John A. Solheim has earned the PGA Distinguished Service Award for 2022.
The PGA of America honored him for his “decades of work in the golf industry and dedication to the junior game,” according to a release sent Wednesday.
Solheim is the executive chairman of Ping, and son of company founder Karsten Solheim. John Solheim was a teenager when he started working for his dad in the garage of their house in 1959. Sixty-three years later, he has more than 170 U.S. patents to his name, influencing golf club and bag design.
He will be honored on Nov. 2 during the 2022 PGA Annual Meeting, which is being held this year at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix.
“I’m very appreciative to receive such a prestigious honor from the PGA of America,” said Solheim. “I’ve been blessed to spend my entire career in the golf industry. It’s allowed us to continue building a family business, which is very enjoyable for me to now guide our strong third generation in their leadership positions and still allow me to do what I enjoy most, design and develop future products.”
Ping has sponsored more than 50 American Junior Golf Association tournaments. In 2002, Solheim started the Ping Junior Solheim Cup for girls junior golfers, modeling it after the Solheim Cup, which was founded by his parents in 1990.
Past winners
1988 – Herb Graffis
1989 – Bob Hope
1991 – Gerald R. Ford
1992 – Gene Sarazen
1993 – Byron Nelson
1994 – Arnold Palmer
1995 – Patty Berg
1996 – Frank Chirkinian
1997 – George H.W. Bush
1998 – Paul Runyan
1999 – Bill Dickey
2000 – Jack Nicklaus
2001 – Mark McCormack
2002 – Tim Finchem
2003 – Vince Gill
2004 – Pete Dye
2005 – Wally Uihlein
2006 – Fred Ridley
2007 – Jack Burke Jr.
2008 – Dennis Walters
2009 – William Powell
2010 – Billy Casper
2011 – Larry Nelson
2012 – Dave Stockton
2013 – Lee Trevino
2014 – Bill J. Clinton
2015 – Deane Beman
2017 – Mark and Debi Rolfing
2019 – Barbara Nicklaus
2022 – John A. Solheim
The PGA of America says that the “PGA Distinguished Service Award honors outstanding individuals who display leadership and humanitarian qualities, including integrity, sportsmanship and enthusiasm for the game of golf.”
