South Florida PGA

Craig Dolch and Donna White Inducted into the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame

The South Florida PGA Hall of Fame

has long stood for those who have been recognized for extraordinary leadership and commitment to the game of golf and service to the South Florida PGA and South Florida PGA Foundation. Since 1982, Dolch has written about golf in south Florida and on the national level, covering 50 major championships as well as a series of Ryder Cups primarily for the Palm Beach Post and later, Sports Illustrated, New York Times, Golf World, Golf Digest and USA TODAY. “I’ve covered every sport and I can say with certainty that PGA Professionals and golfers in general are the best athletes to deal with in sports,” explained Dolch. “Most of them have fabulous stories and I’ve been fortunate to tell these stories because the Section has so many great players. I just wish knowing them would make me a better golfer.” Dolch is estimated to have written over 5,000 stories on golf, many of which have been published on the local level where he has found his niche in covering the unwritten stories of the sport. Committed to the local golf scene and PGA Professionals that work at the countless south Florida golf courses, Dolch has covered South Florida Section tournaments, events and the SFPGA Junior Tour for many years. In addition to his storytelling, Dolch upholds the standards of the philanthropic efforts of the game, raising over $100,000 for the local community through his son Eric’s Foundation after he was diagnosed with encephalitis in 2005. The Golf Writers’ of America Award winner, 2014 Golfweek Father of the Year and Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame Member, Dolch will join his mentor Tim Rosaforte as the next sportswriter to be inducted into the SFPGA Hall of Fame. “It means the world to me to be inducted into the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame,” said Dolch. “I’m very honored to become the first journalist to be inducted into the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame since our good friend, Tim Rosaforte. It’s an honor to be mentioned with Rosie.” Like Dolch, White has made a tremendous impact on golf in south Florida since beginning her career as a golf professional in 1992, after a 14-year professional playing career. Driven by her desire to make golf more affordable and accessible, White took over the professional services for Okeeheelee Golf Course in 1995 and built one of the most successful player development programs in the country. “I am elated and honored to learn of my acceptance into the SFPGA Hall of Fame,” exclaimed White. “There are so many wonderful PGA and LPGA members who have influenced my career and life over the years. I strived to simply pass what I have learned from others forward, both on the lesson tee, classroom and in my business.” For the next 25 years, White and her company, Professional Golf Services Inc., helped manage John Prince Golf Learning Center and Park Ridge Golf Course, expanding all programming in Palm Beach County. White’s Junior Golf Foundation of America, at its peak, had 6,000 junior golfers, including Lexi Thompson and Brooks Keopka as alumni. “My golf journey has been one of great satisfaction and joy,” continued White. “This honor would not have been possible without the support of my family, business partners, mentors and a long list of wonderful staff.” Since 2010, White has been a professor at the Keiser School of Golf and has focused on mentoring and teaching rising professionals in the sport and has helped to open the Keiser golf facilities to the public. Committed to growing the game through all walks of life in the south Florida community, White also continues to play a key role in the South Florida PGA Foundation PGA HOPE program and was a part of the first program ever conducted in late 2015. The South Florida PGA Hall of Fame inducts new members each year and will celebrate White and Dolch in separate ceremonies in front of their colleagues, family and friends.