February 2024

1 Feb 2024 admin

WGTF DIGITAL CARD PROVIDES WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION

The value of being a member of a WGTF federation has never been higher, and your digital WGTF card is an important part of that membership.  The WGTF is the only worldwide organization of professional golfers and is recognized as an industry leader. The WGTF now has members in 60 nations and a spirit of cooperation exists among all the federations.

Your digital card can be accessed through the member search function on the WGTF website at https://wgtf.usgtf.com/member-search-2

1 Feb 2024 admin

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL REMINDER

Members who wish to remain a USGTF member in good standing will need to renew their membership for 2024. Members in good standing enjoy many benefits, including the ability to: purchase discounted equipment and liability insurance; participate in USGTF regional and national competitions; be included in the online WGTF/USGTF member search; have a digital WGTF card, and most importantly, the right to continue to identify oneself as a USGTF member. To renew your membership, please go to https://www.usgtf.com/annual-membership-renewal.

1 Feb 2024 admin

NEWS FROM MEXICO

The year 2023 saw a great deal from the Mexican Golf Teachers Federation under the leadership of Rafael Conde. They have been very active in certifying caddies, which is an important part of that federation’s responsibilities to the golf industry in Mexico.  

While the economic situation in Mexico has been challenging for the MGTF in terms of certifying teachers, Conde is confident that the situation will improve in 2024. For more information about the MGTF and its activities, please refer to page 43 of the current issue of Golf Teaching Pro magazine at https://usgtf.com/winter2024/flipBook.html.  

1 Feb 2024 admin

FIRST REGION CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION COMING THIS MONTH

USGTF regional action kicks off this month! As a reminder, every USGTF member, regardless of residence, is eligible to play in every region championship.

Southeast – The USGTF Southeast Region Championship will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, February 20-21, at Twisted Oaks Golf Course in west-central Florida. The entry fee is $245 and includes two tournament rounds of golf, range balls prior to play and a prize pool. You may enter by check made payable to region director Mark Harman at 1656 Colony Dr., Ridgeland SC 29936; through Venmo @MarkHarman, or PayPal markharmangolf@aol.com. The entry deadline is Monday, February 12.

Northeast – The USGTF Northeast Region Championship will be held Thursday, June 20, at Mountain View Golf Course in Ewing, New Jersey. Tee times will begin at 12 noon. The entry fee is $185. For more information and to enter, please contact region director Bob Corbo at simductivegolf@gmail.com.

Southwest – The USGTF Southwest Region Championship will be held in September in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area. Region director Bruce Sims is in the process of finalizing the details.

You may also refer to region championship action at, https://www.usgtf.com/tournaments-for-golf-teaching-professionals.

1 Feb 2024 admin

“PRO” FILE – SENTRY WINNER CHRIS KIRK

One of the most prolific universities to place players on the PGA Tour has been the University of Georgia. It seems no week goes by without a player from UGA on the leaderboard, and The Sentry leaderboard was topped by none other than former Bulldog Chris Kirk.

Kirk’s victory marked a continuing renaissance of sorts, as he had taken a leave of absence from the PGA Tour in 2019 to deal with alcoholism and mental health issues. He steadily made his way back to prominence, and won the Honda Classic in early 2023 to complete his comeback.

When healthy and focused, Kirk is a force to be reckoned with. He now has six PGA Tour victories and at 38 years of age, he has plenty of time to pick up a few more wins before it’s time to hang up his spikes.

1 Feb 2024 admin

“PRO” FILE – USGTF MEMBER SCOTT HENRY

A native of Texas, Scott Henry started out playing golf at the age of 8 years old with his father, who was an accomplished local athlete himself. Once his abilities exceeded those of his father’s in the game of golf, he turned to several coaches and golf professionals in the area to further his training as a golfer.

With their coaching and guidance, Henry turned pro after playing college golf for the University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley. He went on to work as an assistant golf professional at Champion Lakes Golf Course in McAllen, Texas, moving his way up to the director of golf years later. In 1998, Henry became a certified USGTF golf professional. He has played in multiple United States Golf Teachers Cups across the country and in Canada. All the while, Henry was working with his students from ages 4 all the way to 94 years of age.

Henry is guided by one of golf’s unwritten rules: One gives back to the game what golf has given him. For this reason, he has worked as the head golf coach at local high schools. Henry is currently the head coach at Sharyland Pioneer High School in Mission, Texas, where the girls team is the defending champions. His desire is to continue this tradition and achievements with the team.

1 Feb 2024 admin

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT – ALEX KROFL

Alex Krofl from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, started golfing by going to the driving range around 11 years old. He took an interest in golf and would tag along with his dad every chance he got. His dream was to make his high school golf team.

At 13 years of age in the fall of 2022, Alex started his first lessons with Dr. Sharon Barley, an LPGA and USGTF teaching professional. She works out of Injoy Golf Club, an indoor facility in Lancaster; the Manor Golf Club in Sinking Spring, PA; Iron Valley Golf Club in Lebanon, PA, and is a Division II assistant coach for the men’s and women’s golf teams at Millersville University in Millersville, PA.

“When I met Alex, he had a lot of natural talent, but needed to improve his balance, swing plane and impact to improve his ball flight and consistency,” remarked Barley. “Alex worked hard in lessons and in practice through the winter of 2022, and also into the spring and summer of 2023. He showed extraordinary improvement in distance and ball flight and controlling his shots around the green. Alex was a natural putter, having an uncanny gift for reading greens, and a natural sense of distance, too. He made it look easy.”

At the end of the summer 2023, at 14 years old, Alex made his high school golf team as a freshman. He was the only freshman to make the team for his high school, the Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers. This past summer, Alex and his father also competed together in the Philadelphia U.S. Kids golf tournament. His parents are Bryan and Sonja Krofl. Alex is continuing lessons this spring and looks forward to making an even greater contribution to his team this fall.

1 Feb 2024 admin

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