Harris Wins Iowa PGA Distinguished Service Award

Sep 18, 2018

Riverside, Iowa – Terry Harris, Founder of Harris Golf Cars, was named as the 2018 Iowa PGA Distinguished Service Award honoree by the Iowa PGA Special Awards Committee last week. The Iowa PGA Distinguished Service Award was initiated in 2014 to honor outstanding individuals as well as organizations for their contributions and service to golf and for inspiring others. Recipients are selected by their display of leadership, integrity, volunteering, sportsmanship and enthusiasm for the game of golf.

“This is awesome for (Terry) to be recognized in this capacity,” said Scott Harris.  “All of us here at Harris believe strongly that he has done a lot of things for the Iowa PGA and the game golf and it’s great that he is getting recognized for that.”   

Harris Golf Cars originated in 1979 as S and H Golf Cars as a small distributor for Yamaha Golf Cars. Harris purchased the distributorship in 1998 and became the sole owner in January of 1999. His son Scott Harris and son-in-law Steve Haldeman later joined him in this business. Since then, Harris Golf Cars has grown to become the largest and oldest distributor in the United States for Yamaha Golf Cars. Harris Golf Cars now services all of the Iowa Section, the eastern half of the Nebraska Section, the lower section of the Wisconsin Section and the upper portion of the Illinois Section.  

Harris and Harris Golf Cars have supported the Iowa PGA Section for 39 years. Harris Golf Cars has sponsored many different aspects of the Iowa PGA such as being the Title Sponsors of the Pro-Facility Championship, being a Presenting Sponsor of the Iowa PGA Spring Meeting and Pro-Pro, being the Presenting Sponsor of the Iowa PGA Team Challenge and the Presenting Sponsor of the Iowa PGA weekly email. During this time Harris has contributed over a quarter of a million dollars to the Iowa PGA.

“Mr. Harris has long been one of the biggest supporters of the Iowa PGA,” said Iowa PGA Member, Mark Egly. “His service and generosity to the Section is worthy of our appreciation.” 

Not only has Harris been an incremental part of the Iowa PGA, he has also been highly supportive of golf as a whole in the state of Iowa. He coached golf at Hempstead High School coaching the likes of Iowa PGA Members, Steve Hutton, Jim Henry and Iowa Golf Hall of Famer Larry Gladson. A mentor to many in the Iowa PGA Section, Harris has taught current and past PGA Professionals, and has also extended a helping hand to anyone he can in the golf industry. 

“Terry has donated to countless outings and fundraisers throughout the state of Iowa,” said Kevin Dorrington. “He has never hesitated to be of assistant to golfers whenever they ask. Terry has also mentored many young Professionals, like myself, when it came time to get that that first fleet of golf cars.” 

The Iowa PGA would like to congratulate Terry for winning this prestigious award and thank him for his generosity in regards to the Iowa PGA and golf as a whole in the state of Iowa.