ARIZONA NEWS
MAYFAIR AWARD Tim Rafferty honored as SWPGA’s Professional of the Year
Tim Rafferty, the head professional at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, has been named the 43rd recipient of the Southwest Section’s Golf Professional of the Year Award. The annual award is the highest honor bestowed by the SWPGA on a PGA professional. “I am completely
MASON ANDERSEN
Andersen to capture the Mayfair Award, presented annually by the AGA for lowest weighted scoring average. Andersen, an 18-year-old senior
C
at Chandler Hamilton, earned that honor by posting a weighted average of 68.99, edging out Ken Tanigawa (69.58) and Sean O’Donnell (69.69). For good measure, Andersen
won the Arizona Stroke Play and his U.S. Amateur qualifier and tied for second in the San Tan Amateur and a U.S. Open qualifier. “The entire year was just a lot of
practice and playing consistent golf and always wanting to be in the final group instead of settling for a top-10 (finish),” Andersen said. “One big thing is that before every tournament I had a plan of how to play the course, what clubs to hit and how to deal with pressure.” Andersen also won the Thunderbird
Invitational, an American Junior Golf Association event at Grayhawk Golf Club that annually attracts the top juniors from around the world. He has committed to play
college golf at Arizona State and hopes to follow in the footsteps of former ASU star Billy Mayfair, after whom the award is named. “Everything about the program
is moving in the right direction,” he said of new coach Matt Thurmond’s program. “I’m just going there to do my part, which is play up to my ability, hopefully win some tournaments and eventually pursue the pro tour.” n
30 | AZ GOLF Insider | PREVIEW 2017
ountless hours of practice led to consistency on the golf course and that’s what it took for Mason
overwhelmed and honored,” said Rafferty. “It’s an impressive group of professionals on the list of former winners and to be recognized by my peers and be included in that group is unbelievable. “I think about all the
wonderful PGA professionals, family members, friends and club members who have influenced my career and I have a debt of gratitude to each of them. To be able to do something you love and are passionate about for over 25 years is very rewarding.” Born in Kalamazoo, Mich.,
Rafferty’s love for golf began at a young age. He was inspired and drawn to the game by his grandfather, who was a former golf professional in Michigan. Knowing he wanted to pursue a career in the golf industry, Rafferty, earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business with a minor in Professional Golf Management from Ferris State University
SWPGA Honorees
Tim Rafferty, Troon Country Club – GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR Frank Underhill, Verrado Golf Club – ASSISTANT GOLF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR Michael Lamanna, The Phoenician – TEACHER OF THE YEAR Dale Balvin, Golf’s Elementary – YOUTH PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AWARD Doug Westcott, Desert Highlands Golf Club – BILL STRAUSBAUGH AWARD Kyle Helms, University of Nevada Las Vegas – HORTON SMITH AWARD Bernie Eaton, SaddleBrooke Golf Club – PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AWARD Bryson Hotchkiss, Firerock CC – PRIVATE MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR Chuck Bombard, Royal Links Golf Club – PUBLIC MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR
www.azgolf.org Tim Rafferty Longtime head pro at Troon CC
in Big Rapids, Mich. During his time at Ferris State he completed high-profile internships at Dallas (Texas) Country Club and TPC Scottsdale. Following graduation,
Rafferty began his career at Troon as a part-time cart washer. After four years of learning and becoming well- versed in teaching, playing, administering, mentoring and merchandising, Rafferty earned an assistant golf professional position at the club. He was elected into membership in the PGA of America in 1995, and a year later, was named the head golf professional at Troon, where the 48-year-old Rafferty remains today. Rafferty takes great pride
in mentoring apprentices and assistant golf professionals. His development program is designed for them to be
successful in every aspect of facility operations and management. He feels it’s his duty to train, educate, empower and evaluate all of his employees on a constant basis. Rafferty is very hands on with his assistants, but he encourages them to make their own decisions. Many of his former apprentices and assistants went on to not only achieve their membership in the PGA of America, but earned head golf professional positions of their own. Rafferty also has volunteered his time as a teacher of the new member orientation class for the Southwest PGA. Always looking to give back
to the golf community, Rafferty assisted in the founding of the Troon Scholarship Foundation, established to impact lives through education in and out of the game of golf. His many career achievements include being honored as the SWPGA’s private merchandiser of the year (2004), holding a seat on the Southwest PGA Board of Directors and serving as chairman of the Junior Golf and Membership Committees. Rafferty was instrumental in Troon hosting the Arizona Open Championship a record nine times and volunteered as a rules official during the Championship. n
AGA PHOTO
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