VACAVILLE, Calif. â The Northern California Section of the Professional Golfers’ Association is pleased to award its 13th Honorary Membership to the Northern California Section of the PGA to sports media personality Frank LaRosa for his distinguished service to the NCPGA Section, its PGA Professionals, and countless non-profit organizations. The induction of this unique ambassador to golf will take place during the NCPGA Semi-Annual Meeting on June 30 at the Eldorado Hotel Casino in Reno, Nevada.
âWhen I think of those dedicated to our Section, the name that rises to the top is Frank LaRosa,â said Chris Thomas, NCPGA Executive Director and COO. âIt is an honor and a privilege to bestow upon Frank an Honorary Membership to our Section.â
Frank LaRosa displays an exceptional ability to reach and touch people through his creativity and communication expertise. Whether he is hosting ESPN Radioâs âGolf to Go,â writing an article for NCGA Magazine, hosting âTee Time: Golf in Northern California for Public Television, or producing hundreds of yearly informational videos, his ability to take a piece of news and transform it into a captivating story that the audience will connect with is his hallmark. His reach and impact for the Section have transcended all communication mediums â from print, to radio and television, to the Internet.
A Man of Distinction
This is not LaRosaâs first honor by the Section. In 2005 and again in 2010 he was awarded the distinction of NCPGA Sports Media Person of the Year. Owner of Frank LaRosa and Associates Advertising and Marketing Agency, his passion for golf is reflected in his many achievements including serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the NCPGA Foundation and a Board Member of the Morton Golf Foundation.
âFrank has been a friend of the NCPGA and the game of golf for many years. I personally have seen him give his time to the game of golf, the community, and quietly gone about his way in promoting us as individuals and the NCPGA Section,â said Bob Young, Honorary President, NCPGA.
A Stroke of Genius
His impact on the game extends to many charitable organizations including The First Tee of Greater Sacramento, The George Archer Memorial Foundation for Literacy, Saving Strokes, and more.
LaRosa was instrumental in helping the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association create Saving Strokes in 2000 to offer stroke survivors an opportunity to participate in golf for pleasure as well as for physical rehabilitation.
The program, which utilizes NCPGA Professionals to deliver specialized golf instruction, was initiated in Sacramento. Thirteen years later, this small program has grown to 22 sites in five states. It now serves more than 1,000 participants annually and engages more than 100 golf professionals and instructors.
âI am humbled by this award,â LaRosa revealed. âItâs gratifying to know that my actions have made a difference in supporting community organizations, the Northern California PGA and its Professionals, and the game of golf.â
This is only the thirteenth time Honorary Membership to the NCPGA has been awarded since 1920.
About the Northern California Section of the PGA of America (NCPGA)
Organized in 1920 to promote interest in the game of golf, the birth of this association was heralded as an important step to the advancement of the game in this district. The Northern California Section is one of the forty-one designated Sections of the PGA of America, the worldâs largest working sports organization. With over 1,100 dedicated PGA Professionals and apprentices at over 500 golf facilities in Northern California and Northwestern Nevada, the association continues to have a positive impact on the game of golf and communities both regionally and nationally.
