DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., October 9, 2015—The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) membership has selected the following members for national recognition as a result of their achievements: Alison Curdt, Wood Ranch Golf Club, Simi Valley, Calif., Teacher of the Year; Sara Doell, Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J., Coach of the Year; Debby King, Laurelwood Golf Course, Eugene, Ore., Professional of the Year; and Sheryl Maize, Crystal Lake Golf Course, Lakeville, Minn., and Palm Aire Country Club, Sarasota, Fla., Junior Golf Leadership Award.
The national award winners were selected by the LPGA T&CP membership’s Executive Committee from the pool of sectional award winners voted on by members of the six regional sections: Central, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Western, and International.
Professional of the Year, Debby King
The LPGA T&CP Professional of the Year Award was established in 1980 and is awarded annually to an LPGA Teaching and Club Professional member directly involved in the entire golf operation.
Debby King is General Manager, Head Professional, and Co-operator at Laurelwood Golf Course in Eugene, Ore., managing the daily operations of a 9- hole public golf course, as well as supervising and training the entire golf staff. She has also served as the Western Section Vice President from 2013 – 2015, the T&CP Education Coordinator in 2012, and the Co-director of an LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Program since 2011.
“Words can’t express how grateful I am to receive this award,” said King. “This is the one I wanted the most! I want to thank the LPGA staff and members of this great organization for making this possible. It is truly an honor. I have been a part of the LPGA for over 30 years, and I can’t imagine my life without it. It is a part of me. Thank you so much!”
King has been involved in many impressive projects since joining the LPGA T&CP in 1982. Tirelessly, she works to improve the Laurelwood Golf Course, the city’s only municipal golf course. She helps grow the game collaborating with local junior programs to encourage girls to take up golf. Included in her business success, she also built her own golf school that concentrates mainly on improving golfers’ short games and fosters the connection between learning golf skills and finding the continued joy of the game.
Besides managing the business of golf, King also sets aside time to teach the game. She enjoys teaching juniors, women, and men of all abilities, but her specialty is helping the high school junior golfers to find scholarships to college.
King has been Tournament Director of the Eugene City Championship, a feature contributor to the 2015 Summer Golf Training Tips section in the local newspaper, served as Golf Director for KidsSports Golf and YMCA of Eugene Junior Golf Camps. She was awarded the 2015 PGA Pacific Northwest Player Development Grant and Junior Player Development Grant, which she used to purchase “Family Tees” for Laurelwood Golf Course and SNAG equipment.