGA to report on any golfer that has succeeded in OGA championships and events.  He’s responsible for making the editorial decision to include golf in his paper.”

“Regardless of age or skill level, amateur golfers in Clackamas, Oregon City, Milwaukie and Gladstone can find their story being told in their hometown paper,” added Yaillen.  Along with typical high school coverage in the Clackamas Review, stories appeared throughout the summer on the likes of Pee Wee golfer Samuel Pyon, Intermediate Girl Angela Lu, former OSU golfer Tyler Simpson (runner-up at the Oregon Amateur, perennial senior champion Pat O’Donnell, Net Co-medalist Mike Cavanaugh and the First Tee’s Austin Landis.

"I think their passion and success says something about the quality of the courses they play on, and the instruction that they have received,” said Denny.    "It's an honor to receive this award from the OGA, but I just cover community news.  I wouldn't even have been in the running for the honor if it weren't that north Clackamas County has had so many golfers achieve success.”

Denny has been reporting local sports in north Clackamas County for 35 years including 17 years at the now defunct Oregon City Enterprise Courier and the last 17 at the Clackamas Review.  He is currently Sports Editor of the Clackamas Review and Oregon City News newspapers, which serves the communities of Clackamas, Oregon City, Milwaukie and Gladstone.  The Clackamas Review & Oregon City News, owned by the Pamplin Media Group, is delivered to roughly 18,000 homes every Wednesday and is third largest free distribution newspaper in Oregon.

GOLFER OF THE YEAR
For the 2011 season Golfer of the Year honors were bestowed upon Terri Frohnmayer of Salem, Ore. , a member at Illahe Hills Country Club.

This year, Frohnmayer, 55 became only the ninth OGA Member and tenth Oregonian to win a USGA National Championship when she captured the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship title with a 2 and 1 win over defending champion Mina Hardin, 51, of Fort Worth, Texas at the Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tenn.

In a field of experienced competitors, Frohnmayer was playing in just her third national championship. She lost to Betsy King in the second round of the 1973 U.S. Girls’ Junior and was a member of the Rollins College team that played in the 1978 National Women’s Collegiate Championship.

After college she went to work in real estate and put away her golf clubs. She began playing again in 2003. After her mother passed away in 2007, Frohnmayer returned to competition because her mother had urged her to. Last year she won the Pacific Northwest Senior Women’s Championship, and this year was the runner-up.

Past national amateur champions hailing from Oregon include H. Chandler Egan (U.S. Amateur, 1904, ’05), Carole Jo Kabler (US Girls Junior Amateur, 1955), Fred Haney (US Public Links, 1971), Bob Allard (US Public Links, 1972), Mary Budke (US Women’s Amateur, 1972), John Fought (US Amateur, 1977), Eric Johnson (US Junior Amateur, 1980), Jason Allred (US Junior Amateur, 1997), and Jeff Quinney (US Amateur, 2000).

In addition to the Golfer of the Year award, the OGA also recognizes the achievements of OGA Members who actively participate in OGA Championships. 

At the top of their respective Performance Points lists, are the Boys Player of the Year, Dylan Wu of Medford, Ore.;
Men’s Performance Points Leader, Nick Sherwood of Albany, Ore.; Senior Men’s Performance Points Leader, Scott Hval of Portland, Ore.; Girls Player of the Year, Gigi Stoll of Beaverton, Ore.; Women’s Performance Points Leader, Jillian Carlile of Vancouver, Wash., and; Senior Women’s Performance Points Leader, Loree McKay of Hillsboro, Ore.

GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Scott Erdmann, 34, of Tigard, Ore. who has been an Assistant Golf Professional at Oswego Lake Country Club the past four years, is recognized as the OGA Golf Professional of the Year.   

A native of Christchurch, New Zealand who immigrated to the US at age 2 hardly seemed a prospect to play in a major.  He was a member of the Sunset High School 1994 Class 4A championship team, but was usually the No. 5 golfer and was left off the state tournament roster.    Although he worked his way up to No. 2 his senior year, he realized he wasn't good enough then to play at a Division I school.  Still, the golf bug bit him hard, especially after he got his first golf job at Sunset Golf Center, a driving range in Beaverton.
 
So, in 1996, he decided to turn professional and enrolled in the Professional Golfers Career College -- a trade school in Temecula, Calif.   He took classes in the rules of golf, teaching techniques, pro shop operations, cart fleet management, food and beverage and even calligraphy.  He decided to turn professional in 1997 and was hired as an Assistant at Pumpkin Ridge.  He earned PGA of America membership in 2005.   

This past season, he had one of the best competitive seasons he’s ever had.   Erdmann earned the opportunity to play in the PGA Championship by finishing runner-up in the PGA Professional National Championship in Hershey, Pa., the biggest tournament he's ever played in, to date. 

Although he missed the cut at the PGA Championship, he had the opportunity to play practice rounds with US Open Champion Lucas Glover and Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love.  He also played with Ernie Else and Robert Allenby.    Along the way, he represented Oregon Golf in a "Road to the PGA Championship" special on CBS.   A network crew spent 14 hours with him at the club and his house to gather footage for a segment that ran about five minutes.   CBS also filmed a feature on Scott and Ernie as they both have kids with the same special needs.

With his finish at the PNC, he also earned the chance to represent the United States in the PGA Cup, a Ryder Cup-style event featuring a team competition between the top PGA Club Professionals from the US playing against their counterparts from Great Britain & Ireland.  Erdmann finished 2-2-0 in his matches to help the US to a 17-1/2 to 8-1/2 win.  He also finished second at the Pacific Northwest PGA Professional Championship after a one-hole playoff loss to Tim Feenstra of Seattle, Wash.   

"I'm the run-of-the-mill assistant golf professional," said Erdmann, whose duties include managing the bag room, running tournaments, teaching and selling merchandise. Erdmann, who has never applied for a Head Professional position, feels a strong tug from competitive golf so he spends his summers traveling the region to compete in tournaments.  This year he was living the dream.

"I've certainly settled into family life," he said. "But yeah, it's a dream. If things change and I start to play more consistently, then maybe that could happen. But I've always felt like if I'm playing well, the way I know I can play, and then yeah, maybe I could play the PGA Tour. But it's incredibly difficult to do that on a daily basis."

Erdmann was also recently recognized as the Oregon PGA Chapter’s Assistant Golf Professional of the Year.     "He's just a great young man," Oswego Lake member Mickey Morey said. "He has a great sense of who he is, and he's wonderful with the members, great with kids."
 
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR
In recognition of golf course superintendents who are accountable for the quality of the courses that we play, the Superintendent of the Year award goes to Sean Watts of Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, Wash. 

As Director of Facilities, Watts, and his small crew, are responsible for ALL interior & exterior building maintenance as well as all grounds maintenance including the golf course and 3 hiking trails.  He does all of this while sharing the Lodge’s golf maintenance equipment with Orchard Hills Country Club, Hood River Country Club and Beacon Rock Golf Course.

Watts, who is also Vice President of the Oregon Golf Course Superintendents Association, took over an operation that had many unfinished projects on the golf course which he led to completion in two years resulting in increasing the health and playability of the course from tee to green, which they’ve maintained to this day.  He also dedicated significant effort in getting Skamania to be just the 12th golf course in Washington to achieve certification as an Audubon Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuary.

In his nomination, Phil Dodd, the former Golf Sales Manager for Skamania Lodge noted, “I’ve been a personal witness to his skills and abilities in supervision and management as well as golf and grounds maintenance.”  

“He’s a natural leader,” he added.   “Because of his leadership skills, crew morale rose significantly in a short period of time.  He is friendly and soft spoken but firm in his direction. His leadership style has gained him respect from everyone at Skamania Lodge.”

Under Sean’s direction, Skamania Lodge regularly hosts High School students in job-shadow experiences as well as the Forest Youth Success Program, an annual summer program sponsored by Skamania County.  This program teaches students environmental stewardship, providing hands-on experience learning how to take water samples to determine quality and enhancing wildlife habitat by monitoring nest sites.

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