Andrew Whitelaw, who began his career in Scottish golf, has become just the fourth-ever PGA Master Manager in the latest round of PGA Excel awardees.
Whitelaw, now COO & General Manager of Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, which hosted May’s PGA Championship, started his journey at Glenbervie Golf Club before an international career that took in Portmarnock and roles across the Middle East.
Having studied at the University of Stirling and Cornell University, Whitelaw became director of golf at Emirates Golf Club in 2003, before being promoted to general manager six years later. He then moved on to become general manager at Trump International Golf Club in Dubai, before taking the same role at Portmarnock Golf Club in Dublin in 2019.
In 2022, Whitelaw moved to Pennsylvania to become general manager / chief operating officer at Aronimink, which hosted the PGA Championship in May 2026. His role at one of the most prestigious private members’ clubs in the United States concerns deepening member engagement, enhancing long-term value, delivering exceptional experiences and stewarding major capital projects.
“This is an extremely proud moment for me after so many years in the industry,” Whitelaw said. “Having started my journey in Scotland at Glenbervie Golf Club and travelled around the world, working at some amazing properties, it feels great to be recognised with this award.
“There being only four Master Managers and only 69 Master Members makes the achievement feel even more significant considering how many talented members we have in the organisation.
“I grew up in the Far East in my early childhood before moving back to Scotland and I think that experience abroad formed my desire to travel throughout my career.
“Each move to a new country happened because an opportunity arrived that felt more interesting than the last, and because I have always been more motivated by what I might learn in a new environment than by what I might consolidate in a familiar one.
“There is a risk in that approach, you give up security and continuity each time but looking back every one of those moves accelerated my development in ways that staying would not have.
“I suspect I would have had a perfectly respectable career without going abroad but I do not think I would have had this one.”
Closer to home, Stuart Disney has been awarded Advanced Fellow Manager status for his work as golf club manager at Mendip Golf Club, while Stuart Brewer, based in the Midlands, has achieved Advanced Fellow Coach status through his teaching academy.
Also recognised this quarter is Sally Hinton, who has coached at Close House in Newcastle upon Tyne since 2010. A previous recipient of the Female PGA Coach of the Year award at the Women in Golf Awards, Hinton is a member of the PGA Junior Advisory Group and coaches the Northumberland County Girls team, alongside contributing to England Golf’s Girls Golf Rocks programme.
Having attended Missouri State University on a golf scholarship between 2003 and 2007, Hinton became an assistant PGA professional at Bridgnorth Golf Club before moving to Close House, where she has been Senior PGA Teaching Professional since 2021.
“I was so pleased to find out I was going to be awarded Advanced Fellow Coach. It’s taken me a long time to get to it, but I think that’s what makes PGA Excel so good. I applied three times, and each time, I took on the feedback and then applied,” she said.
“The feedback has been great to get – these are the things that you need to be focusing on, and to get over the line.
“To become a Master Professional, that is the top level. I’ll be looking at that over the next few years, to see what needs to be done to reach that level – that is something that I would work towards.”
Scotland-based Craig Donnelly and Nick Drane were also recognised with Fellow Professional and Fellow Coach status respectively, for their work as Director of Golf at Craig Donnelly Golf Ltd and Loretto School Golf Academy.
The following PGA members have achieved a new PGA Excel status:
Master Manager
Andrew Whitelaw – Overseas – COO & General Manager at Aronimink Golf Club
Advanced Fellow Manager
Philip Henderson – Overseas – Managing Director at Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club
Stuart Disney – West – Golf Club Manager at Mendip Golf Club
Advanced Fellow Coach
Stuart Brewer – Midlands – Teaching Professional at Stuart Brewer Golf Academy
Andy Griffiths – Overseas – Founder & Lead Coach at Mr Mallorca Golf
Joe Brazil – Overseas – PGA Advanced Senior Professional at Yas Acres Golf & Country Club
Sally Hinton – North – Senior PGA Teaching Professional at Close House Golf Club
Fellow Professional
Craig Donnelly – Scotland – Director of Golf at Craig Donnelly Golf Ltd
Daniel Harrison – Overseas – Head Professional at Hong Kong Golf Club
Fellow Coach
Nick Drane – Scotland – Director of Golf at Loretto School Golf Academy
Advanced Coach
Jude Hobbs – Overseas – Senior PGA Golf Professional at Emirates Golf Club
Tristan Crew, Executive Director – Membership, said: “Congratulations to all PGA Members who have achieved a new PGA Excel designation. These awards recognise the commitment, expertise and professionalism they demonstrate across coaching, management and the wider golf industry.
“This quarter is particularly significant as Andrew Whitelaw becomes only the fourth PGA Master Manager and the 69th PGA member ever to achieve Master status. This exceptional accomplishment reflects the leadership, expertise and impact Andrew has demonstrated throughout his distinguished career.”
A number of people in the industry are congratulating Andrew here.
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