* USGTF Monthly Newsletter *

1 Mar 2025 admin

USGTF IN PROCESS OF UPDATING CURRICULUM

As time goes on in any educational field, information and best practices commonly evolve, and the golf teaching industry is no exception. Under the helm of main examiner Jerry Ellstrom, the USGTF is completing the process of updating and modernizing its teaching curriculum to better reflect the realities of the 21st century.

Prospective candidates now are engaged in more classroom theory and discussion than previously, gaining an intense education that will better prepare them for the lesson tee.  The American Golf Teaching Method, the main textbook for the curriculum, is also in the process of being re-written. These moves are designed to better position the USGTF going forward and to make the organization the first choice in golf teaching instruction and certification.

1 Mar 2025 admin

HONG KONG SAR UPDATE

  Besides being the key financial center in Asia, Hong Kong SAR is a unique city that has a good mix of Chinese and Western culture. It celebrates both New Year’s Day on the first of January and the Chinese New Year on the first day of the Lunar Calendar.  According to Chinese tradition, people decorate their homes and prepare traditional cuisine for family gatherings in for the Chinese New Year. “Kung Hei Fat Choy” is the world-known slogan greeting others when people meet during the season. “Red Pockets” (Lucky Money) given to younger generations is also a world-renowned practice that brings out happiness for the season.

A lot of activities like parades and fireworks have been attracting tourists to Hong Kong SAR. In recent years, the mixed culture in Hong Kong SAR has attracted world-class golf events like LIV Golf and the LPGA Tour. Of course, the Hong Kong SAR Open has a long history. The number of tourists coming to Hong Kong SAR for golf events is increasing.

The Hong Kong SAR Golf Teachers Federation (HKGTF) attended the USGTF-Korea national awards in December 2024. It was a great opportunity for the HKGTF to meet with the president, Mr. Brandon Lee, and presidents of other countries such as Japan and Vietnam. It was inspiring to share the development of the WGTF in different Asian countries.

In 2025, the HKGTF will hold a Master Golf Teaching Professional certification course in the spring and a Certified Golf Teaching Professional course in second half of the year. The candidates should give an excellent and professional performance and have the opportunity for a bright future. The HKGTF hopes more WGTF members come to experience the specialness that is Hong Kong SAR, and it looks forward to activities with fellow Asian members of the WGTF in the future.

1 Mar 2025 admin

NEW REGION, U.S PRO HICKORY CHAMPIONS CROWNED

Southeast – They say there are two sure things in life, death and taxes. You might want to add a third to that list: Ron Cox wins a USGTF region championship. The septuagenarian from Nashville, Tennessee, did it again, capturing the Southeast Region Championship with a two-stroke victory over reigning United States Golf Teachers Cup champion Ken Kim from Orlando, Florida. Cox has now won multiple championships in the Southeast, Central and Southwest championships.

Cox fired rounds of 72-75 -147 to edge Kim by two strokes. Cole Golden from Orlando, Florida, finished third; Tony McMullin from Cincinnati, Ohio fourth and Mark Harman from Ridgeland, South Carolina, fifth to round out the money winner in the main pool. The event was held February 25-26 at Harbor Hills Country Club in Lady Lake, Florida.

U.S. Pro Hickory – USGTF member Mike Stevens finally did it: He captured his own tournament, the United States Professional Hickory Championship, played February 16 at the historic Temple Terrace Country Club in Tampa, Florida. Stevens won the prestigious John Shippen Cup (honoring America’s first golf professional), edging out Carlos de Barros by a stroke. With his victory, Stevens – a USGTF Hall-of Famer – has won virtually every important hickory championship this country has to offer.

1 Mar 2025 admin

“PRO” FILE – TOURING PROFESSIONAL LUDVIG ÅBERG

He was ranked number one a couple of years ago in the PGA Tour University ranking system coming out of Texas Tech University, giving him automatic membership on the PGA Tour. And since then, Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg (pronounced (O-berg) has lived up to lofty expectations with a dramatic rise up the Official World Golf Ranking System, playing in the 2023 Ryder Cup, and winning again on the PGA Tour, this time the Genesis Invitational held at Torry Pines in La Jolla, California.

Starting the final round two shots behind leader Patrick Rodgers, Åberg took control of the tournament with birdies on 13, 14 and 15, capping it off with a birdie on 18 to win by one over Maverick McNealy. The strength of Åberg’s game is from tee-to-green, where he ranked 15th in 2024. He plays a controlled game and when his putter is working, he is a factor in any tournament. Still a young player at the age of 25, Åberg is a rarity these days in that he spent four years in college rather than leave early and turn pro. The move seems to have paid off and look for Åberg to terrorize the Americans in the upcoming 2025 Ryder Cup later this year.

1 Mar 2025 admin

“PRO” FILE – USGTF MEMBER MICHAEL JONES

Michael Jones is a native of south Florida, born and raised Martin County. He developed his love and passion for the game growing up in The Yacht & Country Club of Stuart. He is a 2006 graduate of Florida State University and is a Certified Golf Teaching Professional through the United States Golf Teachers Federation.

His work experience includes overseeing junior golf programs at North Palm Beach Country Club, serving as the first assistant golf professional at Winston Trails Golf Club, and spending 12 years as director of golf at Riverbend Golf Club in Tequesta, Florida. He is now the head professional at Highlands Ridge Golf Club in Avon Park, Florida. Jones has been with Riverbend Golf Club for over 12 years and has given over 8,000 lessons in his time as a certified professional. He gained his full certification with the USGTF in 2016.

1 Mar 2025 admin

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT – REGAN BOBICH

By Mike Gruber, USGTF Member I’ve been a member of the USGTF for a short period of time (5 years). When I was getting ready to retire from an IT career in healthcare, I needed to find something I enjoyed doing while also trying to give back to organizations or individuals that could benefit from my knowledge and experience. My son has a lot of contacts at the CCIW (College Conference of Illinois Wisconsin) and I asked him to let me know if anyone might need a swing coach and low and behold Elmhurst University called, we spoke and they hired me.

About two weeks into the season, I met the team and started to work with them. The more I spoke with the head coach and other golfers, I was constantly reminded about this “stud” freshman (Regan Bobich) that just arrived on campus. I usually take things with a grain of salt, but I was anxious to spend some time getting to know her and her game. When I first observed her, I couldn’t believe that this 5’2”, maybe 110-pound woman was crushing the ball with such finesse and consistency. Her short game and putting were also very solid. Her swing was so sound I thought I was watching one of the women on the LPGA tour – a bit of a stretch but she was really locked in at practice.

As I got to know Regan and her game, we made very few mechanical adjustments, and I found myself helping her frame out the mental side and strategizing more on course management. She was already ahead of everyone, having a good grasp on the mechanics, but we continued to tweak things from season to season. Once she gets to the range and transitions to the course her intensity increases tenfold. Even though she is a truly exceptional golfer she is even better at acting as she pursues her major in theatre with the hope of landing on Broadway one day. That said, she has a heart the size of California and will go out of her way to help anyone and everyone no matter what the situation is. Not only is she an exceptional golfer, but she’s also an even better person both on and off the course.

Regan has had an extraordinary career at Elmhurst in the CCIW, and she graduates in May. She will eventually be inducted into the Elmhurst Hall of Fame as the top woman golfer.

1 Mar 2025 admin

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