Special Awards Feature
Paul Surniak, PGA Honored to Receive Inaugural Patriot Award The Patriot Award is presented to a Colorado PGA Professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America.
Paul and a student
Paul Surniak, PGA Director of Instruction at Cheyenne Shadows Golf Club at Fort Carson, with 12 years of service at the Club, is the recipient of the inaugural 2021 Patriot Award for his support to the United States Armed Forces and its Active Duty personnel and Veterans to learn and play golf. The PGA HOPE, the Salute Military Golf Association, where he is the chapter head, and the Wounded Warrior Project promotions are created and/or coordinated by Surniak, including social media, digital media, and radio spots. Along with his large Junior program on base for military families, Surniak coordinates individualized classes for active-duty soldiers from the hospital’s pain clinic, which has become a popular rehabilitation program at Fort Carson. His PGA HOPE programs have waiting lists every season. Surniak is passionate about the morale and welfare of wounded warriors, disabled Veterans, and their families and has worked with national Veteran charities. Surniak is a previous winner of the Colorado PGA REACH Pillar Award for Supporting Our Military.
24 SEPTEMBER 2021
What does it mean to you to receive the Patriot Award? I’m very honored because it’s been an extreme pleasure to work with the military and their families on Fort Carson, especially the wounded soldiers who’ve given so much. It’s an extreme honor and I’m grateful for it. Everyone at Fort Carson has been enthusiastic about participating in programs like PGA HOPE. So, when [the program] was first discussed, I went to Eddie [Ainsworth, PGA] and said ‘I want in on this thing, it’s perfect for what we do at Fort Carson.’ Eddie looked at me and said, ‘Paul, I’ve got some bad news for you because I’ve already volunteered you.’ So that’s how we got started and it’s been a great pleasure and privilege to work with these guys. What sparked your passion to want to work with the military? It was sort of a fluke accident. I was getting ready to go on the Senior Tour and my sponsor backed out due to the 2008 market crash. I wasn’t doing anything else at the time so I started practicing at Fort Carson, and Frank, the Head Pro and GM at the time, found out who I was and asked if I could start an instructional program to which I said I’d love to because my other passion has always been teaching. When I found out about the HOPE programs, Wounded Warriors, SMGA (Salute Military Golf Association), etc., some of them came to me and asked me to start programs. It’s always been a challenge to teach someone who has limitations or restrictions. It became a real challenge for me because it’s a different type of instruction, so I just really grew to love that type of instruction. It just sort of happened by mistake believe it or not, but it’s worked out well for me! What are tools you use in your profession that help you with your success? I’m big on technology. I’ve used everything from Trackman to highspeed cameras to pressure plates. If it’s out there, I’ve tried it if I think it’s going to help my student get a feel for what I’m trying to teach. I keep my mind open trying to figure out: ‘Ok what’s the next thing out there that can help someone swing a golf club.’
The SUMMIT
