Holiday Valley Golf Pros Win Regional Recognition
Holiday Valley Golf Pros Win Regional Recognition
ELLICOTTVILLE, NY - The Western New York Section, PGA of America (WNYPGA) and its Awards Committee are pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Special Awards. These awards are distributed by the Section each year, and the winners are nominated by their peers and chosen by the Section Awards Committee. For the first time in the 9-year history of the WNY Section, both the Professional of the Year and Assistant Professional of the Year winners, Steve Carney and Kyle Benish, are employed by the same facility, Holiday Valley Resort. There are 248 Head Professionals and Assistants in the Western New York Section.
GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR – Steve Carney, PGA MP
Steve is a Master PGA Professional and is finishing up his 15th season as the Director of Golf at Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, NY. Steve previously won this honor in 2015. He has been involved with all Section activities and has served on the Board of Directors as the Education Chairman for many years. This is the highest honor given out by the Section each year and is given to the working club professional whose total contributions to the game best exemplify the complete PGA Golf Professional. Steve’s involvement includes overseeing section events at Holiday Valley, including the Jr/Sr Tournament and the Ellicottville Library Pro AM, his dedication to teaching of junior golfers, his extensive merchandising in the Holiday Valley Golf Shop and his contributions to continuing education for golf professionals.
ASSISTANT GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR – Kyle Benish, PGA
Kyle has been a PGA Member since 2010, has been the Assistant Professional at Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, NY since 2005 and is a three-time winner of this award. Kyle also serves on the Section Board of Directors as the Junior Golf/Growth of the Game Chairman. The award is given to the Assistant Professional who has gone beyond the call of duty to promote the game of golf, his/her place of employment, and the WNYPGA. Kyle also serves on the Tournament Committee and is involved in the PGA Hope Program which teaches golf to veterans with disabilities.
PGA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD – Steve Carney, PGA, MP
The PGA Professional Development Award is given to a PGA Professional for outstanding and continuing contributions to professional education. This is the fourth time Steve has received this honor.
MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR (RESORT CATEGORY) – Steve Carney, PGA, MP
Steve has won this award an impressive eight times. The honor is given to a WNYPGA professional who has excelled as a businessman/merchandiser in the promotion of golf in the resort category. Visiting Pros remark that the Holiday Valley Golf Shop is one of most outstanding shops in WNY, especially in the layout of the merchandise and outstanding variety offered.