Club Car Chairman Phil Tralies received the Ernie Sabayrac Award from the PGA of America in recognition of lifetime contributions to the game and business of golf. Tralies, whose business leadership and support for the game has made the Augusta-based manufacturer one of the most respected brands in golf, received the award Thursday night at The PGA of America awards ceremony held in conjunction with the 56th PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.

“You could take all of the golf professionals, superintendents, owners and operators in golf and put them in Raymond James and have plenty of  room left over,” Tralies said during his acceptance remarks. “But what that stadium lacked in numbers would be more than made up in character. Golf is a business filled with some of the best people in the world. People for whom you would do just about anything in your power to help.  Because you know they would do the same for you.”

Tralies, who joined Club Car in 2001 as president and CEO and was named chairman in January 2008, has guided the company to prominence in domestic and global markets. Under his leadership, Club Car launched a number of new products into the golf market, resulting in significant market share gains. He also expanded the company’s global presence and transformed Club Car from a company focused on golf to one that manufactures small task-oriented vehicles that serve a wide range of commercial and consumer markets beyond golf.

Tralies has served as a popular ambassador for golf, lending Club Car’s support of a number of the game’s allied associations. He also was instrumental in forming an employee golf program that provides free lessons to Club Car associates and encourages their participation. The “Let’s Go Golfing” program has received industry-wide recognition as one of golf’s most successful grassroots programs.