SOUTH FLORIDA PGA

The first paycheck PGA member Cody Sinkler ever earned came from a small-town golf course in Three Rivers, Michigan. Nearly two decades later, he found himself at another public course, this time not as an employee hired to fill a role, but as the person responsible for building an entire golf operation, brand, and identity from scratch. That full-circle journey, from Pine View Golf Club to The Park in West Palm Beach, Florida now frames the significance behind his newest recognition, being named the 2025 South Florida PGA Merchandiser of the Year – Public, an honor that represents far more than retail success. It reflects a vision, a mission, and a deeply personal connection to the place where his career began. At just 16, Sinkler wasn’t thinking about the PGA of America, merchandising plans, or running a nationally recognized operation. He didn’t even play golf. He simply needed a job. Pine View Golf Club, an unpretentious local public golf course was close to home, and that was enough. He cleaned carts, picked the range, handled trash runs, and stayed long after his shift ended, drawn to the unique energy of a public golf course. “What I remember most is the atmosphere,” he said. “It felt like a community. Pine View was where everyone went to be part of something.” What began as a job became a passion. Sinkler worked throughout high school and college, taking on increasing responsibility and learning the ins and outs of daily operations. That path ultimately led him to become a B-1, Associate head golf professional at just 22 years old, an unusually early leadership milestone that shaped his confidence and accelerated his growth in the industry. Even after earning a degree in supply chain management, Sinkler made a defining choice, passing up an opportunity with an aerospace company to pursue a full-time career in golf. That decision, he said, was fueled by the same love for the game that started at Pine View. After college, Sinkler’s career took him to Florida, where he joined the staff at Quail Ridge Country Club in Boynton Beach, Florida and spent nearly six years refining his operational approach, deepening his leadership experience, and developing a strong interest in merchandising. A season at Kalamazoo Country Club (Michigan) broadened that interest, giving him exposure to a top-tier retail environment and the artistry behind great visual presentation. It was through these experiences that he discovered that golf merchandising wasn’t just selling products, it was storytelling. It was about creating an emotional connection between a facility and the people who walked through its doors. But even as he advanced professionally, Sinkler was searching for a role with deeper purpose. The Park offered exactly that. A public golf facility built around accessibility and youth development, The Park represented something rare in the industry as a mission-first model that used golf as a tool to create opportunity. “It reminded me of Pine View,” he said. “A place where anyone could show up and feel like they belonged, only with a mission to help kids in ways my hometown course simply didn’t have the resources to do.” Sinkler was hired as the very first golf employee, stepping into a project still in its early construction stages. Rather than maintaining an existing framework, he had the responsibility and creative freedom to build one. “It wasn’t about following a playbook,” he said. “We were writing it.” When The Park opened its doors in April 2023, excitement was high, but something huge was missing. A visual identity. “We didn’t have a logo,” Sinkler said. “Everything in the shop simply said ‘The Park.’ We needed something that represented the energy of this place.” That identity arrived a few months after opening in the form of a neon green parrot, drawn from the flocks that spontaneously fly across the property every day. The reaction was instant. Items featuring the parrot sold out within days. Guests asked specifically for “the parrot hat.” The 350-square-foot golf shop quickly became a signature part of the experience. Today, The Park is projected to surpass $1.5 million in retail revenue, well beyond its initial $500,000 projection in year one. “We wanted a brand that felt alive,” Sinkler said. “Something fun, bold, and uniquely us. The parrot became that.” Even with the merchandising success, Sinkler remains most proud of The Park’s purpose. The facility reinvests around $1 million annually into youth programming, providing mentorship, academic support, internships, and athletic opportunities for local kids. “A public golf course gave me my start,” he said. “Now I’m helping build a place that gives those same opportunities on an even bigger scale. That’s the part that means the most.” He’s equally focused on his staff, helping PGA Associates move through the program, offering guidance, and supporting the next generation of golf professionals. “Developing people is a huge part of what we do,” he said. “It’s what keeps the culture strong.” Sinkler doesn’t naturally pause to celebrate accomplishments, but what he has been able to build at The Park while reflecting on where he started, the recent recognition allowed him to feel a level of success that is special. “It hit me that everything I’m doing now traces back to that first job,” he said. “I learned what a public golf course can be. Now I get to help build one that pushes that idea even further. That’s a full-circle moment.” The Merchandiser of the Year Award highlights a standout retail program, but the story behind it reaches deeper. A kid who fell in love with golf at a local muni, grew professionally through years of hard work and consistency, and ultimately helped bring an entirely new golf experience to life. At The Park, that story continues one operation, one idea, and one bright green parrot at a time.

“It was shocking, surreal, and one of the greatest honors of my career.” These are the words of Andrew Farrea, PGA, on being awarded the 2025 South Florida PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award in the Resort category. In less than two years in the South Florida PGA Section, Farrea has already made a significant impact as the PGA Director of Golf at The Boca Raton Golf Club, driving substantial merchandise revenue growth and introducing data-driven strategies that elevate both the golf shop and member experience. Farrea’s journey started at Methodist University, where he studied Professional Golf Management, graduating as a PGA of America Golf Professional. Farrea then took his first job at Newport National Golf Club in Newport, Rhode Island as an assistant golf professional. Unsure if a career in golf was for him, Farrea set out to obtain his MBA, applying and being accepted into graduate school at the University of Mississippi. However, during that same time Newport National unexpectedly offered him the head golf professional position. Surprised by the offer, Farrea accepted the position and chose to forgo graduate school. Farrea credits Matt Adams, the former general manager at Newport National, for the guidance he provided, and recognizes Adams for serving as his first mentor in merchandising. Adams stressed the importance of strategic branding, market research, and the many ways to utilize that research to increase sales. Along with merchandising, Adams taught Farrea how to build a great team. “Matt showed me the importance of creating a culture that attracts and nurtures an outstanding group of individuals,” Farrea explained. Farrea stayed at Newport National for eight years before moving to Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands as head golf professional at North Sound Golf Club. He was there for two years before moving to Ko Olina Golf Club in Hawaii, also as head golf professional. During Farrea’s time in the Aloha PGA Section, he was recognized with the Bill Strausbaugh Award in 2022. The Bill Strausbaugh Award recognizes PGA Professionals who distinguish themselves by mentoring their fellow PGA Professionals in improving their employment situations. At Ko Olina Golf Club, Farrea’s General Manager, Greg Nichols, became another mentor of his. Nichols taught Farrea to spend time gathering anecdotal research, diving into the data, and paying attention to the details that often go unnoticed. Farrea stayed at Ko Olina for four years before deciding he wanted to move back stateside, and fell in love with The Boca Raton Golf Club. Farrea continues to utilize what he has learned to build a great team culture and has seen how it positively affects merchandising. He fosters those working in the facility who aspire to become PGA Professionals one day, and has built an environment that accelerates growth. Farrea has structured outside operations as a fast-track program, with the goal of moving dedicated staff into assistant professional roles within a year. “We want to grow the PGA brand overall and our own property at the same time,” Farrea said. “It worked in Hawaii, and I can see it coming together here in Boca Raton.” This past year,The Boca Raton Golf Club, with the help of 2025 South Florida PGA - Southern Chapter Salesperson of the Year, Kris Saba of TaylorMade, brought a tour-fitting van to the facility, giving club members the opportunity to have a TOUR-level fitting experience. “It was an incredible day,” Farrea said. “In addition to the van, TaylorMade staffed the event with expert fitters building clubs on-site—just like they would for Rory and Tiger.” In just eight hours, the club had shattered a TaylorMade record, producing $75,000 in sales, which was approximately $25,000 more than the previous record. Farrea’s leadership, connections, and strategies led to him earning the Merchandiser of the Year Award in the Resort category. His short time at The Boca Raton Golf Club has been marked by significant growth, with sales increasing by almost 30% in the spring months and continuing to grow throughout the year. Farrea recognizes the significance of what he and his team have accomplished. “There's a lot of weight behind this award and I don't take it lightly,” Farrea said. “I'm very honored to receive it, and thankful to those who gave me the opportunity to do so.”