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2022 Iowa PGA Awards Bill Strausbaugh Award

2022 Iowa PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award

Mike Downing, PGA

Mike Downing of Iowa PGA Section has been named the 2022 Bill Strausbaugh Award winner by the Iowa PGA Awards Committee. The Strausbaugh Award emphasizes the nominee’s performance and achievements over the past five years and is awarded to those who demonstrate day-to-day alternative methods of improving the employment conditions for the PGA Professional.

Downing was asked on what this award means to him, “It truly is an honor to be recognized as the recipient of this year's Bill Strausbaugh award. Being able to give back and make a positive impact on our Member's and Associates' careers is one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done.”

One of the most valuable lessons he was taught early in his career was from a mentor August Sewart, PGA. “You are only given one thing in life, your name. It is up to you to do what you want with it.” This has stuck with him over his many years of being a PGA professional. He works hard to protect his name. He also works hard to build his personal brand each day. To earn respect, you must build relationships and give respect. Treat people how you would like to be treated. There are times in our professional careers when we need to make tough decisions. If you have invested time building relationships and doing what is right, people may not like the decision you made however they understand the reasons for the decision and respect you for that. In the past 3-years he has met with over 150 PGA members and visited over eighty facilities. In these meetings we discuss challenges and opportunities the professional and/or facility are facing. We also discuss tools and resources the professional/facility needs to be more productive and efficient. Not that he has all the answers, but in his time visiting with professionals and facilities he has been able to share success stories from many of our talented professionals as it relates to operations, tournament management, and overall best practices. Again, his goal is to set them up for success and help them do their job better.

The Iowa PGA Section is a leader in many areas. Drive, Chip & Putt is just one of those. He has overseen and collaborated closely with our professionals to grow the program over the past couple of years. In 2021, we hosted twenty-three local qualifiers with a total of 460 participants. In 2022, he was responsible for twenty-four local qualifiers with a total of 720 participants. It has been incredibly rewarding to be involved in nearly doubling the program over the past two years. This truly is the trifecta – he cannot think of a better way to reach young people, while displaying the power of the PGA of America brand, and what it means to be a PGA Professional, while also growing the game of golf and positively impacting the lives of so many young people.

Gene Bears, Jr., PGA Professional at Lacoma Golf, “Since Mike has joined our section as our Director of Membership & Player Development, he has hit the ground full speed even during the initial beginning which involved the Covid protocol. Keeping in constant contact with Section Members and Associates. Along with this his involvement with PGA junior League and Drive Chip and Putt. This keeps his schedule full. Through all this his integrity and loyalty for Iowa PGA to shine as leaders is his top priority.”

This is Downing’s first Iowa PGA Section Award. The Iowa PGA Congratulates as our 2022 Bill Strausbaugh Award.

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