WORLD JUNIOR GOLF SERIES – UPDATE
The World Junior Golf Series has been actively recruiting and establishing new relationships and locations for its unique junior program, and is having a successful, albeit modest, summer golf tournament season due to a late start. Currently, WGTF members have stepped up to run tournaments in 20 states, and the WJGS has added key new additions to its management team. USGTF Level IV member Ken Morton has been named the Director of Operations. Ken brings over 30 years of golf industry experience and has been an entrepreneur for many of those years.

Three regional directors have also been named by the WJGS: Scott McAlarney is the eastern US director; Tim McLaughlin is the western US director; and Ricky Campbell is directing the West Indies. The WJGS is very proud to announce Kathy Hester as our first female tournament coordinator.

“We are very excited to have Kathy as a part of this organization,” stated Ken Morton. “We hope to have both genders and all races represented in as many roles as possible to make this organization all that it can be. Well-integrated diversity is going to be one of the keys to our success.”

The WJGS is currently looking for many more WGTF members to step up and fill the countless roles that it will take to truly bring this low-cost local junior golf program worldwide.

“One of our biggest challenges will be to find at least one more regional director for the US, and regional directors in as many other nations as possible, not to mention all the tournament coordinators for the remaining states by the end of the year,” said Morton. “There are so many exciting, exclusive things being negotiated right now that are sure to bring kids to us in droves, so we need to be ready for them!”

To contact The WJGS, please call Ken Morton at (919) 622-7241, or e-mail him at ken@wjgts.com.

www.GOLFCOURSEOWNERSCHALLENGE.com
Anew website, www.golfcourseownerschallenge.com, has been produced by the USGTF National Office. The website gives reasons why hiring a USGTF professional is beneficial to the golf course owner and the public that the course serves.

USGTF members generally come from successful business backgrounds before coming to the golf industry, and thus bring effective strategies to their positions. Whether it be a teaching professional, head professional, or director of golf, USGTF members are uniquely positioned to offer golf course owners an enthusiastic, competent, and successful businessperson to satisfy the owner’s hiring needs.

CONGRATULATIONS…
To USGTF Member Stu Bloom! On July 16th, Stu was awarded 2007 Teacher of the Year by The Golf Course Owners of Wisconsin.

WORLD GOLF TEACHERS CUP TEAM SELECTION FORMAT
World Golf Teachers Cup teams consist of six players, regardless of division, and each team represents a country. A person’s country of primary eligibility consists of the country of birth, residence, or certification. For example, someone born in England, resides in Canada, and was certified in the United States can play for Team Great Britain, Team Canada, or Team United States. Should a player not qualify for the team of his or her primary eligibility, they are then free to play for another team that doesn’t have enough players.

If there are exactly five players from a particular country of eligibility on site at the World Cup who are not already on a team, they may form a national team, but cannot play for another national team. If a country has three or four players on site, the players may either form a national team or play for other national teams. Each country must have at least three players of primary eligibility in order to form a team. Teams must use players of primary eligibility before picking up other players.

MEMBER PENS BOOK
USGTF member Lorenzo Thomas, from Mission Hills, California, has written a book titled Practice While You Play. Thomas’ book was, in fact, the basis for his Master Teaching Professional thesis several years ago. Thomas details how a golfer may practice effectively while playing on the course. It’s unique and innovative – something USGTF professionals are noted for.

USGTF members wishing to purchase the book may do so by contacting Thomas at info@greatshotgolfshop.com.

“ACE” OF CLUBS
USGTF members Stanley Palmaka and Pat Church have done something Ben Hogan reputedly did only twice in his entire career – score holes-in-one recently. Not only that, but Pat recently beat the mark of the “wee ice mon” when she scored her third ace in 13 months, at the ShortRidge Golf Course in Eugene, Oregon. Pat slam dunked a pitching wedge shot at the 96-yard 8th hole on June 29.

Stanley scored his hole-in-one on the 3rd hole at Casperkill Golf Club in Poughkeepsie, New York. Using a 7-iron, he holed out from the tee on the course’s 168-yard signature par-3 hole. Congratulations to both of you.

CONSTANT CONTACT UPDATES – ARE YOU GETTING THEM?
One thing that is very important to the USGTF National Office is staying in touch with members. We have found an excellent way to do so through our monthly Constant Contact e-mail newsletters. Members receive up-to-date information on the USGTF and happenings in the world of golf and instruction.

Your e-mail address will not be shared with anyone, and will be used solely by the National Office for USGTF business purposes. If you are not on the e-mail list and would like to receive these informative monthly newsletters, please contact Membership Services at info@usgtf.com and state that you would like to be added to the Constant Contact monthly newsletter e-mail list.

IRELAND TRIP SURVEY
In 2004, the USGTF took several members to Ireland to enjoy the great links and parkland courses that country offers. Everyone had a good time, and all agreed that they would like to return.

Well, the time to plan a return has come. We are planning another trip for 2008, likely September, and we would like to gauge interest. At this time, a specific itinerary and cost have not been determined. If you would like to participate in this fun-filled trip, please e-mail the USGTF National Office at info@usgtf.com so we may begin making plans with our travel agency and the courses.

Should there be enough interest, plans for “Ireland Trip 2008” will be published in an upcoming edition of Golf Teaching Pro.

USGTF PUBLISHES NEW EDUCATIONAL BOOK FOR MEMBERS
Abook that is the first of its kind will soon be available to WGTF members. Titled One Hundred Tips For Golf Teaching Professionals: A Collection of Friendly Advice and Well-Learned Lessons, the book contains 100 short stories and sayings, designed to give the teacher further insight into his or her craft. Written by the USGTF Technical Committee very much in the same style as Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book, One Hundred Tips addresses the challenges teachers face on the lesson tee. The wisdom presented in this book is sure to give any golf teacher food for thought when it comes to teaching, learning, and the profession in general.

The book will be available in mid-December, and can obtained by calling (888) 346-3290, or by e-mailing Jennifer Conrad in Membership Services at jenn@usgtf.com.

IN MEMORIAM: HENRY “DAHZI” LUM
The USGTF has received word that longtime member Henry “Dahzi” Lum has passed away. Well into his 90’s, Lum remained active until the end.

Most impressively, he went through the USGTF course at age 87 – to this date, still the oldest person to attend the course, we believe. He amazed everyone with his youthful appearance and physical fitness regimens. At age 89, he literally ran up the steps to the meeting room at Adobe Creek Golf Course in Petaluma, California, looking for all intents and purposes like a man still in his 20’s.

“Dahzi was a great friend, not only of mine but of the USGTF,” said president Geoff Bryant. “His love of golf and life positively affected all who were fortunate enough to know him.”

www.USGTFMembers.com
The USGTF has registered the domain name www.USGTFMembers.com.

This website will serve the needs of current members by providing news, information, and a means of communicating among each other. An email/bulletin board system will allow members to share thoughts and ideas with other members.

The website is expected to be operational before the year is out.

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