The AJGA will announce a tournament award winner each week leading up to the AJGA's Annual Meeting and the announcement of the Digger Smith Award.
Local organizers of The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf, which took place at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., August 31 September 4, 2011, have earned the Volunteer Award from the American Junior Golf Association. The Volunteer Award is given annually to an AJGA tournament committee that builds the character of the tournament through the model team of volunteers committed to the success of that event.
Each year, the AJGA presents awards to the tournaments with the best individual media coverage, Junior-Am fundraising tournament, charitable giving, and hospitality. The AJGA also recognizes its golf professional of the year, most improved event, best new tournament, best Invitational, and overall tournament of the year.
Award | Recipient |
Newcomer of the Year | |
Media Award | ANNIKA Invitational |
Most Improved Award | E-Z-GO Vaughn Taylor Championship |
Volunteer Award | The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf |
Hospitality Award | Exide Technologies Junior Open |
Junior-Am Award | |
Invitational of the Year | HP
Boys Championship at Carlton Woods |
Charitable Giving Award | |
Golf Professional of the Year | Billy Anderson, Eagle Point Golf Club |
Tournament of the Year | ClubCorp Mission Hills Desert Junior |
Digger Smith Award | March 10 |
The volunteers showed up every day to man timing stations, conduct live scoring, drive shuttles and even help with meal counts and data entry. With two courses being played in 2011, the volunteer assistance was a huge help to the AJGA staff. From greeting the players and parents to handling the cooler crew; the volunteers made this event a success. Tournament Chairman Billy Dettlaff and Volunteer Chairman Jim McCarthy worked closely and were key individuals in creating a strong volunteer committee at the Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf.
"Since the inception of The Junior PLAYERS everyone involved has dedicated themselves to making this one of the best junior tournaments in the world. Receiving this award acknowledges the depth of the volunteer commitment of the community to that original goal," said Dettlaff. I know the history of those who have won the award in the past and it is a great honor to join this superior group of volunteers.
The Tournament Committee will accept its award at the AJGA's Annual Meeting, which will be held March 9-11 at Château Élan Resort in Braselton, Ga.