PGA of America honors Tralies

Phil Tralies, who now makes his home on the Isle of Palms, has been named the recipient of the PGA of America's Ernie Sabayrac Award for lifetime contributions to the golf industry.

Tralies, 62 and a native of Philadelphia, has worked in the golf industry since 1979. Prior to joining golf cart manufacturer Club Car in 2001, he spent 25 years with Textron, whose brands include E-Z-GO and Jacobsen.

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 receive his award Jan. 29 in conjunction with the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.

Begun in 1994, the Sabayrac Award first presented to its namesake, the late Ernie Sabayrac, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Sabayrac helped originate the PGA Merchandise Show and helped to revolutionize merchandising among golf professionals.

SCJGA Players Championship

Several Charleston-area golfers posted top-10 age group finishes in the South Carolina Junior Golf Association's Players Championship played at Hartsville Country Club. Davis Glasgow of Mount Pleasant tied for 10th in the boys' 10-12 age group, shooting 42-40—82; Richard Hubbard of Mount Pleasant finished seventh in the boys' 13-14 age group, shooting 79-77—156, while Jackson Moore of Isle of Palms was eighth at 77-80—157. Austin Cody of North Charleston tied for fourth in the boys' 15-18 age group, shooting 73-73—146, while Caulder Moore of Isle of Palms (74-74—148) and Kamito Hirai of Summerville (71-77—148) tied for eighth. Riona Hirai of Summerville tied for third in the girls' 11-13 age group, shooting 39-40—79. Elizabeth Thompson of Charleston finished ninth in the girls' 14-18 age group, shooting 76-81—157.

Grande Dunes honored

The Resort Club at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach has been named the 2009 Golf Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association.

"I think we've created a culture that inspires our people to perform at a higher level," says Bob Swezey, executive vice president of golf and resort operations for Burroughs & Chapin, which owns and manages Grande Dunes. "If you help people feel better about themselves, they'll feel better about the place they work. In the end, the facility, customers, industry and community win."

Reach Tommy Braswell at (843) 937-5591 or e-mail braswell@postandcourier.com. Also, check out Lowcountry Links at www.charleston.net/blogs.