The members of the Pro-Duffers Orlando would like to congratulate the 2026 Emeritus Award recipient, Ellis Reynolds.
Ellis Reynolds
Highlighting a Life in Orlando
My Journey in Orlando and Pro Duffers Organization
I arrived in Orlando in 2004 and soon became involved with the Tri-City Golfers, where I spent a period playing golf and building connections within the local golfing community.
In 2008, I made the decision to part ways with Tri-City and, along with a dedicated group of golfers, became one of the original members of PDO. That same year, we chose to affiliate with the National Pro Duffer organization, and our membership was officially recognized in 2009, thanks to Chuck Stradford’s leadership.
A J, Chuck, Jim Sykes, and I are among the founding members who helped shape the direction of PDO from the very beginning. My involvement grew over time, and I served as a coordinator for approximately four years before taking on the role of President. My presidential service included a four-year term, followed by a two-year term, with a two-year interval between them.
PDO selected Tee-Lo Golf as our primary local organization to support. In my later years and after completing my presidency, I worked closely with Bob Biggers as Board Chair for Tee-Lo. Together, we established a foundation and organized annual golf tournaments to raise funds in support of Tee-Lo’s mission.
Being a member of Pro Duffers has been a source of enjoyment and camaraderie for me, providing something to look forward to twice a week for many years. Our group also took on the responsibility of running the National Tournament in 2016, which was a significant accomplishment for the organization.
To this day, I continue to actively participate in the monthly CLT meetings. These gatherings are where decisions are made regarding the rules governing our organization’s play and the planning of key events. We encourage all members to take part in these meetings and contribute to the ongoing development of our organization.
Finally, I wish to express my gratitude to Mike Chatman for his recognition, and I extend my best wishes to the organization for continued success in the future.