FRISCO, Texas (June 3, 2024) - PGA of America Golf Professional Joe Canny, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln PGA Golf Management Program’s PGA Professional in Residence, has earned PGA Master Professional Status, the highest educational designation a PGA of America Member can obtain.

The Association comprises more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals, and Canny, a Member of the Nebraska PGA Section, joins a special group as the 443rd to earn Master Professional status. He achieved his designation in Executive Management.

The PGA Master Professional Program is available to those with at least 10 years of PGA Membership along with having achieved advanced certification through the PGA Certified Professional Program. The curriculum includes an extensive project based on the specific certification previously acquired by the PGA of America Golf Professional. PGA Master Professional status is earned upon successful completion of the presentation.

The program was established in 1969 to recognize PGA of America Members who make a significant effort to improve as golf professionals and maintain the highest degree of excellence for themselves and their operations. The curriculum is designed to ensure golf professionals are prepared to meet the growing demands of the marketplace within the Executive Management, Golf Operations and Teaching and Coaching Designations.

“In the Nebraska Section, we have a few PGA Master Professionals who have helped me grow in my career, they are all people I really look up to and I am extremely honored to be part of that group now,” said Canny. “I truly value my PGA of America Membership. It's a credential I can show employers and peers that not only did I obtain membership, but I went above and beyond. It's something I can be proud of. The biggest reason to do this was to show my students at Nebraska PGM the value of PGA education and career development. If I’m going to coach the next generation of PGA Professionals, I’d better be a Master.”

A PGA of America Member since 2010, Canny graduated from the Nebraska-Lincoln PGM Program in 2009. In 2010, he worked for the PGA of America in Florida as Player Development Coordinator, then the Nebraska PGA Section in 2013 in the same role. In 2017, he was hired by the City of Lincoln to oversee player-development programs for the city’s five municipal golf courses; in 2021, he returned to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

While in the Nebraska Section, Canny has received numerous awards including the Section’s Youth Player Development Award (2013), Bill Strausbaugh Award (2014), Facility of the Year Award (2019), Patriot Award (2021) and the PGA Professional Development Award (2024).

Canny resides in Lincoln with his wife Stephanie, sons Calhoon and Redmond, and daughter Antonia.

About the PGA of America

The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.Media Contacts

Jesse Dodson, PGA of America, jdodson@pgahq.com

Jared Minski, Mastro Communications, jared@mastrocomm.com