Somersett golf pro Stuart Smith receives top award from Northern California Section of the PGA

VACAVILLE, Calif. — Stuart Smith, PGA Director of Golf at Somersett Golf & Country Club in Reno has garnered the 2016 NCPGA Golf Professional of the Year Award. Smith was honored Dec. 4 during The Northern California Section of the PGA Special Awards Ceremony & President’s Dinner at Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, Calif.

The annual award recognizes the total contribution made by the golf professional and the respect shown by his or her colleagues. The NCPGA Golf Professional of the Year displays the finest exhibition of leadership, determination, business acumen, professionalism, and service to the section, the association, the local community, and to golf in general.

“There is no doubt that I love this game. Everything in my life has evolved or revolved around the game of golf and I’m just so lucky,” Smith said in his acceptance speech. “I don’t think any of us realize the power that a PGA Professional can have over a new golfer or junior golfer. One of the things I remember most as a youth are the times a PGA professional would be at the facility [and] would invite me to play with them.”

Smith turned professional in 1984, but his passion for golf goes back to the age of 3 when he began hitting balls in the backyard of his Los Angeles home. Later he was very active in junior golf. His professional accomplishments include playing on the Ben Hogan Tour, Nike Tour (now the Nationwide Tour), and South African Tour, along with winning the Palabora Classic. Smith worked at Sierra View Country Club and Granite Bay Golf Club in the Sacramento area before relocating to Reno and taking on his role at Somersett Golf & Country Club almost 10 years ago.

Smith has previously been recognized by the NCPGA as the 2004 NCPGA Player of the Year and 2010 NCPGA Junior Golf Leader.

Smith currently sits on the NCPGA Tournament Committee, a role he’s held since 2002, for which he credits helping to drive his desire for continual play and improvement. He has been instrumental in developing and hosting some of the section’s most successful events, as well as many high profile events with the Northern Nevada Golf Association (NNGA), Northern Nevada Women’s Golf Association (NNWGA), and United States Golf Association (USGA). Smith also volunteers as assistant coach for the University of Nevada, Reno Men’s Team and the McQueen High School Boys Team.

His enthusiasm for the game is contagious. Somersett’s highly successful Junior Golf Club and community Learn to Golf programs provide inexpensive vehicles to introduce new players and get them excited about the game. Smith’s involvement has also been instrumental with PGA Junior League Golf and Drive, Chip & Putt programs, and Just for Fun golf groups which focus on the social aspects of golf, rather than competition.

Smith is among 19 recipients of the NCPGA’s 2016 Annual Section Awards. Additional Reno-area golf professionals who were honored are:

PGA General Manager Ward Sutton of Hidden Valley Country Club in Reno earned the 2016 Bill Strausbaugh Award due to his outstanding integrity, commitment to mentoring fellow PGA members, and for his significant impact on the careers of professionals in the section. Sutton’s influence extends far beyond Reno, and he has previously garnered numerous awards for his efforts including the 2014 NCPGA Horton Smith Award and the 2005 SCPGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year.

John Hermans, PGA assistant professional at Montreux Golf Course was presented with the title of 2016 NCPGA Assistant Apprentice of the Year for his overall performance, leadership, service to the section, and promotion of the game of golf. Hermans recently completed the PGA Certified Professional Program. “He possesses everything that the Assistant Golf Professional of the Year should, and then some,” Zach Jonas, PGA director of golf at Montreux, said in a press release. “John is able to lead our team of roughly 25 teammates on a daily basis while constantly maintaining strong relationships with the members.”

PGA Teaching Professional Steve Hummel of Wolf Run Golf Club was named 2016 NCPGA Club Fitter of the Year for his expertise in fitting golfers with proper equipment. Club fitters directly help golf players and enthusiasts to improve their playing ability and enjoyment of the game. “I see fitting and teaching as being completely intertwined,” Hummel said in a press release, “Many of my fittings come from my lessons just as many of my lessons come from fittings.”

Brandon Bowling, PGA head professional at Plumas Pines Golf Resort has been bestowed with the 2016 NCPGA Resort Merchandiser of the Year Award for his superior skills in golf shop operations. Golf shop professionals provide the public with individualized attention and expertise from trained staff who are familiar with the array of golf products because they use them every day. Bowling attributes his success to advice from former PGA Director of Golf at Plumas Pines and mentor Tom Godman, “He said, ‘know your customer and make sure that you are buying what they like, not what you like,’” Bowling said, “When I’m ordering merchandise I truly am ordering for each and every guest that I have been fortunate enough to get to know.”

Organized in 1920 to promote interest in the game of golf, the NCPGA is one of the 41 designated Sections of the PGA of America, the world’s largest working sports organization. With over 1,100 PGA professionals and apprentices at over 500 golf facilities in northern California and northwestern Nevada, the association continues to have a positive impact on the game of golf and communities both regionally and nationally.

For more information about NCPGA, visit www.ncpgalinks.com or call 707-449-4742. For a complete list of award winners, go to www.NNBW.com.