Council Fire Club General Manager Chris DeBusk is awarded Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year Awards by chapter vice-president Mark Fermanian
photo by Paul Payne
Chattanooga Golf & Country Club assistant professional Mark Fermanian is given Assistant Professional of the Year by chapter president Chris DeBusk
photo by Paul Payne
Tom Durbin of The Ooltewah Club holds one of the two awards he was bestowed by Mark Fermanian, left, and Chris DeBusk
photo by Paul Payne
Council Fire head professional Brandon Arnold, center, was presented the Bill Strausbaugh Award by Mark Fermanian, left, and Chris DeBusk
photo by Paul Payne
Black Creek Club head professional Jordan Douglas, center, was awarded the Merchandiser of the Year for private clubs by Mark Fermanian, left, and Chris DeBusk
photo by Paul Payne
Chattanooga Golf and Country Club head professional Bruce Etter, center, was awarded Teacher/Coach of the Year by Mark Fermanian, left, and Chris DeBusk
photo by Paul Payne
Pete Mroz of FootJoy, center, is given the Vender/Rep of the Year by Mark Fermanian, left, and Chris DeBusk
photo by Paul Payne
Council Fire's Jeremy Davis, center, is awarded Assistant Player of the Year by Mark Fermanian, left, and Chris DeBusk
photo by Paul Payne
Lookout Mountain Club head professional Brian Anderson, center, is recognized as 2024 Chapter Champion by Mark Fermanian, left, and Chris DeBusk
photo by Paul Payne
While the recent blanket of snow has forced the temporary closure of local golf courses, the brief sabbatical allowed for a gathering of local PGA Professionals at Council Fire Club on Monday evening to celebrate the chapter’s 2024 award recipients.
Tennessee Section PGA Executive Director Clayton Hromadka was in attendance along with the majority of the PGA professionals in the area. Ranging from new Cleveland Country Club general manager John Cargill to Charlie Rymer and Doug Amor representing McLemore, it was a festive evening to honor those who made lasting contributions to the Chattanooga chapter last year.
Council Fire General Manager Chris DeBusk collected three laurels, being named Professional of the Year as well as both Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year while serving as the chapter’s president for the past year.
Chattanooga Golf and Country Club assistant professional Mark Fermanian, who served as chapter vice-president, also collected a pair of awards. Fermanian was named Assistant Professional of the Year in addition to claiming the Chattanooga Chapter Match Play Championship.
Also earning the distinction of winning a pair of awards was Tom Durbin, head professional at The Ooltewah Club. Durbin was recognized for the Richard Eller Growth of the Game Award as well as the Youth Development Award.
Council Fire head professional Brandon Arnold claimed the Bill Strausbaugh Award, Lamar Mills with the Tennessee Golf Foundation was awarded the PGA Professional Development Award, and Chattanooga Golf and Country Club head professional Bruce Etter captured the Teacher/Coach of the Year Award. Etter earned the distinction of Tennessee PGA Golf Professional of the Year at a ceremony last month.
Merchandiser of the Year is split into two categories, with Black Creek Club head professional Jordan Douglas being named the private club winner and Sweetens Cove head professional and general manager Matt Adamski picking up the public club prize.
Pete Mroz of FootJoy was named the chapter’s Vendor/Rep of the Year. The Nashville resident also gained some national notoriety in being a member of former bandmate Blake Shelton’s team on NBC’s “The Voice” back in 2021.
Council Fire’s Jeremy Davis, who was named Tennessee PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year, was recognized as Assistant Player of the Year, while Lookout Mountain Club head professional Brian Anderson was saluted for earning the distinction as 2024 Chapter Champion in the event held at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com