1 Jan 2025

EDITORIAL – WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MASTER AND CERTIFIED GOLF TEACHING PROFESSIONAL®?

There are two trademarked phrases that the USGTF holds dear: Certified Golf Teaching Professional® and Master Golf Teaching Professional®. If there is anyone who is using these phrases – whether it’s another organization of golf professionals and/or teachers or an individual – who hasn’t gone through the USGTF certification process to earn one of these titles, they are in violation of U.S. trademark law and are subject to legal action.

Hence, there is a distinct difference between the two. A certified teacher has learned all the basics of teaching the game of golf and is qualified to give a competent lesson to beginners, average and advanced players. A master teacher has learned and demonstrated more in-depth knowledge and abilities to the point that he or she is qualified to teach all players, including tour players. And not only that, but a USGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional has demonstrated that they cannot just give a competent lesson, but they can give an excellent lesson.

Master teaching professionals in the USGTF have to demonstrate their advanced knowledge and abilities by presenting a written thesis; pass a shotmaking demonstration and an extensive written test. Once these are accomplished, they have earned the title Master Golf Teaching Professional. To attempt to qualify at this level, a person must have been a Certified Golf Teaching Professional in good standing for a minimum of 12 months.

Many say that going through the Master Golf Teaching Professional process is the most educational thing they’ve done in terms of their teaching education. If you think you need to take your teaching to the next level, explore what the program has to offer at https://www.usgtf.com/master-golf-teaching-professional.
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1 Nov 2024

EDITORIAL – WHY DOESN’T IT FEEL STRANGE THAT WE MEET SO MANY TOUR PLAYERS IN THE GYM?

Long before Tiger Woods made working out mandatory for today’s tour players, and even before Gary Player hit the scene with his endless pushups and sit ups, an amateur golfer named Frank Stranahan made waves with his powerlifting routines. Ranked number one in powerlifting in his weight class from 1945 through 1954, Stranahan also competed in golf at a high level, finishing runner-up in both the Masters and British Open.

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?
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1 Oct 2024

EDITORIAL – THE POWER OF GENETICS – ODDS FAMOUS GOLFERS’ CHILDREN WILL SUCCEED IN PRO GOLF

One of the greatest blessings children of famous athletes have is that the odds are great that they will be blessed with top-level athletic ability to succeed at least at the collegiate level. They also will have every resource available to them to maximize their potential.

However, one of the greatest curses children of famous athletes have is that, well, they are children of famous athletes. Not only do they have the pressure of living up to what mom or dad did, but coming from a privileged environment often leads to an insufficient work ethic. The son of one Hall of Fame golfer told the USGTF staff several years ago that because of his privileged environment, he simply wasn’t hungry enough to put in the time and effort necessary.

Examples of sons succeeding at the highest level of sports are few and far between. Most notable is baseball player Barry Bonds, son of Bobby, and in golf we have Bill Haas, son of Jay. Gary Nicklaus, son of Jack, had his cup of coffee on the PGA Tour, as did Andy Miller, son of Johnny. The problem of following in a parent’s footsteps, even if it’s in another sport, is that there is a certain undefinable talent that only a very, very few possess to reach the top professional level, and working extremely hard and correctly to maximize whatever talent the children possess often isn’t enough.

Now we have Charlie Woods attempting to follow in his dad Tiger’s footsteps. So far, he has nowhere near the accomplishments “Pops” does, nor should he be expected to have them. Charlie is an individual in his own right, and Tiger is one of the two greatest golfers to ever play (we’ll leave the debate as to whom is the best for another time). He might be a late bloomer or a never-bloomer – we have no way of knowing at this time. The best we can do is sit back, enjoy how he progresses and let him be his own person.
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1 Sep 2024

EDITORIAL – AN INTRODUCTION TO OLYMPIC GOLF: HISTORY, DIVISIONS, PLAYING STYLES, AND MORE!

Only golf geeks and Olympic aficionados might know that, contrary to popular belief, the first Olympic golf competition did not take place in 2016 but in 1900 in Paris. Charles Sands emerged victorious over the one-day, 36-hole competition and Margaret Abbott captured the 9-hole ladies’ gold medal. In 1904, at the Games in St. Louis, Missouri, only men competed. A team competition was contested followed by five grueling days of 36-hole matches among the 32 who survived — you guessed it — a 36-hole qualifier!

Fortunately, when golf returned in 2016, sanity prevailed and the standard 72-hole tournament format was used. Sixty golfers qualified for both the men’s and women’s competition, with a maximum of two golfers per country (four if they were all ranked in the top 15 in the world). Justin Rose won the gold medal in a tight race over Henrik Stenson, with bronze medalist Matt Kuchar saying he was never so happy to finish third in his entire life. Inbee Park of Korea took home the women’s gold.

There was lukewarm interest in the 2016 golf competition among some of the world’s best, with many opting not to play, and the 2021 competition was marred by COVID-19. However, the 2024 edition proved to be extremely popular among both fans and players. Rory McIlroy noted that the two purest forms of golf they play — the Olympics and the Ryder Cup — do not offer any prize money directly. It goes to show that among even the world’s best players, all of whom are millionaires many times over, the thrill of victory and representing one’s country are still worth pursuing on their own merits
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1 Jul 2024

EDITORIAL – WGTF TOP 50: AWARD AND VALUE

In any field of endeavor, there are those who separate themselves from the rest. The WGTF Top 50 was inaugurated years ago to recognize those who have achieved and maintained a standard that is among the highest in the golf teaching industry. Those who are on the list can truly be proud of this accomplishment.

There might be a misconception that those who did not make the list are not as “good” at teaching as those on the list. This is certainly far from the case. In selecting the overall Top 50, other factors are taken into consideration, such as years of service to the golf industry, published items, peer recognition and growing the game initiatives, for example. In other words, those who are on the list are there because they possess a list of attributes that goes far beyond just teaching ability alone.

The list also recognizes the global structure of the golf teaching industry, as there are fine teachers and coaches in all corners of the Earth. There are a variety of teaching styles represented — which is important — as no one teaching style fits all students.

The list is updated every two years, and look for the 2024-25 list to be featured soon.
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1 Jun 2024

EDITORIAL – GOLF ETIQUETTE AND HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS ON THE GOLF COURSE

What types of players are there that others don’t like playing golf with? First and foremost, anyone who behaves poorly is not likely to be the top choice of playing partners for other golfers. This doesn’t just extend to cursing, throwing clubs, etc., but also a golfer mainly talking about himself or herself throughout the round. Showing little interest in other people or subjects is a recipe for boorish behavior, too.

There’s a saying good company is more important than good golf, and that is certainly an accurate statement. It’s also relevant when conducting business on the golf course, because another saying is that you can tell more about a person in 18 holes of golf than you can in days or weeks of being in other settings. Our experience holds this to be true. Rare is the person who acts one way on the course and then another off the course. Does the person play with honor and respect of the rules and etiquette, or do they cheat and ignore basic courtesies? Even honest ignorance of the rules and etiquette is a problem because that person did not take the time to do due diligence in what is required in a golf course setting. And if they’re not prepared there, it’s likely they would not be prepared in a business setting, too.

Some of the strongest friendships and fruitful business partnerships have been forged on the golf course. And how we conduct ourselves and honor the game and our playing companions goes a long way in success or failure in these areas.
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1 May 2024

EDITORIAL – WHERE DO LIV GOLF AND PGA TOUR STAND NOW?

In June of 2023, the PGA Tour announced it had agreed to negotiations with Saudia Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) to collaborate with each other. For those of you who are unaware, the PIF is the funding arm of the LIV Golf Tour.

The news shocked many in the golf world, with Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee claiming it was one of the darkest days in golf history. For context, Chamblee is an ardent detractor of the LIV Tour due to its association with Saudi Arabia.

However, this past January, the PGA Tour and the Strategic Sports Group (SSG) announced a partnership in which the SSG would provide a private equity investment. According to Golfweek, “The program, which is a joint venture between the PGA Tour and Strategic Sports Group, will reward 200 PGA Tour players with $1.5 billion in equity. The program rewards players based on career achievements, future participation and services and more. The grants are only available to qualified players.” In other words, PGA Tour players will be awarded cash and other types of financial benefits for staying loyal to the PGA Tour and not joining LIV Golf.

Where the situation stands with the PGA Tour and the PIF (and by extension, LIV Golf) remains to be seen. Sources close to the situation say an agreement of some sorts is still planned, but now it’s simply a waiting game. One thing is certain, though: Every PGA Tour player should be grateful that LIV Golf emerged, because had it not, there is no doubt that the money now currently flooding PGA Tour players’ bank accounts would not have occurred.
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1 Apr 2024

EDITORIAL – THE USGTF MISSION IS CONTINUING: “LEADER IN THE FIELD OF GOLF INSTRUCTION”

When the USGTF and WGTF adopted the slogan “Leader in the field of golf instruction,” at the time it seemed a brash statement. After all, the PGA had been around much longer, and instruction was long associated with that organization.  

But a funny thing happened along the way. The USGTF continued to improve and update its certification program and more people interested solely in teaching – without the other attendant duties required of a club professional – sought out the USGTF to become educated in the art and science of teaching.  

Today, the USGTF has a more rigorous standard of earning certification than ever before. Due to the work of USGTF president Brandon Lee and National Office examiner Jerry Ellstrom, candidates receive the most up-to-date information and methodology in teaching.  

As the old saying goes, if you aren’t moving ahead you are falling behind, and the USGTF is certainly taking this to heart and enhancing its presence in the golf world. In addition to upgrading the certification process, the USGTF has committed to reaching out to younger candidates to further the long-term health of the organization. It is also committing to a marketing plan to continue and improve the USGTF’s visibility among the golfing public, all the better to serve its members.  

Thirty-five years after the founding of the USGTF, the organization, along with the WGTF, has become an incredible standard of excellence for the golfing public to rely on in terms of top-notch instruction from its members. This will only continue to increase, as the “leader in the field of golf instruction” maintains the highest standards and ethics possible continuing into the 21st century.
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1 Feb 2024

LOCATION, DATES ANNOUNCED FOR U.S. CUP



Painted Desert Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, will host the 2024 United States Golf Teachers Cup on Monday and Tuesday, October 7-8. It marks the second consecutive year that the U.S. Cup returns to America’s capital city of fun and excitement. Registration is now open for the U.S. Cup and can be accessed at https://www.usgtf.com/uscup. 

The Luxor will once again serve as the recommended host hotel, and those interested in making early reservations can book at https://book.passkey.com/event/50719407/owner/4939/home. For more information on Painted Desert Golf Club, please visit https://painteddesertgc.com.
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1 Jan 2024

EDITORIAL – USGTF 35th ANNIVERSARY – MEMORIES, HISTORY AND FUTURE VISION

When the USGTF was founded in 1989, it was much-needed in filling a void in the golf instruction realm. Thirty-five years later, much of the promise of the USGTF has been fulfilled with bigger and better things in store in the future.

In the beginning, all USGTF classes and instruction were held in-person at a few locations nationwide. These gatherings routinely drew 40-50 candidates to each certification course, proving the USGTF was vital to the golf industry. As the computer age became an everyday reality, online learning supplemented in-person sessions in the form of earning Associate Member status.

CEO and president Brandon Lee’s vision for the future includes a more rigorous and involved certification program to keep up with the ever-growing body of knowledge needed to teach the game effectively, while at the same time making the program accessible to more people. A vital goal of the USGTF is to involve younger candidates to assure long-term growth and health of the organization. Since virtually everyone under the age of 30 has grown up knowing computers and artificial intelligence technology their wholes lives, programs tailored to their expectations are being developed to further the goal of federation health and growth. The 21st century certainly belongs to the USGTF and WGTF.
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