1 Oct 2023

INDUSTRY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT – COBRA GOLF

Cobra Golf has long been known as an innovator of both style and technology when it comes to golf equipment. Their latest offering, the Aerojet series, is no exception. The line features aesthetically-pleasing drivers, fairway woods and irons. “Faster by design” is the moniker Cobra is using to describe the Aerojet series, with aerodynamic optimization for the driver and fairway woods.

The driver comes in three models: Aerojet, Aerojet LS and Aerojet Max. The Aerojet should fit most players; the Aerojet LS is for better players seeking reduced spin and greater workability, and the Aerojet Max is for players who need maximum forgiveness in a draw-biased driver.

Cobra Golf is an industry partner with the USGTF, and offers a generous personal use discount for all members, Please call the USGTF National Office at (772) 88-USGTF for pricing and to place an order.  
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1 Oct 2023

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT – MARK YU

By Kevin Moon, USGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional  

I am excited to share, with great pleasure and immense pride, the exceptional accomplishments of one of my outstanding golf students, Mark Yu. At just 11 years old, Mark has demonstrated remarkable dedication, talent and an unwavering passion for the sport of golf.  

Mark’s journey in the golfing world has been filled with numerous milestones and triumphs. Notably, he recently emerged victorious in the Drive Chip and Putt local tournament, showcasing his exceptional skills in all aspects of the game. His precision, technique and unwavering composure throughout the competition were truly awe-inspiring.  

Furthermore, Mark’s commitment to excellence was evident in his remarkable performance in the Washington Junior Golf Association sub-district tournaments. Not only did he secure victory in three separate qualifiers, but he did so with a level of skill and sportsmanship that sets him apart as a true role model for his peers. Mark’s ability to maintain focus and deliver exceptional shots under pressure is a testament to his unwavering dedication to the game.  

Perhaps the pinnacle of Mark’s achievements came in the form of his recent triumph at the WJGA District 6 Championship tournament, helping him to advance to the 2023 state championship. His remarkable display of talent, strategic thinking and mental fortitude allowed him to navigate the challenging course and outshine his competitors. Mark’s victory in this highly competitive event serves as a testament to his incredible work ethic and his ability to rise to the occasion when it truly matters.  

Beyond Mark’s impressive list of accolades, he possesses a remarkable attitude that contributes to his success both on and off the golf course. His commitment to fair play, respect for his fellow competitors and his unwavering determination to continuously improve make him a true embodiment of the values we strive to instill in our athletes.  

As Mark’s coach for the past few years, I have had the privilege of witnessing his growth and development firsthand. His hunger for knowledge, his eagerness to learn from every experience and his willingness to embrace challenges have made working with him an absolute joy. Mark’s ability to set goals, work tirelessly towards achieving them and maintain a positive mindset throughout his journey is truly commendable.
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1 Oct 2023

EDITORIAL – THE ROLE OF THE TEACHING PROFESSIONAL IN THE AGE OF TECHNOLOGY



When the USGTF began operations in 1989, the common method of teaching was to look at a student’s most obvious visual fault and then try to “correct” it. This also came about with the advent of the portable video cassette camera, where the teacher could pop the tape into a video cassette recorder (VCR). This allowed for instant analysis, frame by frame, of a student’s swing.

Today, much quicker video systems abound, but one tremendous addition has been the game-changing launch monitor. Most teachers now strive for the repeatability of a swing over the look of a swing, even if that swing has what previous generations of teachers would consider “flaws.” Is it possible to rely solely on technology to provide the numbers?

The answer is no. It still takes a teacher with a great understanding of the mechanics of the golf swing and the cause and effect of certain motor patterns to accurately come up with a correct game plan for swing improvement. These launch monitors, which not only tell us exactly what the ball is doing but exactly what the club is doing, are a valuable addition to a teacher’s arsenal. But make no mistake: They do not replace the teacher!

There is also talk of artificial intelligence (AI) being able to take over the role of a teacher. This might involve a student uploading his or her swing and letting the AI give the instruction. While theoretically this is possible, from a practical point of view in the year 2023 it is just not, well, practical. Good teaching often relies on physically placing the student into the correct position or guiding them through the correct motion, and AI can’t do that. There is also the problem of AI offering what could only be described as “formulaic” solutions when a more creative approach is needed. So at this time, while modern technology is great, the role of the human teacher is probably more important than ever to help their students navigate all these modern wonders.  
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1 Sep 2023

U.S. CUP DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING

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The deadline to enter the 2023 United States Golf Teachers Cup, to be held Monday and Tuesday, October 9-10 at the Revere Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, is Wednesday, September 13.  As in recent years, this tournament will feature a concurrent pro-am (although bringing an amateur partner is not required for participation).  The entry fee of $595 includes two rounds of tournament golf plus range balls, prize money, and an awards luncheon following play.  Play will be contested in three divisions:  Open, Senior and Super Senior, with women competitors placed in the appropriate age division playing from shorter tees.
For more information and to register, please visit http://www.usgtf.com/uscup.
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1 Sep 2023

MASTER COURSE FOR NOVEMBER

Are you interested in taking your teaching skills to the next level?  The next USGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional® certification course will be held Monday-Wednesday, December 11-13, at the USGTF National Office in Fort Pierce, Florida.  In addition to lower playing ability test requirements, candidates must submit a written thesis, do a shotmaking demonstration and pass a written teaching test.  Candidates must have been a fully certified member in good standing for a minimum of 12 months.  To register, please visit http://www.usgtf.com/master-golf-teaching-professional.
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1 Sep 2023

CANADA CUP 2023

By Peter Jaklic   Under an overcast sky with a steady drizzle, the stage was set for the 2023 CGTF Cup at Tyandaga Golf and Country Club in Burlington, Ontario, August 24. Although not long, Tyandaga proved to be quite a challenge, especially in the wet conditions. Our longtime member, Brad Weake, and his entire team at Tyandaga were, once again, incredible hosts.   In the end, there were almost 30 CGTF members competing. This year, more golfers were able to break the 80 mark than last year. Our president, Marc Ray, had the tournament round of his life, shooting a 71 despite a triple bogey on the narrow par-5 17th. Peter Jaklic was runner-up, carding a 76, and new member J.P. Van Rooyen rounded out the top three by overcoming some early nerves to shoot an impressive 77. Mel Hennigar, Alex Chan and Urb Van Bendegem came in at 78. A friendly putting and chipping competition was awaiting all members upon the completion of their rounds. Our CGTF educational lead, Jeff Howe, continued to provide us with teaching tools, training aids and discussion points to help us all learn from one another’s experiences. This sharing of knowledge simply added to the sentiment of camaraderie.   As the afternoon progressed, all of us were honored by a visit from our former president and founder, Bob Bryant. Bob eloquently shared his thoughts about our growing organization and reaffirmed that our present leadership, under Marc Ray, is one of the pivotal reasons to our great success. As a token of appreciation, the CGTF Cup has now been renamed the Bob Bryant Trophy to recognize the growth of the organization over the formative years under Bob’s tenure.
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1 Sep 2023

USGTF REGION TOURNAMENT UPDATE

Central – The USGTF Central Region Championship will be played Sunday and Monday, September 24-25, at Walden Ponds Golf Course in Hamilton, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati.  The entry fee of $250 includes two tournament rounds, range balls, and prize money which includes not only tournament finishes but any side games.  To enter and for more information, please call region director Tony McMullin at (513) 479-6895.
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1 Sep 2023

“PRO” FILES – TOURING PROFESSIONAL VIKTOR HOVLAND

He came onto the PGA Tour in 2019 with two other heralded collegiate stars, Matthew Wolfe and Collin Morikawa.  Most pundits said Morikawa had the highest ceiling followed by Wolfe, with Hovland third.  Wolfe was the first to win on Tour, and Morikawa lived up to his billing by winning two majors relatively quickly.

Hovland?  It took him a while, but he has now reached the pinnacle of achievement for the season-long FedEx Cup competition by winning the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia.  It caps off an amazing two-week run for Hovland, who also won the previous week’s BMW Championship.  He took home the richest prize in golf, $18 million, and has set himself up to be one of Europe’s stars in the upcoming Ryder Cup in Italy.
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1 Sep 2023

“PRO” FILE – USGTF MEMBER JAMES O’NEIL

By Jim O’Neil

My golf story is a long one; I’ll give everyone a break with some highlights. At 10 years old, I had my first golf lesson at Eagle Haven Golf Course with head pro Lefty on Little Creek Amphibious Base in Virginia. Yep, very close to Seal Team Six training quarters.

My journey in golf is actually a very humbling one, so please understand this is my story. I’m not at all bragging about my accomplishments in this wonderful game of golf. In 1980, I made the Kempsville High School golf team, mainly because of head pro Jack Harvey at NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach (Aeropines Golf Course). My father would buy me two lessons a year, and then both my father and Jack told me to practice. I practiced so much I ended up on a college NAIA golf team and won player of the year twice.

In 1986, I took my first PGA apprenticeship job under the then-active president of The Middle Atlantic PGA section, Don Saylor, at River Bend Country Club in Great Falls, Virginia. In 1990, I moved home to Virginia Beach and took a job under, again, an active president of the MAPGA, Gene Mattare.

After three years of soul-searching, wondering if I was a player or a businessman in the PGA, I decided to get away from the game completely and focus on my new love. Mrs. Mia O’Neil entered my life, and we started our family under the wonderful global company Stihl Incorporated in Virginia Beach. Team Stihl allowed us to raise our three children Lashar, Brenden and Tameria for 28 years.

Currently, the United States Golf Teachers Federation has given me a rebirth in golf. I’m currently a Stihl retiree who plays in our company golf league on Thursdays. Now – praise God – I’m the full-time golf instructor at NAS Oceana and I’m in training to win again on what I call the teachers tour.
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1 Sep 2023

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT – COOPER FISCHER

By Sean Moore, USGTF, Alexandria-Virginia

Throughout my career in athletics and golf, I have had the privilege of working with numerous talents of all ages and genders. One of my first students when taking over as director of golf at Rudy’s Golf and Sports Bar in Alexandria, Virginia, was a young man named Cooper Fischer. He was an 11-year-old that was very new to golf but had tremendous experience in soccer. He wanted to give golf a try and was incredibly shy and unsure of what the future held for him in the sport.

We began our journey together once a week and truly started from scratch. We wanted him to eventually gain enough skill sets and confidence that he could play with his uncle and father. Cooper quickly began to show improvement, but more importantly, he started to get that sparkle in his eye when we worked together as you could see he was beginning to love the sport. Cooper was persistent in his pursuit to not only improve his swing, but he thrived on learning about course management, terminology, history and the people that have paved the way for golfers of all ages. With the support of his entire family, Cooper developed a tremendous swing and has built his confidence as a young man. He hits the range two or three times a week, including his structured lessons, and now reports back to me weekly regarding his strengths and weaknesses from his previous sessions.

Cooper and I have built a tremendous friendship as instructor and student. We grind on the range together while sharing a bag of sour gummies or a basket of fries. His post-lesson tradition: to sit with his family and have the famous grilled cheese from Rudy’s Golf. The Fischer family has not only supported their son and his drive to be a better golfer, but they have embraced the lifestyle. Cooper’s dad has also found a new spark as well and is excited about sharing the game again with his son. Cooper and I will continue to work together, and he may choose to try competition at some point.

However, in my eyes he has already won. He discovered the sport we all love so much. He’s improved his swing, his knowledge and his confidence. He is a tremendous example of hard work and commitment. He reminds me every week of why I choose to teach golf for a living, and I can’t wait to see the things Cooper is able to accomplish on and off the course.
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