Tom Anderson, the PGA Head Professional of Laurel (Montana) Golf Club, has been selected by the Rocky Mountain Section PGA as the 2020 recipient of the Bill Strausbaugh Award. Anderson, a 31-year member of The PGA of America, is being honored with this award for the first time as a member of the Rocky Mountain Section. Established in 1979, the Bill Strausbaugh Award is presented to a PGA Professional who, by their day-to-day efforts, has distinguished themselves by mentoring their fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations and through service to their community.
As a golf professional, Tom has worked tirelessly for the last 45+ years to promote the PGA of America and its members. He has always been an advocate of hiring assistant professionals with an interest in becoming PGA Members. To date, six professionals have earned membership under Anderson’s tutelage in the last 25 years. While this may not sound like a big number, one must consider his club only has one assistant at a time! Tom’s record of excellence as a player and consummate host to his members and guests only lends credence to his abilities as a mentor. In addition, Tom has served his Chapter as Secretary, Vice President and President, and his Section as a member of the Tournament Committee thus showing his commitment to his profession outside the club. Tom Anderson is nothing less than a legend in the Rocky Mountain Section, especially in the state of Montana and we, as a Section, are so very lucky to have him.
The 2020 Bill Strausbaugh Award adds to an already distinguished resume for Anderson. In addition to his Strausbaugh honor, he previously garnered the most coveted Golf Professional of the Year Award in 1993, three Player of the Year Awards (’95, ’98, ’16), and a Senior Player of the Year Award also in 2016. Tom will be formally recognized as the 2020 RMSPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award winner at the 2021 Annual Meeting and Honors and Awards Presentation next May.