PGA Professional Tom Philion honored for impact on game of golf

 

When the local section of the Professional Golfers' Association was selecting its "Golf Professional of the Year," it saw no need to take a mulligan after its first choice.

 

SUNY Delhi's Tom Philion would do nicely.

 

Philion, professor and director of the Business and Professional Golf Management Program at SUNY Delhi, was recently awarded the title by the Northeastern New York Section of the Professional Golfers' Association of America, according to a recent media release.

 

Philion, 59, will be honored for his achievements Tuesday at the NENY PGA Spring Membership Meeting at the Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs, he said.

 

"It's an honor to be recognized by my peers for having a positive impact on the game of golf," Philion said. "I've been very lucky. SUNY Delhi's PGM program receives tremendous support from administration, faculty and staff, and it's a pleasure to work with students who are eager to start a career and who love the game as much as I do."

 

Philion has served as director of SUNY Delhi's PGM program for the past 10 years, he explained Monday. In this role, he teaches golf-specific courses and promotes the college's golf program.

 

With 178 members and apprentices in the regional PGA Section, Philion had some stiff competition in the running to be named "Golf Professional of the Year." The NENY PGA is one of 41 geographical sections within the PGA, according to its website.

 

"Many of the others who were nominated are very well-respected golf professionals in our region," Philion said, "which extends from Plattsburgh to Kingston and from the Berkshires to Oneonta."

 

Growing up with parents who were avid golfers, Philion soon grew to love the sport, he said. He started caddying at the age of 10 or 11 and began playing at 13 or 14.

 

"My family was instrumental," Philion said. "I was fortunate."

 

Before arriving at SUNY Delhi, Philion served for 16 years as the Head Golf Professional at Columbia Golf & Country Club in Claverack, where he taught and promoted the game and gave hundreds of lessons and clinics to golfers of all skill levels, he said. He also ran the day-to-day operations of the club, including leagues, tournaments and member golf programs, and managed staff and committee involvement.

 

These are all tasks Philion now teaches his students to do, he said. There are 53 individuals in SUNY Delhi's PGM program, which shows students the ins and outs of customer relations, golf shop operations, lesson-giving, merchandising, and how to organize tournaments, as well as repair clubs and carts.

 

Philion has served two terms on the NENY PGA board of directors and served as president from 2010 to 2012, according to SUNY Delhi officials. He earned PGA Certification in Executive Management in 2007, and was golf coach for Columbia-Greene Community College from 1996 to 2005. He has also received numerous awards for club relations and community service.

 

Awards are fine and good, Philion said Monday, but the most rewarding aspect of his job is helping students learn about the sport. In addition to teaching courses on campus, Philion coaches the college's women's golf team and is active in "Golf in Schools," a national enrichment program that offers after-school classes and camps for school-aged children.

 

The best part about golf is that "you can never be perfect at it," Philion said, and he tries to foster this in his students.

 

"It's really hard to master," Philion said. "You're outside, walking, constantly facing different challenges. And what you do is under your control, since it's not a team sport."

 

It's not all about winning, Philion stressed.

 

"As much fun as it is to play against others, I also really enjoy that non-competitive role ... playing with my family and helping my students."

 

This article was written by Jessica Reynolds from The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y. and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.