Director of Golf believes club’s support is key to award
By: Bob Nuse
Allan Bowman was proud to be named the New Jersey Professional Golf Association’s Professional of the Year. But he also knows it’s an honor that could have been bestowed on the entire membership of Cherry Valley Country Club.
"I think part how they select the winner is how you support the community and how you support the growth of golf and junior golf," said Bowman, who has been the Director of Golf at Cherry Valley since 1993. "Also, the job you do with your club. That’s all part of it. I think what we do with junior golf and things like the golf marathon are also important. Plus, I’m the head of the Junior Golf Committee for the NJ PGA. I think all of that enters into the decision.
"And so much of what we’ve been able to do at Cherry Valley has been because of the support of our membership. I love the support I get. When it’s all said and done, there are a lot of great clubs. But I would put the support the membership here has given at the top of the list. Without that support, we would not be able to do so much of what we do here."
Among Bowman’s accomplishments while at Cherry Valley are creating the New Jersey Golf Foundation, and its golf marathon fundraising event that raised over $30,000. He also coordinated the Cherry Valley Country Club’s fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research, which raised over $40,000.
His efforts on behalf of junior golfers are also numerous and include serving as Chairman of the NJPGA’s Junior Golf program, conducting clinics for high school golf coaches, and acting as swing coach for the Montgomery High School golf team. Cherry Valley hosts an annual high school tournament in the spring, and he also provides free clinics for members of Girl Scouts and several other non-profit groups.
Bowman was selected from among all of the golf pros in the New Jersey PGA section, which includes most of New Jersey. The award has little to do with playing ability, but more with what the professional does off the course.
"At this club, me playing golf is not the No. 1 criteria for me or the membership," said Bowman, who grew up in Green Brook. "Having a fully stocked golf shop, running programs, running tournaments, that’s what is most important. We try to balance it. I hope to be able to play more next year. But I do a lot of teaching and running the programs, so there isn’t a lot of time to just get out and play for myself."
Bowman has been at the club nearly as long as there has been one. He arrived in 1993, which was one year after the club opened. That was the first year the club had all 18 holes open and Bowman arrived as an assistant to Steve Philbrook.
More than a decade later, he couldn’t be happier with his situation.
"I’m very happy at Cherry Valley," Bowman said. "Our membership is great. It’s changed a little over the last few years and now it is really stable. I love the members and they seem to like me. My kids love it in Montgomery. I’ve had some opportunities come my way, but I’ve never wanted to leave. I think this club is only going to continue to grow in prestige."
That prestige will take another bump next year when CVCC hosts one of New Jersey’s premier golf events.
"In September we’re hosting the New Jersey PGA Section championship, which is the biggest tournament the NJPGA runs," Bowman said. "It’s a huge event. The last three years it has been at Plainfield, Hackensack and Baltusrol. So it only goes to the top-notch clubs and Cherry Valley is now thought of on that level."
And Bowman has played a big role in making that happen.
"My staff and I get so much support from the membership and our board," Bowman said. "You can always have the ideas, but without the support, it doesn’t happen. They’ve made it so that we can do some of the things we want to do. So they deserve as much of the recognition for this award as I do."
Bowman, who is the Chairman of NJPGA’s Junior Golf program, was also given the PGA’s Junior Golf Leader Award at last month’s banquet.