“PRO” FILE – TOURING PROFESSIONAL NELLY KORDA
Nelly Korda poses for a picture after she won the Mizuho Americas Open golf tournament, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Earlier in the year, she tied an LPGA Tour record by winning five consecutive tournaments. Although she failed to break the record, she did add a sixth victory one tournament later. Interestingly, that followed by her missing three cuts in a row, which proves that even the best of us are human.
Her older sister Jessica got the ball rolling first in the Korda family, having won six times on tour herself. But Nelly has taken the Korda name to a whole other level with her 14 total victories and current #1-ranking in the world. Although she has slowed down the second half of the season, it’s a sure bet she will be back in the winner’s circle before long.
“PRO” FILE – USGTF PROFESSIONAL CHRIS WARNER
By Chris Warner
The first golf club I remember having in my hands was in 1965, when I was given a four-piece set of iron beginner clubs for Christmas. I remember playing with them in the back yard and hitting balls around. However, I have no idea what happened to them.
In March 1970, I was introduced to the game of golf on a real course. It was a par-3 18-hole course where the holes ranged from 75 to 150 yards, but it was my real start in stroke play and actually keeping score. I borrowed my father’s clubs and would play with my grandfather and his group of retirees from the railroad every Tuesday. In 1974, Jack Nicklaus released his book Golf My Way, which covered the entire game and was very instrumental in advancing my skill level. It was then that I started playing on full-size regulation courses, which changed everything for me.
Although I never had any formal lessons, I was gathering any instructional material I could find to learn from. Like most youngsters, I ventured into other sports and when they didn’t really intrigue me, I found myself back into golf. My father spent time with his 8mm video camera in the back yard filming my swing and together, we would look at them. I played every chance I could and even played on the high school golf team. I was limited by using my father’s Kroydon golf clubs, which were already 20+ years old, but it was what I had to work with. This included the 1 through 4 persimmon woods.
Although I pursued the game for many years, playing in any sanctioned events I could, it seemed rather expensive and difficult to completely commit to because of my responsibilities at the time. I did, however, introduce the game to as many people as I could with the idea of having interested friends and co-workers to play with. I didn’t realize at the time that I was developing a skill that would one day be my passion, teaching golf. After competing at a very high level, I discovered the true difference between competition and teaching others. This is when things changed in my direction.
Pursuing my newly found passion, I became a PGA apprentice and was able to eventually achieve my Class A card. I pursued every teaching avenue and gathered any material that was available and became certified in as many organizations as I could. I taught night classes at a junior college, and volunteered as a marshal in PGA Tour events, mainly the TPC in Sawgrass, Florida.
I have since amassed numerous full certifications and still teach golfers of all levels and walks of life. This would include special needs students, autistic children, military veterans, collegiate students, pro-am, school, coaches, etc. I have volunteered with The First Tee organization including the Ben Hogan training center in Fort Worth, Texas. I also acquired my Global Pass, allowing me to work with high school golf teams in multiple counties. This has opened the door to many opportunities in helping young players advance in their future aspirations, resulting in a multitude of them achieving full-ride college scholarships.
In 2014, I was blessed to be the recipient of the Harvey Pennick award in Las Vegas, which was featured on the internet. I soon received a call from a gentleman in Cuernavaca, Mexico, asking if I would be interested in traveling internationally to teach golf clinics. It wasn’t until I accepted the offer and traveled there that this would be an event happening three times every year, working with the American Express Centurion’s Elite members at different locations. I have had the privilege of traveling to numerous locations ever since.
I continuously study the physics involved in the swing, seeking the most efficient process using science and physics to accomplish that as well as validate advice given, offering simple explanations to individuals learning the game. After all, as with any subject, there is an unlimited number of opinions based on people’s understanding and interpretations, I find that when explained correctly and backed by logic, the student is more likely to understand the directions and commit to the effort of learning.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT – GIOVANNI RESCIGNO
EDITORIAL – WHY DOESN’T IT FEEL STRANGE THAT WE MEET SO MANY TOUR PLAYERS IN THE GYM?
Both Player and Stranahan were considered anomalies, that is, until Woods came on the scene. Other pros quickly saw that part of Woods’ success was in his incredible fitness, and soon pros everywhere followed suit. College programs even got in on the act, requiring players to participate in early-morning workout sessions before class.
Before Woods, it was thought that lifting heavy weights was bad for golfers, but he quickly proved that idea wrong. Brooks Koepka is said to be able to bench press well over 300 lbs., for example. And the reason why we see so many players in the gym today is that the game at the professional level requires so much power off the tee that more than a few mph of ball speed can be attained through working out. In fact, Bryson DeChambeau took it to such a level that he finished second in the 2022 World Long Drive Championship.
As time goes on and science advances, we will likely see swing speeds continue to increase and players refine their workout routines. Where the limit is, who knows?
HAVE A STUDENT YOU’RE PROUD OF?
Such submissions are important to highlight the success of USGTF members. Not only does the student spotlight showcase the teaching professional in addition to the student, but putting out success stories by USGTF members continues to show the strength of the certification process and the qualifications of all USGTF members. As the old saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats! Submissions may be made at info@usgtf.com.
USGTF MEMBER PERK – INTERNATIONAL PGA MEMBERSHIP
The International PGA was conceived on the notion of welcoming and providing membership for every golf professional, regardless of race, religion or national origin. It offers both PGA and WGTF members the opportunity to belong to a global body of professional golfers. The International PGA promotes career development and acts as one voice for individual professionals from every golfing nation. International PGA members are recognized and respected worldwide by both the public and golf management within the industry.
Current IPGA members can now pay annual dues of $195 at http://www.InternationalPGA.org/renew. WGTF members wishing to join the organization may visit http://www.InternationalPGA.org/become-a-new-member.
REGION UPDATE
Cox has won region titles in the Southwest, Southeast and Central regions. This concludes USGTF regional action for the year. Stay tuned for the 2025 schedule, which is slated to kick off with the Southeast Region Championship to be played February in Florida.
CANARY ISLANDS AND WGTF
By John Carr
With its year-round sunshine and average daily temperatures of 25°C, the Canary Islands is a perfect place for us to help people become golf coaches! With 23 courses spread over the seven islands, it greets in excess of 16 million visitors and over 150,000 golfers per year. It’s the second-most visited Spanish territory and is unique in that the universal spoken language across the islands is English.
The islands have become a European mecca for golf, with facilities and courses being presented in such a way to ensure the players have a first-class experience and keep coming back. Many of the courses are ranked as some of the best in Europe and some have and do host DP World Tour events. Whilst the playing facilities on the islands are very advanced, the coaching environment is not as mature, and as such provides us with a great opportunity to expand the game and help more and more people become a golf coach in a perfect golfing environment.
Our new Canary Island coach, John Carr, will be delivering our onsite training content for our new coaches. John is currently a WGTF coach from the U.K. and will be relocating to the Canary Islands to help us get more coaches teaching our great game. John has been in and around golf for over 30 years and has been working in his local community (in association with Kent Golf) growing the game with younger golfers across the county. He also organises golf trips with tuition to the Canary Islands.
John’s holistic approach to the modern game includes how to incorporate strength, flexibility, nutrition, mindset and a positive mental approach to the comprehensive WGTF teaching techniques we apply for the ultimate positive experience of golfers.
Our coaching product will be offered to both male and female coaches to ensure we are capturing the opportunities to coach men, women and young golfers across all age ranges and abilities.
We will keep you updated on our progress in the area and the timeline for when the launch dates are determined.
“PRO” FILE – WINNING PRESIDENTS CUP TEAM, THE USA
On the heels of Team USA recapturing the Solheim Cup in the women’s version of team golf, the Americans once again took down the International squad in the Presidents Cup played at Royal Montreal (Canada) in late September. Team USA raced out to a 5-0 lead on day one in the fourball competition, only for the Internationals to return the favor on day two, winning all five foursome matches. This gave hope that this year’s competition would be competitive.
However, the superior American depth showed itself on the weekend with the USA eventually winning, 18 1/2 – 11 1/2. Many keen observers bemoan the fact that the USA has been so dominant in this competition as the International squad has only won one time in 30 years. Short of saying that the Americans must sit out their 12 best players, it looks like the competition will be one-sided for quite some time, unfortunately.