Joe Grohman – 2021 PGA of America Patriot Award

Joe Grohman, a Southern California PGA Section Member and the PGA Director of Instruction at Old Ranch Country Club, in Seal Beach, California, is the recipient of the 2021 PGA of America Patriot Award. The honor is granted to a PGA Professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf, and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America.

Born and raised on Air Force Bases and the Head Golf Professional at a Military Golf Course for over 20 years, Grohman feels a sense of kinship and duty to do all that he can for our current and former Men and Women in uniform. Grohman is an esteemed member of the Southern California golf community and gained early notoriety as the Head Professional at Navy Golf Course where he helped coach a young Tiger Woods.

Over the years Grohman has been able to organize and run worthwhile clinics for them and is committed to continue on this path of serving the military through regular and rehabilitative golf clinics. In addition, he is committed to creating more event opportunities (both in and out of state) with the goal that the exposure to PGA professionals will generate them to start a program at their course. Joe has been our Patriot award winner for the past 8 years. He is currently working as the head golf professional at El Dorado Park in Long Beach. He has recently been selected as one of the 4 new National Trainers for PGA HOPE!

Grohman currently serves as a National Trainer for PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), the signature military program of PGA REACH. In this capacity, he is responsible for delivering PGA HOPE golf training seminars to PGA Members nationwide. The simulated training sessions are designed to ensure all PGA Professionals teaching PGA HOPE provide a safe environment and are comfortable using adaptive equipment while instructing Military Veterans living with physical or cognitive challenges.

An eight-time recipient of the Southern California PGA Section Patriot Award (2014-21), he has also been honored with the Section’s Youth Player Development Award (2017), Bill Strausbaugh Award (2016), Merchandiser of Year (2014), Golf Professional of the Year (2013) and President’s Award (2012). Grohman has also chaired the SCPGA Diversity and Inclusion Committee since 2009. In 2010, he was recognized with the Armed Forces Recreation Special Citation Award-the U.S. Navy’s highest award for civilian recreation employees. Grohman was elected into the Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame in 2016.

Article Written by California Golf & Travel 

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