(VIENNA, VA) - Billy Casper Golf (BCG) - owner and operator of more than 130 golf courses, country clubs and resorts - announced 2011 award winners during its annual corporate conference last week at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, FL.
Company namesake and golf legend Billy Casper, a member of the PGA and World Golf halls of fame, presented the top awards in front of more than 275 general managers, directors of golf, course superintendents, sales managers and BCG support personnel.
1757 Golf Club (Dulles, VA) received the top BCG honor, "Facility of the Year," for all-around performance in guest service, operations, course conditions and financial returns.
Chip Harris of Brook Valley Country Club (Greenville, NC) was named "General Manager of the Year," and Keith Kraus of Page Belcher Golf Course (Tulsa, OK) won "Superintendent of the Year."
The North Course at City Park (New Orleans, LA) was "Top Performer of the Year," and Chick Evans Golf Course (Morton Grove, IL) won the coveted "ACE the Guest Experience Award" for superior guest service.
Katie Barongan, Vice President of Human Resources, and Bryan Stromme, Midwest Regional Director of Agronomy, were recognized for their exceptional contributions with the BCG "Chairman's Award" and "Chairman's Superintendent Award," respectively.
"We're incredibly proud of the award winners and the high-performing Billy Casper Golf team nationwide," says Peter Hill, Chairman and CEO of BCG. "As our company grows and we continue to cultivate talent, the awards program becomes more competitive and provides a standard of excellence for managers and superintendents across the portfolio."
The complete list of award winners:
Company-Wide Awards
• Facility of the Year - 1757 Golf Club (Dulles, VA)
• Top Performer of the Year - The North Course at City Park (New Orleans, LA)
• ACE the Guest Experience Award - Chick Evans Golf Course (Morton Grove, IL)
• Chairman's Award - Katie Barongan, BCG Vice President of Human Resources (Vienna, VA)
• Chairman's Superintendent Award - Bryan Stromme, Midwest Regional Director of Agronomy (Chicago)
• Nick Keefe ACE Award & Vienna Employee of the Year - Arron Marshall, Golf Revenue Manager (Vienna, VA)
• Nick Keefe ACE Award - Stephen Nicholson, Senior Accountant (Vienna, VA)
• Nick Keefe ACE Award - Sandra Colareta, Director of Contracts and Risk Management (Vienna, VA)
• Nick Keefe ACE Award - Will Massey, Payroll Administrator (Vienna, VA)
Golf Course Operations Awards
• General Manager of the Year - Chip Harris, Brook Valley Country Club (Greenville, NC)
• Head Professional of the Year - Brian Wilcox, 1757 Golf Club (Dulles, VA)
• Assistant Professional of the Year - Aaron Spokaeski, Sanctuary Lake Golf Course (Troy, MI)
• Salesperson of the Year - Lindsay Goodwin, 1757 Golf Club (Dulles, VA)
• Golf Operations Rookie of the Year - Jeff Bebbino, Greenbriar Oceanaire Golf and Country Club (Waretown, NJ)
• Most Improved Facility of the Year - Jennings Mill Country Club (Athens, GA)
• Food and Beverage Grille Operation of the Year - Wintonbury Hills Golf Course (Bloomfield, CT)
• Food and Beverage Dining Operation of the Year - Alta Vista Country Club (Placentia, CA)
• Golf Retail Operation of the Year - Lyman Orchards Golf Club (Middlefield, CT)
• Service Through Safety Award - Longaberger Golf Club (Nashport, OH)
Golf Course Agronomy Awards
• Superintendent of the Year - Keith Kraus, Page Belcher Golf Course (Tulsa, OK)
• Assistant Superintendent of the Year - Chad Scott, Brewton Country Club (Brewton, AL)
• Most Improved Golf Course of the Year - Stonebridge Golf Club (Rome, GA)
• Agronomic Rookie of the Year - Tom Tokarski, Butler's Golf Course (Elizabeth Township, PA)
• Environmental Stewardship Award - Chicago Park District Golf (Chicago, IL)
• Bang for the Buck Award - Joe Diacovo, John F. Byrne Golf Course (Philadelphia, PA)
• Team Player of the Year - Dan Austing, Cincinnati Recreation Commission Golf (Cincinnati, OH)
About Billy Casper Golf
Owner-operator of more than 130 golf courses, country clubs and resorts, BCG holds the second largest domestic portfolio. The company provides turnkey club management for public-agency and private owners, developers and investors. Founded more than 20 years ago in cooperation with golf legend Billy Casper and headquartered in Vienna, VA, regional offices are strategically convenient to courses' locales.
Industry leaders and media praise the company's best-of-breed infrastructure that shows clients favorable returns on investments while delivering personal touches to golfers and club members.
Buffalo Communications - a division of Billy Casper Golf - is the global public relations, branding, marketing-communications and strategy services firm. In addition to creating and implementing programs for BCG and its courses, Buffalo represents many of golf's top brands (products, resorts, destinations and communities) worldwide.
For more information:
www.billycaspergolf.com,
www.buffalocommunications.com, 703.761.1444.
