Setting up shop with Hahn

It seems all Newport Beach Country Club needed in its pro shop was

a woman’s touch.

“Every golf professional will say this, that the toughest niche is

merchandising in the pro shop in the ladies’ section,” said Newport

Beach head pro Paul Hahn, who will be honored by the Southern

California PGA as the Merchandiser of the Year in the private course

category at the SCPGA’s Annual Awards Dinner Nov. 24 at La Jolla

Country Club.

“It’s nice to be recognized that we have a nice pro shop, but I

think in terms of Merchandiser of the Year, it’s a little ambiguous

because it’s not just me. I’m the head pro, but it’s not just me. We

have a great staff and it’s a team effort.”

Newport Beach hired Susan Hoffman about two years ago to primarily

handle the ladies’ section of the pro shop and Hahn said she has done

“a remarkable job ... she has really catered to the woman who wants

to play golf and yet likes to wear (nice golf apparel) away from golf

... she has turned our section around as far as ladies are

concerned.”

They say the best managers surround themselves with quality

people, and it’s no exception in the golf business.

“It’s just nice to have a ladies touch in the pro shop,” said

Hahn, also voted the 1995 SCPGA Assistant Golf Professional of the

Year prior to becoming the head pro.

Hahn, who was nominated for Merchandiser of the Year by former

Corona del Mar resident and Oak Creek Golf Club head pro Perry

Hallmeyer, is flattered to win the award, but, of course, would “like

to have it be Player of the Year.”

Hahn invited each member of the Newport Beach staff to the awards

dinner, which he will attend with his wife, Marlene.

*

Hahn was pretty excited to hear that Katie Albright, the daughter

of Newport Beach women’s club champion Debbie Albright, won medalist

honors at the Pacific Coast League girls golf championships this

week.

“The genes must run in the family,” said Hahn, who gives lessons

to both.

*

Balboa Island’s Bob Osborn, a former Golf Course Management, Inc.,

president and a familiar face amid Southern California Golf

Association activities for the past 15 years, was chosen to receive

the first Jim House Award for outstanding service as a committee

volunteer.

Osborn is retiring this year as a member of the board of directors

for Golf Course Management, Inc.

*

UC Irvine athletics and the Private Tennis Club Association will

present the fourth Myron McNamara Golf Tournament Nov. 18 at Jack

Kramer’s Los Serranos Golf Course in Chino Hills.

Proceeds benefit the Myron McNamara Scholarship Fund for UC

Irvine’s men’s tennis program. The late McNamara coached the

Anteaters’ men’s tennis team to NCAA Division II championships in

1972, ‘73, ’75 and ’77.

The event will begin with check-in at 10 a.m., followed by an 11

a.m. shotgun start in a four-player scramble format. After golf is a

hospitality tour, dinner and silent auction. The cost is $150 per

player or $500 per foursome. Details: (949) 824-2046.

*

The first Wally Joyner and Friends Golf Classic, benefiting the

Newport Harbor Baseball Association, is Nov. 15 at Talega Golf Club

in San Clemente. The event is a scramble format with an 11 a.m.

shotgun start.

It is the priority of NHBA and the golf tournament to make sure

every child in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, who wants to play

baseball, is not excluded for any reasons. Details: (949) 723-4110.