Story courtesy of PGA – Minnesota Section. The full story can be viewed here.
The 2015 Player Development Award winner is Jason Sudenga of Bakker Crossing Golf Course in Sioux Falls, SD. The Player Development Award honors a PGA Professional for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in player development. Considerations for the award include the PGA Professional’s growth of the game leadership commitment at the Section and National levels as well as the impact made at the facility.
Jason has made noticeable and impressive contributions to the golf and fitness industry in Sioux Falls, SD. Jason along with many team members at GreatLIFE Malaska Golf & Fitness Club, an organization that aims to enrich and better the lives of families and individuals through golf, fitness, and healthy lifestyles, have created a healthy environment structured around the game of golf and fitness. Each year they continue to improve through increased memberships and rounds of golf played by the members. Jason uses many initiatives to grow the game of golf and implements them in his men’s, women’s and junior leagues across Sioux Falls. Jason contributes extensively to promoting and producing interest in golf around his community as well as showing a commitment to improving on a yearly basis.
Hometown: Luverne, MN
Golf Background:
Jason started his golf career on the grounds crew at his local golf course, Luverne Country Club. He attended Luverne High School and after made the decision to play college football at Dakota State in Madison, SD. Determining football was not in his future after a year, Jason transferred to Worthington Community College, now known as Minnesota West Community & Technical College, to play golf. His next stop would be at San Diego Golf Academy where he played until becoming a PGA Professional. Once he became a professional, he spent seven years in Topeka, KS as a teacher and instructor. Jason then returned to South Dakota as the Head PGA Professional at Bakker Crossing before accepting his current position as Director of Golf at GreatLIFE Malaska Golf & Fitness Club—where he has been for two years now.
When and why did you decide to become a PGA Professional?
“After my tenure at Dakota State in 1991, I made the decision to go to Worthington Community College. That was when I knew golf was something I wanted to do.”
What does winning this award mean to you?
“This is the first award that I have won through the Section. It is good to have your peers think of you as a role model and seeing my hard work being recognized by others is nice. I am grateful and honored that people think highly of me.”
Congratulations and thank you for your services to the Section, Jason.
The Minnesota Section PGA consists of PGA Professionals who are experts in the game and business of golf. Our mission is to promote the enjoyment and involvement of the game of golf and to contribute to its growth by providing services to golf professionals, the golf industry, people who play golf or would like to start playing golf. PGA Section Offices oversee the 41 geographic regions throughout the United States and provide the grass-roots network for the nation’s 25 million amateur golfers and with the PGA’s 27,000 members.