Welcome to the 2022 Kentucky Golf Year in Review. Over the next several days, we will be looking back on the year that was and resurface some of the most memorable aspects from the tournaments and programming stemming from the Kentucky Golf Association, Kentucky PGA and Kentucky Golf Foundation.

And what better way for the year to begin than with the largest donation in the history of the Kentucky Golf Foundation? Just after the calendar turned, Jimmy Kirchdorfer signed a check worth $1 million in a pledged gift which impacts, or will soon impact several areas of the growth of Kentucky golf. A new internship position at Golf House Kentucky was created with the James J. Kirchdorfer Golf Fellowships. This past summer, Lexis Fickel and Bekah Upchurch became the first individuals to serve that three-month stint. Kirchdorfer’s company, ISCO Industries, signed on to be the title sponsor of the Youth on Course Kentucky Pro-Am through 2-2027. And the funds from his contribution have already dripped into enhancements for YoC, the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour, and PGA HOPE Kentucky.

The Kentucky PGA saluted a dozen members of the golf industry at the Dever | E-Z-GO Spring Member Conference with its presentation of the Special Awards. Recognizing those making the greatest difference in all aspects of the golf business, the group was highlighted by Pete Garvey, PGA from Idle Hour Country Club. The Head Golf Professional at Donald Ross’ only Kentucky design received the Golf Professional of the Year title thanks to more than a quarter-century of service to Idle Hour and his time spent serving on the Board of Directors for the KPGA and the KGF. Garvey was joined by these gentlemen as the Special Awards recipients for the year:

• Grover Justice, PGA – Teacher & Coach of the Year
• Mitchell Moore, PGA – Player Development Award
• Todd Butts, PGA – Youth Player Development Award
• Ralph Landrum, PGA – Bill Strausbaugh Award
• Kyle Sheffer, PGA – Merchandiser of the Year (Public)
• Gary Bebelaar, PGA – Merchandiser of the Year (Private)
• John Mullendore, PGA – Deacon Palmer Award
• Bruce Nall, PGA – Patriot Award
• Matt Bloom – Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Award
• Tyler Chilson – Sales Representative of the Year
• Tom Lane – Media Representative of the Year

Tournament season within the KPGA began shortly thereafter with the Kaiser Cup supported by Levelwear. Held annually at Belterra Golf Club in a Ryder Cup-style match between the previous year’s best Member Professionals and the best Assistant Professionals or Associates, the fun lead-off event was shortened because of heavy rain that fell when singles matches would have taken place. As a result, the Members won 3.5-1.5 with only four-ball matches counting towards the final point count. More importantly, a great time was had by all participants in one of the most fun competitions of the season with A+ sportsmanship on display from the stewards of Kentucky golf.

A new event made its debut late in April with the inaugural HOPE for Heroes tournament at Oxmoor Country Club. 23 teams composed of military Veterans, amateurs and/or PGA Professionals played in a four-person scramble where the focus of the day wasn’t score, but rather supporting PGA HOPE by raising money to continue influencing Veterans’ lives through golf. Eric Joslin, Bryan Chappell, Michael Hayes, and Lee Handel won the actual tournament, but the true focus of the day was how golf plays such a big part in the lives of those who have served.

Okay seriously, how cool is this? Pretty incredible how technology allows for our wounded Veterans to continue enjoying golf and hit long, straight drives like this one. pic.twitter.com/vWgicUPNU1

— Golf House KY ⛳️🏠 (@GolfHouseKY) April 25, 2022

To cap off April, the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour and Play Golf Lex partnered for the first time in a revitalized edition of the Lexington Junior City Championship. Prior to the 2022 version of this event, the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour ran its Lexington Junior Championship. Play Golf Lex operated the Junior City competition. With participation numbers for both events sliding the wrong direction, the two bodies came together last winter to conjoin the events and create one of the premier events in Kentucky Junior Golf during the springtime. The results were evident with more than 100 boys and girls competing at Kearney Hill in their respective division. Sam Guest and Athena Singh won the top boys and top girls titles, respectively, but the event became a hit that should only continue to grow in future years now that it has found its footing. It was also during this event that the first hole-in-one occurred at a GHK-sanctioned competition. Hayden Wasch did so during the opening round on the par-three 2^nd. As fate would have it, that ended up being the first in a long line of aces during 2022, but more on those in future Year in Review spotlights.

Other notable spring tournament results:

• March 26 – Wasch, Singh conquer freezing cold Junior Tour Season Kickoff
• April 2-3 – Second Emma Talley Tradition takes place in Owensboro
• April 9-10 – Moody & Wirth Headline Kentucky Junior Four-Ball Championship winners
• April 11 – Andrew Stephens, PGA takes Golf House Kentucky Classic #1 presented by Mobile Pro Shop
• April 18 – Childers & Hincks win Pro-Pro Shamble presented by Levelwear and supported by HMG Accessory Solutions & Hole-in-One U.S.A.
• April 23-24 – Spencer, Lindemoen capture Spring Classic trophies
• April 26 – KGA Am Series season starts at Nevel Meade