The PGA of America announced its 2023 national award recipients Wednesday in a special presentation on the PGA Industry Stage powered by CapTech as part of the 70th PGA Show.
The 13 national award recipients were anchored by PGA Golf Professional of the Year Jeff Kiddie, PGA; Teacher & Coach of the Year Kevin Weeks, PGA; and PGA Golf Executive of the Year Bernie Friedrich.
The 2023 PGA Merchandiser of the Year for resorts was introduced as Grace Hurley of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, while Katie Wiedmar of Mamaroneck, New York, is the Merchandiser of the Year for private clubs, and Ian Ziske of Grand Haven, Michigan, was named the top merchandiser for public facilities.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment to stand out as an honoree among nearly 28,000 PGA Professionals, as they are celebrated for furthering the business and game of golf,” said PGA President John Lindert. “Congratulations to our 13 National Award recipients for their inspirational dedication to the game. The PGA of America is proud to shed a spotlight on our Award winners and their amazing accomplishments, as they reflect the world-class expertise and talent of our Association.”
In addition, the recently announced 2022 PGA of America Professional Players of the Year presented by Rolex award recipients were acknowledged, including Men’s PGA Professional Player of the Year Michael Block of Mission Viejo, California; Women’s PGA Professional Player of the Year Sandra Changkija of Kissimmee, Florida; and Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year Bob Sowards of Dublin, Ohio.
Kiddie, PGA Head Professional at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, has spent the past 15 years at Aronimink following a seven-year stint at Applebrook Golf Club in Malvern, Pennsylvania, where he served as PGA General Manager and Head Golf Professional. Kiddie was the host PGA Professional during the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Aronimink, which will also host the 2026 PGA Championship.
Weeks, an Illinois PGA Section Member and Director of Instruction at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, Illinois, has been a PGA Member for 28 years and is a mainstay on Golf Digest’s 50 Greatest Teachers and Best Teachers in Your State lists, joining the 50 Greatest list in 2012 and being recognized as the No. 1 Teacher in Illinois since 2017. Weeks was named the Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year three times (2005, ‘07, ‘09). He earned a PGA Special Certification for Instruction in 2010, and became certified in the American Development Model (ADM) through PGA Coach in 2020.
Friedrich, a Michigan PGA Section Member and the Senior Vice President of Golf Operations for Boyne Resorts in Petoskey, has been a PGA Member for nearly 40 years. He started as a golf professional at Boyne Resorts in 1976 and has been instrumental in leading the company’s growing golf division. Today, Friedrich oversees Boyne Golf’s 13 courses and semi-private clubs in Michigan, Maine and Montana, including all staff, course agronomy and marketing nationwide, plus two golf membership groups—Bay Harbor Golf Club and Country Club of Boyne.