Jason Ballard is only the third Western New York PGA Pro to receive the national PGA of America award.
AMHERST, N.Y. — For the third time in the history of the Western New York PGA Section, a local PGA Professional is honored on the national stage. Jason Ballard, a 16-year PGA Member of the Western New York PGA Section and Head Professional at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, is the recipient of the 2020 PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award – Private Category. The award recognizes PGA Professionals who have excelled in business and merchandising in the promotion of golf.
“This year’s National Awards winners are proven leaders and innovators in the game and business of golf, and the PGA of America salutes their accomplishments and passion for the sport,” said PGA President Suzy Whaley. “These 2020 recipients represent the best of the Association and inspire our nearly 29,000 PGA Professionals to reach new heights every day, as they strive to grow the game and drive our profession to a new standard of excellence.”
He joins a list of just two other Western New York Section PGA Professionals who have been honored with a National PGA of America Award. That list includes both Craig Harmon (Oak Hill CC) and Jim Mrva (Monroe GC) who won the National PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award in 2004 and 2010, respectively.
Ballard oversees the entire golf operation at the famed 36-hole Oak Hill Country Club, which includes a single 1,500-square-foot golf shop located inside the main clubhouse, which most recently served as host to the 2019 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. Backed by an incredible passion for merchandising, his philosophy centers on hiring great people who care about hospitality. He spends considerable time sourcing, vetting, interviewing and educating, while creating an integrated staff education program called “Oak Hill University” that outlines his expectations for success.
Since Ballard arrived in 2014, Oak Hill’s golf shop has enjoyed strong growth thanks to several key initiatives, including a new member logo, member-only inventory, and by creating new catalog inventory. He has built a culture of continuous improvement based upon quality standards, protecting the Oak Hill brand and always exceeding customers’ expectations. Ballard was also recognized with the Western New York PGA Section’s 2019 Merchandiser of the Year – Private Category Award.
“On behalf of our 300 PGA Professionals, we are so proud of Jason and his staff at Oak Hill CC. What an honor it is for both the membership at Oak Hill and our Western New York Section of the PGA. This is a true testament of the strength of our local PGA Professionals and Section as leaders of the game and business of golf in WNY,” said WNYPGA President Dan Antonucci.