USGTF-KOREA CUP FEATURES FIVE WINNERS
The 10th annual USGTF-Korea Presidential Cup Members golf competition was held this past fall at British Base Country Club in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province. Five champions were crowned: Young-min Ko (general division); Min-ke Park (men’s senior division); Soon-jin Ha (grand senior division and women’s general division); Se-jeong Park (women’s senior division) and Young-guk Song (amateur division).
Amateur players who shot the age- and gender-based scores required for the playing ability test were given a certificate of acceptance to take the practical tests, and all division winners automatically have qualified for the 2025 presidential competition.
Beyond simple ranking competition, this competition has become a place of harmony where participants demonstrate their skills fairly, and both participants and USGTF-Korea executives shared in the camaraderie and friendships. USGTF-Korea will continue to hold competitions to provide various opportunities for members to develop their overall golf skills and other learning opportunities, growth and development in the golf industry.
“PRO” FILE – TOURING PROFESSIONAL MAVERICK McNEALY
Graduates from Stanford University have many options at their disposal, and Maverick McNealy was no exception. Despite being the top-ranked amateur golfer in the world, McNealy contemplated a career in the business world instead of professional golf, as his father Scott was a co-founder of Sun Microsystems. After much back-and-forth, golf won out and McNealy began his professional career in the fall of 2017.
His decision to pursue his love of the game was finally validated when McNealy captured the RMS Classic in late November for his first PGA Tour victory. His birdie on the 72nd hole avoided a four-man playoff, and he is now a PGA Tour winner. It surprises some that McNealy hadn’t won sooner, given his pedigree, but as anyone who has ever played knows, golf is a hard game, especially at the professional level. Now that the door has been knocked down, it’s a sure bet that McNealy will win more in the years to come, with major championship and Ryder Cup possibilities not out of the question.
“PRO” FILE – USGTF MEMBER DAVID SMITH
By David Smith
I was born May 13, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois, where I was raised until the age of 18. I attended St. Rita High School and graduated in 1986. When I was a young kid, I would visit my brother in Los Angeles in the summer. Back then, he did not have cable, so we only had a few channels to watch. I found myself captivated by golf, watching Gary Player, Lee Trevino and, of course, Jack Nicklaus. These guys just looked so cool playing this game and that is what inspired me to take up golf.
At the age of 9, I bought my first putter from Big 5 Sporting Goods, which I still have, and a sleeve of balls and began putting in my brother’s apartment. When vacation was over, I went back home to Chicago and asked I could take up golf lessons. Now, back in those days, there were no golf courses on the south side of Chicago and the other courses were not too keen on Black people playing there, as my parents explained.
There went my golf dreams until I turned 28. I had graduated from the University of Southern California and had taken a position with Hughes Communications. An old co-worker of mine was heading to the range at lunch time, and I asked if I could tag along. He tried his best to show me the swing, but he was just not that good, yet I had so much fun. I was re-inspired again to take up golf. For two years I took lessons and started playing. I was getting to be very good, but then my mobile deejay business took off and I put golf down until I was 38. I picked it back up again and went full-out learning and playing. After a very depressing time at my job, I came to realize that I just did not want to go to work and come home; there had to be something else. I was watching a golf tournament where Tom Watson, at 60-something of age, was still hanging with the young golfers and staying in contention. I saw this and said I want to do something in golf and that is when it hit me: I wanted to teach. I did not want the fame and the glory of the tour players, but I wanted to provide an opportunity to golfers to learn the game. I wanted to show other ethnically diverse people that we can not only play but we can help others come into the game. And this set me on my journey to becoming an instructor.
I was certified in 2017, but I have almost 19 years of experience in golf learning, training and playing. I coached a USGLL golf team to a second-place finish; have volunteered for The First Tee program in Orange County, California; was actively involved in the Los Alamitos High School Girls Golf Booster Club from 2012-2016; managed several golf fundraisers for the Los Alamitos High School girls golf team, and before being certified, I taught several individuals, including my wife, to play this great game.
My next biggest challenge is to try and establish a Division II women’s golf program at California State University-Dominguez Hills in Carson by 2025. This is a cause that is close to my heart and must come to fruition to not only give our young ethnically diverse women a place to play, but a chance to play and compete collegiately in this great game.
USGTF INDUSTRY PARTNER – MIZUNO GOLF
“Nothing feels like a Mizuno” is a marketing slogan for the prominent golf company, but many aficionados swear it’s true. Mizuno, a longtime industry partner of the USGTF, has clubs that fit every skill level, from its famous line of blade irons to the player-friendly JPX line. In recent years, Mizuno has upped its driver game to feature some of the best on the market. And not to be outdone, Mizuno’s wedge line has been refined to be among the game’s best, too.
Not known as a golf ball company, Mizuno has a winning lineup of tour-level balls that are equal to the best in the game, if not better. Wind-tunnel testing assures optimum aerodynamic performance, along with providing the distance and stopping ability the best players demand.
USGTF members may take advantage of Mizuno’s generous personal use discount program by calling the National Office at (772) 88-USGTF or (772) 595-6490.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT – WILL ALCOCK
By Jim Rondeau
I have been a member of the USGTF for 20 years. Over my 20 years, I have had many students, but none like this young man Will Alcock. He is an excellent listener, learner and student at Sturgis West Charter School in Hyannis, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. I started coaching the golf team there this past year.
Will is a big kid and has been playing a couple of years. He got into The First Tee Program and he and his friends enjoyed it. He had regular shafts in his clubs that played like buggy whips, so we got him some new clubs this past year with stiff shafts. They make a big difference. He’s good enough to play in the fifth position on our team but has had more success playing from the seventh position. In our high school golf here, we take the best six scores aggregate to make up the team score.
The most notable thing he has said to me is how he learned more from me in one day then the entire season last year. I can only attribute this to my experience with the USGTF. In fact, I went through the USGTF certification process twice to learn as much as I could.
Will also has a 3.98 GPA on a 4-point system. He also volunteers with Special Olympics and works part time at his family’s business. He is also my undergraduate assistant helping me email and report our scores to the news outlets. He is also a member of the basketball team and enjoys sailing. His plans after high school are not set in stone, but he’s looking into engineering programs at UMASS-Amherst and Embry Riddle, among others.
EDITORIAL – LOOKING FOR A CAREER AND A NEW LIFE? LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE USGTF
Whether you want to teach part-time or make teaching golf your full-time career, there is no better option than the USGTF. Our rigorous program of classroom theory and practical application on the lesson tee and the golf course gives each candidate the tools necessary to succeed at a high level. Many USGTF members are recognized leaders in their communities and have forged extremely successful careers.
In addition, USGTF members also enjoy numerous other benefits such as personal use discount programs from many industry partners, discounted liability insurance that many facilities require, competitive and marketing opportunities, along with continuing educational opportunities and belonging to a worldwide body of golf teaching professionals as part of the World Golf Teachers Federation.
If you are not yet a member and would like to explore the possibilities, please pick up the phone and call our National Office at (772) 88-USGTF. And unlike most businesses nowadays, where you reach a pre-recorded menu and take forever to get the person or department you need, a real person will answer the phone! There is no better time to start than now, as the end of the golf season is upon us and a new one will be beginning soon.
USGTF DUES NOTICES IN THE MAIL
Being a member of the USGTF has many benefits and advantages. In addition to having the right to identify yourself as a USGTF member, members also receive professional recognition, personal use discount programs from most major manufacturers, access to discounted liability insurance, ongoing professional education opportunities and chances to compete with and meet fellow members at our regional and national championship events.
USGTF dues notices for the 2025 calendar year are being sent out, and those wishing to remain members in good standing have until December 31, 2024, to send their dues in. After that date, a late fee will be assessed.
If you have any questions, you may contact the USGTF National Office at (772) 88-USGTF or (772) 595-6490. You may also write to the National Office at info@usgtf.com or member_services@usgtf.com.
KIM, FOUR OTHERS CROWNED CHAMPIONS AT U.S. CUP
In the Senior division, Kirk Junge of North Palm Beach, Florida, successfully defended his title by shooting 72-74 – 146 to also win easily with a six-stroke margin. Ron Platz from Windsor, Colorado, captured a closely contested Super Senior division with scores of 77-79 – 156 to win by four. Platz has been a USGTF member continuously since 1993, one of the federation’s longest-tenured members.
Once again a concurrent pro-am was held, and the winners were USGTF member Deborah Hughes and her amateur partner Dee Dee McGinnis-Hoeman. Their team fired a final round net fourball total of 64 to emerge victorious.
Results of the tournament can be found at http://www.24uscup.golfgenius.com.
WGTF NEWS FROM JAPAN: MEASURES FOR SAFE GOLFING DURING THE HEIGHT OF SUMMER
By Hajime Morita
Global warming has become a serious issue worldwide, and in recent years, the number of days exceeding 35° Celsius (95° Fahrenheit) has increased dramatically in Japan. The USGTF-Japan office is located in Saitama Prefecture, where Kumagaya City, known as one of the hottest places in Japan, can be found.
Golf courses around our office have prepared guidelines using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), a criterion announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Ministry of the Environment, to ensure the safety of both visitors and staff. According to these guidelines, as a general rule, playing golf on courses is prohibited when the WBGT reaches approximately 33. This number is based on the Celsius degrees when used in Japan. With temperatures expected to rise further in Japan, golf courses across the country are likely to establish similar guidelines based on this index.
When the WBGT level exceeds 31, exercising is generally prohibited. At the level above 28, heavy exercise should be avoided. For levels between 25 and 28, it is important to take frequent breaks. To drink water and take salt regularly is also needed. When the WBGT is below 21, the risk of heat stroke is considered low, but it is still necessary to stay hydrated and take salt. Please note that the index values differ between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
When we look at the WBGT, we find that it was developed in 1954 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, to prevent heat stroke risk. Due to the high-humidity climate in Parris Island and the rigorous training, along with strict restrictions on clothing and equipment, heat stroke was a serious concern, which prompted the development of the WBGT. In 1975, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) introduced guidelines using WBGT for long-distance running. It prohibited races of ten miles or more when the index exceeded 28. In 1982, the WBGT was adopted as an international standard by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).