Steve McDonald Honored with South Florida PGA Deacon Palmer Award
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Steve McDonald, PGA Life Member, is the 2022 South Florida PGA Deacon Palmer Award Recipient.
The Deacon Palmer Award bestows special recognition on a PGA Golf Professional who personally displays outstanding integrity, character and leadership, in the effort to overcome a major obstacle in their life. This individual is an unsung hero at their facility and in their community, who serves to inspire, empower and assist others, both inside and outside the game.
“Tremendously humbled, honored and appreciative beyond belief to be the recipient of the 2022 Deacon Palmer Award,” said McDonald. “Especially given the names of those who have received the award previously and what the award stands for! Congratulations to the other Section award recipients.”
For nearly 40 years, McDonald built a career as a golf professional, successful player, teacher and champion of the game throughout the Midwest Section and the South Florida Section.
In 2015 McDonald was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer: Subclavius Carcinoma. stemming from being in the sun too long without sunglasses. A PGA Professional since 1987, McDonald spent his whole career outside giving lessons and on the golf course.
After a series of surgeries, McDonald was cancer free and returned to work at the First Tee of the Palm Beaches as a golf instructor, developing youth golfers and instilling the core values of golf in young people. However, in March of this year, McDonald's cancer returned, this time in the form of a squamous cell carcinoma tumor in his tongue.
Sentenced to a seven-week chemotherapy treatment, McDonald had to step away from work and on his last day suffered a displaced fracture which complicated his treatment and required surgery. By viewing setbacks as setups for better things to come, McDonald works each day in an effort to make a full recovery.
“I inspired a generation of youth golfers,” explained McDonald. “Throughout my career, I’ve learned to stretch myself, be creative, and never give up.”
The Deacon Palmer Award is one of the South Florida PGA’s annual awards. The SFPGA will honor each recipient at their individual facilities amongst students, members, friends and family.
Click here for the full list of award winners.
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