First
presented in 2008, the Patriot Award honors a PGA Professional who
personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates
unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have
valiantly served and protected the United States of America.
The 61-year-old Kennedy is in his 22nd
year as PGA head professional at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y.,
and is a 36-year member of The PGA of America. He will be recognized by
The PGA of America Nov. 10, at the PGA 96th Annual Meeting
at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor in Baltimore. Also honored
at that event will be the New Jersey PGA Section, recipient of the Herb
Graffis Award for exemplary contributions in Player Development.
Kennedy
is the second Metropolitan PGA Section member to receive the Patriot
Award, following John Hines of Calverton, N.Y., in 2011.
“Our
talented 2012 class of national award winners span more than four
decades of service to our Association and to the game of golf,” said PGA
of America President Allen Wronowski. “They are PGA Professionals of
impact to their Section, their respective communities and in many cases
they have influenced others throughout the country. We are proud of how
they daily go about their business of inspiring young and old, and grow
the game through innovation and their passion. By their dedication to
serving others, we are proud to declare that they are truly experts in
the game and the business of golf.”
Kennedy
established Golfers in Support of the Troops Foundation in 2008, which
has raised more than $90,000 over a four-year period to distribute more
than 20,000 articles of clothing to U.S. troops and their families.
Clothing was sent to Baghdad, Iraq, Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Hood, Texas;
Fort Collins, Colo.; and Fort Drum, N.Y. Kennedy contributed 50 percent
of the clothing that he purchased for his own golf shop.
In
addition to Westchester Country Club serving as a strong supporter of
Patriot Golf Day since the initiative began in 2007, it also has
supported Kennedy’s efforts to build an alliance between the New York VA
Hospital Prosthetics Device Department and 2010 Patriot Award recipient
Jim Estes of Olney, Md., founder of the Salute Military Golf
Association. Together with 2011 Patriot Award recipient John Hines, the
group is working to expand training of PGA Professionals to give golf
instruction to disabled veterans.
“I
think that certainly anyone growing up in America should have great
appreciation for those who serve our country in uniform,” said Kennedy.
“I have great respect for those that served and have served and the
sacrifices they have made. It is a great feeling that by our efforts
such as Golfers in Support of the Troops that we may help our veterans
and particularly their families. Additionally, we have built a
relationship with the New York VA Hospital to help spread training of
PGA Professionals to encourage more disabled veterans to have the
opportunity to learn and play golf. It gives those who have been in
hospitals, sometimes for months, something positive for which to look
forward. If I can succeed in this project, then more around the country
can follow.”
Born
in Fairfield, Conn., Kennedy graduated from Fairfield University in
1972 and turned professional that year. He was elected to PGA membership
in 1976, during which time he was an assistant professional at Sleepy
Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, N.Y. In 2010, he became the third
member of the Metropolitan PGA Section to be named a recipient of the
Horton Smith Award, which recognizes an individual PGA member for
outstanding and continuing contributions to professional education.
Kennedy
also was the 1997 Metropolitan PGA Golf Professional of the Year; and
recipient of the 2005 Section Bill Strausbaugh Award; the 1985, ’88 and
2009 Section Horton Smith Award; and the 1983, ’91 Section Merchandiser
of the Year for Private Facilities.
Kennedy and his wife, Eileen, live in New Canaan, Conn., and are the parents of a son, John III, and a daughter, Sarah.
The PGA of America also will bestow its 2012 national awards Jan. 24, 2013, during the 60th PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center’s Chapin Theater in Orlando, Fla.
The program will honor the following recipients:
- Mike Schultz of Eden Prairie, Minn. – PGA Golf Professional of the Year
- Michael Breed of Greenwich, Conn. – PGA Teacher of the Year
- Don Law of Boca Raton, Fla. – PGA Junior Golf Leader
- Carl Alexander of Bedford, N.Y. – Horton Smith Award
- Harry Hammond Jr. of West Chester, Pa.– Bill Strausbaugh Award
- Mark Holiday of Bozeman, Mont. – PGA Player Development Award
The PGA Merchandisers of the Year will be honored Jan. 18, 2013, at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, Fla. They are:
- Amy Pendergast of Bandon, Ore. – Resort Facilities
- Dale Smigelsky of Fort Collins, Colo. – Public Facilities
- George Kahrhoff of Castle Rock, Colo. – Private Facilities
About The PGA of America
Since
its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold
mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to
grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing
and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class
education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA
enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their
respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in
the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering
world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America
elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more
golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As
The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in
golf.
The PGA of America, 100 Avenue of the Champions, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
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