《USGTF News》2019年3月期

05/03/2019

It took 21 years, but Mark Harman is finally back in the winner’s circle at the World Golf Teachers Cup. Since capturing his second individual championship in 1998 at San Roque, Spain, Harman watched other outstanding golfers like Dave Belling, Christopher Richards, James Douris and Ken Butler hoist the trophy. But this past February at La Iguana Golf Club in Herradura, Costa Rica, Harman emerged victorious by shooting 71-75 – 146 to edge Costa Rica’s Alejandro Duque by two shots. Overcoming an opening-hole double bogey, a four-putt on the third hole and three-putting two of the final three holes during the final round, Harman played the other 14 holes in three-under-par. Belling, the 2003 individual champion, finished third for the overall title and earned the World Golf Senior Teachers Cup individual title in the process, shooting 74-79 – 153. Ray Holder’s two-round total of 172 on scores of 85-87 defeated runner-up Peter Louis. Mary Wolf captured the Ladies title with 87-84 – 171.

Employing a round-robin team match play format, Team USA swept all its matches to emerge victorious in the team competition, with Canada second and Asia third. Competitor Louis summed up the feelings of the participants when he said, “Fabulous golf course, unbelievable facilities. It was a pleasure to meet you all and to play with some of you. You are all exceptional and I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed it. Thanks to Mark and the rest of the team for organizing this treat.”

February 25, 2019: The Temple Terrace Golf & Country Club, opened in 1922 and laid out by noted architect Tom Bendelow, was described by the Tampa Tribune as a brute of a course, stretching out over 6,400 yards. Probably not worthy by today’s standard, but a stout test for the century-old clubs used back then. The links held up well against some excellent modern-day hickory golfers with Boca Raton, Florida, professional Jeremy Moe carding a 77 to have his name affixed to the John Shippen Cup. Using a 1908-replica ball, Moe shot the same score that Willie Smith did the first round at Myopia Hunt Club in the 1908 U.S. Open. The winning average for four rounds in that Open was 80.5.

The USPHGC is sponsored by the United States Golf Teachers Federation and is open to all golf professionals, male and female. Players compete for the same $5,000 prize fund associated with the original Florida Open won by Leo Diegel. The golf course is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and one of only three in the state.

USGTF REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Southwest Region – The USGTF Southwest Region Championship will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5, at Ridgeview Ranch Golf Course in Plano, Texas. Region director Bruce Sims is the host. A practice round is available Friday, May 3, for a cart fee, and a dinner will be held that evening. The entry fee is $225, and an optional $20 skins game is available. For more information and to enter, please contact Sims at (214) 475-5168, bsimspro@hotmail.com.

Northwest Region – USGTF Northwest Region director Nathan Guerrero has scored a real coup with his securing historic TPC Harding Park in San Francisco for the 2019 USGTF Northwest Region Championship, to be held Wednesday and Thursday, May 15-16, 2019. The entry fee of $295 includes two days of golf and prize money, and division play will be based upon the number of entrants. To enter, send your name, age, gender, telephone number, email address and a check for $295 to Nathan Guerrero, USGTF Northwest Director, 736 Guerrero Street, San Francisco, CA 94110. The entry deadline is April 20, 2019. Please contact Guerrero at prtime.ng@gmail.com should you have any questions.

Southeast Region – May 18-19, 2019, at GlenLakes Country Club in Weeki Wachee, Florida. This private course is challenging, beautiful and impeccably maintained. Mature stands of oak and pine, water features, undulating hills and sand traps provide endless variations of play. A prize fund of $1,000 and the Southeast Trophy is assured with a field of 12 players. Entry deadline is May 10. Send entries to

USGTF National Office

200 S. Indian River Drive, Suite #206
Fort Pierce, FL 34950

If paying with credit card, call the office directly at (888) 346-3290. Questions? Please contact USGTF Southeast Regional director Mike Stevens at ams1127@msn.com.

Central Region – The 2019 USGTF Central Region Championship, a 36-hole stroke play event, will be held Sunday and Monday August 4th and 5th at Pheasant Run Golf Course in Canton, Michigan. For more information and to register, please visit http://www.mogtt.com/central-championship. Questions can be referred to region director Brent Davies atbtkadavies@comcast.net or (248) 701-6843. The Michigan/Ontario Golf Teachers Tour also boasts a complete summer schedule. Please visit http://www.mogtt.com for more information.

Northeast Region – The 2019 USGTF Northeast Region Championship will be conducted Friday, June 21 at Mercer Oaks West Course in West Windsor Township, New Jersey. Region director Bob Corbo serves as the tournament host. The entry fee is $165. For more information and to enter, please contact Corbo at simductivegolf@gmail.com.

PRO SHOP CLOSEOUT SALE

USGTF logoed solid short sleeve shirts by Nike with Teaching Professional on the sleeve.

Available in red, white or navy – $40.00. Can be purchased by contacting the USGTF National Office by phone or email only at (888) 346-3290, suzy@usgtf.com.

NEW – USGTF MEMBER BENEFIT

Request your free “Golf Business” website speed test and evaluation! As a member benefit, we have made arrangements with Weaver Enterprises Business Services to provide one free “Golf Business” related website speedtest and evaluation for any USGTF or WGTF member who desires this free service. We realize that there are elements to your golf business that go beyond being a golf teaching or coaching professional. In order to stay ahead of your competition in your business, you need to place yourself on the cutting edge of technology in how you present your business services to potential clients/customers. A vital element of this is to be certain that your website is professional not only in appearance but in function, as well.

In light of a recent algorithm change by Google, website load speed time has become more important than ever. Mobile devices now outnumber desktop, and Google is giving higher web rank status to sites that are optimized for mobile devices and have rapid site loading.

All you have to do to receive this free speed-test and evaluation report is to follow the link below. You will be directed to a form that will require your USGTF member number, so be sure and have that available when you submit your request. Once the request is submitted, you should receive your evaluation report within 72 hours.

Your evaluation report will include recommendations as to how you can rectify any factors that might be affecting your website speed, mobile optimization and overall function. In the event that the report indicates that adjustments/corrections need to be made for your site, you can then develop an action plan. That plan can be to make the adjustments/corrections yourself, have your website administrator handle it for you, or Weaver Enterprises can provide you with a quote for completing the necessary tasks.

Please Click Here for Your Free Speed Test

“PRO” FILE – TOURING PROFESSIONAL DAN POHL

He led the PGA Tour in driving distance in 1980 with an average of 274.3 yards, a distance that would have ranked dead last on the Tour last year. Yes, the game has changed that much. But Dan Pohl’s claim to fame as the first to lead the official driving distance stat is secure. Pohl’s career wasn’t great by professional standards, but he almost won the Masters, losing in a playoff to Craig Stadler in 1982. Pohl did win twice on the Tour, both times in 1986, and won the Vardon Trophy for low stroke average in 1987.

Pohl suffered a series of injuries beginning shortly thereafter, and his playing career never again reached such heights. He played on the Champions Tour beginning in 2005, but today is retired from professional golf and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Pohl also hosts a radio show there. While today’s game with modern equipment may produce impressive missiles off the tee, galleries in 1980 were undoubtedly equally impressed by Pohl’s long-distance prowess back then, too.

USGTF LOOKING FOR GOLF TEACHING PHOTOS

Nothing is more powerful than visual images, and the field of teaching golf is no exception. The USGTF is looking for teaching photographs that embody what the profession is all about. If you believe you can capture the right image, we’d love to see your photos.

All photos submitted should be original and specifically be actual golf teaching-related photographs, with well-dressed candidates, a well-dressed teaching professional, and a clean background. Example: No cars, roads, buildings, golf carts, etc. By submitting your picture, you consent to allow the USGTF the rights to use your image for promotional purposes.

Please e-mail your photos to info@usgtf.com or send them to the National Office via regular mail.

EDITORIAL –

THE GAP HASN’T JUST WIDENED; IT HAS BLOWN OPEN

For the average person, baseball, football, basketball and hockey are clearly spectator sports. No guy off the street is going to face a 100 mph fastball, tackle an NFL running back, guard Lebron James, or stop a Sydney Crosby slap shot. In golf, however, there was a time when a decent amateur or teaching pro could hit similar shots to those of a PGA Tour professional. The gap was not insurmountable. Oftentimes, a club pro or amateur would qualify for the U.S. Open, and some club pros could be found on the PGA Championship leaderboard. In the 1980s, the leading driving distance on tour was around 278 yards. Into the ’90s, it went up about 10 yards. Tour players were better primarily because of their consistency in ball striking, not because of equipment.

The last three years, the leading driving distance has been 320 yards. No one I know, average pro or amateur, even comes close to that. The regular guy has not gotten the advantage with today’s equipment that the tour guys are getting. Unless one starts very young and trains like the athletes on major sports teams, there is almost no chance of making it to the top level. It has really become a spectator sport like the big leagues: there’s them and then the rest of us. It kind of makes the game less fun for those with dreams. I remember playing at Doral when I was at school in Miami right after the tour stop there. I shot a 71 and felt like maybe I could compete with the pros. At least I felt I was close to their level. Pro and amateur golf are nothing like that anymore.

By Mike Stevens, USGTF Member and Contributing Writer