EDITORIAL – BEING INVOLVED AND GETTING ACTIVE

One of the highlights of my year, golf or non-golf, is attending our annual United States Golf Teachers Cup. I always look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.  It’s an event that I have not missed in all 18 years of its existence. As with most tournaments, every year we have a good healthy mix of regulars (people who always or almost always attend), semi-regulars (those who attend every so often), and those who are attending for the first time. The competition is hard-fought, but always in the realm of good sportsmanship and fun. I’ve also attended all of our Southeast Region championships, and region director Mike Stevens does a fine job organizing it and picking out the venues. This past year, we played at the nationally-renowned World Woods Golf Course, a spectacular 36-hole facility near Brooksville, Florida. I’m not above publicly lobbying for Mike to once again pick that venue! And by the way, all USGTF members, regardless of level of certification or area of residence, are more than welcome to play in the Southeast Championship. I also would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Keith Dunklebarger, Central Region director, and John Savage, Northeast Region director, do a fine job in hosting their own championships about the same time of year. We at the USGTF realize it’s a commitment to play in our events, both financially and in terms of taking the time to do so, in particular with the US Cup since air fare and rental cars are involved for most participants…as opposed to regional events, where almost all players drive to the venue. In case you didn’t know, the USGTF makes no profit on these events, and in fact helps to subsidize the US Cup purse. After the 2013 US Cup, I conducted a survey of participants and found that while most people enjoyed what we offered, some people felt that they would like to see an additional activity or two. With this in mind, at this year’s US Cup, we plan on doing something extra, whether it be through seminars, continuing education, additional fun activities, or some combination. At this time, we have no plans set in stone, but be assured that we will continue to strive to offer you great value for your participation. Finally, I would love to hear from everyone regarding our tournaments. Please don’t hesitate to write me at mark@usgtf.com, and I will personally respond to each and every e-mail that I receive. Your input is extremely valuable, and I thank you in advance for taking the time to let me know what your thoughts are. By Mark Harman, USGTF National Course Director