Chicago Golf Report

Chicago Golf Coach Win Prestigious National Award

Congratulations to a Chicago golf coach who recently was honored with a national award from the PGA of America. Local Illinois PGA member and Northwestern University men’s golf coach Pat Goss was named winner of the Labron Harris Sr. Award presented by E-Z-GO in cooperation with The PGA of America and the Golf Coaches Association of America. Presented to the college or high school coach and PGA professional who has helped support and grow the game, the Harris Award represents the finest qualities the game has to offer.

Pat Goss has led the Northwestern men’s golf team for the past 17 years and was named national coach of the year in 1997. His teams have earned four Big Ten titles, 15 NCAA regional appearances and seven trips to the NCAA Championships finals. Former PGA Tour #1 Luke Donald won the Jack Nicklaus Award at Northwestern as the collegiate player of the year in 1999 and also won the NCAA championship while playing for Pat Goss. He has served as primary teacher to Luke Donald since August 2001 and short game coach to Trevor Immelman since August of this year.

“It’s a great honor to win an award based on one of the all-time great college coaches in Labron Harris,” said Pat Goss. “He had such an impact on college golf, and in his dual role as a PGA professional helped grow the game and made it possible for so many to enjoy the game. What makes this award stand out to me is that for any individual to have a chance to give back and help grow a game that has given us so much and that we love makes it even more special. When I look at the list of previous winners, I’m humbled to be included among them.”

Pat Goss is a Chicago golf coach who also makes many contributions to college golf away from the course. In his role as Northwestern University’s director of golf he oversees both the men’s and women’s golf programs. He secured one of college golf’s largest gifts, which endowed the operating budgets for both the men’s and women’s golf teams and included building the $1.1 million Gleacher Golf Center.

Also very active in The First Tee of Chicago, Pat Goss served on the group’s board of directors and as chairman of the programming committee. He co-chaired “A Taste of The First Tee” event that raised over $400,000 for The First Tee of Chicago and featured Luke Donald, Jack Nicklaus, Steve Stricker, Mark Wilson and Jeff Sluman.

Pat Goss follows in the footsteps of past Labron Harris Award presented by E-Z-GO recipients Jay Hardwick (Virginia Tech/Middle Atlantic PGA Section), Devon Brouse (Purdue/Indiana PGA Section), the late Rod Myers (Duke/Carolina PGA Section), Herb Page (Kent State/Northern Ohio PGA Section), Jim Brown (Ohio State/Southern Ohio PGA Section), Pat Owen (U.S. Naval Academy/Middle Atlantic PGA Section), Rick Pohle (Williams College/ Northeastern New York PGA Section) and John Bermel (Northern Iowa/Iowa PGA Section).

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