USGTF Member News
WAYNE PLAYER JOINS USGTF
Wayne Player, son of the legendary Gary Player, has joined the USGTF as a Level III member. Player competed in two British Opens, making the cut as a 17-year-old, and a US Open.
Today, Player is the owner of Wayne Player Productions, LLC, a full-service entertainment and travel company, specializing in customized golf and bucket list experiences for corporate and private clients. He also provides motivational and educational stories from his experiences, among them his interactions with the greats of the game. The USGTF is pleased to welcome Wayne Player as a member.
2014 CENTRAL REGION CHAMPIONSHIP
2215 Centennial Drive
Washington, IL 61571
(309) 694-3139 or www.QuailMeadowsGolf.com
The 7th annual USGTF Central Region Championship will be held Sunday and Monday, August 3-4, at Quail Meadows Golf Course in Washington, Illinois (near Peoria). The event, which is open to all current WGTF and USGTF members, has an entry fee of $160, which includes golf, cart, range balls, prize money pool, and drink ticket for two days. There will be an optional skins pot daily and a giant skins pot covering both days for $15 total.
To register: please contact USGTF Central Region director Keith Dunklebarger at (309) 256-9077 or through e-mail at keithjdunk@comcast.net.
Recommended Hotel: Par A Dice Hotel & Casino (800) 727-2342. Tell them you are part of the USGTF Golfing Group to receive a special rate. www.paradicecasino.com
Past champions:
2008 – Charlie Henry
2009 – Joe Janosky
2010 – Mike Sidlinger
2011 – Keith Dunkelbarger
2012 – Event Canceled
2013 – Nate Deakin
NATIONAL OFFICE UNDERGOES RENOVATIONS
If you happen to be in the Port St. Lucie, Florida, area in the near future, stop by! The USGTF national office has undergone some renovations to better utilize the space in the office, as well as making some cosmetic changes for aesthetic purposes. All USGTF members are welcome to visit any time during normal business hours, which are 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
2014 MICHIGAN/ONTARIO TOUR SCHEDULE
Sunday, June 22
Dunham Hills Golf Club
Hartland, Michigan
Cost: $3000
Sunday, July 13
Pine Knot Golf & Country Club
London, Ontario
Cost: $4000
Monday, August 11
Links at Gateway Golf Club
Romulus, Michigan
Cost: $4000
September 7 and 8
Kelly Cup
Green Hills Golf & Country Club
London, Ontario
note: optional prize money fee $5000/event and $1000 skins/event
The highlight of the tour’s season is the September Kelly Cup competition between the two countries. The event is named in honor of former USGTF member Thomas Kelly, who died suddenly on the golf course in 2003.
For more information and/or to obtain a tour agreement form, please contact either Tour Director:
Ontario Tour Director:
Grant Gulych
grant@ggolfs.com
Michigan Tour Director:
Charlie Henry
clh3@comcast.net
SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATE
The USGTF has several social media sites that allow members to keep in touch with the USGTF and their fellow professionals. On Facebook, the USGTF can be found at www.Facebook.com/USGolfTeachersFed. On Twitter, check us out at www.Twitter.com/USGolfTeachers. On LinkedIn.com, the USGTF has a group called
Teaching Golf. Finally, USGTF members have their own website at www.USGTFMembers.com, where they can discuss various teaching and golf topics. Whatever your preferred method of social media, the USGTF is there to give you the information you need.
NEW VENUE FOR NORTHEAST CHAMPIONSHIP
Great Bear Golf Club in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania (Pocono Mountain region), a Jack Nicklaus design, will host the 2014 USGTF Northeast Region Championship Saturday, July 19. Age divisions are 49 and under, 50-59, 60-69, and 70 and over, and each will have different tee assignments. Ladies will play the forward tees. Tee times begin at 1:00 p.m. so it is possible to drive to the course on the morning of the event, and drive back that evening. Stay and play packages are also available. The entry fee is $150 and the entry deadline is July 9. To enter or for more information, contact John Savage at 46 Princeton Ct., Langhorne, PA 19047, through e-mail at savogolf@aol.com, or call him at (267) 992-4692.
2014 SOUTHEAST REGION CHAMPIONSHIP
The 7th annual USGTF Southeast Region Championship is set for Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27, at Glen Lakes Country Club in Weeki Wachee, Florida, approximately 40 miles north of Clearwater and 10 miles west of Brooksville. The entry fee is $175 which includes two tournament rounds of golf, range balls prior to play, and tournament prize fund. On Saturday evening, participants will convene for dinner and annual meeting. Age divisions include under 50, 50-59, 60 and over. The tournament is open to all USGTF members, regardless of residence. To enter, please send entry fee of $175 before the July 15 deadline to USGTF, 1295 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34952 and include name and age. The recommended hotel is the Quality Inn in Weeki Wachee, Florida, (352) 596-9000.
For more information on this event, please contact Mike Stevens at ams1127@msn.com.
INTERNATIONAL PGA, WGTF REAFFIRM STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Glen Sorensen, president of the International PGA, recently contacted USGTF president Geoff Bryant to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the two organizations. The International PGA is located in the Caribbean nation of St. Lucia, and is the only worldwide body to recognize all golf professionals. Sorensen has been a longtime admirer of the USGTF’s and WGTF’s inroads in teaching, coaching, and golf club management.
As the first worldwide organization to encompass all golf professionals and club managers, membership is available in the International PGA to all USGTF and WGTF Level III and IV members in good standing, as well as all Class A PGA and LPGA professionals. Sorensen especially believes the USGTF’s and WGTF’s innovative and ongoing education in teaching, coaching, and management perfectly fit the mission of the International PGA. He encourages all WGTF members to visit its website at www.InternationalPGAcom.
ALLEN EDMONDS, PEAKVISION SIGN ON AS USGTF INDUSTRY PARTNERS. MOST POPULAR TEACHING SHOE!
Allen Edmonds, maker of fine leather and clothing goods, has signed on as a USGTF industry partner. USGTF members in good standing are eligible to purchase Allen Edmonds products at wholesale cost. To purchase a product, please contact Dan Carroll at (772) 486-0305, or through e-mail at carrollgolf@aol.com. Allen Edmonds’ website is www.AllenEdmonds.com.
PeakVision Sports Sunwear has also signed on as a USGTF industry partner. According to its website, “PeakVision’s patented Dual-Zone/ Zero-Distortion lens technology improves vision TEE-TO-GREEN. In fact, three-out-of-four golfers say they see better with PEAKS than with their naked eye! The neutral-gray upper zone effectively manages overhead glare from the sun and sky. The spectral amber lower zone allows more visual information into your eyes with increased contrast.” USGTF members are entitled to a 60% discount off the retail price. For more information and to purchase PeakVision products, please visit www.PeakV.com and use the invitation code USGTF2014.
ORTEGA WINS USGTF NORTHWEST CHAMPIONSHIP
Ryan Ortega of South San Francisco, California, fired a 75 to win the inaugural USGTF Northwest Region Championship on May 12 at Ridgecreek Golf Club in Fresno, California. Sharon Bagdasarian of Fresno won the Ladies title, Northwest Region director Jim Perez of Fresno took the Senior division championship, and Manuel Guzman of Lenore, California, was the Super Senior champion. Discussions were held regarding the next regional championship with Las Vegas being one of the frontrunners.
SOUTHWEST REGION CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
By Bruce Sims USGTF Southwest Region Director
The tournament was a hit. We had three guest speakers the first morning, and we were going to play the first round but weather intervened, and the field elected to play 36 on Monday. We had another gathering Sunday evening with dinner and discussed teaching styles with the guest speakers.
Monday was a great day, a little cool that morning, but the day turned out gorgeous. We had three divisions, Seniors, Super Seniors, and Legends. The Super Seniors and Legends formed one scoring division but played separate tees. It was a great time had by all and they are looking forward to next year.
Senior Division
1st Randy Beeney
2nd Soo Lee
3rd Carlos DeBaros
4th Bruce Sims
Super Seniors & Legends
1st Walt Abraham
2nd Andy Rosales
3rd JD Winkel
