Charlie Bedford Award
The volunteer-of-the-year award is named after Charlie Bedford who was an outstanding FSGA Committee Member and volunteered his time as both a Tournament Chairman and Course Rater. Charlie was an expert on the Rules of Golf and a USGA Master Course Rater. He spent countless days of service to the game he loved and cherished.
Charlie was recognized as the 2000 Volunteer-of-the-Year, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 and was inducted into the Florida Golf Hall of Fame in 2005. He was a USGA Committee Member for ten years and officiated four US Opens, six US Amateurs, seven US Senior Opens and ten US Amateur Public Links Championships.
2014 Recipients
Gregg Deiboldt - Course Rating Volunteer of the Year
Gregg Deiboldt, of Jacksonville, has been awarded the 2014 Course Rating Volunteer of the Year. Gregg has been involved with Course Rating and the Tournament Department since 2008. Not only does Gregg conduct one day events in the North Region, he also competes in these events. Due to Gregg’s active involvement as a course rating volunteer, he was selected to be a Course Rating Captain. Gregg has demonstrated strong leadership as captain with his exceptional attention to detail and proficient course ratings. In 2014, Gregg and his team completed six course ratings.
Gregg grew up an hour east of Cleveland, Ohio where he was taught how to play golf by his father who was a scratch golfer. Golf being his true passion, Gregg’s goal is to play the Top 100 Golf Courses and as of now he only has 21 golf courses left to play. After retiring from a career at British Airways, Gregg now pilots his racing boat and collects fine wines and a few rare Scotches. Gregg and his wife Laura moved to Florida in 1999 to enjoy boating and golfing year round. Being a member at Sawgrass Country Club, Gregg actively serves on the Membership Committee and plays golf three to four days a week.
Tony Capano - Tournament Volunteer of the Year
Tony Capano, of Pace, has been awarded the 2014 Tournament Volunteer of the Year. Tony has been involved with the FSGA since 2003 and in that time has helped at over 100 FSGA competitions, 26 USGA qualifiers, and four USGA Championships. In the past year alone, Tony has spent more than 50 days volunteering at FSGA and USGA tournaments. He is a FSGA certified Senior Rules Official and has attended six USGA/PGA rules seminars. Tony started playing golf at the age of 14 in Massachusetts. He has competed in many FSGA one day events and the Senior/Mid-Amateur Four-Ball Championship. His fondest golf memory is when he played with his dream foursome in a golf tournament on Cape Cod. That foursome included his grandfather, father, and son Craig.
Tony retired from the Navy after working more than twenty years as a US Navy Pharmacist. Currently, he is working full-time as a civilian pharmacist at Naval Hospital Pensacola. Tony is married to Jennifer and together they have three boys; Robbie, Craig, and Jake. Tony thoroughly enjoys volunteering because he is able to give back to the game that has brought him special memories, fun experiences, and pure enjoyment.
