Pine Hollow's DeBellis named Met PGA Pro of the Year

Tom DeBellis, a former PGA Tour player who has been the head pro for the past 27 years at Pine Hollow Country Club in East Norwich, was awarded the Metropolitan PGA's highest honor Tuesday, the Met PGA Pro of the Year Award.

"It's really a lifetime award. I was touched by it, believe me," said DeBellis, formerly the head pro at Rock Hill Golf & Country Club in Manorville. He grew emotional during his acceptance speech at Westchester Dinner Theater in Elmsford, speaking about people who helped him, including his dad.

Also at the ceremony, Huntington Country Club pro Jim Smoot was named junior golf leader, Bob Posillico and Doug Solow of Eisenhower Park were named merchandisers of the year among public courses, Steve Haggerty was honored as merchandiser of the year among private clubs and John Kennedy, director of golf at Westchester Country Club and former pro at Cold Spring Country Club, received his fifth Horton Smith Award for contributions to education. Kennedy said he isn't much on acceptance speeches, but added, "It gives me an opportunity to share my experiences with the younger guys."

The city game

The Golf Club at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan will hold its Seventh Annual Golf Fest Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2. Saturday will be devoted to equipment, manufacturers displaying new clubs. Sunday will be an open house, featuring free lessons. Visit chelseapiers.com/golffest.

Outings

The Sixth Annual Golf Outing benefiting the Cancer Center for Kids at Winthrop-University Hospital will be June 21, at Hamlet Wind Watch, Hauppauge. Call Maria Kavan 516-663-3398 or e-mail mkavan@winthrop.org.