Received award in 2004

Forty years ago a perfect match was made, Hobble Creek Golf Course and Sonny Braun. They are inseparable. You can't think of one without the other.

Pleasant, calm, peaceful, and popular describes them. They have never been without each other. At the young age of 32 Sonny Braun became the first head professional at Hobble Creek and 38 years later he is still the only head pro at Hobble Creek. That's a Utah record. No other golf course in Utah has had the original pro maintain his position that long.

Sonny and his brother Jerry and sister Mary grew up loving golf Sonny and Jerry both became golf professionals and Mary became the reigning women's club champion at Timpanogos Golf Course for the better part of three decades. Her daughter Terri is a Women's State Am champion and her son Craig is the assistant pro at Hobble Creek.

Sonny started into golf at the age of 12 when he began working at the original Timpanogos Golf Course. He worked at Timp for a period of 17 years, interrupted for two years by service in the Army. During those years at Timp he worked under the tutelage of Jimmy Thompson, Bill Johnston, and Dave Crowton. While in the Army he served as assistant professional to Ben Cavalier at Fort Sheridan golf course.

In 1963 he went to Monterey Peninsula Country Club as an assistant pro with John Geertsen, Jr. He maintained that position until he was invited back to Utah County to be the head pro at Hobble Creek.

All totaled he has served in golf shops for 58 of his 70 years of life.

During his years at Hobble Creek he established strong men's and women's golf associations and worked closely with various mayors and city councils to build a solid core of loyal Springville golfers. Hobble Creek, because of its unusual beauty and serenity, attracts thousands of golfers from throughout Utah, but Sonny sees that it retains the feel of a small community golf course.

As the golf course icon Sonny has conscientiously worked on linking the community to the course and as a result the citizens of Springville take an unusual pride of ownership in their golf course. To them, Hobble Creek is their country club.

Sonny is a fine player, holding the Hobble Creek Course record at one time with a 63, but has devoted his golf focus to administration and teaching. He also developed a talent in golf repair and refinishing clubs and became a craftsman at it. He has won numerous awards including Merchandiser of the Year, the Bill Strausbaugh Award for Public Relations, and recently the Utah Section PGA 'Gentleman Jeff' Award. The Art City Amateur Tournament he established is a fixture in Utah golf and because of his respect for history the tournament has developed an enduring tradition.

Without being flamboyant he is personable and friendly. He pays attention to detail, and runs an orderly operation. He takes pride in the condition of the golf course and the cleanliness of the clubhouse and always has time for a cheery hello and a friendly chat.

He is loved by Springville City officials and citizens, the men's and women's clubs at Hobble Creek, the employees, and all Utah golfers who have had a chance to enjoy his company.

Sonny married Laurel Turner 44 years ago, and they have three sons, Scott, Steve, and Shea.