Rick Chandler USGTF Level II Member Catoosa, OK

My story begins about ten years ago at the age of 43. It was the very first time I took a swing with a golf club and knew my life was going to change directions. I knew at that point golf would become my passion. It took many instructors, along with extensive hours on the range and the golf course before I decided to become an instructor.

I moved from Oklahoma, with its cold and unpredictable winters, to Arizona with ideal golfing weather year round. I continued to work on my game and teach karate in Flagstaff. I have been in and around karate since 1967, and have been teaching 20 of those years. I could see many of the same teaching techniques were also applicable to teaching golf.

Over time my health became an issue. I was no longer the very strong, agile, fighter and kata man. The injuries I endured through the many years of karate had taken its toll on my body. After much soul searching, I decided to give up the karate that I loved, and decided to take my experiences to the golf course. In order to teach, you have to be good, not exceptional, but good; so more lessons, more time on the range and a job at a local golf course would be necessary to fulfill this goal. Moving back to Oklahoma and working on the maintenance crew, I could play as much as I could fit into my schedule. One day, during routine maintenance on the course, I bent over and ruptured tow disks in my lower back. I was down, but refused to give up on my goal. I endured two back surgeries, fusing the ruptured disks, and then began the extensive healing and recovery process, which had me down for two years. The doctors told me that I would no longer be able to play golf, much less teach it. I insisted that I would return to golf, but the doctors would smile and shake their heads, believing it would be impossible.

After four years of rehab, and countless hours on the putting green and driving range, thanks to the USGTF, my determination finally paid off. I now teach on a nine-hole golf course and nice driving range. I am currently a Level II instructor thanks to Dave at the Ahwatukee Country Club in Arizona. There are times that the swing comes and goes and I play in the 70’s at times and low 80’s most of the time. But I am teaching and playing. I have tried twice for my PAT and plan to try again in Dallas during April.

Dave calls some of us the “Old PAT tour guys.” Well Dave, I will give it my best. If my back doesn’t give me any problems, I will be a Level III instructor and in one year I will try for my masters. I am 53 years old and I enjoy each and every moment of my life. I just married my childhood sweetheart, am head golf pro at Gordon’s Golf Course, and the only teacher at my golf course with 78 students. Thank you USGTF and Dave Shaver for making my dream come true.