Johns earns CPGA merchandiser award, Faidley the Professional of the Year

Chuck Johns, the general manager of the Hackler Course at Coastal Carolina, has earned one of the Carolinas PGA Section’s 10 annual Section Awards and Honors as determined by the CPGA Special Awards Committee.

Johns was named the Public Course Merchandiser of the Year. Johns, who has been at the Hackler Course since becoming a CPGA member in 2005, features some CCU logo merchandise as well as more traditional looks in the pro shop, and his facility has seen 35 percent growth over the past few years.

He has allowed his young assistants to order new styles that they believe will appeal to CCU students who frequent the course. Merchandisers are selected for the awards based on their merchandising techniques, shop operations, philosophies, innovations and performance.

The CPGA said of Johns: “He has strived to provide a phenomenal shopping environment by ordering quality goods with recognizable brands, staying up to date on current styles and trends, anticipating not only seasonal changes but changes in athletic events, and frequently altering and updating displays to … always keep each subsequent shopping experience new and exciting.”

There were more than 230 nominations this year, according to the CPGA. The Professional of the Year is CCU graduate John Faidley of Forsyth Country Club in Winston-Salem, N.C. Faidley, a CPGA member since 1991, worked on the Grand Strand early in his career including at Beachwood Golf Club.

Faidley was recognized in part for giving 400 private lessons per year, developing multiple programs for his nearly 1,000 members and juniors, creating and organizing the Forsyth Celebrity Pro-Am that annually raises more than $100,000 for the First Tee of the Triad, and the John Faidley Learning Center at Winston Lake Golf Club that opened this year.

Winners in other categories include: Palmer Maples Teacher of the Year: Bill Sampson of Old Tabby Links at Spring Island Golf Club; Horton Smith Award (improving and developing educational opportunities for golf pros: Rick Murphy of the Rick Murphy Golf Academy and Greensboro National; Jeff Strausbaugh Award (Ongoing Mentoring of PGA pros): Jeff Dotson of the Country Club of North Carolina; Player Development Award: Chris Haarlow of the Precision Golf School; Youth Player Development Award: Kevin Britt of the Country Club of Spartanburg; Assistant Golf Pro of the Year: Nicklaus Cannon of Charlotte Country Club; Private Merchandiser of the Year: David Bryce of Quail Hollow Club; Resort Merchandiser of the Year: Justin Van Heukelom of Bald Head Island Club.

This story was originally published December 19, 2016 at 11:11 PM with the headline "Johns earns CPGA merchandiser award, Faidley the Professional of the Year."