Michigan Section PGA Awards Announced
Annual awards for the men and women who serve all golfers in the state of Michigan were recently announced after the 2024 Michigan PGA Spring meeting.
Doug Brody of Warwick Hills Country Club won Golf Professional of the Year; Chris Whitten of the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) won Golf Executive of the Year; and Teacher of the Year went to Kyle Martin of The Fortress in Frankenmuth.
Brody is a 27-year PGA Member. This prestigious honor is awarded to the professional who has demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership and strong moral character. The individual must also maintain a substantial record of service to the Association and game of golf and be well-regarded as a model PGA of America Golf Professional.
Brody is being recognized for his service to the Section and the Association, his leadership ability, image and ability to inspire others, and his promotion of the game. He was chosen by his peers based on his overall performance as a golf professional which is highlighted by his club’s success in Junior Golf, hosting multiple PGA TOUR events, strong business management, and successful team building. His wife, Jenn Brody, lasty year was inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame and she runs the pro shop at Warwick Hills.
Whitten earned the honor bestowing special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional who has performed outstanding services for a multiple facility/course management/ownership operation, allied association, or golf industry executive management position. As one of the highest honors the PGA can grant, candidates must possess outstanding qualities of leadership, vision, courage, strong moral character, and a substantial record of service to the Association and the game of golf.
As the GAM Executive Director, Whitten – the former men’s golf coach at U-M – leads his current team to provide the services and training that professionals need relative to USGA services such as Handicapping, Course Rating, and the Rules of Golf.
In Martin's nine years at the Fortress Golf Course, there has been substantial growth in teaching and club fitting with the use of an indoor studio that he designed in 2018. Martin teaches over 1,000 lessons per year as he utilizes Trackman, Flightscope, Blast Motion, and the Titleist Performance Institute. A 2023 highlight of Kyle's was his student, Kim Dinh's U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship victory this past September.
Other Michigan PGA Awards went to:
Cody Haughton, PGA, Red Run Golf Club, earned Assistant Golf Professional of the Year.
Kevin McKinley, PGA, Executive Director at First Tee of Northern Michigan, has been selected as the recipient of the Bill Strausbaugh Award, given for outstanding integrity, character, and leadership through a commitment to mentoring and making significant impacts on the careers of PGA Professionals.
Joe Hatch, PGA, Director of PGA Golf Management Program at Ferris State University, has been selected recipient of the Professional Development Award.
Dean Kolstad, PGA, Director of Golf at Gull Lake View Golf Club and Resort was honored with the Patriot Award, for personifying patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrating unwavering commitment and dedication to the me
