PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Phil Tralies of Charleston, S.C., whose business acumen the past two decades guided Club Car Inc. to prominence in the domestic and global markets while also serving as a popular ambassador for the game, has been named the recipient of the PGA Ernie Sabayrac Award for lifetime contributions to the golf industry.

Phil Tralies

Tralies, 62, a native of Philadelphia, began a golf industry career in 1979 and joined Club Car Inc. of Augusta, Ga., in May 2001 as the company's president and chief executive officer. Since his arrival, Club Car has launched a new product into the golf market that resulted in significant market share gains; expanded the global presence of the company with sales in Europe and Asia; and transformed from a "golf company" to one that focused on three principal markets -- golf, commercial and the consumer. Tralies was named chairman of Club Car in January 2008.

Tralies will be honored at The PGA of America Awards, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, in conjunction with the 56th PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The program, featuring all 2008 PGA national award winners, will be conducted in the Convention Center's Linda W. Chapin Auditorium.

"Phil Tralies' record of service to the golf industry extends beyond the success that he has brought to a company and its employees," said PGA of America President Jim Remy. "Through Phil's expertise, he also has elevated the standards of the game in servicing both the PGA Professional and the amateur player. It is that same spirit that was a trademark of Ernie Sabayrac, a man who opened doors to empower others to maintain golf's stature in the marketplace. The PGA of America is very proud to present Phil Tralies with the PGA Ernie Sabayrac Award."

Tralies had been retired before his call back to the golf industry with Club Car. He had spent 25 years with Textron Inc., (1975 to 2000), a global, multi-industry company which included E-Z-GO and Jacobsen, later referred to as Textron Turf Care, divisions.

Tralies had first served as vice president of finance and administration for E-Z-GO from 1981 to 1989; then as senior Vice president until 1994; before moving to becoming president of the Jacobsen division from 1994 to 1998. He was president of Turf Care and Specialty Products division from 1998 to 2001.

Tralies left Textron in 2000, and formed P.J.T. Golf Capital LLC in early 2001, a company focused on golf course financing for owners and operators.

"I am very humbled by this honor and I find that it is an extension of Club Car's attention to its customers to include PGA Professionals," said Tralies. "I had been retired from the golf industry, but returned in 2001. I am pleased that I came back. While we were, and continue, in a very tough economic market, I believe that a lot of the success that we have enjoyed is, in large part, due to our relationships with our customers."

Club Car, a longtime partner of The PGA of America, has served since 1997 as one of three presenting sponsors of The PGA Professional National Championship, the showcase event for PGA Professionals. The company also was a supporting sponsor of the Championship since 1993.

"Over the years, I received annually some 100 letters of appreciation from PGA Professionals who compete in the National Championship," said Tralies.

Tralies is a 1968 graduate with a major in accounting from Villanova University and a 1988 graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University. He is a member of the executive committee of GOLF 20/20, the industry's comprehensive growth of the game initiative. He also serves on the Board of Governors of the Club Foundation of the Club Managers Association, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Finn Corporation and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute.

Tralies and his wife, Shirley, reside in Charleston, S.C. They are the parents of a son, Phil Jr., a daughter, Kathleen, and have a granddaughter, Elizabeth.

Begun in 1994, The PGA of America's Ernie Sabayrac Award for Lifetime Contributions to the Golf Industry was first presented to its namesake, the late Ernie Sabayrac, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. A prominent figure in the origin of the PGA Merchandise Show and a pioneer in the development of the golf shop, Sabayrac revolutionized merchandising among PGA Professionals, introducing golf shoes, soft goods and logoed products in golf shops nationwide.

The Ernie Sabayrac Award was created to reflect The PGA of America's commitment to golf industry manufacturers and distributors and to recognize the mutually beneficial relationship that has thrived for more than 50 years.

About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere.

The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.