3 Jun 2018

“PRO” File – Touring Professional Cary Middlecoff

Quick – name the top 10 all-time winners on the PGA Tour. Names like Snead, Nicklaus, Woods, Hogan and Nelson quickly come to mind, with Casper and Hagen not far behind. But sitting there in 10th place is a name that seems to be forgotten among modern golf fans, and that name is Dr. Cary Middlecoff. Middlecoff was, in fact, one of the most dominating players of his era. Three times he won six tournaments in a year (1949, 1951, 1956) and won more tournaments than anyone during the 1950s. He was a multiple major winner, capturing the U.S. Open in 1949 and 1956 and the Masters in 1955. Although he is seemingly lost to history today with hardly any mention by golf pundits and writers, he was, according to the New York Times, a “glamorous figure” in his prime. Upon his retirement from professional golf, he became a television commentator in a career that lasted 18 years. Middlecoff completed dentistry school and was commissioned in the Army as a dentist, but when he won a tour event as an amateur, he quickly gave up filling cavities for filling golf holes with birdies. He passed away in 1998 at the age of 77.
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3 Jun 2018

Editorial – Hooray for Recognizing that Women Might Like Golf

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club just unveiled a new Women in Golf Charter as a drive to encourage more women and girls to play the game and work in the industry. Only a couple of centuries too late, but at least they have acknowledged that their behavior toward the fair sex has been woeful over the years. The new executive director of the R&A, Martin Slumbers, has thrown his full support behind the effort, which is nice to see from an organization that didn’t even allow women into their clubhouse. Men have a right to have their own club as do women, I get it. But there have been too many times when men have purposely discouraged females from taking up the game.

If growth is an objective – and it is, according to everyone associated with the sport – then getting more women and girls to play would seem a no-brainer. Nice to see Augusta National adding a women’s amateur tournament next year and their fantastic support of the Drive, Chip and Putt event. We need as many major golf associations and leaders to push such efforts. Every initiative needs champions to push to a next level. Looks like the effort is taking place. Let’s hope it bears fruit.

By Mike Stevens, USGTF Member, Tampa, Florida
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1 Jun 2018

Hooray For Recognizing That Women Might Like Golf

By Mike Stevens, USGTF contributing writer

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club just unveiled a new Women in Golf Charter as a drive to encourage more women and girls to play the game and work in the industry. Only a couple of centuries too late, but at least they have acknowledged that their behavior toward the fair sex has been woeful over the years. The new executive director of the R&A, Martin Slumbers, has thrown his full support behind the effort, which is nice to see from an organization that didn’t even allow women into their clubhouse. Men have a right to have their own club as do women, I get it. But there have been too many times when men have purposely discouraged females from taking up the game.

If growth is an objective – and it is, according to everyone associated with the sport – then getting more women and girls to play would seem a no-brainer. Nice to see Augusta National adding a women’s amateur tournament next year and their fantastic support of the Drive, Chip and Putt event. We need as many major golf associations and leaders to push such efforts. Every initiative needs champions to push to a next level. Looks like the effort is taking place. Let’s hope it bears fruit.
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10 May 2018

The Proof Is In – You Can’t Buy A Game

By Mike Stevens, USGTF contributing writer

Just ran across a study by a group named ARCCOS, a golf-tracking statistics organization that found over the last three years the average golfer has actually lost distance. Can it be? With all the technology involved in golf these days, from launch monitors to TrackMan to speed slots, the average golfer has lost about three yards. Maybe it is time to refer to that Shakespeare line, “A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Or, as Barnum may or may not have said, there’s one born every minute. Now, I don’t know how many drivers have been introduced over the past three years, but I’d guess in the hundreds. Every club was touted as the longest ever assembled. Yet, for all that $500 or more invested, the net result – three yards less.

Time to be honest. Golf requires effort. I didn’t become good because of my wallet. I spent hours on the range applying sound fundamental techniques. I rehearsed specific motions over and over until they became second nature. Only after that did I settle on a set of clubs that gave me good results. Did I try a new driver now and then? Of course; it’s human nature to fall for the hype sometimes. But the real secret to improving one’s game is to develop a swing that encompasses a good path and getting the clubhead squarely on the ball, then doing it time after time. If it was simply about equipment, then everyone would be good.
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usgtf members forum
2 May 2018

USGTFMembers.com Is Your Communication Portal

USGTF members can have their say and communicate with their fellow members at www.USGTFMembers.com. Registration is free and is open to all members in good standing. Topics include instruction, equipment, USGTF events and general discussions. Employees of the National Office will also offer their input on a regular basis so you can see what is happening with your organization in real time.

If you haven’t registered, please do so today and get in on the conversation!

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2 May 2018

Hotel, Practice Round Info For U.S., CGTF Cups

Hotel and practice round information has been released for the 2018 CGTF and United States Golf Teachers Cups, to be played October 2-3 at Ussher’s Creek Golf Course in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Marriott on the Falls has rooms for $279 per night and the Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa has rates beginning at $219 per night (all rates are Canadian currency). The Clifton Victoria Inn has rates of $159 and $209 for Friday and Saturday, respectively, and $92 per night starting on Sunday night. The Skyline Hotel has a rate of $119 for Friday and Saturday night and $79 starting on Sunday night.

Practice rounds are $80 prior to 3:00 p.m. and $59 after, and may be booked online.

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2 May 2018

Top 100 Nominations Close This Month

Nominations for the latest edition of the WGTF Top 100 Teachers are due by May 4. Members may nominate one another or may nominate themselves. All who are currently on the list will automatically be considered, and members must be either a Certified Golf Teaching Professional® or a Master Golf Teaching Professional®.

Criteria for consideration for the Top 100 list include number of years in the teaching industry, accomplishments, student success, and activity in USGTF national or regional events. Support materials, such as media stories of teacher and/or students, and letters of recommendation are encouraged. Support materials may be sent to info@usgtf.com or by mail to the USGTF National Office, 1295 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34952.

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editorial - brian's brain
2 May 2018

Brian’s Brain

Excuse the title dyslexia, but we need to power our motor skills…don’t we? Have you ever asked yourself if you are right- or left-brain dominant, and how that might affect your putting?

I know what you are thinking: who cares! Well, consider the following: A left-brain dominant student sees lines in a linear fashion. On the other hand, the right-brain dominant player sees the shape of the putt and focuses on the curve.

Good news, bad news – you are born that way and you can’t choose. You must adapt as needed, and the teaching professional must be able to recognize what kind of student they have! Now, lets apply this to green reading. Approx-imately 65% of golfers are left-brain dominant. Every putt is straight and breaks at the inflection point due to gravity. These players like to use lines on their ball to help them with alignment.

In addition, they prefer putting equipment that assists with visualization. The right-brain dominant player is just the converse to the left-brain dominant player. These students don’t like structure and don’t want to focus on mechanics.

As a teaching professional, you are now faced with some new information that can assist you with green reading and putter fitting. One last thing: The brain is approximately three pounds and is comprised of 73% water. So drink up, or dehydration will cause a loss of focus. Gulp!

By Bert Jones, USGTF contributing writer
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2 May 2018

USGTF Regional Action Coming This Month

Southwest – The USGTF Southwest Region Championship will be held Friday-Sunday, May 18-20, at Ridgeview Ranch Golf Club in Plano, Texas, with region director Bruce Sims serving as the host. A dinner will be held Friday night with the first round of play Saturday afternoon. There will likely be a guest speaker with a topic relevant to all golf teaching professionals. The entry fee is $225 and includes the dinner, all tournament fees and prize money. An optional $20 skins pot that includes both days of play will be available. To enter, contact Sims prior to Sunday, May 13 at (214) 475-5168 and you can provide credit card information at that time. Play will be in multiple divisions with different tee assignments.

Northwest – The USGTF Northwest Region Championship will be held Thursday and Friday, July 26-27, at Haggin Oaks golf complex’s MacKenzie Course in Sacramento, California, with region director Bert Jones serving as the host. The entry fee of $199 includes golf and prize money, and division play will be based on the number of entrants. To enter, send your name, age, gender, telephone number, email address and a check for $199 to Bert Jones, USGTF NW Region Director, 9722 Rim Rock Circle, Loomis CA, 95650. The entry deadline is July 1.

Southeast – The USGTF Southeast Region Championship will be held Saturday and Sunday, July 28-29, at Shingle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, with region director Mike Stevens serving as the host. Shingle Creek Golf Club was designed by the Arnold Palmer Design Company. Senior golf course architect Thad Layton says, “We set out to do something resolutely different at Shingle Creek. Orlando is a golf town and our backyard. As such, we sought to build a golf course that would inspire and challenge every type of golfer. Through a hands-on approach and countless hours on site, we handcrafted a golf course with design features reminiscent of some of the finest classic golf courses in the world.”

A prize fund of $1,000 and the Southeast Trophy is assured with a field of 12 players, and divisions by age will be offered. It is also a good opportunity to catch up with fellow members and plan future events for the section. The entry deadline is July 15. If you have any questions, contact Mike Stevens at ams1127@msn.com. The entry fee is $185 and entries should be sent to the USGTF National Office at USGTF, 1295 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie FL, 34952, or you may call the office at (888) 346-3290.

Central – The 2018 USGTF Central Region Championship will be held at Pine Knob Golf Club in Clarkston, Michigan, on Saturday and Sunday, August 4-5, with region director Brent Davies serving as the host. The first tee time Saturday will be at 12:00 noon and 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. The entry fee of $199 is for two days of golf, cart, range, prize money, and lunch after the Sunday round, with monies paid out on the gross and net two-day totals. Practice rounds will be available after 1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 3, for $40. To enter, please send your $199 entry fee to: Brent Davies, 5223 Parview Dr., Clarkston, MI 48346.

Pine Knob is an upscale public course with 27 holes, tree-lined fairways, water, bunkers, great greens, and is an outstanding place to play. Hotel deals will be available at the Olde Mill Inn of Clarkston (some may remember this location from the 2015 Kelly Cup), a rustic lakefront look with an up-north feel. These rooms will go very, very fast! Participants will need to call (248) 623-0300 or go online at www.oldemillinnofclarkston.com to book. One-person rooms start at $65, two-person rooms at $85, and it is not too early to book. Clarkston is located 45 miles northwest of Detroit right off I-75; a 75-minute drive from the Blue Water Bridge; 60 minutes from Windsor, and 90 minutes from Toledo.

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2 May 2018

“PRO” File – Touring Professional Robert Landers

He’s long been forgotten by the modern era of golf, but there was a time when Robert Landers was the toast of the golf world. A former department store manager and a farmer, he improbably qualified for what is now known as PGA Tour Champions back in 1994. Using a bag of clubs that were little more than homemade items and wearing muddy Reebok sneakers, Landers surprised virtually everyone when he landed one of the fully-exempt spots for the 1995 season. He came to the game late at the age of 22, but he quickly showed an acumen for it, qualifying for the 1980 U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur. He competed in local events and practiced on his farm among the cows. When it came time to ante up the qualifying fee, he cashed in a retirement account and was on his way. He played for two years on the senior circuit with a best finish of 14th place at an event in 1996. Today he lives in Azle, Texas, on his farm with his wife Freddie.
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