SANTA ANA PUEBLO — Midway through another busiest day of his life, Roger Martinez finally sat down to answer a few questions Thursday.

Martinez, the director of golf and general manager of Santa Ana Golf Inc., had time to talk about a prestigious golf industry award he won recently, but had little time to personally acknowledge.

And all but seemed uncomfortable that his was the only name on the engraving.

"It's a nice tribute, but it's not necessarily a tribute to an individual," Martinez said. "I know this sounds cliché, but you're only as good as the people that you surround yourself with. That's the God's-honest truth right here.

"I have eight department heads and they represent 82 years of service to this golf corporation. So they've been here a long time and they're not necessarily going anywhere. And when you surround yourself with people that are stronger than you are, it just makes you look that much better."

Martinez recently was named one of the 2009 Most Admired Operators of golf clubs by Golf Inc., the world's leading magazine for golf course developers, owners and management company executives.

Martinez, who has been at Santa Ana since its opening in 1991, is the only golf course operator to be honored from New Mexico.

Only 20 golf club operators were given the award, which was based on leadership and ability to deliver a product with excellent customer service. Martinez chairs both golf operations, as well as the Prairie Star restaurant and the Wind Dancer Bar & Grill.

Martinez says his company does 150 corporate/charitable golf events and 60 weddings from May through October.

"When we go, we go real hard, and we don't stop for six months," Martinez said.

The award comes on the heels of the enormous preparations Santa Ana Golf Inc. is making for the 42nd PGA Professional National Championship that will be held June 28-July 1 at both Santa Ana Golf Club and Twin Warriors Golf Club.

All of the 158 employees this season will be involved in the preparation and execution of the tournament. Eight hundred volunteers also will be on hand for the event, more than a combined 10,000 man hours.

Martinez said more than 100 volunteers are still needed. Those interested in participating can visit the Santa Ana Golf Inc. Web site, at ww.mynewmexicogolf.com.