Naples Daily News

West Bay Club's Raimer named
SFPGA Section Professional of Year

By Naples Daily News staff report
Originally published 7:20 p.m., Wednesday, September 2, 2009

This article has been edited from its original version.

ESTERO — Jeff Raimer, director of golf at West Bay Beach & Golf Club in Estero, has been named the 2009 SFPGA Golf Professional of the Year. This award is the highest honor a PGA Professional can receive, recognizing the individual for their overall performance, level of service to the association, leadership, image, and the ability to inspire fellow professionals and promote the game of golf.

“I am extremely humbled and honored to be chosen by my peers for this prestigious award,” Raimer said. “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.”

Raimer, along with the nine other South Florida PGA Annual Award winners, will be recognized at the SFPGA Awards Night held at Fiddlesticks Country Club in Fort Myers on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

A PGA member since 1987, Raimer's dedication has been exemplified through his leadership roles at the Chapter, Section and National levels. He has been in an elected leadership role within the PGA for the past 16 years, currently serving as the Honorary President of the South Florida PGA and as a member of the National Employment Committee for the PGA of America.

Beyond his involvement with the PGA, Raimer also serves his community with a seat on the Florida Gulf Coast University Golf Advisory Board, Resort & Hospitality Advisory Board and the Wanderlust Advisory Board, a fundraising event to benefit the Resort and Hospitality Division of Florida Gulf Coast University.

The Portage, Wis., 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 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. Raimer 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. He took a chance on me and I set out to prove he made the right decision,” Raimer said.

Since that first job, Raimer has held several management positions at golf clubs in the Naples area. The director of golf at West Bay Beach & Golf Club for the past two years, Raimer was previously director of golf at The Golf Club at Fiddler's Creek & prior to that, Bay Colony Golf Club in Naples. He also served as head professional at Gateway Golf Club in Fort Myers. He also held the position of general manager of Hibiscus Golf Club, and head professional at The Vineyards in Naples.

Raimer was: Golf Professional of the Year in 1996 by the PGA Southwestern Florida Chapter; Two-time winner of the Merchandiser of the Year by the PGA South Florida Section in 1997 and 1998; Two-time winner of the Merchandiser of the Year for the Southwest Chapter in 1995 and 1996; Two-time winner of the Southwest Chapter Bill Strausbaugh Award in 2002 and 2003; winning Golf Professional on Oldsmobile Scramble National Championship Gross Division team in 1996 and Net Division team in 1997; a 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 1993,1995,1997,1999,2000, 2002 and 2005.

“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,” Raimer said. “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 also thanked his wife, Jolie, and kids Devon (19), Joshua (14) and Bailee (9), as well as his parents, Steve and Mary, and sisters Jan and Jo.

# # #