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Timacuan Golf & Country Club’s Johnson, Bender Honored By North Florida PGA
By Mike Jamison
LAKE MARY, FL (July 6, 2005) – Two major annual awards from the North Florida PGA have been bestowed upon members of the Timacuan Golf & Country Club’s professional team.
General Manager Tony Johnson was named the section’s PGA Golf Professional of the Year, and Mike Bender of the Mike Bender Golf Academy at Timacuan was named the section’s Teacher of the Year. Jerry Porter, Executive Director of the North Florida Section PGA, announced the honors. Johnson and Bender will receive their respective awards November 30 at the North Florida Section PGA annual meeting.
Johnson, a PGA professional since 1994, has been in his current position at Timacuan since April of 2000. He also serves as President of GolfOrlando, a marketing co-op of 24 golf clubs in the Central Florida area, and Vice President of the East Central Chapter of the PGA.
"I am truly honored to be recognized by my fellow Professionals for this award," said Johnson. "To be considered for this award along with the representatives of the other three chapters of the North Florida section is truly an honor. I wish to congratulate all of our other candidates that were up for this award as I know that all were very deserving.""
Bender is consistently recognized among the top 25 instructors in the world. His school has been based at Timacuan since 1991. He currently works with various professional tour stars, including Zach Johnson, DJ Brigman, Brian Gay, Kim Williams, Jenna Daniels and Sue Moon.
"It is an honor to be recognized as PGA Teacher of the year for the North Florida Section especially considering the amount of great teachers located in the Central Florida area," said Bender.
Timacuan has been one of Central Florida's most popular courses since opening in 1988. It has garnered many statewide awards, being ranked as high as No. 14 in Florida by The Florida Golf Reporter Magazine.
Prior to starting work on the layout, architect Ron Garl spent time in Scotland studying Links-style architecture, and the research is very evident on Timacuan’s front nine. Sprawling bunkers, generous landing areas, oversized, undulating greens, and framing mounds combine to create a challenging and memorable nine holes.
The back nine has more of a Carolinas Low Country feel, with beautiful oak trees and tall pines providing the framing. One large body of water comes into play on 15, 16 and 17, demanding accuracy. Nearly every green complex has closely-mown fringe areas, allowing for a variety of shot selections when players miss the green. And speaking of the greens, they are consistently among the best conditioned putting surfaces in Central Florida.
The course underwent a renovation by designer Bobby Weed in 1996.
"Timacuan is a semi-private golf club with a private-club feel," said Johnson. "Our guests receive the same first-class treatment as our members. That’s one of the reasons we see the same players return year after year during the season. They seem to love the service, and the uniqueness of the layout at Timacuan."
The course is located near Interstate 4, just minutes from downtown Orlando.
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For more information, reservations or tee times, please call toll free, 866-342-4782
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