Connecticut's Gary Reynolds Recipient of 2001 PGA Bill Strausbaugh Club Relations Award

Contact Jamie Roggero of PGA
561-624-8446
jroggero@pgahq.com

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (September 25, 2001) -- Gary Reynolds, head professional for the past 20 years at Hartford (Conn.) Golf Club, has been named the recipient of the 2001 PGA Bill Strausbaugh Club Relations Award.

The Bill Strausbaugh Club Relations Award was begun in 1979 to honor a PGA Professional who, through his/her day-to-day efforts, has caused dramatic improvements in employment conditions in the local PGA Sections or at the national level.

Reynolds, 53, is the second member of the Connecticut PGA Section to receive the award, which was named in honor of the late Bill Strausbaugh, a PGA Professional who helped to create The PGA's Career Services Department. William Mitchell of Old Greenwich, Conn., a winner in 1996, was the previous Connecticut PGA honoree.

Reynolds will receive his award during The PGA's 85th Annual Meeting, Nov. 9, at a Special Awards Breakfast at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

A native of Alexandria Bay, N.Y., Reynolds is a 1970 graduate of St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. He was elected to PGA membership in 1974. From 1970 to 1973, he served as an assistant professional at the Thousand Islands Club in Fineview, N.Y., and the Bellevue Biltmore Country Club of Clearwater, Fla. He also was an assistant from 1974-77 at Long Meadow (Mass.) Country Club and from 1974-78 at The Country Club of Pittsfield (Mass.). Reynolds was named head professional at Hartford Golf Club in 1982.

"I'm greatly honored by this award which is associated with Bill Strausbaugh, someone whom I had tremendous respect for and who was an inspiration to us all," said Reynolds. "All I tried to do in my career was improve the game. I have been very fortunate."

Reynolds began his career in golf as a summer assistant at the Thousand Islands Club in Fineview, N.Y., attempting to earn funds for his college education.

"I decided early on that I enjoyed getting up early in the morning and being around a golf club," said Reynolds. "Everything started to pick up from there. I have always wanted to be involved in as many things that I could to help the game. I've been very fortunate to be around good people."

Reynolds was a co-founder of the biennial Connecticut Golf Summit, which from 1992-98, brought together all the leaders of golf in the Section and state, and was co-founder of the First Tee of Hartford and the Connecticut PGA Foundation, which benefits the Special Olympics International and junior golf.

Reynolds and his wife, Mim, live in Farmington, Conn.

The PGA of America is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1916 to promote golf and enhance the livelihood of its members. The Association is comprised of more than 26,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing the game of golf.

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