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2024Michigan Section PGA Special Awards Recipients

Golf Professional of the Year
Doug Brody, PGA
Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club

Golf Executive of the Year
Chris Whitten, PGA
Golf Association of Michigan

Kyle Martin, PGA
The Fortress Golf Course

Assistant Golf Professional of the Year
Cody Haughton, PGA
Red Run Golf Club

Bill Strausbaugh Award
Kevin McKinley, PGA
First Tee of Northern Michigan

Merchandiser of the Year-Private

Doug Brody, PGA, a 27-year PGAMember, has captured the 2024Michigan Section PGA Golf Professional of the Year award. This prestigious honor is awarded to the professional whohas demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership and strong moral character. The individual must also maintain a substantial record of service to the Association and game of golf, and be well-regarded as a model PGA of America Golf Professional.

Brody, Head Golf Professional at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club, is being recognized for his service to the Section and the Association, his leadership ability, image and ability to inspire others, and his promotion of the game. He was chosen by his peers based on his overall performance as a golf professional which is highlighted by his club’s success in Junior Golf, hosting multiple PGA TOUR events, strong business management, and successful team building. Throughout his career, Brody has served as an active participant on numerous committees not only within the Section, but at his club as well. His members and staff look to him to help guide policy for the greater good of the club.

His involvement as the Michigan PGA Special Awards Committee Chair and helping lead the Motown Cup Interclub series in Southeast Michigan are areas of leadership that Brody is proud of. He hopes his work inspires other golf professionals to step up for the good of the Section and the good of the game.

Chris Whitten, PGA, Executive Director at Golf Association of Michiganhas captured the Golf Executive of the Year award. The honor bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional who has performed outstanding services for a multiple facility/course management/ownership operation, allied association, or golf industry executive management position. As one of the highest honors the PGA can bestow, candidates must possess outstanding qualities of leadership, vision, courage, strong moral character, and a substantial record of service to the Association and the game of golf.

As the Executive Director, Whitten leads his team to provide the services and training that professionals need relative to USGA services such as Handicapping, Course Rating, and the Rules of Golf. Additionally, under his direction, the GAM Foundation has taken several steps to support Michigan PGA programs including grants for Player Development, Golf in Schools, PGA HOPE and a recently developed educational scholarship available for students enrolled in the PGM Program at Ferris State University.

Whitten has led various initiatives in his five years at GAM to support widespread access to golf in Michigan. He hopes his work inspires enthusiasm for those who play the game, both amateurs and professionals.

Kyle Martin, PGA, Head Professional at The Fortress Golf Course, has been named the Teacher & Coach of the Year. Martinis honored for his overall impact on teaching and coaching along with his innovative and special teaching programs he has implemented.

In Martin'snine years at the Fortress Golf Course, there has been substantial growth in teaching and club fitting with the use of an indoor studio that he designed in 2018. Martin teaches over 1,000 lessons per year as he utilizes Trackman, Flightscope, Blast Motion, and the Titleist Performance Institute. A 2023 highlight of Kyle's was his student, Kim Dinh's, U.S. Women's Mid-AmateurChampionship victory at Stonewall in Elverson, PA this past September.In his first position at The Boyne Golf Academy at King Par, he doubled lesson revenue by developing long term instructional programs. Martin is also very committed to growing the game across many markets by implementing a variety of programs that cater to juniors, seniors, women, and disabled.

Cody Haughton, PGA, Assistant Golf Professionalat Red Run Golf Club, has been named the Assistant Golf Professional of the Year. Haughton has built a solid playing resume during his time as a professional and uses his consistent playing and competing experiences to relate to his students. He believes golf is an individual game and works to help golfers learn about their swing patterns so they will be better in the long run.

Haughton is also involved in the merchandising and tournament operations at Red Run Golf Club. He assists with apparel style and quantity decisions throughout the year, and helps manage their fully booked tournament schedule. Haughton credits his growth to his mentor, Wally Sierakowski, PGA, who he has had the privilege of working for the last ten years.

Kevin McKinley, PGA, Executive Director at First Tee of Northern Michigan, has been selected as the recipient of the Bill Strausbaugh Award. McKinleyis honored for his outstanding integrity, character, and leadership through a commitment to mentoring and making significant impacts on the careers of PGA Professionals.

Established in 1979, the Bill Strausbaugh Award is presented to a PGA Professional who by their day-to-day efforts, have distinguished themselves by mentoring their fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations and through service to the community. The award reflects the characteristics and qualities of Strausbaugh, a Middle Atlantic PGA Master Professional who died in 1999. Wilson was the 2008 recipient of the PGA of America Horton Smith Award.

Joe Hatch, PGA, Director of PGA Golf Management Program at Ferris State University, has been selected by the Michigan Section PGA as the recipient of the Professional Development Award. The Professional Development Award is awarded annually to a PGA Member for their outstanding contributions to professional education, leadership, networking ability and contributions made by the candidate to grow and strengthen the image of a PGA Professional.

Dan Urban, PGA, Director of Golf at Gull Lake Country Club, has been named the Merchandiser of the Year for Private Golf Facilities,Jeff Stalcup, PGA, Director of Golf at The Orchards Golf Club, has been named the Merchandiser of the Year for Public Golf Facilities, andTyler Jablonski, PGA, Head Professional at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, has been named the Merchandiser of the Year for Resort Golf Facilities by the Michigan Section PGA. This award recognizes excellence in business and merchandising at public golf facilities as well as innovation in displays, merchandising techniques, staff training and overall success and growth.

Dean Kolstad, PGA, Director of Golf at Gull Lake View Golf Club and Resort has been selected by the Michigan Section PGA as therecipient of the Patriot Award. Kolstad is honored for personifying patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrating unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America. The Patriot Award originated in 2008 following the inspiration of Patriot Day founder Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, a PGA Professional from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Kelly Kuhlman, PGA, Teaching Professional at Twin Lakes Golf & Swim Clubhas been selected by the Michigan Section PGA as the Player Development Award Winner. This award recognizes a PGA Golf Professional, who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contribution and achievement in player development. It also considers the PGA Professional’s growth of the game leadership, commitment at the Section and National levels in the player development arena, and the meaningful impact made at the facility.

Kevin McKinley, PGA,Executive Director at First Tee of Northern Michigan, has been selected by the Michigan Section PGA as the Youth Player Development Award Winner. This award bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional, who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contribution and achievement in youth player development. The award considers the PGA Professional’s focus on youth through their growth of the game leadership, commitment at the Section and National levels in the youth player development arena, and the meaningful impact made upon youth through the introduction and participation in the game. McKinley is proud to be a long time supporter of PGA of America growth of the game initiatives, especially PGA Jr. League, PGA Family Golf, and Golf in Schools.

Renee Fluker,Founder and President of the Midnight Golf Program,has been named by the Michigan PGA as the 2024recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. This award honors outstanding individuals who display leadership and humanitarian qualities, including integrity, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm for the game of golf.

Fluker founded the Midnight Golf Program in 2001 as a social worker and single mother who noticed the impact golf had on her son’s life. Her son encouraged her to find a way to provide other young people with the opportunity to experience the game of golf. The Midnight Golf Program has been acclaimed for its impact on the lives of at-risk youth and is seen as a pillar of hope for students who do not typically have access to the professional and life skill development resources this program offers. Fluker’s program has impacted over 3,500 Detroit Youth with 90% of them going on to attend college, some even becoming PGA Members.

The Michigan Section PGA will award and honor its 2024Special Award Winners at the President's Dinner to be held this fall. The President's Dinner celebrates PGA Members who have excelled in their profession as well as those who have volunteered and given of themselves to serve the Section.