Pulice, Richter, Wisinski, Kendall Lead 2025 Michigan Section PGA Special Awards Class

PGA members Glenn Pulice, Josh Richter, Jimmy Wisinski and Dave Kendall Lead 2025 Michigan Section PGA Special Awards Courses

13 winners unveiled at Michigan PGA Spring Conference

Photos, from top to bottom, from left to right: Glenn Pulice, Josh Richter, Jimmy Wisinski, Ryan Bayer, Dave Kendall, Wally Sierakowski, Wes Blevens, Jackson Blevens, Jackson Davison, George Bowman, Kelly Bowman, Kelly Plaisier, Raquel Bryant.

Recipients of the 2025 Michigan PGA Special Award

Golf Professional of the Year
Glenn Pulice, PGA
Royal Oak Golf Center

Golf Director of the Year
Josh Richter, PGA
Born Resort

Teacher and coach of the year
Jimmy Wisinski, PGA
Kent Country Club

Assistant Golf Professional of the Year
Ryan Bayer, PGA
Kent Country Club

Bill Strausbet Award
Dave Kendall, PGA
Washtenaw Golf Club

Private Businessman of the Year
Wally Sierakowski, PGA
Red Run Golf Club

Public Seller of the Year
Wes Blevins, PGA
Eagle Crest Golf Club

Annual seller
Jackson Davison, PGA
Port Coast Golf Club

Patriot Award
George Bowman, PGA
Oakhurst Golf and Country Club

Player development
Kelly Plaisier, PGA
Red Water Golf

Professional development
Jimmy Wisinski, PGA
Kent Country Club

Young Players Development
Raquel Bryant, PGA
Thousand Oaks Golf Club

Outstanding Service Award
Dave Kendall, PGA
Washtenaw Golf Club

Glenn Pulice, PGAPGA member for 38 years and has won the 2025 Michigan PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award. This prestigious honor is awarded to professionals who demonstrate outstanding leadership and strong moral traits. The individual must also maintain a record of service for the golf association and games and serve as a model for American golf professionals.

Pulice, general manager of the Royal Oak Golf Centre, is recognized for her dedication to the department, association, leadership, ability to inspire others, and commitment to promoting competition. Chosen by his peers, he stands out for the contributions of golf professionals and has participated in various industry organizations. He played a key role in the multi-million dollar renovation of the Royal Oak Golf Center, which now hosts many community golf events. He is one of the founding members of the PGM Alumni Association and was his 21-year job as the golf director of the Midnight Golf Program. Pulice prides itself on being connected to the golf community.

Josh Richter, PGASenior Vice President of Golf Operations of Born Resorts presented the Golf Executive of the Year Award. This honor recognizes PGA golf professionals who provide outstanding services in multiple subject or course management, ownership operations, associations or executive leadership within the golf industry. As one of the highest differences awarded by PGA, the recipient must demonstrate outstanding leadership, vision, courage and strong moral traits, as well as a record of important service for associations and golf competitions.

As senior vice president of golf operations, Richter hosts many events every year, including the Michigan State Championship, Adidas State University Pro-AM and Drive, Chip & Putt Local Thim. After nearly all of Boyne’s roles, he strides as an example of life where dedication and value his active leadership style, which encourages his team to work hard and fulfill Boyne’s standards. Richter’s successful training practices in the team and cultural building were published in the PGA magazine.

Richter’s leadership involvement did not stop at Born. He was the first tee-North Michigan active board member and started his term as chairman of the board in January 2024. Additionally, he serves on the Michigan PGA Employment Commission, where he is helping PGA professionals grow in statewide courses.

Jimmy Wisinski, PGAThe Director of Guidance at Kent Country Club was appointed Teacher and Coach of the Year. Wisinski is honored for his overall impact on teaching and coaching and for the innovative and special instructional programs he implements.

Of the 385 members of the Kent Country Club, Wiskinsky taught more than 265 different members in 2024. He utilizes different platforms such as the Coach Now App and website to maintain open communication with students. By doing so, he cultivated a culture of accountability and developed a psychological and technical process in each class.

Wisinski is also his second season as a contributor to PGA.com, where he provides content for all social media channels. He helped develop a series covering the key aspects players will face in these events and how they learn to apply them to their own games.

Ryan Bayer, PGAThe assistant golf professional at Kent Country Club was named Golf Professional of the Year. During his time as a professional, Bayer won the Michigan PGA Senior/Teen Championship and won the top three assistant titles.

Bayer is involved in various departments of the Kent Country Club, including sales and junior programs. He has helped you bring fun and new ideas and has become a key leader in their PGA Jr. League team and weekly summer junior camp. He also helped restore the Caddy program after Covid. Bayer attributes his growth to his mentor Jimmy Wisinski and his father Mark Bayer.

Dave Kendall, PGAGolf executive and owner of Washtenaw Golf Club has been selected as the winner of the Bill Strausbaugh Award. Kendall also founded the Kendall Golf Academy, where he developed successful players and coached the reputation of numerous PGA professionals who have worked as coaches at the academy. He is honored with his outstanding integrity, character and leadership for his commitment to mentoring and having a significant impact on the careers of PGA professionals.

Founded in 1979, the Bill Strausbaugh Award is awarded to PGA professionals who, through their daily efforts, improve their employment status by mentoring their PGA professionals and stand out by serving their communities. The award reflects the characteristics and qualities of Strausbaugh, a Mid-Atlantic PGA master professional who died in 1999.

Jimmy Wisinski, PGAThe Director of Teaching at Kent Country Club has been selected as the recipient of the Professional Development Award by the Michigan PGA Section. The Professional Development Award is awarded annually to PGA members for its outstanding contributions, leadership, networking capabilities and contributions to candidate growth and enhancement of the PGA professional’s image.

Wally Sierakowski, PGAthe head of the Red Run Golf Club golf professional was named the best seller of the year for private golf facilities, Wes Blevins, PGAGeneral Manager and Director of Golf at Eagle Crest Golf Club, appointed as the annual seller of public golf facilities, and Jackson Davison, PGAhead of golf professionals at Harbour Coast Golf Club, was named the annual seller of “recreational resort” golf facilities by the Michigan PGA Division. The award recognizes business and merchandise excellence in golf facilities, as well as innovations in display, merchandise sales technology, employee training, and overall success and growth.

George Bowman, PGAGolf professionals at Oakhurst Golf Country Club have been selected as the “Patriot Award” by the Michigan PGA section. Bowman is honored for anthropomorphizing patriotism through golf competitions and showing a strong commitment and dedication to men and women who bravely serve and protect the United States of America. He has been raising funds for PGA Hope Michigan, the flagship military program of the Michigan PGA Division Foundation, which arrived in Michigan.

The Patriot Awards originated in 2008 and were inspired by the founder of Patriot Day, Colonel Dan Rooney, a PGA professional in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Kelly Plaisier, PGARedwater Golf’s Player Development Director has been selected as the Player Development Award winner by the Michigan PGA section. The award recognizes PGA golf professionals who have shown extraordinary contributions and achievements in player development. It also takes into account the gaming leadership of PGA professionals, commitment at the national and national level in the field of player development and meaningful impact on the facility. Plaisier oversees 10 lecturers across eight Redwater properties and provides all the growing demand for golf operators, tracking program engagement, and monitoring golf course revenue.

Raquel Bryant, PGATeaching professionals at the Oaks Golf Club have been selected as the Young Player Development Award winner by the Michigan PGA section. The award has given special recognition to PGA golf professionals who have shown extraordinary contributions and achievements in the development of young players. The award considers the attention of PGA professionals to youth through growth game leadership, departmental and national commitments in the field of youth player development and through introduction and participation in the game’s meaningful impact on youth. Kobe is honored to be a long-term supporter of the growth of the PGA initiative in the United States. She strives to encourage her students to grow not only in golf but also as an upright individual.

Dave Kendall, PGAThe owner and owner of the Golf Golf Club, named by the Michigan PGA as the winner of the 2025 Outstanding Service Award. The award recognizes outstanding individuals who demonstrate leadership and humanitarian qualities, including integrity, sportsmanship and passion for golf.

Since becoming a PGA member, Kendall has been committed to helping others learn games and build their own legacy. Not only was he recognized for the length of his teaching career, but his unique approach was also woven into his teaching by his lessons. After serving as the lead professional at Cadillac Country Club, he set up his own academy where he coached players and PGA professionals. Dedicated to inspiring the next generation, he returned to his alma mater, Ferris State University, and repeatedly encouraged PGM students to make their mark on the golf industry, emphasizing the importance of changing the lives of the people they serve. Kendall, now the owner of Washtenaw Golf Club, entrusted his academy to the academy he has mentored for years. His lasting influence continues to shape a culture that resonates throughout the industry.

The Michigan PGA section will award and award its 2025 Special Award winners at the Presidential Dinner this fall. The president’s dinner celebrated the outstanding performance of PGA members in their careers, as well as those who volunteered to join the department.

Partial PGA by Michgian

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