Metropolis CC head pro Craig Thomas isn’t your usual country club pro. Sure, he gives lessons and plays rounds with his members, runs club tournaments and operates the pro shop, but this winter, he stepped far beyond his job description and responded to a person in need by donating one of his kidneys to a member at the White Plains club.
“I thought I could help out an individual who is a great person and was in need,” Thomas says. “I’m happy to share with everyone that my recipient and I both are recovering and doing great! He’s got a long road ahead of him, but all looks good.”
Thomas, whose many accolades as a PGA of America member and accomplished competitor includes being named the 2017 Met PGA Senior Player of the Year, is no slouch when it comes to working to leave things better than he found them. He’s donated tournament winnings to several causes and volunteers consistently to support Met PGA causes like PGA HOPE. This act of generosity was perfectly in character.
“I wish I could share with everyone what an eye-opening experience this has been,” Thomas wrote on Facebook. “There are over 93,000 individuals on the recipient waitlist for kidney donation. Average wait time is between 5 and 10 Years! Think about that.”
The Met PGA Section honored Thomas this year with the Deacon Palmer Award, a special recognition for “…an unsung hero/heroine at their facility and in their community, who serve to inspire, empower and assist others, both inside and outside of the game.”
As he recovers, Thomas is working on getting his golf game back to competitive form. He’s one of the most accomplished players in the area and has competed in four PGA Championships, three Senior PGA Championships and numerous PGA Tour and Champions Tour events.
