SPECIAL ARTICLES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Iowa Section of the PGA of America announced two professionals at Lake Panorama National Golf Course were winners of 2010 Iowa PGA Special Awards.

These awards, held each year and voted on by Iowa PGA membership, recognize excellence in 10 areas of the PGA member’s profession. Individuals will be honored at the Iowa PGA All Star Pro Golf Awards Luncheon Oct. 27 at Riverside Casino & Golf Resort in Riverside, Iowa.

John Dinnebier of Lake Panorama National GC was named the 2010 Iowa PGA Golf Professional of the Year. This award is the highest honor that can bestowed on an Iowa PGA Professional. John has been a PGA Member for 15 years with eleven of those years employed with Lake Panorama National GC where he is the General Manager. He currently serves on the Iowa PGA Board of Directors and is also a talented and gifted teacher and player. His contributions to the Iowa PGA and his facility are remarkable and numerous. Most recently he helped coordinate and secure a major sponsor, Brokers International, Ltd. for the 2010-2014 Iowa Open Championship. He also was recipient of the Iowa PGA Resort Merchandiser of the Year Award in 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2006.

Gary Babcock of Lake Panorama National GC was named the 2010 Iowa PGA Junior Golf Leader of the Year. Gary has been employed by Lake Panorama National since 2006. He also spent 2 years at LPN as an assistant professional in 2002 and 2003 and 2 years at The Harvester Golf Club as an assistant in 2004 and 2005. His significant contributions to growing the game of golf especially with our junior players has been outstanding. Gary was also the Iowa Junior Golf Leader of the Year in 2009. Other past PGA awards for Gary include the 2005 Iowa PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year.

Mike Kleinwolterink has been honored as the 2008 Assistant Golf Professional of the Year by the Iowa Section PGA. The award was presented at the organization's fall meeting held at Riverside Casino and Golf Resort Oct. 27-28. Kleinwolterink has worked at Lake Panorama National Golf Resort for 10 years. He started as a teenager in the cart barn and advanced to working in the pro shop. He currently is a PGA apprentice, having completed the first level of a three-step process towards earning his Class A golf professional designation. He has been the LPN assistant pro for three years.

Mike is a graduate of the Panorama Community School District and the son of Larry and Glennis Kleinwolterink of Yale.

Kleinwolterink was one of several people honored at the annual awards luncheon where PGA professionals, Junior Tour Player of the Year winners, and Iowa PGA sales representatives were recognized for their accomplishments.

John Dinnebier, LPN general manager and director of golf, presented the awards. He is one of 14 members of the Iowa Section PGA board of directors and chaired the 2008 golf awards committee.

Also attending the two-day event was Gary Babcock, LPN head professional. A merchandise show kicked off the meetings with golf-related vendors showcasing their products. Several educational seminars also were conducted.

Kleinwolterink was presented with a plaque recognizing him for "outstanding overall performance, leadership and promotion of the game of golf."

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