Five New Members Inducted Into The Michigan PGA Hall of Fame

FIVE NEW MEMBERS INDUCTED INTO THE MICHIGAN PGA HALL OF FAME

EAST LANSING, MI–Five new members were inducted into the Michigan PGA Hall of Fame during the 2019 President’s Dinner held Sunday, October 27th at the Country Club of Lansing.

Bob Ackerman, a 37-year PGA Member began his career in the Illinois Section, then the New York Section, and finally in the Michigan Section for over 21 years. Throughout the years, Bob learned not only how to play the game, but how to teach it. He has owned and operated Bob Ackerman Golf since 2001. Bob was inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame in 2017.

He is a Master Professional, 7-time PGA Player of the Year in four different PGA Sections, winner of three State Opens, six Match Play titles and three Section PGA Championships, the only player in the history of Illinois golf to win the Chicago Open, Illinois Open, Illinois PGA and Match Play, and is a four-time Big Ten Champion.

Ron Beurmann, a PGA Member for 33 years, has served as Head Golf Professional and Director of Golf at The Country Club of Jackson for the past 29 years. He also worked three years as Head Golf Professional at The Flint Elks Country Club and has mentored over 25 Evans Scholars during his career.

His accomplishments include Assistants Champion—1984, State Pro Am Champion—1995, 2001, 2007, 5-time Chapter Champion, Head Professional Champion—1994, 1998, 1999, 17-time Qualifier—PGA Professional Championship, 8-time Qualifier—Senior PGA Professional Championship, Michigan PGA Match Play Champion—1998, Michigan PGA Champion—2010, Michigan Senior Open Champion—2012, 2013, Michigan Senior PGA Champion—2013, 2019, Qualified for Senior PGA Championship, Merchandiser of the Year-Private—1998, 2008, Michigan PGA Senior Player of the Year—2013, Michigan PGA Player of the Year—2004 and Michigan PGA Golf Professional of the Year—2014.

Bernie Friedrich, a 36-year PGA Member, joined the Boyne Resorts team in 1976 when the resort company had three golf courses. He now oversees the company’s 13 courses and semi-private clubs in Maine, Michigan and Montana.

Bernie currently serves as a member of the Michigan Golf Course Association’s Board of Directors, adidas’ Dassler Board, and the Michigan PGA’s Employment Committee. He is also a past member of America’s Summer Golf Capital’s Board and founding member of The First Tee of Northern Michigan.

Bernie’s accomplishments include winning the Michigan Golf Course Association’s Lyle Leek Distinguished Service Award—2018, American Junior Golf Association’s Golf Executive of the Year—2018, was inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame in 2018, and is co-founder of the annual Harbor Cup event which has funneled over $400,000 to The Manna Project and other local charities.

John Lindert, a PGA Member for 36 years, has served on the PGA Board of Directors since 2016 and four national PGA Committees: Governance Task Force Chair—2017, Membership—2008-present, Board of Control—2009-13 and Special Awards—2006-07.

John rewrote the Michigan PGA Constitution By-laws and Regulations, was instrumental in the revamping of the Section’s Special Awards process, and established the Patriot Golf Day Committee, as well as the Michigan PGA Hall of Fame. He was elected PGA of America Secretary at the 2018 PGA Annual Meeting.

John was the President of the Michigan PGA—2010-11 and won the Bill Strausbaugh Award—2008, Golf Professional of the Year—2009, Merchandiser of the Year-Private—2010, Player Development Award—2013 and Horton Smith Award—2015.

Al Mengert, a 62-year PGA Member, turned professional in 1952 and competed on the tour in 27 major championships, including eight Masters. He served as an assistant to former Masters champion Claude Harmon at Winged Foot and worked his way to Director of Golf at 10 famous clubs in America, including Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

While at Oakland Hills, Al hosted the National PGA Championship in 1979, the US Senior Open in 1981, and the US Open in 1985. During his tenure at Oakland Hills, Al won the Michigan PGA Championship—1976, 1980, Michigan Senior Open—1983, 1985, and the Michigan Senior PGA—1980, 1983, 1986.

Al’s contributions to golf are many. Early on in his career, he designed clubs for MacGregor and Spalding. In retirement, Al designed a series of wedges and utility woods for his own golf club company, JAWS. Al was also the founder and developer of Legend Trail Golf Club in Scottsdale, AZ, a well-known public course in the area.

The Michigan PGA Hall of Fame was founded in 2011 and exists to recognize and acknowledge those PGA Professionals who have excelled in their profession, achieved remarkable accomplishments, and made significant contributions to the game, the industry and the Michigan PGA. The inductees are honored at the President’s Dinner each fall.

via Michigan PGA