Bandon Dunes, The Perfect Venue for 2019 PGA Golf Professional of the Year Conference

“Bandon Dunes was a fantastic setting for PGA Magazine’s PGA Golf Professional of the Year Conference,” says Paul Schwartz, Premier Golf travel specialist who attended the event October 20-24.

The annual conference brings together PGA Sectional winners for Professional of the Year (POY) as voted by their peers. Thirty-five PGA professionals and PGA Magazine presenting sponsors were in attendance. The PGA of America is the governing body for 29,000 golf professionals spread across 41 sections.

The prestigious award is given to a PGA of America Professional who exemplifies the qualities of leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the PGA and the game of golf.

Eric Eshleman, a 24-year PGA Member, Director of Golf at the Country Club of Birmingham (CCB) in Alabama, was named the 2019 PGA Golf Professional of the Year. Eschleman is part of the Alabama Northwest Florida Section. He oversees one of the largest junior golf programs in the nation with over 200 entrants last year in CCB’s Junior Club Championship. In addition, under his leadership CCB has averaged more than 2,400 lessons annually since 2014.

The itinerary at Bandon Dunes included breakout sessions to discuss trends, challenges and solutions, product testing, meal functions and playing golf.

“It’s a tremendous group of golf’s leaders who care deeply about the game,” Schwartz says. “I learned a lot from them about the value of relationships they have with their members and how they plan to grow the game and cultivate relationships with new members.”

Schwartz raves about Bandon Dunes Resort in Oregon.

“It has four spectacular courses located within a couple of miles of each other and they all play differently,” he says. “It’s true links golf with only a 5 to 10 minute shuttle between courses. For those who love playing golf in its purest form, Bandon Dunes is a joy to play.”