Armes Named Patriot Award Winner, Flory, McMillan & Stauffer Named Burkart Winners

Oct 21, 2019

AWARDS CENTRAL

Armes Wins 2019 Iowa PGA Patriot Award

Riverside, Iowa – Mike Armes of the Glynns Creek Course has been named the 2019 Iowa PGA Patriot Award winner by the Iowa PGA Award’s Committee. The Patriot Awarded is presented to the Iowa PGA Professional who personified patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrated unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who valiantly served and protected the United States of America.
 
“I am honored and humbled to receive this award.” said Armes, “Although service to this great country is a source of pride, service to those heroes who have suffered because of their commitment provides a great sense of fulfilment.”
 
Prior to becoming a PGA Golf Professional, Armes served 3 years in the Army including one year in Udorn, Thailand with the 7th RRFS as a Military Policeman under the Army Security Agency.  He ended is active duty service at the 402nd MP Company at Presidio in San Francisco, California.
 
He continued his service for five years as a Department of Defense Police officer as well as eight years with the Moline Police Department.
Armes continues to volunteer with the GIVE (Golf for Injured Veterans Everywhere) Foundation.  He has had the pleasure of working with numerous veterans including assisting in the GIVE winter classes over the last several years.
He also volunteers as an instructor for the National TEE (Training, Exposure, Experience) Tournament.  The National Disabled Veterans TEE (Train, Expose, Experience) Tournament (NDVTEE) is a week-long adaptive golf program that is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and DAV (Disabled American Veterans). This annual event promotes rehabilitation by instructing veterans with visual impairments and other life-changing disabilities in adaptive golf.  In addition to adaptive golf veterans will be introduced to other adaptive recreational sports.  It is held at Blue Top Ridge in Riverside, Iowa along with five other area golf courses (Lake McBride, Elks, Kalona, West Liberty, Washington).
 
“On that day I found out Mike was a veteran, police officer and had ambitions to be a PGA professional, we became lifelong friends and now, peers.” Commented Mark Egly, PGA Professional at the Des Moines Driving Range.  “What Mike said that day about being a police officer, was every bit as true and relevant as to why Mike desired to become a PGA Professional. Since that day he has followed his passion for golf by taking about 25 years to become a great PGA Professional. Mike is a still the man who is always looking to make his community a better place, while serving the youth, the entire golfing public, the PGA, but especially looking out for his fellow veterans, many who were not as fortunate as himself.”
Armes is currently a committee member for the AUSA charity golf outing this fall.  Arsenal Chapter of the Association of the United States Army has been a non-profit educational and professional development association serving America’s Army. This is the Army’s only professional association that advocates for Soldiers, veterans, their families. AUSA is made up of 123 all-volunteer chapters worldwide, has over 145,000 members and contributes of $5,000,000 in support annually through awards, soldier and family program support, as well as scholarships. 
 
“Mike has shown a dedication to our veterans well beyond the average.” stated Retired Sargent Major Jim Dickerson the PGA Lead Instructor for the GIVE Foundation, “He has continually volunteered his time and expertise to assist with the GIVE more than anyone else in the Iowa Section for the past few years.
 
Throughout Mike’s career he has shown the upmost devotion to providing opportunities and experiences for active personnel and veterans to learn and enjoy the game of golf.
 
Mike is not only devoted to the Iowa PGA Section and its members, but he also serves as a Trustee for the Central Church of Christ in Davenport, Iowa.  We are happy to announce Mike Armes as the 2019 Patriot Award winner.

Flory, McMillan and Stauffer Named Charlie Burkart Scholarship Recipients

Riverside, Iowa – Bailee Flory of the Iowa PGA Section, Morgan McMillan of the Oneota Golf & Country Club and Chris Stauffer of the Brown Deer Golf Club have been selected as the 2019 Charlie Burkart Scholarship honorees by the Iowa PGA Foundation Charlie Burkart Scholarship Committee.
 
Flory started her golf career at Waverly-Shell Rock High School before attending Wartburg College.  At Wartburg she excelled on the golf team including playing at the NCAA Division III National Finals in 2018.  
After serving an internship with the Iowa PGA Section in the Summer of 2018, she was hired that Fall as the Tournament Assistant.  Flory has been promoted to Junior Golf Coordinator in October of 2019.
“I am honored to be one of the recipients of this scholarship as it helps me achieve a goal of mine that I have always had.” said Flory, “I am extremely thankful for the Iowa PGA section for giving me the opportunity to learn and further my career with them. They have pushed me to be the best I can be, and I wouldn’t be here without their support.”
 
McMillan started her golf career at Waukon High School before moving onto Wartburg College to play on the golf team.  Her career at Wartburg was outstanding as she earned All-Iowa Conference honors three times, placed ninth (2011), second (2013) and third (2014) at the Conference Championships.  She helped lead the teams to four Conference Championships and four trips to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
 
McMillan is currently the Assistant Manager and PGA Associate Golf Professional at the Oneota Golf & Country Club.  Her plan is to become a General Manager of a golf facility in the future.
 
Stauffer is currently a PGA Associate Professional at the Brown Deer Golf Club.  He is also coaching the Regina High School’s boy’s golf team.  As a young teacher of the game he is always looking for ways to improve his ability to teach and coach.  In his first season he coached two individual district qualifiers and one state golf qualifier.  Working with high school athletes is a passion of his.  They help him grow as a coach, teacher, and professional as well as being able to help coach them to become better students, golfers, and young adults.  Stauffer also attended Wartburg College and was Academic All-Conference in 2012-14 and 2015-2016.
 
We look forward to these three recipients making an impact on golf.  We are happy to announce Bailee, Morgan and Chris as the 2019 Burkhart Scholarship honorees.