Jim Gormley, Head Golf Professional at Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, California, has been named the 2018 Golf Professional of the Year by the American Junior Golf Association. This award honors a golf professional who displays unwavering support of the AJGA and junior golf by creating a memorable tournament experience for players, families, staff and volunteers.
Each year, the AJGA presents awards to the tournaments with the best individual hospitality, Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament, charitable giving and volunteer base. Awards are also given to the events with engaged media and social media participation. Finally, the AJGA recognizes the year’s most outstanding golf professional, superintendent and golf course executive, as well as the most game changing event, best new event, best Junior Golf Hub Preview Series tournament, best AJGA Junior All-Star Series tournament, best Invitational and overall tournament of the year. Tournament awards for the 2018 season will be presented on-site at the 2019 tournament.
“Considering the number of AJGA tournaments and host professionals that the AJGA comes in contact with and to be selected as the Golf Professional of the Year is definitely an honor,” Gormley said. “The members and the Board are very supportive of junior golf and getting this award validates their support.”
Gormley was instrumental in the success of the 2018 Lizette Salas Junior Championship at Palos Verdes, now called the Kia Junior Championship. He was responsible for securing title sponsors for the event since 2017 and has worked to help the AJGA produce a quality event each year.
“We first got involved with the AJGA three years ago when they approached us about hosting a junior event,” Gormley said. “We got involved because the club and I believe in growing the game and juniors are the future of the game and most clubs existences.”
Gormley is a main reason Palos Verdes and the AJGA have a partnership that lasts through at least 2020. Gormley has also helped the AJGA secure events at other courses in the area and his connections and desire to make the tournament a success brought title sponsor Project Worldwide to the event in 2017 and in 2018 he helped bring LPGA Tour player, Lizette Salas on board. In addition to his sponsorship help, he also secured donated product for the players staff on-site.
“What makes the AJGA so special is the best juniors from all over the world come to play in their events and that helps us showcase our golf course on a worldwide level,” Gormley said.
The AJGA conducted the 2019 Kia Junior Championship August 4-6, 2019 at Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, California.