Charleston, SC – The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) is pleased to announce the winners of the association’s annual awards. This year, the NGCOA added three new categories to its annual awards program to recognize and honor public and daily-fee facilities and other outstanding member courses for their unique contributions to the golf course industry.
“One of the best parts of my role is notifying our award winners,” said Cathy Harbin, President of the NGCOA Board of Directors. “These individuals and facilities have a passion for our industry, provide first-class experiences, and encourage and inspire others — today we get to turn the spotlight on them. It is an honor to be the one to tell them that their commitment to golf has been recognized.”
This year’s winners will be recognized throughout NGCOA’s Golf Business Conference 2026, being held January 19-21, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. Visit GolfBusinessConference.com for event details. Click here to view a list of past NGCOA award winners.
“Each of these award recipients represent the very best of what NGCOA membership stands for,” said Rachel Carter, Senior Director of Membership at the NGCOA. “Our community is one of our most valuable member benefits, and these honorees consistently operate at the highest level—setting standards of excellence that inspire and elevate fellow owners and operators nationwide.
The 2026 NGCOA Awards and Winners
The NGCOA Jemsek Public Course of the Year award, named after the late Joe Jemsek (widely regarded as the “Patriarch of Public Golf”), recognizes a privately owned, daily fee golf facility that exemplifies excellence in operations, community impact, and contributions to the game of golf. The recipient of this award will be a model for the industry, demonstrating a strong financial foundation, exceptional employee culture, and a deep commitment to both its community and the sport.
The NGCOA Municipal Course of the Year award recognizes a municipally owned golf course that sets the standard for excellence in public golf through exceptional management, outstanding customer and community service, and thoughtful contributions to growing the game of golf. This facility serves as a model for how municipal golf can deliver high-quality experiences both on and off the golf course in a financially sustainable manner. This facility also demonstrates resourcefulness in using the NGCOA Municipal Operators Community for benchmarking KPI’s and leveraging the professional community for idea sharing and problem-solving.
The NGCOA Resort Course of the Year award honors a resort golf course that delivers an exceptional experience across all facets of operation—from turf management to guest engagement—while also contributing meaningfully to the growth and vitality of the game of golf. The recipient of this award will exemplify excellence in resort-level golf experiences, setting the bar for service, design, and industry leadership.
The NGCOA Don Rossi Award is given for significant and long-lasting contribution to the NGCOA:
The NGCOA Paul Porter Award recognizes an NGCOA member who left an enduring mark on a national or international affiliate through the highest level of commitment, service and leadership.
The NGCOA also recognizes and thanks the NGCOA Awards Committee, whose thoughtful evaluation and dedication ensure that the accomplishments of our members are honored with the care and rigor they deserve. Awards programs like this one play an essential role in trade associations: they highlight exemplary achievement, reinforce best practices, and shine a light on leaders whose work strengthens the entire industry.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL GOLF COURSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION
The NGCOA is the leading authority on the business of golf course ownership and management. The association represents and promotes the interests of golf courses as the principal businesses and economic assets of the game of golf. The not-for-profit organization is the only trade association dedicated exclusively to golf course owners and operators. Through advocacy, education and information resources, purchasing programs and networking opportunities, the NGCOA helps golf course owners and operators run more successful businesses. For more information or to join, visit ngcoa.org or call 800-933-4262.
Media Contact: Renée Flowers, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, NGCOA, rflowers@ngcoa.org