Page 114 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2017

SPORTS & OUTDOORS selling aces
PGA Golf Pro Chris Champagne of The Preserve Golf Club was recently named 2016 Merchandiser of the Year for the PGA Gulf States Section. Champagne was also nominated for Golf Professional of the Year for the Gulf States Section (all of Louisiana
and Mississippi) by the professional Golfers Association.
The Merchandiser of the Year award recognizes Gulf States Section professionals who have demonstrated superior skills as merchandisers in the promotion of golf and for excellence in golf shop operations.
As a candidate for the award, Champagne was judged in the areas of merchandising performance, details and innovation, displays, merchandising techniques, inventory mix, shop operations, merchandising philosophy and staff
training. He previously won Merchandiser of the Year in 2009 and 2013.
A Louisiana native, Chris Champagne has more than 20 years of experience in the golf business.
He obtained his Class A membership into the PGA in 2007. As head golf professional at The Preserve Golf Club, he is responsible for golf instruction and tournament coordination, in addition to pro shop merchandising and operations. Champagne has worked as the PGA Golf Pro at The Preserve Golf Club since the course’s opening in 2006.
The Preserve Golf Club, an amenity of Palace Casino Resort, features five sets of tees, full service practice facilities, including PGA instruction, state-of-the-art carts with GPS from Visage, and
a clubhouse complete with locker and shower facilities, meeting room, Pro Shop, and Sweet Bay Restaurant.
PGA GOLF PRO Chris Champagne at The Preserve Golf Club
GOLF PRO AT
THE PRESERVE GOLF CLUB
WINS MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR story by Michael Sunderman
and photos courtesy of The Preserve Golf Club
THE PRESERVE GOLF CLUB
The Preserve Golf Club
8901 Hwy. 57 North | Vancleave, MS 39565 | 877-MSGolf9
114 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • February 2017 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net