MATT BROWN, PGA – PGA MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR (PUBLIC FACILITIES)
Highlands Golf Club – Gearhart, Oregon
Matt Brown, PGA Head Professional of Highlands Golf Club in Gearhart, Oregon, is the recipient of the 2016 PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Public Facilities. This recognition comes on the heels of Brown receiving the 2014 and 2015 Pacific Northwest PGA Section Merchandiser of the Year Award (Public). Highlands Golf Club is a nine-hole public, executive-style golf course in the coastal town of Gearhart. The year-round, 1,500-square foot golf shop is located in a coastal town of nearly 1,500 people that is surrounded by summer tourist communities. The club has built a strong local following of golfers who enjoy visiting the shop for its great selection, customer service and pricing. With a philosophy of keeping things simple, Brown and his staff manage the pro shop and an active online store, which has led to an overall 40 percent increase in sales since 2008. Brown’s merchandising philosophy is based around the customer—reasonable prices, exceptional customer service, and trusting advice. Among the facilities that Brown has served previously include Oregon’s Astoria Golf & Country Club, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.