In 1973, golf legend Sam Snead was christened one of the five greatest players of all time by the Met PGA and an award bearing his name was established to recognize individuals for their distinguished contributions to the game of golf. In the audience at the time was Charlie Robson, new to his job with the Met PGA. Forty-three years later, Robson received the Sam Snead Award in a ceremony capping the 55th Annual Metropolitan PGA Educational Forum at the Broadway Dinner Theater in Elmsford.
Robson served as Executive Director of the Met PGA, which serves hundreds of golf professionals in the NY Metro area, for his entire professional career. During that time he mentored hundreds of pros, developed strong relationships with sponsors of the organization’s sponsors, and managed a tournament schedule that features the highest purses in the country.
He also played a significant role in bringing the First Tee to Mosholu Golf Course and helped launch PGA HOPE, which uses golf as a way to rehabilitate disabled veterans. He was instrumental in bringing the 2019 PGA Championship and 2024 Ryder Cup to Bethpage State Park and helped build the Met PGA Junior Tour to one of the top programs in the country with over 1300 members and 120 tournaments.
The Forum also honored Rob Labritz, director of golf at GlenArbor GC in Bedford Hills, as the 2016 Player of the Year. It was the third time Labritz earned the title, which is awarded based on tournament performances during the year. Last year, Labritz won the Westchester PGA Championship at Sleepy Hollow CC, the Westchester Open at GlenArbor, the NY State Open at Bethpage Black, and the Metropolitan PGA Professional Championship at GC of Purchase and Fairview CC. He also played his way for the fifth time into the PGA Championship, played last year at Baltusrol GC.
The 2016 Professional of the Year award went to Brad Worthington, a one-time assistant at Winged Foot GC, and the first director of golf at Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point. Worthington has played numerous roles in the Met PGA, including serving on the board of directors and holding the office of president. He helped organize the First Tee of Bridgeport, CT, and currently works as a sales ambassador for Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic.
