58th Education Summit and Annual Meeting Concludes in San Antonio!

PGA Members and Associates continue to find ways to enhance their skill set to better serve their clubs, guests, and the overall game of golf!
SAN ANTONIO, TX (FEBRUARY 10) - Over the last two days, the 58th Education Summit and Annual Meeting took place at the Westin San Antonio North where PGA of America Members and Associates heard from six keynote speakers, received association updates, and award winners were showcased.
The meeting marked the introduction of the new Vision, Mission, and Strategic Pillars for the STPGA. These refreshed objectives provide a guide for the future and support the continued strength and evolution of the organization.
Our Vision is a high-performance culture driven by individuals committed to making a meaningful impact on its Members, the Game of Golf, and the Association.
“It is always exciting to get all of us together at the beginning of the year and network, receive highly valuable education, and be together,” said Dr. Rich Ballinger, President of the Southern Texas PGA. “With us announcing a new strategic plan for the STPGA, it provides clarity and direction for our association, our members, and our programs.”
To explore the full document, please click here.
Our keynote speakers included Kelly Merbler, Kevin Scott, Rik Robers, Joe Dupree, Bryan Gathright, Jim Nitolli, and Dr. David Wright. These speakers presented their expertise on a variety of topics that aim to elevate our members within the industry, emphasizing leadership, coaching & teaching, personal development, and innovation.
“The game of golf continues to be very strong in the Southern Texas PGA and that is due to the work of our 1,000 PGA Members and Associates,” said Thomas Hutton, Executive Director of the STPGA. “Our members are the backbone of the industry, and we keep pushing the envelope to help them be world class at every level.”
Day one culminated with the Annual Awards Banquet honoring our 2025 Award Winners, headlined by STPGA Golf Professional of the Year, Jim Nitolli, PGA. Congratulations to all of our incredible members, listed below, on their achievement!
Golf Professional of the Year: Jim Nitolli, PGA
Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year: Derek Hooper, PGA
Dick Forester Quarter Century Award: Jimmy Terry, PGA
Bill Stausbaugh Award: Ricky Lyons, PGA
Assistant Professional of the Year: Camille Enright, PGA
Professional Development Award: Andrew Miller, PGA
Player Development Award: Greg Hiller, PGA
Youth Player Development Award: Jennifer MacCurrach, PGA
Patriot Award: Nick Trice, PGA
Golf Sales Representative of the Year: Shelly Stone
Player of the Year: Austin Wylie
Player of the Year (Women’s): Camille Enright, PGA
Player of the Year (Senior): Billy Sitton, PGA
Merchandiser of the Year (Public/Resort): Anthony Holder, PGA
Merchandiser of the Year (Private): Steve Watt, PGA
Junior Golfer of the Year: Daniel Rice
Junior Golfer of the Year: Jules Mahan
A huge thank you to PGA Professional Jason Alexander for being our Awards Banquet Emcee for the fifth year in a row. We are grateful for his continued enthusiasm for the Section!
In addition, the event showcased the wonderful partners that support our STPGA Nation throughout the year. We want to thank each of them for their continued involvement with our membership: StrackaLine, Bobby Jones and Sunice, Signature Golf, BlueGolf/Clubessentials/ForeUp, Heritage Creations, Range Servant, bogey2Birdies, LAB Golf, CMC Design, and E-Z UP.
We are looking forward to a great 2026! Below are links to our pictures and videos from the meeting.
Education Summit & Annual Meeting Photo Gallery
Awards Videos
Official Headshots










