Member Profile
Adam Andrews
Every certification course that I am fortunate enough to be a part of brings with it unique and unprecedented events. The certification course I conducted at Indian Hills Golf Course in Fort Pierce, Florida, this past year certainly proved to be a case of the unprecedented.
All who attended did well in the course, but one young man stood out among the rest by the name of Adam Andrews. Originally from the United Kingdom, Andrews now spends some time in the Orlando, Florida, area, where he is honing his playing skills in preparation for a career in competitive golf.
Andrews is only 22 years old, but possesses the maturity of a man far beyond what his age would suggest. He scored in the high 90s throughout the entire academic curriculum, which included the written teaching and rules tests, and the verbal teaching test. When it came to the part of the evaluation where the lower the score the better, Andrews posted a sterling 65, which included sinking a 10-foot putt on the very fi rst hole for an eagle two. At the end of three holes, he was 4-under par.
For the week, Andrews was 25 strokes under par. This kid can play! There is no doubt that when Adam Andrews decides to enter the world of teaching, he will benefit anyone lucky enough to work with him.
Get Golf Ready
Ken Hanley from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, has been an active USGTF member since 1997. Now 58 years old, Hanley is head instructor for the “Get Golf Ready” program in the Thunder Bay region. Hanley has also developed and patented a new innovative training aid called “The Putting Stroke Teacher,” which is now manufactured in the USA. This simple t-shaped device attaches to the handle of the putter and rests gently across the top of the golfer’s forearms. It promotes three key putting fundamentals simultaneously during practice:
1. Perfect shoulder alignment
2. A consistent setup position and shaft plane angle
3. A one-piece pendulum type swing motion
This training aid has improved the putting skills of golfers from novice to the tour pro levels while providing a realistic feel and effective feedback.
For more information, please visit www.tpsteacher.com, and it is also available by calling Burt Coyote Co., Inc. at (309) 358-1602.
Nate Deakin
I am a Level III certified teaching pro, and about eight months ago I took a job at Quail Meadows Golf Course in Washington, Illinois. I have created a huge junior program here so far, working with the Fon du Lac Park District, East Peoria school district, and Hooka-Kid and Kids Golf Foundation.
Not only do I run weekly junior group lessons for ages four all the way through 18, I run two different competitive junior leagues and a free SNAG program every week. Also, I am responsible for holding two Tee Level Clinics, where 40 underprivileged kids get a brand-new Tour Edge golf set, shirt, hat, golf balls, Chip Beck’s Grip Guides, and 15 hours of instruction – all for free through the Kids Golf Foundation. In private and group junior programs and lessons alone, I have reached out to over 200 kids, and if the East Peoria school district agrees to hold SNAG, it will be more in the realm of 600 kids or more, so I could not be happier.
Quail Meadows is a great facility and has great employees. The range and short-game area are great for teaching, and Tom Wolff, the director, has nothing but thoughts of making it even better. My goal is to make Quail Meadows one of the biggest, if not the biggest, supporter of junior golf. For next season, I already have been asked by the Washington and Metamora junior facilities and school to expand my program, so the sky is the limit right now. And, that’s just scratching the surface, because I also have created multiple senior, women’s, adult, and special-needs programs. So, I teach not only juniors, but all ages, genders, and golf skills.
I have nothing but hopes and dreams for Quail Meadows and my programs, and so far, a lot of them are becoming true very quickly.
USGTF Central Region Tournament Results
The USGTF Central Region Championship was conducted the 30th of September at Quail Meadows Golf Course outside Peoria, Illinois. Nate Deakin fired a 74 to claim the title, with USGTF Central Region director Keith Dunklebarger taking runnerup honors. Larry Davis finished third.
(Pictured) Nate Deakin receives the championship trophy from Keith Dunklebarger, Central Region director.
New USGTF Second Pro Shop
From our home page, when you click on the Member Merchandise link, you’ll see our new Corporate Store & Closeouts link to our new second Pro Shop. This greatly expanded shop features apparel and accessory items with our USGTF logo at great prices! We have apparel from Callaway, Nike, Puma and FootJoy, and our specialty-priced hi-tech Bermuda Sands clothing line. Equipment includes Callaway, Nike, TaylorMade and Tour Edge, plus our line of specialty clubs. Every month we will addnew closeouts and specials for all members.
2014 Membership dues now payable online
For your convenience, 2014 membership fees may be paid online by accessing www.usgtf.com/renew. Many members opt for this time-saving method. Please remember that this fee is tax deductible. All membership cards are sent out from the national office in Port St. Lucie, Florida, in a timely manner. Membership benefits include personal-use discounts with longtime industry partners such as Callaway, Nike, Wilson, Mizuno, TaylorMade, Cleveland, Tour Edge, Bridgestone, Adidas, and others. We look forward to your continued USGTF membership and wish you much success in your golf teaching endeavors.
World Golf Coaches Alliance Course and Videos Available
The World Golf Coaches Alliance, a division of the USGTF, has already become an extremely popular entity. The 10 online instructional videos from specialists in every area of coaching are now available. For the first time, golf coaches have a worldwide association that provides training and certification for their specific profession. As you know, a coach is someone who prepares individuals or teams for competition. Our online certification course includes the following video curriculum:
– Understanding Sports Psychology
– Coaching a High School Golf Team
– Coaching Golf at the Collegiate Level
– Coaching a Tour Player
– Understanding Fitness and Biomechanics for the Golf Coach
– Mental Aspects of Coaching Golf – Training Your Mind, Part 1
– Mental Aspects of Coaching Golf – Training Your Mind, Part 2
– Golf Coaching Excellence
– Nutrition for Golf Coaches
– Clubfitting for Golf Coaches
To qualify as a Certified Professional Golf Coach®, you must be a USGTF or WGTF member (any level), or a PGA or LPGA professional. For more information and to register, please visit www.WorldGolfCoaches.com.
Korean Language Certification Course
Recent photo of a USGTF certification course held at Orchard Hills Golf Club in Newnan, Georgia. USGTF Level IV member and examiner Joseph Lee, pictured in the center, conducts Korean language courses. New members from left to right are Changwoo Shin, Seung Kyu Oh, Hyun Ju Kim, Sun C. Han, examiner Joseph Lee, Hyun Yi Ahn, Joochan Kim, Gun Sung Joung, and Hee Jin Yang.
USGTF Southeast Region Tournament Results
World Woods Golf Course outside of Brooksville, Florida, proved to be the perfect venue for the 6th annual USGTF Southeast Region Championship, played August 3-4. Both courses at the 36-hole facility are rated among Florida’s top ten, and the Pine Barrens course is ranked as one of America’s top 100 by Golf Magazine. The
weather was outstanding, and the field was the largest ever with 17
participants. Mark Harman, from Ridgeland, South Carolina, captured the title with
scores of 74-71 – 145, outdistancing Jim Peters and Michael Taylor, who tied for second at 156. One of the highlights of the tournament was a hole-in-one by USGTF president Geoff Bryant on the 16th hole during the first round. Southeast Region director Mike Stevens hosted a dinner Saturday night in Crystal River and conducted the annual meeting. The site of next year’s event will be determined at a later date.
USGTF Northeast Region Tournament Results
The Northeast Region Tournament was held August 10, under sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70s. Ed Williams once again emerged as the champion, successfully defending his title with a 74 at Jack Frost National in Blakeslee, Pennsylvania. The course played soft due to five inches of rain the previous day, but the greens maintained their speed, Stimping at 11 1/2. Other winners were Ingrid Narken, Ladies, with a 78; Joe Casey, 60 and over, with a 79; Andy Pierson, under 50; and John Savage, Super Senior.
USGTF Social Media Update
The USGTF has a presence in several venues on social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and through
its members web board. You can like us on Facebook by clicking on to Facebook.com/USGolfTeachersFed,
become a follower on Twitter at Twitter.com/USGOLFTEACHERS, and also visiting the members web
board at www.USGTFMembers.com. The web board allows USGTF members to interact and share ideas with their fellow members, and is a great resource. Whatever avenue of social media you wish to pursue with the USGTF, please take the time to do so and get involved!
VOICE CADDIE SIGNS ON AS INDUSTRY PARTNER
The #1-rated GPS voice yardage device has created an approved exclusive program for USGTF members. In recognition of your professionalism and ability to influence golfers throughout the world, Voice Caddie is offering exclusively to USGTF members the opportunity to become ”Private Retail Partners” for its exciting GPS products. Our products are priced to help you earn additional income with little or no effort…just wear our Voice Caddie GPS and watch the extra dollars roll in. Features include 30,000+ golf courses, shot distance, center-ofthe-green yardage GPS technology, accuracy, one-touch operation, FEE FREE and NO downloading, classic look and packaging, wearable, and more. This easy-tosell, user-friendly accurate GPS is perfect for your students, simple to demo, and priced right. For details, please contact Jim Cocchi, distributor, at jvcocchi@yahoo.com, or call (352) 238-0114 or you may visit www.voicecaddie.com.
Newton Takes United States Match Play Championship®
Scott Newton of Port St. Lucie, Florida, captured the second annual United States Match Play Championship at Indian Hills Golf Course in Fort Pierce, Florida, defeating Landon Bompensa 2-up in the championship match. Newton’s first-place check of $5,000 is the largest he’s earned so far in his professional career. Bompensa took home $1,000 as the runner-up. Bompensa was in control for most of the front nine, taking a 1-up lead into the back nine. Newton then proceeded to win holes 10-13 to go up by 3, but Bompensa wouldn’t lay down. He won the next three holes to square the match on the strength of a Newton tee shot that went out of bounds on 14 and by birdieing 15 and 16. Newton then hit his tee shot on the 140-yard par-4 17th to four feet in making birdie to go back up by 1, and Bompensa conceded Newton’s birdie putt on 18 when his own birdie attempt failed to go in. The United States Match Play Championship (a USGTF-sponsored event) is open to all professional and amateur golfers, and is the only match play national match play event open to everyone. The next event is scheduled for December 1-5, 2014, at Indian Hills Golf Club.
