Russell Named Max Shields Scholarship Recipient-
Riverside, Iowa – Gracie Russell of Woodhull, Illinois has been named the 2025 Iowa PGA Max Shields Scholarship winner by the Iowa PGA Scholarship Committee. The Max Shields Scholarship awards a $2,000 scholarship each year to anyone wishing to get into the golf business as a PGA Professional, Golf Course Superintendent or as a Club Manager. The criteria for recipients include interest and potential for future contributions to the game of golf in any of these fields in the golf business. They may be a graduating high school senior, post-graduate or even someone looking into golf as a second career.
The story below is a significant part of its history, as a fond remembrance for those who knew Max Shields and to pass along the story of a much-loved man to those who came along later.
Max Shields was born on December 1, 1931, in Ottumwa, Iowa. He passed on Sunday, August 15, 2021, at the Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa. He graduated from Oskaloosa High School with the class of 1950. On March 10, 1951, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Allgood in Oskaloosa. To this union three children were born, Steve, Michael, and Becky. To learn more about the story of one of Iowa PGA’s unsung PGA Golf Professionals…click here.
When asked what winning this scholarship means to Russell, “Receiving this scholarship will definitely ease the financial burden of college while I continue to pursue my goals in the classroom and on the course.”
She started playing golf when she was seven years old out on the driving range. Although she didn’t play much or play in any tournaments, she still got out there and learned how to swing the club. It was eighth grade when she started playing a lot more and thought that she might have a good future with golf. She played in only two Iowa PGA Junior tournaments before her freshman year. Once she got to high school there weren’t any other girls going out, so she must play on the boy’s team. Throughout her high school years, she competed in many Iowa PGA Junior tournaments every summer. Competing in the Iowa PGA Junior Tournaments and on the high school boys team taught her perseverance, patience, and dedication. Her senior year her high school finally had the numbers to put together a girls’ team.
Russell is committed to playing and studying at the University of Dubuque this fall. She plans on continuing her golf career at the University of Dubuque studying Business Administration. She plans on using this background to become a club manager. The reason she has decided to pursue a career in the golf industry started when she first volunteered to work at the junior camp at her home course. She has volunteered at her local youth camp since the summer before her eighth grade and every summer since. It has been very rewarding in seeing the interest grow in the younger campers.
The Iowa PGA Congratulates Gracie Russell as our 2025 Iowa PGA Max Shields Scholarship.
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