Town Of Smyrna: Hal Loflin Receives Tennessee PGA Distinguished Career Award

Press release from the Town of Smyrna:

February 24, 2022

Franklin, TN – The Tennessee Section PGA is proud to announce Hal Loflin, PGA, a native of Oak Ridge, as its 2022 Distinguished Career Award Honoree. The Distinguished Career Award recognizes current or former Tennessee PGA Section members who have had outstanding careers as PGA Professionals based on service to their club, course or employer, service and leadership to the Association, community service, professional playing record, and teaching ability. The Distinguished Career Award acknowledges these Tennessee PGA Professionals as vital and significant contributors to the game of golf.

PGA Professional Hal Loflin’s nomination came as no surprise when considering his contributions to the game of golf in the Town of Smyrna for 29 years. After working one year at Jackson Country Club in Jackson, TN as an Assistant Golf Professional, Loflin joined the Town of Smyrna as an Assistant PGA Golf Professional at the Smyrna Golf Course in 1991. In 1993 Loflin obtained his PGA membership. In 1995 Loflin went to work for the Tennessee Section PGA as the first Member Services Director for Tennessee and then returned to Smyrna Golf Course in 1998 as the Head Golf Professional and Director of Golf and has been there since.

“Hal Loflin embodies servant leadership as an employee of the Town of Smyrna and through his involvement in the greater Smyrna community. He is passionate about providing access to the game of golf for all individuals, spearheading Smyrna Golf serving as host to both the Tennessee Special Olympics Tournament and First Tee Program for over 20 years,” says Smyrna Mayor Mary Esther Reed. “On behalf of the Town Council, the Town Manager, and the Smyrna community, we congratulate Hal on this remarkable achievement.”

Loflin prides himself on relationships, and those strong relationships have solidified his role at Smyrna Golf Course as a dedicated and caring golf professional. Loflin established The First Tee of Smyrna in 2000, becoming the 87th First Tee facility in the United States. Since then Loflin has acted as the Program Director who designed and oversaw the construction of the nine-hole Executive Course at Smyrna Golf Course that has seen over 2,000 juniors go through the program to date.
“This is a very well earned and deserved career award for Hal,” says Former Tennessee Golf Foundation President and DCA Inductee Dick Horton. “Hal has covered the full spectrum of being a Class A PGA golf professional from being an outstanding head professional, an excellent teacher, and always being highly organized for whatever the task or job required. Those things have always been a trademark of Hal Loflin.”

Loflin served the section and provided his expertise by being a representative on the Tennessee PGA Board of Directors for six years and currently serves as the chair of the Tennessee Golf Association Handicap Committee. In addition, he served the Middle Tennessee Chapter as Chapter Secretary and Chapter Director.

“Hal Loflin is absolutely the finest Golf Professional that I have ever had the privilege of knowing,” says 2017 DCA Inductee Dave Normand. “Hal is an exceptional person who gives of himself tirelessly while demonstrating the highest degree of integrity at all times. He is approachable, engaging, and has served our association during his entire career. I cannot think of a more deserving Golf Professional than Hal Loflin to receive this incredible ‘Lifetime’ award!”

Throughout his PGA Career Loflin has been recognized as one of the best Golf Professional’s in the section through the various awards he’s won. For his mentoring ability, Loflin won four straight Tennessee PGA Section Bill Strausbaugh Awards from 1999 to 2002. In addition, Loflin was a three-time Tennessee PGA Section Horton Smith award winner in 2004, 2008, and 2009. A longtime member of the Middle Tennessee chapter, Loflin was also honored as the 2001 Middle Tennessee Golf Professional of the Year.

“I am humbled by this award and am honored to be part of such a great group of PGA professionals that have been recognized,” says Loflin. “This award is not an individual award but it also includes all of the people that have been a part of my career and have mentored me along the way.”

Congratulations to Hal Loflin, PGA on becoming the 43rd member to be recognized with the most prestigious honor the Tennessee PGA can bestow upon its members. Loflin will be honored at the Awards luncheon in Franklin, Tennessee on February 28, 2021 in front of his fellow Tennessee PGA Professionals and special guests.

This press release was produced by the Town of Smyrna. The views expressed here are the author’s own.