Lincoln, NE – The Nebraska PGA Section is proud to recognize Troy Harder, PGA, Director of Golf at Tatanka Golf Club, as the October Wilson Sporting Goods Game Ball recipient.

The Wilson Game Ball Award recognizes PGA Professionals who go above and beyond in serving their facilities, communities, and the game of golf. Harder has made an impact on each of those fronts through his leadership at Tatanka Golf Club, the continued growth and success of the facility, and his commitment to using the game of golf as a way to give back to the Santee community.

Since taking over at Tatanka Golf Club in July of 2022, Harder has helped transform the facility into one of Nebraska’s premier golf destinations. That work was recently recognized when Tatanka Golf Club was named the Nebraska PGA Section’s Facility of the Year.

Adam Coates highlighted Harder’s leadership and the turnaround of the facility in his nomination.

“While Tatanka Golf Club was recently recognized as the winner of the Facility of the Year award, I believe Troy is worthy of further recognition individually for the incredible job he has done to lead Tatanka to success,” Coates said. “He took a facility that needed leadership in the most basic of operations and turned it into a successful, top place to play.”

For Harder, seeing Tatanka continue to grow has been both challenging and rewarding.

“It has been a challenge trying to make Tatanka Golf Club recognized as one of the top premier golf courses in Nebraska, as well as all over the United States, Canada, England, and pretty much everywhere,” Harder said. “We get play from all over.”

While Harder has helped lead that growth, he is quick to credit the people around him for helping bring his vision for the facility to life.

“It has been very rewarding to see the success of Tatanka Golf Club,” Harder said. “The success of the course has been a joint effort by the entire staff. The staff has really bought into my vision for Tatanka Golf Club.”

One of the people who has been alongside Harder throughout that journey is his wife, Shelly. The two have spent more than 35 years working together in the golf industry.

“It has been amazing working alongside my wife, Shelly, for over 35 years in the golf industry,” Harder said. “I would not be where I am today without Shelly’s help, guidance, and patience with me.”

Harder believes much of the recognition he has received throughout his career belongs just as much to her.

“Shelly definitely doesn’t get enough credit for what she has done for golfers and the golf industry,” he said. “All the awards that I have received are just as much for her as me.”

While the success of Tatanka Golf Club has been significant, Harder and his team have also made giving back to the surrounding community a priority.

One of the facility’s signature efforts is the annual Tatanka Coats for Kids Tournament. This year, the event helped provide more than 60 new coats to children at Santee Elementary, from preschool through second grade.

“Troy does a Tatanka Coats for Kids Tournament,” Kevin Drew said in his nomination. “He was able to provide over 60 coats for kids in Santee Preschool through second grade. The kids were excited to receive a new coat. He has done this multiple years.”

For Harder, seeing the reaction from the children makes the effort worthwhile.

“The Coats for Kids project has been a great way to help out local grade school kids,” Harder said. “The smiles on their faces each year when we deliver the coats is all the joy that is needed.”

Tatanka Golf Club’s impact on the community has continued to expand beyond the Coats for Kids initiative.

This year, the facility donated $1,000 to the Santee Boys & Girls Club through proceeds from the BJ Bursheim Memorial Tournament. Tatanka also hosted a canned food drive during its final tournament of the season, with the donated food going to the Santee Boys & Girls Club.

“We were also able to do a couple other local donations this year,” Harder said. “Tatanka Golf Club donated $1,000 to the Santee Boys and Girls Club with part of the proceeds from a tournament this fall. We also had a canned food drive during our last tournament of the year with donated food going to the Santee Boys and Girls Club.”

For Harder, those efforts reflect a larger responsibility to use Tatanka Golf Club as more than just a place to play golf.

“Giving back, especially to kids, just makes a person feel good,” Harder said. “We hope to be able to continue to do this in the future.”

Through the growth of Tatanka Golf Club and the facility’s continued commitment to the Santee community, Harder has helped show how a golf course can become a vehicle for making an impact far beyond the game itself. Receiving the Wilson Game Ball Award carries additional meaning for Harder because the recognition comes from fellow PGA Professionals.

“It is always a great honor to be recognized by my PGA peers,” Harder said. “There have been some amazing Golf Professionals recognized before me, which makes me proud to be a part of this group.”

Congratulations to Troy Harder, PGA, on being named the Nebraska PGA Section’s October Wilson Sporting Goods Game Ball recipient, and thank you for your continued leadership at Tatanka Golf Club, commitment to the Santee community, and dedication to growing the game of golf. Nominations for the next Wilson Sporting Goods Monthly Game Ball will open on November 1st and will close at 11:59 PM on November 15th.

About the Nebraska Section PGA

The Nebraska Section PGA is a non-for-profit organization comprised of over 340 PGA Members and PGA Associates who strive to promote the enjoyment and growth of the game of golf.  The Nebraska Section PGA encompasses the entire State of Nebraska, western fifth of Iowa and a small portion of South Dakota including Dakota Dunes and Yankton.  The Section office is located in Lincoln, NE and acts as a resource for local and national golf information for the golf professional and amateur player alike.  Our members are often referred to as “Club Professionals”, not to be mistaken as PGA Tour Professionals.

Each Nebraska Section PGA Professional serves as an expert in the ever-changing business of golf.  They are the leading expert players and teachers, skilled business managers, community leaders, and superior merchandisers who have dedicated their careers to the local delivery of these services.