Page 52 - Las Vegas Golf & Leisure Magazine Spring 2020

COMMUNITY

award at Paradise Valley Country Club in Arizona on Feb.
20. He was also nominated nationally, the winner to be
announced in July. The PGA Horton Smith Award recog-
nizes the PGA Professional who is the model educator of
PGA Golf Professionals. This award is designed to give
special recognition to an individual PGA Professional for
outstanding and continuing contributions to professional
education. The Horton Smith Award guidelines include
demonstration of outstanding qualities of leadership,
demonstration of strong moral character. The pro must
maintain a substantial record of service to the Association
and the game of golf and be well-regarded as a model edu-
Karl Larcom, Coyote Springs
cator of PGA Golf Professionals. Continuing education
within the community. The pro is recognized as someone of records will serve as a resource for verification of pro-
outstanding character. grams taught by the nominee. “I am very grateful for the
support the program, students, and alumni have received
“From bosses who were head professionals, directors of by our golfing community,” Cain says. “The recognition is
golf, general managers, vice presidents, to the people symbolic of what ‘we’ have created as a Las Vegas Golfing
who worked for and with me and made my life easier, an Community through the platform of our community's uni-
award like this is meant to be shared with everyone that versity and partnership with the PGA.”
has impacted my life and also my family,” says Larcom. He
was one of 14 honored in the event sponsored by E-Z Go Anthem’s Troy Helseth won his fifth straight player of the
golf carts. His category, along with professional, assistant year award, and Las Vegas Paiute’s Tom Fischer won the
professional and teacher of the year, were voted on by the senior player of the year award for the seventh time. “It
entire membership, while the other awards were selected by never gets old to win. I continue to work at it and spend a
a committee or earned through tournament play. lot of time on my game,” Fischer said. “I always think each
year will be my last, but it keeps happening. The relation-
Three UNLV Professional Golf Management alums were ships I have built over the years are what is most important.
honored, led by Kendall Murphy, PGM’s assistant director Winning awards is the icing on the cake.”
and program coordinator. Murphy was the top professional
for the second year in a row. “It's truly humbling to have Landon Nelson, outgoing chapter coordinator, was recog-
been recognized by my peers for the second year in a row nized at the beginning of the evening for his work over the
as the Southern Nevada Chapter PGA Professional of the last six years.
Year,” says Murphy. “I got into service to better the lives of
my fellow members and to grow the game of golf that I love
so much. So to be recognized for these achievements and
accomplishments is amazing and humbling.”

Andrew Elliott was named the year’s top assistant profes-
sional and Matt Henderson was named teacher of the year.
Both work at TPC Las Vegas, a PGA Tour facility. Mike
Davis from DragonRidge Country Club was awarded Junior
Golf Leader of the Year.

Dr. Chris Cain, UNLV PGM director, won the chapter’s
Horton Smith Award and also received the overall section Jane Schaefer

50 LAS VEGAS GOLF & LEISURE SPRING 2020 www.lasvegasgolfandleisure.com