Congratulations to Our 2025 NGCOA MA Award Winners

Presented by

2025 Mid-Atlantic Golf Leader Award: Eric Rule, CCM

Midlothian, Va. — The NGCOA Mid-Atlantic has named Eric Rule, General Manager & COO of Kinloch Golf Club (Manakin-Sabot, Va.), the Mid-Atlantic Golf Leader Award recipient, honoring long-term business achievement and service to the game across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Rule’s 40-year club-management career includes four recent years at Kinloch, highlighted by the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. Previously, he spent 27 years at Oak Hill Country Club (Rochester, N.Y.) and also contributed at The 27 Club (Tianjin, China) and Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska, Minn.). His leadership spans major championships—U.S. Open, Ryder Cup, U.S. Amateur, PGA Championship, Senior PGA, and KPMG Women’s PGA—and more than $150 million in construction and renovation. He also led two clubs ranked in the 2010 Readers’ Choice Top 5 (Oak Hill #1, Kinloch #4).

Rule will retire at the end of 2025, assisting Kinloch’s leadership transition with his wife, Margaret, as they begin their next chapter in Virginia.

Congratulations to Eric Rule on this well-deserved recognition as the NGCOA Mid-Atlantic Golf Leader.

2025 Public Golf Leader Award: The Omni Homestead Resort

Midlothian, Va. — The NGCOA Mid-Atlantic has named The Omni Homestead Resort (Hot Springs, Va.) its Public Golf Leader, honoring a non-private facility for outstanding business performance, access, and service over the past year.

A historic public-access destination with two celebrated courses—The Cascades and The Old Course—Homestead balances open tee times and modern booking with championship standards. This season, the USGA brought the 2025 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur to The Cascades, extending the resort’s tradition of hosting elite events. Homestead also partners with the VSGA, staging state championships and qualifiers, and served as a site for U.S. Senior Open local qualifying.

Business momentum is fueled by a $150 million property-wide renovation (late 2023) that refreshed rooms and public spaces and enhanced signature amenities like the restored Warm Springs Pools, elevating the stay-and-play experience. Family-friendly programming, including Omni’s Generation Cup series, continues to welcome new players to the game.

Congratulations to The Omni Homestead team on this well-deserved recognition as the NGCOA Mid-Atlantic Public Golf Leader.

2025 Sustainability Award: Bay Creek Golf Club

Midlothian, Va. — The NGCOA Mid-Atlantic has named Bay Creek Golf Club (Cape Charles, Va.) the Sustainability Award honoree, recognizing innovation and leadership in integrating environmental stewardship into daily operations.

Bay Creek placed conservation at the center of its model by retiring nine holes to create a 350-acre Nature Preserve, replacing irrigated turf with native meadows and wildlife habitat, and opening miles of trails and non-motorized water access for residents and guests. The preserve—developed with Avid Trails, Preserve Communities, and engineering partner AES—enhances shoreline resilience and biodiversity along Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Rooted in Audubon International’s Signature Program principles from its original development, Bay Creek continues to balance environmental and economic goals while advancing public education and regional priorities for dunes, wetlands, and shoreline protection on the Chesapeake Bay.

Congratulations to the Bay Creek team on this well-deserved recognition as the NGCOA Mid-Atlantic Sustainability Award recipient.

Congratulations to Our 2025 NGCOA MA Scholarship Winners

Meadow Sedwick: Cutalong Golf Club

Midlothian, Va. — The NGCOA Mid-Atlantic has named Meadow Sedwick a 2025 NGCOA MA Scholarship recipient, honoring emerging professionals who demonstrate initiative, service, and a clear plan to strengthen the golf experience in the region.

A 2020 graduate whose college path was disrupted by COVID-19, Sedwick advanced while studying online and working full time at Old Trail Golf Club (Crozet, Va.), where she was promoted to Pro Shop Manager and led new member recruitment. In 2025, she joined Cutalong at Tributer Resort as a Club Services Associate, with an even stronger focus on member experience, while completing a B.A. in English at Southern New Hampshire University.

The scholarship will help Sedwick finish her degree and translate that learning into enhanced member communication, guest service, and program leadership at Cutalong. Congratulations to Taylor Sedwick on this well-deserved scholarship and her continued leadership in the club community.

DJ Corning: Birkdale Golf Club

Midlothian, Va. — The NGCOA Mid-Atlantic has named DJ Corning, Golf Shop Manager & Assistant Golf Professional at Birkdale Golf Club (Chesterfield, Va.), a 2025 NGCOA MA Scholarship recipient, honoring promising professionals who show initiative, service, and a clear plan to elevate the game.

Hired less than four years ago with no prior playing experience, Corning progressed from 120+ scores to a 7 handicap while moving into leadership at Birkdale. He has supported instruction with Tyler Smith, PGA at Brandermill and plans to expand lessons at Birkdale.

The scholarship will help fund Corning’s Class A PGTAA Instructor certification, positioning him to meet growing lesson demand at the 700+-member club as its current instructor retires. Congratulations to DJ Corning on this well-deserved honor and his ongoing leadership at Birkdale Golf Club.