Erin Craig, Head Golf Professional for the North Olmsted Golf Club/The Turn was chosen to receive the prestigious 2024 Patriot Award by The Northern Ohio Section of the Professional Golfers Association (NOPGA). She will be honored during a section awards dinner on December 8th at the Cary Blair Center, adjacent to Westfield Country Club.
The Patriot Award accords special recognition to a PGA Golf Professional who personifies patriotism through the game and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected our country. While programs such as PGA HOPE and Patriot Day Golf are magnificent means to interact and thank our veterans on a periodical basis, Erin Craig works with them every day.
One of her goals is to make sure Veterans feel they belong and are welcome when they arrive at her facility. On military specific days she makes sure the flower beds are lined with American and service branch flags. She encourages her staff to wear red, white and blue. She and her staff repeatedly thank the Veterans for their service, and she enlists able-bodied Veterans as volunteers to give the attendees someone to whom they can relate. For the last three years Erin has conducted a 6-week long PGA HOPE program at her facility and held a session for women only this fall as part of that program. She works closely with the Louis Stokes VA Clinic and the outpatient programs for Spinal Cord Injury, Poly Trauma and Amputees visit twice a year. For the first time she has been able to host 90-minute golf and fitness clinics for the Veterans from the VA Hospital. Every fall she conducts the “Stars, Stripes and Links” event for Veterans with disabilities and 25 Veterans regularly attend her Turn Clinics for golfers with physical disabilities. Through specific grants Erin is able to cover the $300 yearly membership at The Turn for any Veteran wishing to join.
Congratulations Erin!