Lexington Parks & Recreation’s golf program, also known as Play Golf Lex, has received multiple awards and recognitions from the national and state Professional Golf Association (PGA) for excellence in junior programming, youth development and merchandising. The team was recognized by Mayor Linda Gorton and city council during the Council Work Session yesterday.
Recognition includes:
- The Junior League program recently received national PGA recognition by earning two Game Changer Awards – 2023 Top 25 National Program and 2023 Top PGA Section Program.
- John Dickson, Junior Golf Manager for Play Golf Lex, received the 2023 Youth Player Development award from Kentucky PGA.
- Golf professional Whitney Paul, Head Golf Professional at Kearney Hill Golf Links, received the 2023 Merchandiser of the Year (Public) award from Kentucky PGA.
“We take a lot of pride in offering great facilities and programs at our golf courses,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “Golf, which has seen a lot of growth in popularity recently, is an important part of our recreational offerings through Parks & Recreation. We are extremely proud of John, Whitney, and our entire golf team for their continued efforts in innovation, service, and offering great programming for our community.”
As the Junior Golf Manager, John Dickson oversees junior golf developmental programming, including the department’s PGA Jr. League and Golf & Recreation Camps. Under John, the PGA Jr League has been named twice in the top 25 programs in the country (2022 & 2023) and #1 in Kentucky in 2023. John also assists in daily operations at Kearney Hill Golf Links, assists with teaching the Play Golf Lex Adult Golf Classes, and teaches individual golf lessons.
Whitney Paul became the Head Golf Professional at Kearney Hill Golf Links just over a year ago, and has excelled at researching new and unique goods, following local and national trends, and looking for ways to differentiate what is stocked in the course’s pro shop. She oversees and manages all operations at Kearney Hill Golf Links, including daily play, golf cart fleet operations, tee time management, outings, events, staff, and more. Whitney also assists with teaching Play Golf Lex Adult Classes and teaches individual lessons.
“We could not be prouder of Whitney and John for their excellent work and well-deserved recognition,” said Monica Conrad, Director of Lexington Parks & Recreation. “Our team is dedicated to excellent service and offering programs and play for all ages and skill levels. I hope our expanded offerings continue to inspire people to grab some friends and give golf a try.”
For a full list of programs, course details, upcoming tournaments and events, and other information, interested players can visit playgolflex.com.
Parks & Recreation, a division of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, oversees the programming, maintenance, and development of over 100 city parks and natural areas, six pools, five golf courses, community centers, recreational programs, and three arts venues. To find out more, follow @LexKYParks on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for the email newsletter.
