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2020 Iowa PGA Awards Professional Development Award
from 2020 Year in Review
by Iowa PGA
Erin Strieck of Pinnacle Country Club has been named the 2020 Professional Development Award winner. The Professional Development Award is based on a Professional’s entire record and achievements over their career.
The guidelines for this award include various types of educational seminars brought to the section, contributions made to building the PGA image, leadership and networking ability, promotion of the game of golf within the community, techniques used to encourage membership support of the various seminars, articles written for publication in books or magazines and any sectional or nationally recognized coursed attended by the nominee which enhance the PGA Professional.
“A motto she tries to live by every day is ‘Don’t talk about it, be about it.’ Every day get out there and do something that impacts the life of someone, don’t just talk about it. Being a mentor and providing leadership in the greatest game ever played is a dream come true.” Strieck was quoted. Being nominated for this prestigious award, has given Strieck time to reflect on where she has been and where she’s going. She believes being a mentor for our young professionals and having a strong sense of leadership is essential in building the PGA brand. We must create environments for assistants and PGA professionals to grow in their personal and professional lives. She believes the Iowa PGA Section is at the fore front of creating this environment. for the PGA Professional.
Strieck became a PGA Member in December of 2001. Her career has taken her from Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa where she sewed as an Assistant Golf Professional, Head Golf Professional and eventually as the Director of Golf. She also spent time at Frye Lake and Spirit Hollow before becoming the Head PGA Professional at Pinnacle Country Club.
Strieck was a part of the PGA LEAD Cohort VI. This is a composed of up to 15 PGA Members who participate in a curated leadership development experience tailored to those who desire in a volunteer leadership role. PGA LEAD welcomes PGA Members who are early on in their leadership journey, as well as those who are more advanced. When asked on what this means to win this award, “I am honored to be the recipient of the 2020 IPGA Professional Development Award. I have been fortunately enough to have mentors in my life and if I can make a difference in a Golf Professionals PGA journey, then I call that an accomplishment.” Strieck said.
Strieck has been a member of the Iowa PGA Board of Directors since 2015. She was voted in a the Iowa PGA Section Secretary in October of 2017. She became the Iowa PGA Section Vice President in October of 2019. In October of 2021, Strieck will become the first Iowa PGA Female President. Quite an honor
- Bios written by Iowa Golf Assocciation Judd Gibb
Judd Gibb, originally from Fort Dodge, has been household name in the state for many years. Not only is Gibb described as a a highly esteemed teacher of the game, he also is an tremendous player – excelling within the Iowa Section PGA and nationally.
“I am overwhelmed when I look at those names in the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame,” Gibb said. “I know so many of them and am honored that my name will be added to that list. I have been so lucky to have helped and worked with people who helped me along the way. It’s fun to look back at with all the junior players I have been able to help. Golf is a great game.”
Gibb, a five-time Iowa PGA Player of the Year and two-time IPGA Teacher of the Year, has competed in a total of 12 National Club Professional Championships in addition to three National Assistants Championships. He was also a four-year letter winner (1992 team captain) at Iowa State University, participating in the team’s first two NCAA Regional Championships. This year will mark the third time Gibb will tee it up with the ‘big boys’ at the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour, previously playing in 1999 and 2010. Gibb, who won the 2004 Herman Sani Tournament and is a two-time Iowa Section PGA Champion (2009, 2019), is currently the Director of Instruction and Tournament Coordinator at Lakeside Golf Course, Fort Dodge, and a Ping Golf Tech Representative. considerable skills,” Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member Ken Schall, PGA said. “He led a junior winter camp in Ankeny called Operation State Champ for nearly 10 years and exposed hundreds of aspiring junior players to the game.”
Schall also marveled at Gibb’s playing ability.
“Judd has a tour quality tempo to his swing that makes me marvel over how far he can move the ball with seemingly no effort,” Schall said. “I am sure that those of you who have played with Judd would agree that he is an absolute pleasure to play golf with. Judd has touched a lot of golfers and has been a great ambassador for the game in Iowa.”
John Benda
John Benda’s impact on the game of golf far outreaches the borders of Iowa.
Growing up in Clear Lake and then Humboldt, Benda had a fondness of the game of golf early on. He would captain both his high school team in Humboldt in 1965 and then the 1967-1969 Iowa State men’s golf team. From 1969-1986 Benda worked with the ISU Cyclone Country Junior Golf Camp and from 1971-1986 was a professional instructor. Over those 17 years he is credited with teaching the game to approximately 2,400 junior players.
“This is a huge honor,” Benda said on receiving news of his induction into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame. “I have always considered myself as an Iowan. I was born, raised and learned the game in Iowa. Golf was special in the generation and time I grew up in. To be part of this (Iowa Golf Hall of Fame) is overwhelming and to be recognized is emotional for me.”
Beth Bader
Beth Bader, originally from Eldridge, began playing golf at the age of 12 and never looked back.
Bader, who was quite successful in Iowa, won the 1991 Iowa Junior Open, 1991 Des Moines Open and 1992 Waterloo Junior Open. She continued to build her resume with a win at the 1995 Quad City Women’s Amateur and a runner-up finish at the Iowa Women’s Amateur.
As a member and captain of the Iowa State University (ISU) women’s golf team, Bader was a medalist at the 1993 Northern Illinois Huskie Invitational and was the team’s most valuable player in 1993-94. Bader also was a runner-up at the Big Eight Championship and is the only player from ISU to earn AllBig Eight honors for two years. In 1996, Bader was named ISU’s Female Athlete of the Year. Bader earned her bachelor’s degree from ISU in 1997 in Sport management.
“This is quite an honor,” Bader said after hearing of her induction. “I remember starting out in Eldridge. My sister and I would hit balls into a field, pick them up and do it again. That brings back a lot of memories for me. Playing in Iowa toughened me up. I became one of the best players in tough conditions. I was never a great ball striker, but I could play in those tough conditions. I had a great imagination that helped my short game. I owe a lot to growing up and playing in Iowa.”
