PGA Members Glenn Pulice, Josh Richter & Jimmy Wisinski Lead 2025 Michigan Section PGA Special Awards Class

2025 Michigan Section PGA Special Awards Recipients

Golf Professional of the Year
Glenn Pulice, PGA
Royal Oak Golf Center

Golf Executive of the Year
Josh Richter, PGA
Boyne Resorts

Teacher & Coach of the Year
Jimmy Wisinski, PGA
Kent Country Club

Assistant Golf Professional of the Year
Ryan Bayer, PGA
Kent Country Club

Bill Strausbaugh Award
Dave Kendall, PGA
Washtenaw Golf Club

Merchandiser of the Year-Private
Wally Sierakowski, PGA
Red Run Golf Club

Merchandiser of the Year-Public
Wes Blevins, PGA
Eagle Crest Golf Club

Merchandiser of the Year-Resort
Jackson Davison, PGA
Golf Club at Harbor Shores

Patriot Award
George Bowman, PGA
Oakhurst Golf & Country Club

Player Development
Kelly Plaisier, PGA
RedWater Golf

Professional Development
Jimmy Wisinski, PGA
Kent Country Club

Youth Player Development
Raquel Bryant, PGA
Thousand Oaks Golf Club

Distinguished Service Award
Dave Kendall, PGA
Washtenaw Golf Club

Glenn Pulice, PGA, a 38-year PGA Member, has captured the 2025 Michigan Section PGA Golf Professional of the Year award. This prestigious honor is awarded to the professional who has demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership and strong moral character. The individual must also maintain a substantial record of service to the Association and game of golf, and be well-regarded as a model PGA of America Golf Professional.

Pulice, General Manager at Royal Oak Golf Center, is being recognized for his dedication to the Section and the Association, his leadership, his ability to inspire others, and his commitment to promoting the game. Selected by his peers, he stands out for his contributions as a golf professional and his involvement across various industry organizations. He played a key role in the multimillion-dollar renovation of Royal Oak Golf Center, which now hosts numerous community golf events. He is one of the founding members of the PGM Alumni Association, and is in his 21st year as Director of Golf for the Midnight Golf Program. Pulice prides himself on being deeply connected to the golf community.

Josh Richter, PGA, Senior Vice President of Golf Operations at Boyne Resorts has captured the Golf Executive of the Year award. This honor recognizes a PGA Golf Professional who has provided exceptional service in multi-facility or course management, ownership operations, allied associations, or executive leadership within the golf industry. As one of the highest distinctions awarded by the PGA, recipients must demonstrate exceptional leadership, vision, courage, and strong moral character, along with a significant record of service to both the Association and the game of golf.

As the Senior VP of Golf Operations, Richter leads his team in hosting numerous events annually including the Michigan Section’s Tournament of Champions, Adidas State Pro-Am, and Drive, Chip & Putt local qualifiers. Having held nearly every role in his tenure at Boyne, he strides to be a living example of what can come from dedication and values his active leadership style that encourages his team to work hard and perform to the Boyne standard. Richter’s successful training practices on team and culture building were published in PGA Magazine.

Richter’s leadership involvements don’t stop at Boyne. He is an active board member for the First Tee – Northern Michigan and began his term of Board President in January 2024. Additionally, he sits on the Michigan PGA Employment Committee where he is helping the growth of PGA Professionals at courses throughout the state.

Jimmy Wisinski, PGA, Director of Instruction at Kent Country Club, has been named the Teacher & Coach of the Year. Wisinski is honored for his overall impact on teaching and coaching along with his innovative and special teaching programs he has implemented.

Of the 385 members at Kent Country Club, Wisinski taught over 265 different members in 2024. He utilizes different platforms, such as the Coach Now app and website, to maintain open communication with students. By doing so, he fosters a culture of accountability and develops both a mental and technical process with each lesson.

Wisinski is also in his second season as a contributor to PGA.com where he delivers content for all of their social media channels. He helped develop a series that covers key aspects a player would be facing in those events and how they can learn to apply them to their own game.

Ryan Bayer, PGA, Assistant Golf Professional at Kent Country Club, has been named the Assistant Golf Professional of the Year. During his time as a professional, Bayer has won the Michigan PGA Senior/Junior Championship and finished in the top three of the Assistants Championship.

Bayer is involved in various departments of Kent Country Club including merchandising and the junior program. He helps bring in fun and fresh ideas to the shop, and has become an essential leader of their PGA Jr. League team and weekly summer junior camp. He also helped revive the caddy program following Covid. Bayer credits his growth to his mentors, Jimmy Wisinski, and his father, Mark Bayer.

Dave Kendall, PGA, Golf Executive and owner of Washtenaw Golf Club, has been selected as the recipient of the Bill Strausbaugh Award. Kendall also founded the Kendall Golf Academy, where he built a strong reputation for developing successful players and mentoring numerous PGA Professionals who served as coaches at the academy. He is honored for his outstanding integrity, character, and leadership through a commitment to mentoring and making significant impacts on the careers of PGA Professionals.

Established in 1979, the Bill Strausbaugh Award is presented to a PGA Professional who by their day-to-day efforts, have distinguished themselves by mentoring their fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations and through service to the community. The award reflects the characteristics and qualities of Strausbaugh, a Middle Atlantic PGA Master Professional who died in 1999.

Jimmy Wisinski, PGA, Director of Instruction at Kent Country Club, has been selected by the Michigan Section PGA as the recipient of the Professional Development Award. The Professional Development Award is awarded annually to a PGA Member for their outstanding contributions to professional education, leadership, networking ability and contributions made by the candidate to grow and strengthen the image of a PGA Professional.

Wally Sierakowski, PGA, Head Golf Professional at Red Run Golf Club, has been named the Merchandiser of the Year for Private Golf Facilities, Wes Blevins, PGA, General Manager and Director of Golf at Eagle Crest Golf Club, has been named the Merchandiser of the Year for Public Golf Facilities, and Jackson Davison, PGA, Head Golf Professional at Golf Club at Harbor Shores, has been named the Merchandiser of the Year for Resort Golf Facilities by the Michigan Section PGA. This award recognizes excellence in business and merchandising at golf facilities as well as innovation in displays, merchandising techniques, staff training and overall success and growth.

George Bowman, PGA, Head Golf Professional at Oakhurst Golf & Country Club, has been selected by the Michigan Section PGA as the recipient of the Patriot Award. Bowman is honored for personifying patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrating unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America. He has been instrumental in the efforts to raise funds for PGA HOPE Michigan, the flagship military program of the Michigan PGA Section’s foundation, PGA REACH Michigan.

The Patriot Award originated in 2008 following the inspiration of Patriot Day founder Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, a PGA Professional from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Kelly Plaisier, PGA, Player Development Director for RedWater Golf, has been selected by the Michigan Section PGA as the Player Development Award Winner. This award recognizes a PGA Golf Professional, who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contribution and achievement in player development. It also considers the PGA Professional’s growth of the game leadership, commitment at the Section and National levels in the player development arena, and the meaningful impact made at the facility. Plaisier oversees 10 instructors across the eight RedWater properties, supports golf operations staff in all growth the game needs, tracks program participation, and monitors golf course revenue.

Raquel Bryant, PGA, Teaching Professional at Thousand Oaks Golf Club, has been selected by the Michigan Section PGA as the Youth Player Development Award Winner. This award bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional, who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contribution and achievement in youth player development. The award considers the PGA Professional’s focus on youth through their growth of the game leadership, commitment at the Section and National levels in the youth player development arena, and the meaningful impact made upon youth through the introduction and participation in the game. Bryant is proud to be a long time supporter of PGA of America growth of the game initiatives. She strives to encourage her students to grow not only in their golf game, but also as individuals of integrity.

Dave Kendall, PGA, Golf Executive and owner of Washtenaw Golf Club, has been named by the Michigan PGA as the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. This award honors outstanding individuals who display leadership and humanitarian qualities, including integrity, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm for the game of golf.

Since becoming a PGA Member, Kendall has dedicated his career to helping others learn the game and build their own legacies. He is recognized not only for the length of his teaching career but also for his unique approach, which weaves life lessons into his instruction. After serving as Head Professional at Cadillac Country Club, he founded his own academy, where he mentored both players and fellow PGA Professionals who served as coaches. Committed to inspiring the next generation, he has returned to his alma mater, Ferris State University, numerous times to encourage PGM students to leave their mark on the golf industry, emphasizing the importance of making a difference in the lives of those they serve. Now the owner of Washtenaw Golf Club, Kendall has entrusted his academy to those he has mentored over the years. His lasting influence continues to shape a culture that resonates throughout the industry.

The Michigan Section PGA will award and honor its 2025 Special Award Winners at the President’s Dinner to be held this fall. The President’s Dinner celebrates PGA Members who have excelled in their profession as well as those who have volunteered and given of themselves to serve the Section.