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.
Thanks to the southern hospitality supplied by the Exide Technologies Junior Open tournament committee, which took place at The Country Club of the South in Johns Creek, Ga., April 15-17, 2011, the Atlanta-area tournament has earned the Hospitality Award from the American Junior Golf Association. This award honors the Tournament Chairman who creates a special tournament experience for the juniors and families in attendance.
Tournament Chairman Chuck Strong went above and beyond to make the tournament participants and their families feel welcome at The Country Club of the South. Each junior was greeted with a letter from Strong and The Country Club of the South General Manager Jay Biggs which extended full privileges of the clubhouse and dining areas to juniors and their families.
Chuck and the members at The Country Club of the South are very deserving of this award, said Ryan Tahara, AJGA Southeast Regional Director. Chuck fully devotes himself to this event, making it a year-round project.
Thanks to the large volunteer base, Strong was able to add many amenities to the Open event, such as FJ Live Scoring on every hole, as well as having walking standard bearers with leader groups during the final round.
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 |
Since the AJGA began its partnership with The Country Club of the South and Exide in 2009, the members at The Country Club of the South have exemplified what it means to support junior golf, Tahara said. It is thanks to their continued dedication to the event and to junior golf that our members look forward to returning to Johns Creek each year.
Not only do AJGA juniors feel welcome at the Exide Technologies Junior Open, the hospitality extends to the local community as well. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta serves as the benefiting charity of the event, and each year brings local bigs and littles out to The Country Club of the South for a youth clinic.
The Exide Technologies Junior Open will once again return to The Country Club of the South April 13-15, 2012.