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GOLF TEACHING PRO® Magazine
 THOMAS BECOMES SECOND AFRICANAMERICAN
COLLEGIATE GOLF COACH
USGTF member Robert Thomas has been named the
head coach for Rosemont College in Bryn
Mawr, Pennsylvania. Thomas becomes just the second African-American
golf coach nationwide, joining Michigan State’s Sam Puryear.
Thomas is the inaugural coach of the new
NCAA Division III program, which will begin play later this year. According to Rosemont's website, "Thomas also brings a strong collegiate background as well, having served as an assistant to the varsity basketball programs at the University of Delaware and Widener University. 'I was fortunate to have coached at both Widener and University of Delaware,'
Thomas said. ‘Those experiences gave
me a lot of the groundwork for organizing and maintaining a collegiate program. I worked with recruiting and
admissions, which will be very helpful to me in coming to Rosemont.’”
FORDHAM UNIVERSITY JOINS FORCES
WITH UNITED STATES GOLF MANAGERS
ASSOCIATION
 Prestigious Fordham University in West Harrison, New York, in
association with the United States Golf Managers Association, will
offer a golf managers certification course on August 23-27, 2010 at its new
Westchester campus. This five-day certification
course will include certification for Golf Club
Professional, Golf Club Manager, and Golf Resort
Manager. The course itself will be conducted by USGTF
Level IV  member Patrick Montana. Montana also has a Ph.D in
management and has been instrumental in conducting many of the
US Golf Managers Association courses.
These courses are unique in that they are taught by real-life golf
managers who specialize in teaching all the various topics pertinent to
golf management. For those interested in enhancing their golf resumes
and acquiring a certification in golf management, please log on to
www.USGolfManagers.com.
GORDON HARPER
JOINS USGTF TEAM
The USGTF is pleased to bring on
board, marketing executive Gordon
Harper of Atlanta, Georgia, as
its Director of Strategic Partnerships
and Special Publications. Harper will
help to develop partnerships with
various companies, both inside and
outside of golf, that will benefit the
membership of the USGTF.
The advertising and sponsorships
are part of a larger marketing plan of
developing overall partnerships for
the organization as a whole, as opposed
to finding individual sponsors
for individual events.
Harper is well-suited to the
task at hand, having worked in
the industry for many years. After
attending college at Skidmore in
Saratoga Springs, New York, he
went to work in New York City for
J. Walter Thompson, now known as
JWT. Harper moved to Atlanta after
getting married, where he spent
over 30 years in the magazine and
marketing business.
HALL OF FAMER PENS BOOK
Robert “Rock” Robinson, a Level
III member from Monroeville,
Pennsylvania, and also president of
the West Penn Minority Junior Golf
Association, Inc., has written a book
titled From the Ghetto to the Green.
Robinson has also mentored three
students who later became USGTF
professionals.
In 2008, Robinson was inducted
into the National Black Golf Hall
of Fame, joining such luminaries as
Pete Brown, Jim Dent, Lee Elder,
Gary Player, Ted Rhodes, and Jim
Thorpe. Robert can be reached at rrobinson320@comcast.net.
 CHURCH NAMED AS SPECIAL OLYMPICS COACH
USGTF
Master Teaching Professional
Pat Church has been named
one of just six golf coaches
for the United States Special
Olympics team for the games
to be held in 2011 in Athens,
Greece. Church, from
Eugene, Oregon, beat out many other qualified applicants for the position.
Church serves as the Women’s Club Coordinator at RiverRidge Golf
Course in Eugene, and is a frequent competitor in the United States Golf
Teachers Cup. The USGTF National Office would like to congratulate Pat
for achieving such an outstanding honor.
WALKER INDUCTED
INTO HALL OF FAME
USGTF Master Teaching Professional Herb “Turk”
Walker was inducted into the African-American
Golfers Hall of Fame on May 31. Walker hails from Dayton, Ohio, and is
a longtime USGTF member, having originally been certified in Florida in
1996. Walker, who has been playing and teaching golf for over 40 years,
has also served as an assistant coach for the University of Dayton golf
team and has written many golf columns for various publications.
SOUTHEAST REGION
CHAMPIONSHIP SET
USGTF Southeast Region director Mike Stevens has
announced that the 2010 USGTF Southeast
Region Championship has been set for Saturday-Sunday, August 21-22, at
Wildwood Country Club in Crawfordville, Florida, about 30 minutes south
of Tallahassee. The championship will be held in conjunction with the
Wildwood Open, a longtime staple of the Tallahassee-area tournament
scene. USGTF members will compete with non-USGTF members in the
tournament prize pool and for overall honors, although the low USGTF
scorer will be named Southeast Region champion. The region meeting
will take place after the first round, and USGTF president Geoff Bryant,
membership services’ Robert Kleabir, and national course director Mark
Harman are scheduled to attend, along with Stevens.
Three divisions are available: professional, senior professional (50+),
and amateur division based on handicap index. Entry fees are $175 for
professionals and senior professionals, $135 for amateurs. The adjacent Inn
at Wildwood is offering rooms for tournament participants for $59 plus tax.
Although registration for the Wildwood Open is possible through the
golf course, USGTF members are requested to sign up through the USGTF
National Office as this will be the only way we know for sure if a member
is competing. Entry deadline is Monday, August 16.
UNITED STATES MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP®
Never before has there been an open match play championship
held in the United States. The USGTF will conduct the inaugural
United States Match Play Championship June 29 – July 3 at the Pebble
Creek Country Club in Greenville, South Carolina. It is open to all
golfers, professional and amateur. The USGTF owns the trademark and
is the originator of the concept. We are seeking volunteers to help with
tournament operations. If you are interested in volunteering, please
call the USGTF National Office at (888)346-3290 or (772)335-3216. The
tournament website is
www.UnitedStatesMatchPlayChampionship.com.
AMERICAN DISABLED GOLFERS ASSOCIATION
The USGTF has established a 501(c) non-profit corporation called The
American Disabled Golfers Association. Many of our members have
already been teaching the disabled, so part of our mission is to share
this information with teaching professionals who may tend to shy away
from this particular segment of golfers. We also want to help educate golf
course owners and managers to be more accommodating to those with
disabilities, and at the same time provide hope and encouragement to
the disabled through the introduction of golf as a form of recreation. The
website is www.disabledgolfersassociation.com. If any member would like
to become involved in this mission by conducting either a scramble or a
two-man best ball tournament to raise money for disabled golfers, please
contact Robbie at info@theadga.com.
LIABILITY INSURANCE UPDATE AND AVAILABILITY
The USGTF, through Insurance Office of America and Bollinger, Inc.,
can provide its members with $1 million of liability insurance with
a $3 million aggregate and no deductible. This important and affordable
coverage protects you while performing your duties as a golf teaching
professional.
It has been clarified that the insurance also offers protection in your
role as a clubfitter in recommending club specifications to your students.
Please note that this is not the same as clubmaking, which is not covered
by the policy. The annual premium is $120 and is payable to Bollinger,
Inc. To purchase the coverage, please include your name, address, city,
state, zip, phone, fax, e-mail address, and a signed and dated document to
Bollinger, Inc., 101 JFK Parkway, PO Box 390, Short Hills, NJ 07078.
If you have any questions, please call Cathy Fonseca at Bollinger Inc.,
(800) 350-8005, ext. 8124 or e-mail
Cathy.Fonseca@Bollingerinsurance.com.
USGTF TO PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL GOLF TOURS
 The USGTF is continuing
its mission to provide
competitive opportunities for
both its members and elite players
in 2010 with the advent of
The Professional Golf Tour USA®
and The Senior Golf Tour USA®.
Please note that the membership
fee of $100 is waived for all
USGTF and WGTF members. If
you are interested in playing on
one of these tours or scheduling a
tournament at your facility, please
contact Jennifer at info@usgtf.
com. You may also view these
new websites by visiting
www.TheSeniorGolfTour.com and/or
www.ProfessionalGolfTourUSA.com.
USGTFMembers.com ENTERING BUSY SEASON
Our member communication
website, www.usgtfmembers.com, is a great way to get in
touch with your fellow members
from not only the United States,
but around the world. The site
is also updated frequently by
members of the USGTF National
Offi ce with current news. If you
are not registered, it only takes a
few minutes to do so. If you are
registered, please don’t hesitate
to use the site and join in on the
conversation.
PALMER ENDORSES CARBONE’S BOOK
Golf legend Arnold Palmer has given his personal
endorsement for CGTF member Max Carbone’s
book, Scoring Eagles!, a leadership and strategy guide
designed to improve performance on and off the
course. Palmer wrote, “I enjoyed reading Scoring
Eagles! and found it very interesting, comparing golf,
business, and life.”
According to the book’s jacket,
Scoring Eagles!
shares how leaders can apply a proven approach that truly helps them and their teams drive maximum results with less effort and wasted
energy.”
Carbone’s company, Team Works Management, has worked with
various international companies, including Adidas, Coca-Cola, Nike, and
many more. The book was published through Life Success Publishing,
Inc., and can be obtained both online and at major book stores.
 USGTF MEMBERS INSTRUMENTAL IN
NEW YORK CITY JUNIORS PROGRAM
USGTF professional Edward Ulon has been involved
with City Parks Foundation in New York City
for the past several years. Ulon works as a seasonal golf professional,
and the Foundation operates out of a state-of-the-art practice facility that
has 12 hitting stations, a putting green, a chipping green, and bunkers.
Children from ages 6 to 17 learn the game and utilize the practice facility,
all at no cost.
Several USGTF
professionals teach with
the program, which has
proven to be a very
successful operation for
the city of New York.
Anyone desiring
more information on
the program can contact Ulon at (917) 968-0845,
or Michael Silverman
of the City Parks
Foundation at (718)
259-2999. Ulon can also
be reached by e-mail at
lieut610@aol.com.
INTERNATIONAL PGA LTD.
 Glenn Pratt, president of International PGA Ltd., has welcomed
many WGTF professionals over the past year as members. The
International PGA endorses all WGTF programs and affiliated nations
throughout the world. It is the first PGA entity of inclusion that welcomes
members worldwide, both WGTF and PGA members.
Prior to the formation of the International PGA, there was no formal
international body that encompassed all individual PGA’s and golf
professionals worldwide. The International PGA recognizes that all WGTF
member federations play an extremely important role in the growth and
promotion of the game, along with various PGA entities of individual
nations.
For further information on the International PGA Ltd. and membership
inquiries, please log on to
www.InternationalPGA.com.
CENTRAL REGION
CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
The Central Region Championship will be held the weekend of
Saturday-Sunday, August 21-22, at Renwood Golf Course in Round
Lake Beach, Illinois. Saturday will feature a pro-am with teams of one
USGTF professional and three amateurs, with a reception that evening.
Entry fee is $50. Sunday will see the individual championship being
contested, 18 holes using the Stableford scoring system. Entry fee is
$100. The deadline is Monday, August 9. To enter, send a check with
the appropriate fees to Renwood Golf Course, 701 E. Shorewood Rd.,
Round Lake Beach, IL, 60073, and send an e-mail to Central Region
director Charlie Henry at clh3@comcast.net. For further information on the
tournament, please visit
www.usgtf.com/2009-central.html.
USGTF REFRESHER
COURSE
Has it been several years since you achieved your teaching
certification? In response to many requests, the USGTF is now
offering 4-day courses at all certification course sites. Since the art of
learning is an ongoing process, a refresher course with golf teaching peers
offers a unique opportunity.
The following courses are available:
Option 1: $315.00 (4 days of instruction, all course materials & all taxes)
Option 2: $595.00 (4 days of instruction, 4 days of green & cart fees, all
course materials & all taxes)
To review course schedule please log onto
www.usgtf.com/schedule.php. For more information, please contact Jennifer or Suzy at 1-888-346-
3290.
“Those Who Teach Must Never Cease to Learn” – John Dana
NORTHEAST REGION TOURNAMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
John Savage, USGTF
Northeast Region director,
has announced that a two-person
USGTF team tournament will
take place Saturday-Sunday, June
26-27, at Town and Country Golf
Links in Woodstown, New Jersey.
The schedule is: Saturday, 9-hole
scramble and 9-hole four-ball.
Sunday, 9-hole Pinehurst alternate
shot and 9-hole Stableford
individual scoring.
Also on Saturday, the
Northeast Region meeting will take
place at 10:00 a.m. with various
subjects and speakers, with golf to
follow at 1:00 p.m. On Sunday,
golf will commence at 1:00 p.m.
with dinner following. There is
also the possibility of a Ryder Cupstyle
competition depending upon
the turnout.
Entry fee is $195 and you may
enter as a team or individual. To
enter, please mail your entry and
fee to Town & Country Golf Links,
PO Box 170, Woodstown, NJ,
08098. Checks are made payable
to Town & Country Golf Links.
You may also enter by providing
complete credit card information.
You may also enter by e-mail with
complete credit card information
to cwolfe@tcgolflinks.com, or
by fax at (856) 769-8334. Entry
deadline is Sunday, June 13. A
tournament flyer is available for
download at www.usgtfmembers.com under the General Discussion
category.
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Copyright © 2011 United States Golf Teachers Federation, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of this article in any kind is strictly prohibited.
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