Fort Myers News Press
West Bay Club staffer named
Golf Professional of the Year
By News-Press.com staff
Originally published Wednesday, September 2, 2009
This article has been edited from its original version.
ESTERO — Jeff Raimer of West Bay Club in Estero was named the Golf Professional of the Year by the South Florida Section PGA, the section announced today.
Raimer and nine other South Florida PGA award winners will be recognized at an annual dinner at Fiddlesticks Country Club in Fort Myers on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
“I am extremely humbled and honored to be chosen by my peers for this prestigious award,” said Raimer, director of golf at West Bay. “This is the culmination of 25 years of service to an industry I love. I am extremely fortunate to be a part of it some small way. I will strive to uphold the high standards expected of a golf professional of the year, and I am excited for my family and West Bay Beach & Golf Club. I will always cherish this award.”
A member of the PGA of America since 1987, Raimer has been in an elected leadership role within the PGA for the past 16 years at the chapter, section and national levels. He currently is the Honorary President of the South Florida PGA and a member of the National Employment Committee for the PGA of America.
Raimer also holds a seat on the Florida Gulf Coast University Golf Advisory Board, Resort & Hospitality Advisory Board and the Wanderlust Advisory Board, a fund-raising event to benefit the Resort and Hospitality Division of Florida Gulf Coast University.
The Portage, Wisc., native attributes his passion for golf to his father, who got him started with the game in third grade, and his interest in the golf industry to a good friend's roommate who was a golf professional at the time.
Curious about the profession and wanting to get back into playing, Raimer inquired on the responsibilities of a golf professional, put together his resume, put on a tie and dropped his resume off at nearly every club in Naples.
He landed his first job at Imperial Golf Club shortly thereafter, starting as a cart barn attendant with a promotion only a year later to first assistant.
“I really have to thank my good friend and mentor Scott Moser for hiring me into the business back in 1984,” Raimer said. “He took a chance on me and I set out to prove he made the right decision.”
Since that first job, Raimer has held management positions at high end clubs in Southwest Florida.
He has been director of golf at The Golf Club at Fiddler's Creek and at Bay Colony Golf Club, head professional at Gateway Golf & Country Club in Fort Myers and The Vineyards in Naples and general manager of Hibiscus Golf Club in Naples.
Raimer has received numerous playing and professional achievements, including being named Golf Professional of the Year in 1996 by the Southwest Florida Chapter of the South Florida Section.
He was named Merchandiser of the Year by the PGA South Florida Section in 1997 and 1998, Merchandiser of the Year by the Southwest Florida Chapter in 1995 and 1996, Bill Strausbaugh Award winner in 2002 and 2003, winning golf professional on the Oldsmobile Scramble National Championship Gross Division team in 1996 and Net Division team in 1997, member of the South Florida Section PGA Nelson Cup team in 1998, 2000 and 2001 and a member of the Southwest Chapter PGA Challenge Cup teams in 1993, '95, '97, '99, 2000, '02 and '05.
Raimer said his career highlights include “becoming a PGA member, getting his first head professional job at The Vineyards in 1991, winning the Oldsmobile Scramble, and winning the election to become a chapter board member, which eventually led to my becoming president of the South Florida Section of the PGA of America, the biggest title of my career.”
“I hope over my 25-year career that I've been a leader that others can look up to and a mentor to those in need. I try to be very approachable and always willing to give of myself for the betterment of our associates and our industry as a whole. I feel blessed to be able to utilize my leadership skills to try and make a difference.”
Raimer recognized several people for their support.
“I'd like to recognize Paul Thomas, the (former) Director of Golf that hired me at The Vineyards, Bill Berg, the Director of Golf Operations at National Fairways LTD, who hired me at Hibiscus, and I’d be remiss not to mention PGA Professional Lynn Josephson who has been a sounding board and has given me terrific advice over the years.
“I am so fortunate to be in an industry and to have a job that I love. I have been at West Bay Club now for two years and the membership has been great. It is a terrific facility and golf course and the membership truly understands what the passion of golf is all about. They have enabled and encouraged me to follow my passion to have a leadership role within the PGA. Special thanks to my staff, including Tom Eiden, Tim Clark and Vickie McGarry for their effort and pride in their work.
”Most importantly, I'd like to thank my family. My wife, Jolie, and my kids, Devon (19), Joshua (14), and Bailee (9) have been so amazing in supporting me and putting up with the long hours and few days off. I'd like to thank my mother and father, Steve and Mary Raimer, and my sisters, Jan Kapel and Jo Cahill for their love, support and guidance, as well. And lastly, I'd like to thank all of the individuals that have worked for me over the years. I have learned and taken a little bit from every one of them and hope that they can say the same for me during the time we spent together.”
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