Golf Professional of the Year

Established 1955

The Golf Professional of the Year Award is the highest honor paid to a PGA Professional within the Indiana Section PGA. The following guidelines are used to determine nominees for this prestigious award: overall performance as a golf professional at his/her facility, level of service to his/her Section and to the Association, leadership ability, image and ability to inspire fellow professionals and promoiton of golf. While this honor should be based on a professional's entire record, emphasis shoulde be placed on his/her performance and achievements over the last five years.

2011 Winner

Chip Essig - Essig Golf Management

Chip Essig has worked hard over the years, meeting with numerous golf professionals from around Indiana and the United States in an ongoing effort to improve the facilities managed by Essig Golf Management. He has officiated national championships and promoted the game. The network of professionals he has formed allows him to stay abreast of current trends that are affecting the golf industry. As Director of Golf at Hickory Stick and owner of Essig Golf Management, Chip oversees three head professionals, one director of instruction and four apprentices. The facilities he oversees do over 85,000 rounds of golf annually. He also continues to give golf lessons to students he has taught for many years.

His service to the Indiana Section includes being a member, an officer, or committee chair on the Board of Directors for 12 years. He has served as Chairman of the Education, Special Awards, Audit and Finance and Special Olympics Committees. In addition he has served on the Growth of the Game Committee. His service to the Section culminated in him serving as Section President from 2006-2008.

Additionally, he has been a volunteer instructor at several Play Golf America Days, junior clinics, and has helped to build the Special Olympics golf program in Indiana, overseeing the growth from 50 participants into their state tournament to over 450. In 2002 he served as the head golf coach for Team USA when they traveled to Ireland for the Special Olympics World Games. He continues to serve on both the IGA-PGA and Indiana Golf Foundation Boards of Directors.

Chip has followed in his father, Don’s, footsteps in becoming an nationally recognized rules official. He has served on the PGA Rules Committee for years and has officiated 15 major and senior major championships. In the winters, he coordinates and instructs USGA/PGA Rules Workshops. His vast knowledge of the rules has also served his Indiana fellow-professionals as well. He shares his stories and expertise at Section meetings, local workshops, clubs, and high school coaches meetings.

He also received the 2002 Horton Smith Award for outstanding and continuing contributions to developing and improving education opportunities for PGA professionals.

Past Winners