2024 PGA TOUR SCHEDULE
For the first time in quite a few years, the PGA Tour’s season-opener will officially open at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January. The season itself will conclude this fall. For the past several years, the Tour’s official start to the season commenced after the FedEx Cup was concluded and covered two calendar years.
The change was done to simplify the season, among other reasons. In addition to a change to the Tour’s calendar, a series of “Signature Events” will continue in 2024, a response to the LIV Tour’s high payouts. Signature Events will give 700 FedEx Cup points to the winner in addition to highly inflated purses and reduced, no-cut fields.
The changes are not without controversy as many who are not eligible for Signature Events fear those who are eligible will easily keep their Tour playing privileges for years to come, becoming much less a tour based on merit and more on previous achievements. The year 2024 will certainly be one of the more interesting ones in Tour history.
“PRO” FILE – USGTF MEMBER “PRO” FILE – USGTF MEMBER THOMAS WARTELLE
A native of Louisiana, Thomas T Wartelle turned pro after graduating with a B.S. in Agronomy from the University of Louisiana. He is a PGA and WGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional, as well as a WGTF course examiner.
Wartelle’s career as a playing professional brought him around the world, competing in Europe, Asia, South America, Canada and the USA. His 30+ years of professional golf have been an unbelievable journey, going to over 40 countries as a player/instructor with 20,000+ hours of instruction given, and teaching and meeting thousands of students and great people around the globe. He has traveled the world training golf instructors to teach golf, using a unique system for learning.
Wartelle’s teaching philosophy and methods have been recognized as innovative, and best described as a combination of “old-style feel” with the latest in technology. Wartelle is renowned for training players who are serious about moving to the next level. This includes numerous professional tour players, college golfers, amateur champions and high-level junior golfers. His training includes all aspects of the game with a focus on mechanics, short game, tournament preparation and fitness/speed training.
Wartelle has been named to the WGTF Top 100 Instructors list. In 2007, he was inducted into the WGTF Hall of Fame. He is a contributing writer for several golf publications and media. His mission is to grow the game while developing golfers into champions in golf and life. His mantra is “pay it forward.” You can visit his social media on Facebook and Instagram @ttwgolf.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT SUBMISSIONS SOUGHT
USGTF members who have students notable for their achievements, accomplishments, or even notable progress, are invited to submit their stories for consideration in the monthly e-newsletter. A picture of the USGTF member along with their student will also be featured in the item.
Such submissions are important to highlight the success of USGTF members. Not only does the student spotlight showcase the teaching professional in addition to the student, but putting out success stories by USGTF members continues to show the strength of the certification process and the qualifications of all USGTF members. As the old saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats! Submissions may be made at info@usgtf.com.
INDUSTRY PARTNER – SWING PROFILE – GET $10 APPLE GIFT CARD FOR NEW COACH SUBSCRIPTION OF SWING PROFILE GOLF ANALYZER
Golf coaching is easy and fun with Swing Profile golf analyzer, and you can make a perfect start in 2024! For the month of January 2024, you will get a free $10 Apple gift card when you buy a 1-year Coach Subscription*. Simply download app from Apple app store, register, and after purchasing 1-year Coach subscription, email us at info@swingprofile.com with subject “USGTF” to redeem the offer. Offer is valid until 31 January 2024. For any help, contact info@swingprofile.com.
Features of Swing Profile golf app for coaches include:
- PGA Show award-winning “Auto Capture” technology for golf analysis and student self-training.
- “Ball tracker” for instant ball trajectories tracking
- Easy “voiceover” for recording your voice and drawing
- Easy video exchange with students on both Swing Profile app and email
- “Student Lockers” system for organizing student videos
- Enlist your coaching business on our “Coach directory” to be seen by hundreds of thousands of Swing Profile users
- Automatic video backup to secure cloud storage and video synchronization across devices
*Offer is available to new subscribers only and requires using the latest version of Swing Profile app. Apple gift card may take up to 5 weeks to dispatch.
EDITORIAL – USGTF 35th ANNIVERSARY – MEMORIES, HISTORY AND FUTURE VISION
When the USGTF was founded in 1989, it was much-needed in filling a void in the golf instruction realm. Thirty-five years later, much of the promise of the USGTF has been fulfilled with bigger and better things in store in the future.
In the beginning, all USGTF classes and instruction were held in-person at a few locations nationwide. These gatherings routinely drew 40-50 candidates to each certification course, proving the USGTF was vital to the golf industry. As the computer age became an everyday reality, online learning supplemented in-person sessions in the form of earning Associate Member status.
CEO and president Brandon Lee’s vision for the future includes a more rigorous and involved certification program to keep up with the ever-growing body of knowledge needed to teach the game effectively, while at the same time making the program accessible to more people. A vital goal of the USGTF is to involve younger candidates to assure long-term growth and health of the organization. Since virtually everyone under the age of 30 has grown up knowing computers and artificial intelligence technology their wholes lives, programs tailored to their expectations are being developed to further the goal of federation health and growth. The 21st century certainly belongs to the USGTF and WGTF.
SEASON’S GREETINGS FROM USGTF
As we head into December and the end of the year approaches, we trust that you have had a successful and fulfilling 2023, and look forward to what 2024 might bring us. We would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season and look forward to continuing to provide the best possible organization for both new and existing members. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can help you with any matter related to your membership.
MAGAZINE COMING OUT THIS MONTH; MEMBERSHIP CARDS INCLUDED
Golf Teaching Pro, the annual official member publication of the USGTF and WGTF, will be mailed to all members in good standing this month, along with membership cards. The magazine is one of the most valuable resources available to USGTF members and includes information pertinent to every golf teaching professional, such as instruction, features and international news and happenings.
The recently completed United States Golf Teachers Cup is recapped, along with articles written by industry experts such as Thomas T Wartelle, Mike Stevens, Lawrence Sykkmon and Christopher Warner. Wartelle, who is mentoring his son Gabrielle, writes about “Teaching young golfers by age and ability,” while resident historian Stevens takes us on a journey to the past with “Who is Samuel Ryder and why is the Ryder Cup named after him?”
News from international federations is also prominently featured as the World Golf Teachers Federation takes center stage in this issue. The global reach of the WGTF literally covers all corners of the Earth.
The magazine will be arriving soon. Please check your mailbox for the current issue!
THE 9TH USGTF-KOREA PRESIDENTIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT WAS HELD SUCCESSFULLY
The 9th USGTF-Korea Chairman’s Cup Member Golf Tournament was held on Monday, November 13 at Club D Songnisan Golf Course in Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. The competition was held for those who passed regional qualifiers as full members of the USGTF-Korea and amateur players recommended by full members of the league, and was divided into five professional divisions: Men’s General, Men’s Senior, Grand Senior and Women’s General, Women’s Senior, and Amateur.
Young-min Ko won the Men’s General section; Man-wook Heo won the Men’s Senior section; Yong-tae Lee won the Grand Senior and Women’s General section; Eun-joo Kim won the Women’s Senior section, and Choi Won-il won the Amateur section. Pro Tae-hyun Kwon took second place in the Men’s General section while pro Seong-min Yoo took third. Pro Won-gil Lee took second place in the Men’s Elderly section and pro Pan-ho Lim took third place.
Professional Joo-bong Sung took second place in the Grand Senior and Women’s General division, and professional Soo-jin Ha took third place. In the Women’s Elderly category, professional Gun-hwi Won came in second and professional Eul-soon Yoon came in third.
Hee-tae Lee took second place in the amateur division, and Kyung-man Kim took third place. In addition, Ki-won Jung was awarded the Model Player Award, and the winner was awarded a prize, a trophy and a certificate.
Rather than a fierce ranking competition among participants, the competition has become a place where all participants, including their partners, and game executives share their warm feelings with a smile as the participants demonstrate their golf skills.
Young-min Ko won the Men’s General section; Man-wook Heo won the Men’s Senior section; Yong-tae Lee won the Grand Senior and Women’s General section; Eun-joo Kim won the Women’s Senior section, and Choi Won-il won the Amateur section. Pro Tae-hyun Kwon took second place in the Men’s General section while pro Seong-min Yoo took third. Pro Won-gil Lee took second place in the Men’s Elderly section and pro Pan-ho Lim took third place.
Professional Joo-bong Sung took second place in the Grand Senior and Women’s General division, and professional Soo-jin Ha took third place. In the Women’s Elderly category, professional Gun-hwi Won came in second and professional Eul-soon Yoon came in third.
Hee-tae Lee took second place in the amateur division, and Kyung-man Kim took third place. In addition, Ki-won Jung was awarded the Model Player Award, and the winner was awarded a prize, a trophy and a certificate.
Rather than a fierce ranking competition among participants, the competition has become a place where all participants, including their partners, and game executives share their warm feelings with a smile as the participants demonstrate their golf skills.
