OnCore Golf

OnCore Golf

OnCore Golf, an industry partner of the USGTF, sponsors Tour professional Erik Compton, who called OnCore’s Vero X1 ball the best he’s ever played. As OnCore’s webiste said, OnCore golf balls are “engineered to outperform them all.”

In addition to the Vero X1, there is the Elixr, Elixr 2022, and the Avant 55. There is an OnCore golf ball for every player. For more information on OnCore, please visit www.OnCoreGolf.com.

For USGTF member pricing, please contact USGTF Membership Services at member_services@usgtf.com.

Student Spotlight – Mitchell Kalka

Student Spotlight – Mitchell Kalka

Mitchell Kalka, 18, has a bright future in golf, but equally impressive is the quality of person he is. According to his coach, USGTF professional Bruce Sims, Kalka “is just an all-around good kid. He’s a hard worker, he listens and is amenable to change.”

Kalka started working with Sims at age 9 at Sims’ junior academy. He has played all four years on the varsity at Liberty High School in Frisco, Texas, and is the top-ranked AJGA player locally. He is signed to play college golf at the #1-ranked NJCAA Division 1 junior college golf team in the nation, Midland College in Midland, Texas. His dream is to graduate from junior college and then play for Texas Tech in two years.

Kalka has also won numerous junior tournaments, and won his high school district tournament shooting 36-30 – 66, so he knows how to go low. Look for the name Mitchell Kalka on college leaderboards soon.

Teaching “PRO” File – Lawrence Sykkmon

Teaching “PRO” File – Lawrence Sykkmon

Lawrence Sykkmon is a USGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional and Titleist Performance Institute certified with over 20 years of experience, teaching both children and adults of all skill levels. He teaches at St. Marlo Country Club in Duluth, Georgia.

Sykkmon started playing golf at the age of 19, and being a physical trainer at the time, he had some clients who wanted him to help them with their golf games. It wasn’t until he was in his 30s that he started teaching more seriously, and shortly thereafter he earned his USGTF credentials to have more credibility in the industry. He considered the PGA route but did not want to focus on other duties besides golf, so he found the USGTF to be a perfect fit.

He has two YouTube channels; both of which are for golf entertainment (one is in English and the other in Chinese). His teaching philosophy is “Energy First, Impact Later” (EFIL). You can fellow EFIL Golf on Instagram and TikTok at efilgolf or @efilgolf. Sykkmon believes the game of golf is both fun and challenging and everyone can enjoy and excel at the game with proper instruction and practice methods. He also says that if everyone could shoot 80, the time to play a round of golf would be much quicker, and emphasized the teacher’s role in this.

He is also a National Federation of Professional Trainers certified fitness trainer and has over 20 years of fitness experience. His experience in fitness training, combined with golf instruction, form the foundation and fundamentals for EFIL Golf. To learn more, please visit: www.efil.life or www.efilgolf.com.

Justin Thomas Wins PGA Championship

  It seems hard to believe that as talented and successful he has been that Justin Thomas only had one major championship victory entering 2022, that being the 2017 PGA Championship. That changed this past May when he once again captured the Wannamaker Trophy at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, outlasting Will Zalatoris in a three-hole playoff. Thomas now has 15 wins on the PGA Tour since 2015. Originally best known for being Jordan Spieth’s friend, Thomas has since forged an identity all his own. At 29 years old, the University of Alabama product has been a mainstay at the top of the professional game for a number of years. As a kid, Thomas always wore long pants because that’s what the pros did, and he always wanted to play professional golf. His father Mike is still his coach, and the pair have obviously worked well together. Now with two majors, Thomas has his sights set on number three, and he undoubtedly will attain that goal, likely sooner rather than later.
Northeast Region Tournament This Month, Others To Follow

Northeast Region Tournament This Month, Others To Follow

Northeast: The 2022 Northeast Region Championship will be held Thursday, June 16, at Mountain View Golf Course in Ewing, New Jersey. The entry fee is $185. For more information and to enter, please contact region director Bob Corbo at simductivegolf@gmail.com.

Central: The 2022 Central Region Championship will be held at the City of Mason Golf Center in Mason, Ohio, July 31- August 1. This course hosted the PGA Tour Champions Kroger Classic for almost 20 years; a fair and challenging course from all tees. The champion will have to play two solid rounds to be crowned here! The entry fee of $220 includes 18 holes and cart each day, range balls, skins game and prize fund. Tee times will start at 12:10 p.m. each day. The course is approximately 20 minutes north of Cincinnati, and 40 minutes north of the Greater Cincinnati Airport. It is a straight drive up I-71 with plenty of hotels and food in the area. For more information or to register, contact Central Region director Tony McMullin at tmcmullin72@yahoo.com.

Southwest: Festivities for the 2022 Southwest Region Championship will be held Friday-Sunday, September 9-11, at Twin Creeks Golf Club in Allen, Texas. There will be a welcome dinner the Friday evening, with two rounds of tournament play commencing Saturday. The entry fee is $225 and includes range balls. For more information and to enter, contact region director Bruce Sims at bsims@pga.com.

Golf in Germany Showing Growth and Promise

Golf in Germany Showing Growth and Promise

By: WGTF Member, Arthur van den Dool

Golf in Germany has always been a popular pastime, not in the least because international stars such as Bernhard Langer and Martin Kaymer, who both won major championships, originate from Germany. On the heels of this international exposure and success, the game of golf in Germany has shown steady progress over the years. However, things are changing.

When we look at the numbers, the total number of active golfers in the last decade has seen substantial growth. Where in 2012 approximately 635.000 golfers were active on the many beautiful German courses, that number has risen to 673.000 in 2021. As far as gender is concerned, roughly 57% are male, 35% female and 8% junior players, with these figures not differentiating much from other European markets.

Not surprising, the strongest growth the sport has seen is caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In Europe, golf was one of the few sports that was able to continue during these uncertain times and it is reflected in the German numbers, as well.

The number of golf courses in the country has also been on the rise. The current figure stands at 837 courses in total, which, compared to 2015 when there were 730 active golf courses, is a substantial rise. Most courses and players are located in the south and west parts of the country. The eastern part has the fewest, not surprising since that part of the country had been added just over 30 years ago.

Given these numbers, it seems clear that golf in Germany is doing quite well. It is expected to rise even further, although perhaps not as fast as in the past couple of years.

U.S. Cup Registration Now Open

U.S. Cup Registration Now Open

Registration for the 26th annual United States Golf Teachers Cup, to be held Monday and Tuesday, October 24-25 at Plantation Preserve Golf Club in Plantation, Florida (just west of Fort Lauderdale), is now open. The entry fee of $525.00 includes two tournament rounds of golf, range balls before and after play, a closing banquet and awards ceremony, and prize money. Please contact USGTF headquarters to register at 772-888-7483.
WGTF Digital Cards Provided Complimentary To All Members

WGTF Digital Cards Provided Complimentary To All Members

All members in good standing of the World Golf Teachers Federation are provided a digital card that can be accessed at the WGTF website. Simply log on to www.WGTF.com and from the menu at the top right of the home screen, select Member Search. Enter the first or last name of the WGTF member, click on the member’s profile, and a digital card will appear. The WGTF is the umbrella organization of all golf teaching federations worldwide.
Editorial – Golf Injuries and Rehabilitation

Editorial – Golf Injuries and Rehabilitation

By: USGTF Technical Committee

Injuries are a part of golf, just like in any other sport. It seems, though, that more top professionals are being sidelined with injuries, perhaps none more so than Tiger Woods. Jason Day also has had numerous ailments that have kept him from competing.

Among the older crowd, Fred Couples has fought a balky back for his entire career, and Bill Glasson had numerous surgeries in his playing heyday. But these seem to be the exception rather than the rule. It may just be that with today’s ever-present media, golf injuries in the professional ranks are more noted than they were in the past.

Chris Finn, owner of Par4Success, notes that in golf, pain that can be felt in one part of the body is often the result of a true injury in another part of the body. He says that is important for golfers to not only be flexible, but strong enough to handle the clubhead speeds that they are generating. So, the first order of defense in preventing injuries is to properly train the body. Although many people do not have access to personal trainers for golf, or the cost may be prohibitive, there are many good resources online, including YouTube, that have accurate and up-to-date information. Another line of defense in preventing injuries is to have proper swing mechanics. Those who tend to have a reverse pivot or reverse tilt golf swing often create torques on the back greater than what the back was meant to handle.

Stretching is also a key element in preventing injuries. There are now stretching professionals that can be found at places such as The Stretch Zone, where these professionals can provide assisted stretching beneficial to all golfers. Chiropractic care is another avenue worth exploring.

However, injuries can occur despite our best efforts at prevention. It is critical to follow any rehabilitation program given to us, and as the old saying goes, “No one ever said they came back too late from an injury.” In other words, don’t rush it. Those who are overcoming injuries should not play or practice until their medical professional has given them permission to do so. And once permission is granted, it is important to not overwork. By following the professionals’ advice and counsel, any injured golfer will be back on the course before they know it.

Onform Video Analysis App

Onform Video Analysis App

Video analysis is an important tool in the modern teacher’s arsenal, and the Onform video analysis app makes it easy for teachers to have an easy-to-use tool at their disposal. It has drawing tools and slow-motion playback, as well as a voice-over mode. Trusted by USA Bobsled/Skeleton, among others, the Onform app has other features that make it worthwhile. More information can be found at www.GetOnform.com.