ELMSFORD, N.Y. (February 5, 2013) - With a list of accolades within the golfing industry that stretches the length of a par five, the PGA of America announced that St. James, N.Y., resident and PGA Master Professional Michael Hebron will be enshrined into the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame. He’ll be joined by seven fellow inductees at a ceremony on Tuesday, March 12, at the PGA Education Center at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

“I was surprised, honored and humbled to get the call that I have made the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame,” Hebron said. “To work in a profession that you enjoy so much, and on top of that to receive awards is something extra.”

Hebron, 70, a PGA Master Professional at Smithtown Landing Country Club in Smithtown, N.Y., was the catalyst behind the largest educational forum in the golfing industry when in 1988,  he introduced the idea to bring teaching professionals together to share best practices and ideas. As a result, the PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit was born and this past January in Orlando, Fla., the 13th Summit attracted 625 attendees representing 48 states and 12 countries.

Hebron, who was the 1991 national PGA Teacher of the Year, is highly respected throughout the international golf community. Throughout the years, he’s acted as a golf instruction consultant to both PGA Professionals and golf teachers in 16 countries. He also founded two international summits, the Canadian PGA Teaching Conference (1989) and the inaugural European PGA Teaching Conference (1990).

One of the most valued teachers in the Metropolitan PGA section, Hebron’s honors include the 1982 Section Golf Professional of the Year; three-time winner of the Horton Smith Award; the 1987 Section Teacher of the Year; two-time Section Merchandiser of the Year; and 2008 inductee into the Metropolitan PGA Hall of Fame.

“Mike Hebron is richly deserving of this recognition from the PGA of America,” MGA Executive Director Jay Mottola said.  “He has not only been an outstanding teacher who freely shares his knowledge with fellow golf professionals but he has also been a generous supporter and promoter of junior golf and the amateur game at every level.  We have been fortunate to may him as a part of golf here on Long Island and in the Met Area for so many years.” 

Hebron is also the author of six books devoted to the game and his “See and Feel the Inside Move the Outside,” was the first instruction book to be recognized as a PGA Master Professional thesis and has since sold more than 100,000 copies. In addition, he also sponsors the Long Island Golf Association amateur stroke-play championship (held annually at Bethpage Black), and the Metropolitan PGA Women’s Championship.

Said PGA of America President Ted Bishop, “This class features those who battled social injustice, renowned instructors, and leaders who exhibited a passion for serving others beyond their job description. Their names will be forever inscribed among those who have made golf the greatest game.”