A Brief USGTF Timeline
SEPTEMBER 1989 – USGTF holds first certification course at Admiral Lehigh Resort in Lehigh Acres, Florida. Twelve individuals participate.
JANUARY 1990 – USGTF conducts second certification course at Admiral Lehigh. This time, over 40 participants attend.
JANUARY 1991 – USGTF adds 200th member at sixth certification course.
JANUARY – DECEMBER 1993 – Due to great demand, the USGTF begins scheduling certification classes monthly instead of quarterly.
JANUARY 1993 – USGTF holds first certification course outside the United States, in Malaga, Spain.
JANUARY 1993 – The World Golf Teachers Federation is formed.
MAY 1993 – Ely Callaway, founder of Callaway Golf, meets with USGTF president Geoff Bryant to forge mutually beneficial relationship. Callaway Golf becomes the first USGTF industry partner.
SEPTEMBER 1993 – USGTF holds second certification course outside the United States, in Timmendorfer-Strand, Germany.
JANUARY 1995 – Responding to member requests for a higher level of certification, the first Master Golf Teaching Professional® certification class is held at Golden Gate Country Club in Naples, Florida. Thirty-one USGTF members participate.
JANUARY 1996 – The first United States Golf Teachers Cup is held at Ponce de Leon Golf Club in St. Augustine, Florida.
JANUARY 1997 – The first World Golf Teachers Cup is held at Golden Gate Country Club in Naples, Florida.
JANUARY – DECEMBER, 1998 – The USGTF increases the number of classes held yearly to 24, or two per month.
FEBRUARY 1998 – The fi rst World Golf Teachers Cup held in Europe takes place at San Roque Golf Club on the Costa del Sol of Spain.
JANUARY 2000 – Team Europe breaks Team USA’s winning streak in the World Golf Teachers Cup at Oliva Nova, Spain.
NOVEMBER 2002 – The United States Golf Teachers Cup moves permanently to autumn with a 36-hole format.
JANUARY – DECEMBER, 2003 – The USGTF schedules 55 classes, an average of one per week, to meet the demand for certification.
FEBRUARY 2005 – The World Golf Teachers Cup is held for the fi rst time in South America, in Itu, Brazil.
OCTOBER 2006 – The largest US and World Golf Teachers Cup to date take place in Boulder City, Nevada, with nearly 200 participants.
NOVEMBER 2006 – For the fi rst time since 1993, the USGTF holds a certification course outside the United States, this time in Trinidad & Tobago.
MAY 2007 – The USGTF establishes the National Golf Teachers Appreciation Day.
OCTOBER 2008 – The USGTF receives the Federal Trademark for the United States Match Play Championship.
MAY 2009 – The USGTF initiates the United States Golf Managers Association. It began conducting certifi cation seminars for those wanting to become Golf Club Managers.
SEPTEMBER 2009 – The International PGA Ltd. fully endorses the USGTF and its programs as the industry standard for training and certifying teaching professionals and golf club managers.
JANUARY 2010 – The USGTF creates the American Disabled Golfers’ Association. By raising the awareness of disabled golfers to golf club managers, the USGTF is continuously increasing accessibility of golf to these individuals.
SEPTEMBER 2011 – The USGTF creates WorldGolfAssociation.com, the official social network for golfers. Similar to Facebook, WorldGolfAssociation.com allows golfers all over the world to comment and interact with one another.
OCTOBER 2011 – USGTF and WGTF have grown to over 25,000 members worldwide.
