TUMWATER, Wash. (August 1, 2018) – For the second time, two PGA Professionals from the Pacific Northwest Section received PGA National Awards in the same year. Cameron Milton of Polson Bay Golf Course was awarded the 2018 PGA Youth Player Development Award; Mark Rashell of the Golf Club at Newcastle was named the 2018 PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Public facilities.
Cameron Milton, PGA Head Golf Professional at Polson Bay Golf Course, is the recipient of the 2018 PGA Youth Player Development Award. This honor recognizes a PGA Professional who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievement in the area of youth player development. A PGA Member for 10 years, Milton is widely recognized for creating an inclusive environment at Polson Bay, by developing and implementing youth programming that both alleviates financial barriers and encourages kids from all backgrounds to experience the game. Milton’s deep passion for junior golf has opened new doors to the game for boys and girls throughout the area. He established the Mission Valley Junior Golf Association—a 501(c)3 non-profit—and was instrumental in launching the Golf in Schools program, which introduces the game to more than 400 middle school kids in Polson each year. Under Milton’s direction, PGA Junior League has grown 650 percent in three years at Polson Bay. In addition, he offers a lineup of impactful programs for kids and families to enjoy the game, such as the annual Polson Bay Junior Camp, which offers more than 120 juniors three free days of learning and play. Milton is a Past President of the Pacific Northwest PGA Section’s Western Montana Chapter and is a three-time Pacific Northwest PGA Section Youth Player Development Award recipient.
Mark Rashell, PGA Director of Golf at The Golf Club at Newcastle (Washington), is the recipient of the 2018 PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award for Public Facilities. Since his arrival in 2011 at The Golf Club at New Castle, Rashell’s golf shop merchandise sales have experienced steady growth thanks to his attention to detail, competitive pricing strategy, focus on superior customer service, commitment to club fitting and merchandising a diverse selection of quality products. Among his best practices, Rashell capitalized on his facility’s close proximity to Seattle, in order to create a successful program that leveraged Seattle Seahawks-licensed merchandise sales in his shop.
Recipients of the 2018 PGA of America National Awards:
- PGA Golf Professional of the Year: Dan Pasternak, PGA, Essex Fells (New Jersey) Country Club
- PGA Teacher of the Year: James Sieckmann, PGA, The Golf Academy at Shadow Ridge C.C.-Omaha, Nebraska
- PGA Youth Player Development Award: Cameron Milton, PGA, Polson (Montana) Bay G.C.
- Bill Strausbaugh Award: Cameron Doan, PGA, Preston Trail G.C.- Dallas
- Horton Smith Award: Joseph Hallett, PGA, Vanderbilt Legends G.C.-Franklin, Tennessee
- PGA Player Development Award: Marvol Barnard, PGA/LPGA, Haven G.C.- Green Valley, Arizona
- Patriot Award: Ken Juhn, PGA, Terrace Hill Golf Center- Temple Terrace, Florida
- Deacon Palmer Award: Monty Elam, PGA, Whiteford Valley G.C.- Ottawa Lake, Michigan
- Herb Graffis Award: Colorado PGA Section
- PGA Merchandiser of the Year-Private Facilities: Nick Muller, PGA, C.C. of Lincoln (Nebraska)
- PGA Merchandiser of the Year-Public Facilities: Mark Rashell, PGA, The G.C. at Newcastle (Washington)
- PGA Merchandiser of the Year-Resort Facilities: Erik Wilson, PGA, Fairmont Grand G.C.- San Diego
The majority of the awards, including Milton’s, will be presented on November 6 during the 2018 PGA Annual Meeting in Indian Wells, California. The three PGA Merchandiser of the Year Awards, including Rashell’s, will be presented during the 2019 PGA Magazine Merchandiser of the Year Conference prior to the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando in January.
For more information on the individual award winners, click here.