BRASELTON, Ga. — Reggie Kratzer, General Manager at The Country Club of the South, has been named the General Manager of the Year by the American Junior Golf Association. This award honors the general manager who displays unwavering support of the AJGA and junior golf by creating a memorable tournament experience for players, families, staff and volunteers.
Each year, the AJGA presents awards to the tournaments with the best individual hospitality, Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament, charitable giving and volunteer base. Awards are also given to the events with the highest media and social media participation. Finally, the AJGA recognizes the year’s most outstanding golf professional, superintendent and general manager, as well as the most improved event, best new event, best Junior All-Star tournament, best Invitational and overall tournament of the year. Tournament awards for the 2014 season will be presented on-site at the 2015 tournament.
“This is a great award the AJGA gives out every year,” Kratzer said. “My wife and I were sitting at the J.R. “Digger” Smith Awards Banquet last year and I turned to her and said ‘I want to win that award.’ It is an absolute honor to be recognized and acknowledged.”
Kratzer has been heavily involved in the tournament since taking over the role of general manager in 2012. While he has been in that role, the Wells Fargo Junior Classic presented by Mizuno has received four AJGA tournament awards, including the 2011 Hospitality Award, the 2012 Open Tournament of the Year Award and the 2013 Charitable Giving Award.
“Our team at The Country Club of the South is second to none and the amount of support we get from the membership for this event is outstanding,” Kratzer said. “It is because of those two groups of people that we are able to hold a great event at our club each and every year.”
Kratzer’s passion for junior golf was one of the driving forces behind the Wells Fargo Junior Classic presented by Mizuno’s recent success. One of the personal touches he brings to the event is a sponsor dinner held each year during the tournament week. This is a special time for those who support the tournament to experience what the event is all about.
“Two years ago, Reggie offered to host a sponsor dinner to thank our sponsors and committee members for their support,” said Chuck Strong, tournament chairman. “It has really become a special function for us each year.”
Kratzer has created a great experience for the AJGA staff as well as the countless juniors and their families who have played in the tournament under his watch. He has enjoyed the experience and looks forward to the future.
“I hope that we can continue to support the AJGA in every way possible. We want every event we hold at The Country Club of the South to be perfect. We want the players and parents to leave our facility saying it is their favorite club they visit. We want to continue to build relationships with the staff of the AJGA, participants, parents and volunteers that take the time to visit our club.”
The tournament will return to the 2015 schedule April 17-19, 2015.