PGA Professionals show appreciation for Sandy Hook first responders

NEWTOWN, Conn. (May 5, 2013) - President of The PGA of America, Ted Bishop, and PGA Teacher of the Year, Michael Breed, were honored guests of the Newtown First Responders Outing at Newtown Country Club on Sunday. This was the first visit to the Connecticut Section for Bishop, the 38th President of the PGA. Over 60 members of seven first responder organizations involved with the December 14 tragedy, were in attendance for a day of golf thanking them for their service.

Host PGA Professional, Paul Miller, wanted to do something for those that served his community at a time of extreme need and knew golf was a great way to do it. Organizations like JetBlue, Titleist, Golf Pride, and Kirk & Matz stepped up to the plate to donate vacations, hats, grips, and the trophy for the winning team.

"Anytime someone is in need, the golf industry steps up," says Miller. "People and companies within the golf industry know the importance of community and they are always willing to help when called upon."

Breed, who is also the host of The Golf Fix on Golf Channel, held a clinic for the attendees to start the day and discussed some of the most common mistakes and situations you find yourself in on the golf course. Lunch was donated by The One Eyed Pig and a scramble tournament was played to finish out the day.

A total of seven agencies were thanked and honored during the event including Botsford Fire Rescue, Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Co., Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Dept., Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Newtown Hook & Ladder Volunteer Fire, Newtown Police Dept., and Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue.

President of the Connecticut Section PGA , Mike O'Grady, and District 1 Director and section member, Suzy Whaley were also in attendance.

All photos from the event can be found on the Connecticut PGA Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ConnecticutPGA

About the Connecticut Section PGA
The Connecticut Section PGA is one of 41 sections chartered that together comprise the Professional Golfers' Association of America (The PGA of America). All of the state of Connecticut - with the exception of territory south and west of a line between the cities of Danbury and Bridgeport, and the western half of the state of Massachusetts, except for a small northwestern corner of the state - are the boundaries for the section. There are a total of 355 golf professionals affiliated with the section. These professionals are employed at over 175 PGA Recognized Golf Facilities throughout the region, with the exception of Life Members. The Connecticut Section PGA is celebrating 80 years as the experts in the game and business of golf in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts since 1933."