The Metropolitan Section of the PGA has named Nelson Long, head professional at Century Country Club in Purchase, professional of the year for 2015. Long, known affectionately as “Uncle Nel” by many of the members and pros whose games and lives he has affected over the years, has mentored a record three assistants—John Gentile, Darrell Kestner, and Ron McDougal—who went on to win PGA Professional National Championships.
Long served his PGA apprenticeship working for his father, Nelson Long, Sr., at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. He came to Century in 1974 and became head pro shortly thereafter. He was the recipient of the Metropolitan PGA 1999 Teacher of the Year Award; 2005 Horton Smith Award; and the National PGA 2010 Bill Strausbaugh Award, in honor of his long-time mentoring of other PGA professionals.
The 2015 Met teacher of the year is John Hobbins of Greenside Golf Academy, who is building a big reputation as a certified AimPoint instructor who holds seminars at numerous local venues including the Griff in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Lake Isle’s Dave Stevenson received the 2015 Player Development Award while Dean Johnson of Leewood Country Club snagged the 2015 Merchandiser of the Year Award.
