Ryan Hanford Headlines 2026 Minnesota PGA Award Recipients

COON RAPIDS, Minn., – October 26, 2026 – Ryan Hanford, Head Golf Professional at Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville, Minn, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Minnesota PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award, the highest annual honor presented by the Minnesota PGA to a PGA Professional.

The following PGA Members will be honored at the annual Minnesota PGA Awards Banquet held at Olympic Hills on Sunday, May 2, 2027. Congratulations to the 2026 award recipients!

Golf Professional of the Year – Ryan Hanford, Midland Hills Country Club

The PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award is one of the highest honors the Association can bestow on a working club professional whose total contributions to the game best exemplify the complete PGA Professional. This award embraces a wide range of services executed by the club professional.

Assistant Golf Professional of the Year – Ian Brandt, The Minikahda Club

The PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Award is one of the highest honors the Association can bestow on an Assistant golf professional. This award embraces a wide range of services executed by the Assistant Golf professional.

Executive of the Year – Mark Johnson, Oxbow Country Club and Suite Shots Fargo

The “PGA Golf Executive of the Year Award” bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional who has performed outstanding services for a multiple facility/course management/ownership operation, Allied Association or golf industry executive management position. As one of the highest honors the PGA can bestow, candidates must possess outstanding qualities of leadership, vision, courage, strong moral character, and a substantial record of service to the Association and the game of golf.

Teacher & Coach of the Year – Steve Fessler, Albion Ridges Golf Course

The Teacher & Coach of the Year Award is designed to recognize a PGA Professional who is an outstanding teacher of golf among the ranks of PGA membership. This award is based on a professional’s overall performance in teaching; unusual, innovative and special teaching programs initiated or implemented; articles published; as well as outstanding golfers the professional has instructed.

Bill Strausbaugh Award – Jared Andersen, Country Club of Sioux Falls

The PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional, who personally displays outstanding integrity, character, and leadership through a commitment to mentoring and making significant impacts on the careers of PGA Professionals. In the spirit of the award, “mentoring” shall be defined as follows:

“Mentoring is supporting professionals to manage their own development so they can maximize their PGA career potential. The PGA mentor empowers, enables, advises, challenges, and encourages professionals to enhance their professional skills, strengthen their level of service, improve their work performance, and become the PGA Member that they aspire to be.”

Deacon Palmer Award – Steve Fessler, Albion Ridges Golf Course

The “Deacon Palmer Award” bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional who personally displays outstanding integrity, character and leadership, in the effort to overcome a major obstacle in their life. This individual is an unsung hero/heroine at their facility and in their community, who serves to inspire, empower and assist others, both inside and outside of the game. The inaugural Minnesota PGA Section Deacon Palmer Award was presented in 2026.

This is the first year that the Minnesota PGA Section has presented the Deacon Palmer Award.

Patriot Award – John Kellin, Chaska Town Course

The PGA Patriot Award bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional, who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America.

Player Development Award – Drew Trautman, Iron Range Golf

The Player Development Award is designed to recognize a PGA Professional for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of player development. This award considers the PGA Professional’s growth of the game leadership commitment at the Section and National levels and the impact made at the facility.

Youth Player Development Award – Ryan Sharpe, Deacon’s Lodge

The Youth Player Development Award is awarded to an individual who demonstrates involvement in the promotion and development of junior golf at the club level. They have a proven interest, concern, and ability to provide opportunities and experience for juniors to learn and play golf. They are also recognized as someone of outstanding character.

PGA Professional Development Award – Nick Pelle, GolfTEC Minnetonka

The PGA Professional Development Award recognizes 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.

Facility Promoter of the Year – Public – Andy Gerber, Hidden Greens Golf Club

The Facility Promoter of the Year Award is designed to recognize PGA Professionals for outstanding contributions to their facility. Criteria considered for this award include golf programs offered, tournament operations, merchandising, rules, promotion, and history at the facility.

Facility Promoter of the Year – Private – Dave Torbenson, Mankato Golf Club

Facility Promoter of the Year – Resort – Adam Haugen, Pines at Grandview Lodge

Steve Weidner Award – Greg McCullough, Oxbow Country Club

The Steve Weidner Award is one of the highest honors the Section can bestow on an individual whose total contributions to the game are extraordinary and beyond normal day-to-day activities. This award embraces a wide range of services throughout the game of golf. Past winners include PGA Professionals, Media Personnel, and tournament founders and operators.