5 Nov 2019

Southeast Region Championship to Kick Off USGTF Competition Calendar

USGTF Southeast Region director Mike Stevens has announced that the 2020 region championship will be played Thursday and Friday, January 23-24, at Rio Pinar Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. The tournament coincides with the week of the PGA Merchandise Show, where numerous USGTF members congregate every year, so this is an opportune time to get in some winter golf in central Florida.

Rio Pinar hosted the tour event for many years that eventually became the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The entry fee is $195 and includes two tournament rounds, range balls and prize money. Tee assignments will be based on age and gender. The entry deadline is January 1. To enter, please call the USGTF National Office at (888) 346-3290 or send a check for $195 to: USGTF, 200 S. Indian River Dr., Suite 206, Ft. Pierce, FL 34950. Any questions can be directed to Stevens at ams1127@msn.com.

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5 Nov 2019

“PRO” File – Touring Professional Lanto Griffin

It’s not exactly a rags-to-riches story, but Lanto Griffin, winner of the Houston Open in October, epitomizes the down-and-out golfer who eventually made it big. With almost nothing in his bank account in 2014 after failing play well on some developmental tours, Griffin was about finished trying to realize his dream. But some friends and acquaintances who believed in him provided some much-needed financial backing to keep him going. Three years later, he was ready to quit again, but a sports psychologist was able to turn him around mentally, and this past year he won a tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour, helping him to earn his tour card for 2019-20. Griffin was introduced to the game by his father Michael, who sadly passed away when Griffin was 12. Steve Prater, who was coaching Griffin, took on the role of father figure and mentor, guiding Griffin’s golf game and helped mold him into the person he is today. Those who are contemplating giving up their dream would do well to look at Griffin’s life story and perhaps draw some inspiration from it.
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5 Nov 2019

USGTF Pro-Shop Closeout

Men’s USGTF Logoed Microfiber Pullover 1/4 Zip Windshirt – Available in Navy with Royal/Gray Trim and Red with Black/White Trim. – $30.00 (limited stock)

To order, please call (888) 346-3290 between 8am-5pm ETD.

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5 Nov 2019

Editorial – Paying College Golfers: Good or Bad?

California’s new law will allow college athletes to be paid for their participation in sports. So, it will be interesting to see how the USGA applies this to their amateur status rules. Under Rule 6-2, “The amateur golfer must not obtain any payment, compensation or financial gain, directly or indirectly, for allowing his name or likeness to be used in these ways. However, he may receive reasonable expenses, not exceeding actual expenses incurred, in connection with the promotional activity.” Looks like a lot of lawyers will be getting a nice payday when it comes down to it.

Let’s be honest. A lot of golfers at high-profile schools are there to groom themselves for one of the professional tours. Maybe they should have a choice of declaring themselves professionals while still in school. I believe that you can be a pro in one sport and play a different sport for your college team. College golf does not bring in the kind of revenue that football and basketball bring into their universities. Actually, none. So, who cares if you want to declare yourself a pro golfer and play for your college team? If you’re that good and can make a few bucks in endorsements, more power to you. That’s the way the sports world works.

By Mike Stevens, USGTF member and contributing writer

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usgtf us cup golf teacher certified golf instructor
3 Oct 2019

US Cup This Month!

The 24th annual United States Golf Teachers Cup and the 3rd annual United States Senior Golf Teachers Cup will be played Monday and Tuesday, October 7-8, at Oakcreek Country Club in Sedona, Arizona. You can follow all the action at www.USGolfTeachersCup.com. Participants can also get their tee times by visiting the site. Tee times will be up and running by 5:00 p.m. EDT (2:00 p.m. Sedona time), October 5th. This year’s events, combined with a concurrent pro-am and one of the most beautiful locations in the entire USA, are sure to be among the best ever held. We look forward to seeing all competitors soon!
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usgtf members forum
3 Oct 2019

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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3 Oct 2019

Did You Know?

The phrases “Certified Golf Teaching Professional” and “Master Golf Teaching Professional” are United States Federal Registered Trademarks owned by the United States Golf Teachers Federation.

Anyone not a current USGTF member using these marks in the United States is infringing on our trademark.

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3 Oct 2019

“PRO” File – Touring Professional Jin Young Ko

The pipeline from Korea to the LPGA Tour keeps growing all the more impressive with the addition of Jin Young Ko. Ko is currently the #1-ranked player in the world with a sizeable points lead over the second-ranked player, Sung Hyun Park, herself a formidable player. Ko first made waves by finishing second at the Women’s British Open in 2015, and wound up being a 10-time winner on the LPGA of Korea Tour. Her rookie year on the LPGA Tour came in 2018, already a seasoned veteran. She actually won an LPGA event in 2017 prior to becoming a member. In 2018, she scored 13 top-10 finishes and was named Rookie of the Year. Ko picked up right where she left off in 2019, earning four victories (as of this writing), including two major championships. Her ascendancy to #1 was meteoric once she reached the LPGA Tour, but it was built upon years of fine play in Korea. Ko is sure to become a household name like the other Ko on tour, Lydia, but with perhaps more staying power. Time will tell.
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3 Oct 2019

Editorial – Memories of US Cups Past

I write this a few days before the 24th edition of the United States Golf Teachers Cup will be played in Sedona, Arizona, at Oakcreek Country Club. Oakcreek is one of the most beautiful courses I’ve ever played, and I’m sure everyone there will have a fantastic time. This year we are combining the event with a pro-am, and we’ve had good participation on that level, as well.

But in reminiscing about the U.S. Cup, I go back to 1996, where it all started at Ponce de Leon Resort in St. Augustine, Florida. The course no longer exists, sold to a developer, but we had somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 players for that one-round event. Edward Lee of New Orleans, Louisiana, playing out of the Senior division shot a 74 on a cold and windy day. Faisal Qurechi nipped me in a playoff for Open division honors. The next year the tournament moved out west to San Luis Rey Downs in Bonsall, California, where 23 intrepid souls made the journey. Shawn Clement fired a 73 playing both right- and left-handed! At the time, Shawn was a disciple of Moe Norman and used his method.

The tournament really took off in 1999, when we combined it with the World Golf Teachers Cup at Ballentrae in Port St. Lucie, Florida, at the time the home city of the USGTF National Office. 130 players participated and we took over the course for the entire five days. Players from all over the world were there, and many friendships were made. Somehow, my good friend Ken Butler also won the individual World Cup that week (hey, I gotta tweak you somehow, Kenny!). But Kenny is a great player in his own right, so enough said.

Some of my best friends not only in golf but in life have been made at these events. I won’t list them because I’ll forget someone, but for anyone who has spent some time with me, you are definitely on that list. I look forward to Sedona with great anticipation and adding to that great history.

By Mark Harman, USGTF National Course Director

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