A Life of Service, Resilience, and Devotion to the Game
When the PGA of America established the Deacon Palmer Award, the primary reason was to give PGA of America Golf Professionals an opportunity to recognize their peers who showed courage in the face of life-altering challenges. Perhaps no one in the Southern Ohio Section embodies that fortitude more than Tod Hecht, PGA.
Tod’s career began with a deep passion for teaching, especially with junior golfers. That commitment to developing the next generation was evident early in his involvement with Morty’s Kids, a junior golf initiative created in honor of Robert Morton and supported by Columbus entrepreneur Tod Ortlip. Even after the organization merged with The First Tee of Central Ohio, Tod continued to coach through the program, driven by his belief in the life lessons golf can offer young people.
His dedication continued through his long-standing role with the PGA Jr. League team at The Lakes Golf & Country Club. He was also a coach and advisor for the golf team at St. Charles Prep in Columbus. Whether he’s teaching kids to replace divots, shake hands, or introduce themselves with eye contact, Tod sees every interaction as a chance to build character.
In 2008, Tod’s life changed dramatically when he suffered a stroke that took away his ability to speak and paralyzed the right side of his body. His survival was uncertain, and recovery was grueling – he spent nearly two months in the hospital and was away from the game for nearly two years. Despite those challenges and an uncertain future, Tod’s love for golf never wavered. In fact, it became his path to healing.
Through perseverance, patience, and a powerful drive to reconnect with others, Tod made a remarkable return. Though he continues to navigate the challenges of aphasia, he communicates with impact and intention, inspiring every student, peer, and playing partner he meets. His journey is the embodiment of what it means to overcome adversity with courage and grace, attributes Deacon Palmer himself lived every day of his remarkable life.
In every sense, Tod lives his life in service to the betterment of the game and those who play it. A two-time Section award winner (Golf Professional of the Year in 2004 and the Youth Player Development Award in 2013) his contributions to the Southern Ohio PGA are deep, lasting, and profoundly human. He is a deserving and fitting recipient of the 2025 Deacon Palmer Award.