Andy Weissinger instructs Master Sgt. Troy Taft, 382nd Theater Opening Element, 7th Special Troops Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade, on driving a long-distance golf shot during a fall clinic. Weissinger received the Patriot Award from Players Golf ...
FORT EUSTIS, Va. (January 6, 2010) -- Fort Eustis' golf guru won a national award for being a Professional Golfers Association of America professional who personifies patriotism through golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who serve and protected America.
Andy Weissinger, general manager and head PGA golf professional at the Pines Golf Course on Fort Eustis, was presented the Patriot Award in November and honored at the 93rd PGA Annual Meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New Orleans.
Weissinger captured the second-year Patriot Award, which originated in 2008 following the inspiration of Patriot Golf Day founder Maj. Dan Rooney, PGA professional from Broken Arrow, Okla., despite not previously knowing he was even nominated for the award.
"It was great, just awesome," Weissinger said of winning the Patriot Award. "I was surprised because I didn't know I was nominated.
He found out he won when Jim Remy, PGA of America president, called Weissinger to tell him he won on a late afternoon in August while he was standing in the pro shop at The Pines Golf Course watching the PGA Championship on television.
When Weissinger got the message that a "Jim Remy" was on the phone, he said it rung a bell with him right away and wondered why in the world Remy would be calling him. Remy asked Weissinger how he was doing and he said "it was a little rainy, but pretty good." Remy said "it's about to get a lot better," before informing Weissinger he won the award.
He called the Middle Atlantic PGA region and found out it had nominated him. Weissinger said the Middle Atlantic representatives wanted it to be a surprise and that it was.
The work Weissinger has done for the Fort Eustis community at The Pines may have had something to do with why he was nominated for the Patriot Award and why he was selected as the recipient of the Middle Atlantic PGA President's Plaque for outstanding contributions in player development. In 2007, Weissinger was also selected by the Army to coach its men and women's golf teams.
Weissinger said one of the most successful, enjoyed programs by the Soldiers is the PT (Physical Training) Gold Challenge.
"We know the Soldiers have to do PT every day so we've tried to come up with ideas to mix it up for them and make it interesting rather than just going to a parade field and doing exercises for an hour," he said. "From time to time, we've let people run the golf course and we've come up with the idea of incorporating golf into that."
As part of the PT Gold Challenge, Soldiers are split into small teams and one of the players will hit the ball and everyone runs to the ball and than the next player will do the same thing with the Soldiers again running to the ball.
"You're hitting golf shots as you're running the golf course," Weissinger said. "We modify it a little bit to keep people off the greens, out of the sand traps and away from the water the best we can. We make it as quick as possible."
One of the most recent groups to participate in the challenge had about 60 Soldiers and the event lasts about the same amount of time as regular PT, according to Weissinger.
"During the season, we get about one or two groups a week," Weissinger said. "This summer, we had groups from five to six people to 100 to 110 people. It's been very popular and a lot of groups, once they've done it once, have come back a second time and modified the rules a bit to make it more fun and competitive.
There are also other programs tailored to families of deployed Soldiers and clinics for younger enlisted Soldiers.
"We're just trying to get people introduced to golf," Weissinger said. He said they're trying to take away some of the intimidation that golf might have as a game of tradition and exclusivity, only being for the wealthy.
"We want to tell people that 'anyone can do this,'" he added. "Many of the golf programs are free to active-duty Soldiers just to get them introduced." Weissinger said Soldiers have one of the most important and stressful jobs that there is.
"Our job at MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) is to give them the opportunity to relax, get away from work and possibly forget about being in the Army for a little while and enjoy something that we love so much and try to share that with them."
He said he likes to see people love the game he loves. "Knowing you're helping people that are serving, that have made the voluntary choice to serve our country so that I can do what I do, and being able to give back each day is very satisfying," said Weissinger.
Weissinger, who's worked at The Pines for seven years, has been at the center of improvements made to the golf course, including the building of a new clubhouse. The Pines has hosted tour players such as Chi Chi Rodriguez, to do clinics for the Soldiers as well as Ladies PGA tour player Kim Hall.
"Doing things like that (hosting PGA players) have certainly been highlights to be able to offer more and do more here and grow the offerings of what we can do for the community," Weissinger said.
However, Weissinger's love of golf began well before his time at The Pines. At age 10, he discovered his love of the sport while vacationing with his family in Cape Cod, Mass.
"We were driving by a golf course one day, and I said to my dad 'you know what that looks fun, I'd like to play,'" Weissinger recalled. "He took me out the next day. We played nine holes. I lost about 12 balls but just loved it."
In seventh grade, he was playing varsity golf for his private school. He asked the coach if he could just practice with the team, thinking he could just play some free golf. The coach let him try out and he made the team.
"I played varsity golf for six years and ended up getting a scholarship and going to college," Weissinger said. He attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, for religion with the intention of becoming a pastor. After internships and coming out of school at age 21, he decided to go in another direction. He was three years into his degree and didn't want to start over. Fortunately, there was a solution.
"I loved golf and was good at," Weissinger said. "I was offered a job to turn pro in Lynchburg so I took that job. I got a lot of great guidance and mentoring along the way so I've been able to do good things."
To turn pro, Weissinger had to take an ability test, play a 36-hole tournament and shoot under a certain score. He also entered a school with the PGA, which included seminars, independent studies with a head professional, practical application projects, and turning in a packet with pictures and examples of your work.
"They basically train you to be a general manager," he said. "It teaches everything from giving a golf lesson, playing golf, running a tournament, developing a budget, and executing a budget. It's all encompassing. It's a lengthy process."
Having a four-year degree helped Weissinger finish the program in two years. It is designed for four to six years. The course consists of four levels and he had to attend schools in Maryland, New York, California and Florida.
"I leapfrogged across the country to get it done," he said. "Now they've revamped the whole program." The program is now all done in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
These days, Weissinger gets to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
"I just love being outside doing something that's a challenge," Weissinger said of golf. "There are no excuses and no one else to blame it on. It's you. Either you do it or you don't."
At The Pines, Weissinger said he just wants to continue on the road they are on.
"As far as goals, I'd like to move up in leadership of both MWR and within the PGA," he said. "I'd also like to help build the community here at Fort Eustis and the value and membership of PGA. I want to be able to carry out ideas and put them into fruition."
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