Jeff Nixon Receives South Florida PGA President's Plaque

For the second straight year, PGA Professional Jeff Nixon has been named the 2008 PGA President’s Plaque recipient for the South Florida PGA. The award recognizes the professional who has made extraordinary contributions and achievement in the area of player development.

Elected to PGA Membership in 2005, Cape Coral native Jeff Nixon picked up the game at the age of 10, which he parlayed into a playing career at Edison Community College. Along the way, Jeff noticed he had a strong desire to teach the game and found himself a niche in the industry. He has been employed at Del Tura Golf & Country Club in several capacities since 1995 and is currently the PGA Director of Golf.

“My dad was always a big believer in being involved in the community and really instilled that in me,” said Jeff when asked why he decided to become a PGA Professional. “He was a huge infl uence for me and taught be to give back, be fair and honest and to always try and do the right thing. He told me to always give 100 percent and just let chips fall where they may because the only thing we can control is the effort we put forth.”

Jeff has made it his mission to educate section members on initiatives to help grow the game of golf. With a passion for teaching and getting involved, Jeff volunteers his time to growth of the game initiatives and has served as the South Florida PGA Section Growth of the Game chairperson for the past two years. He also volunteers his time to speak on the importance of Play Golf America and other growth of the game initiatives and their implications on the game to both Florida Gulf Coast University PGM students and to his peers.

“I really enjoy the planning and execution of events and strive to put the Section and South Florida PGA Professionals in the spotlight to help grow the game and to make it fun and exciting,” said Jeff. “I am proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish through the Section’s Growth of the Game Committee and cannot thank PGA Professionals Suzanne Bannan, Andy Scott, Marty Hall and Don Law, as well as Section staffer Meredith Winkelmann for all of their help and support – I definitely couldn’t do this on my own.”

He has helped organize, promote and conduct several Play Golf America days, offering free clinic and playing opportunities, which have helped to both re-introduce and bring new golfers to the game. Jeff has also created his own successful Play Golf America Player Development Program at Del Tura which has increased membership numbers at the facility.

“My biggest accomplishment to date is bringing some thirty new golfers to the game in different player development programs at Del Tura Golf & Country Club. It is so neat now to see them out there playing and really enjoying themselves, knowing that a Play Golf America day was the catalyst.”

Jeff was previously named the Southwest Chapter Teacher of the Year in 2006 and the Section’s PGA President’s Plaque recipient in 2007.

When asked how he felt about receiving the Section’s PGA President’s Plaque for the second consecutive year, Jeff replied, “It’s always an honor to be chosen by your peers for anything you do. I don’t do my job to win awards; I do it to better the game.”

Jeff will receive his 2008 PGA President’s Plaque at the SFPGA Annual Meeting of the Membership on Tuesday, August 26th, at the Breakers Rees Jones Course in West Palm Beach.