1 May 2025

NEW REGION

United States Golf Teachers Cup – The 29th annual championship will be held Monday and Tuesday, September 22-23, at Stallion Mountain Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nevada. Registration can be found at http:ttp://www.usgtf.com/uscup.

Region championships are a great way to participate in a USGTF competition with a cost-effective structure, and did you know that all USGTF and WGTF members are eligible to compete regardless of residence? Here is the schedule at press time:

Central – The USGTF Central Region Championship will be played Sunday and Monday, June 22-23, at Walden Ponds Golf Club in Hamilton, Ohio (a suburb of Cincinnati). The entry fee is $250 and includes two rounds of tournament golf and prize money. Tony McMullin is the region director, and for more information and to enter, you may contact him at tmcmullin72@yahoo.com.

Southwest – The USGTF Southwest Region Championship will be played Saturday and Sunday, September 6-7, at The Golf Club at Twin Creeks in Allen, Texas, just north of Dallas. There will be a practice round on Friday, September 5, with a meet and greet later that evening at 6:00 p.m. The entry fee is $250 with an optional $20 skins game each day. For more information and to enter, please contact region director Bruce Sims at bsims@pga.com.

Northeast – The USGTF Northeast Region Championship will be held this coming September. More information will be made available shortly.
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1 May 2025

“PRO” FILE – USGTF MEMBER KEN KIM

Besides being one of the top teachers in the USGTF, Ken Kim from Orlando, Florida, can really play the game. He’s a two-time winner of the Open Division in the United States Golf Teachers Cup, a USGTF Southeast Region champion, and played professionally on the Asian Tour, one of the main world tours.

After his playing career ended in 2004, Kim became a golf instructor and attained USGTF membership. His golf academy is based at Providence Golf Club, one of the best facilities in southwest Orlando. He lists as his greatest accomplishment in 2024 winning the U.S. Cup, but he also coaches high-level players, including Bi Shin, who plays on the Epsom Tour (LPGA equivalent to PGA Korn Ferry Tour).

Kim finds his biggest teaching challenges are communicating in a way that players have a clear understanding of what they need to do and how to accomplish it, and creating tournament pressure situations during practice. With his resume as a player, Kim certainly has the experience and personal knowledge to effectively impart his wisdom to his students in that regard.
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1 May 2025

NEWS FROM SPAIN

  By 2025, 75% of regular golfers in Spain are expected to use some form of smart-golf technology, such as GPS watches and rangefinders, up from 65% today. The market for these devices is growing by 12% annually, driven by popular brands like Garmin and Bushnell. These tools provide instant feedback and help players track their performance. But for young children, this kind of data might not be very useful yet. The real goal should be to get kids moving, playing outside and enjoying the game in a simple, natural way.

So, where do we draw the line? Should we embrace this trend and introduce more interactive technology to kids, or should we protect the traditional side of golf – being outside and playing on the course? While technology like simulators and wearable devices can enhance learning, it’s important not to lose sight of what makes golf special: fresh air, real swings and the joy of playing the game without screens.
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1 May 2025

USGTF CERTIFICATION COURSE UPCOMING SCHEDULE 

There is no better way to break into the field of golf instruction than to gain certification from the USGTF, with many members saying it was the best golf educational experience of their lives. Not only that, but the term Certified Golf Teaching Professional® is a registered federal trademark that only those who have earned the designation from the USGTF are allowed to use.

Upcoming courses will be held in May and June at the following locations and dates:

May 5-8, Princeton Country Club, Princeton, New Jersey May 12-15, Las Vegas Golf Club, Las Vegas, Nevada May 19-22, The Champion Turf Club at St. James, Fort Pierce, Florida June 16-18, **Master Golf Teaching Professional Certification**, Las Vegas Golf Club, Las Vegas, Nevada.
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1 May 2025

LUXOR SIGNED AS HOST HOTEL FOR U.S. CUP



Egypt isn’t the only place where famous pyramids can be found. One is located on the Las Vegas Strip in the form of the Luxor, and it has been named as the host hotel for the 2025 United States Golf Teachers Cup to be played Monday and Tuesday, September 22-23 at Stallion Mountain in Las Vegas.
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31 Mar 2025

– THE IMPACT OF A PARENT’S DEATH ON TOP ATHLETES – TIGER WOODS WITHDRAWS FROM HIS SIGNATURE EVENT AS HE PROCESSES DEATH OF HIS MOTHER –



Tiger Woods recently lost his mother, Kultida, shortly before the start of the Genesis Invitational, for which he serves as the host. He withdrew from the event as he was still processing her death, according to Woods.

You might recall that before the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, Woods’ father Earl had passed away shortly before that event. Woods’ mind was really never there and he missed the cut. However, he came back strong the next month to win The Open at Royal Liverpool.

Athletes process their parents’ deaths in many ways. Football player Brett Favre lost his father to an unexpected heart attack on a Sunday and had a football game scheduled for Monday night. Not only did he play, he played in spectacular form with his father serving as his inspiration. Favre said, “I wanted to play better than I’ve ever played before.”

The difference in mindset between Woods and Favre has many factors to consider such as faith, personal philosophy, upbringing, etc. One big difference is that Woods plays an individual sport where Favre played a team game, and the latter had many people counting on him, although undoubtedly his teammates would have understood had he not played. In Woods’ case, he said he knew his mother would have wanted him to play the Genesis, but his heart wasn’t in it.

Just like “normal” people, athletes are human with families. How they process their parents’ deaths during their playing season is a matter of personal choice and should be respected by all.
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31 Mar 2025

CALLAWAY

The year was 1993 and Callaway Golf founder Ely Callaway learned of the United States Golf Teachers Federation, became intrigued, and began a partnership with the USGTF that has endured to this date. Callaway is known for being one of the – if not the – most innovative companies in golf, starting with the legendary Warbird driver that jumpstarted the company and changed its reputation forever.

New for 2025 is the Elyte driver series, pioneered and designed with artificial intelligence technology. Every golfer will be able to find a driver that fits their game, with four different models available to match any player’s swing. USGTF members enjoy a generous personal use discount from Callaway through its exclusive VIP program. To register for the program, please contact the USGTF National Office at (772) 88-USGTF or email member_services@usgtf.com.
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31 Mar 2025

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT – BRODY DAY

Brody Day is a student of USGTF professional Eric Slosek of West Friendship, Maryland. Brody was hopeful to make his high school golf team, but didn’t make it in trying out both his freshman and sophomore years. That’s where he turned to Slosek for lessons and counsel.

“My golf journey started when I was around three playing with my grandfather,” said Brody. “I casually played for most of my life up until high school. I decided to come to Eric for lessons in February of 2024. My game started improving as I took lessons every week up until tryouts in August. I got called over to talk with the coach and was informed that I made the team. I was beyond grateful and ran inside and told Eric that I made it. Eric has always been a great role model in my golf career, from using the simulator with my friends to teaching me the right golf etiquette. Just recently, I shot my best round ever at +6 through 18. I am very thankful for all the help Eric has given me throughout this past year. I wouldn’t be on the team without him!”

Said Slosek, who teaches at Willow Springs Golf Course in West Friendship, “Going into the spring of 2024, I had no idea what the year would bring, but I soon found out: seven high schoolers who were determined to make their high school team. Coming from different schools, grade levels and abilities, they shared the same goal, which was to make their high school golf team for the first time. From freshmen to juniors, they were determined to succeed despite the lack of confidence at that time. We developed a scheduled lesson plan and practice plan to work on throughout each week in the spring and summer of 2024, targeting the August tryouts. We spent countless hours at the range, putting green, simulator and on the golf course, even the courses some of them would be qualifying on for course management. Fortunately for all seven of them, success happened at the same time. They had instant success on better ball striking, more accuracy, decreased scoring and so much more. The most satisfying moment was each phone call or drop-in after tryouts to let me know they made the team.”
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31 Mar 2025

“PRO” FILE – USGTF MEMBER BENJAMIN BICKFORD

I’m immensely grateful to the USGTF and its training program, as it has allowed me to blend my passion for teaching with the game of golf, which I deeply love and cherish. This program has been instrumental in shaping my coaching philosophy, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who shares these passions.

As a teacher at the Peddie School in New Jersey, I’ve had the privilege of working with remarkable young individuals, both in the classroom and on the golf course. In 2008, the same year I earned my full certification from the USGTF, I took over coaching the golf team, and we won our 100th match in April 2016 with a record of 100-10. Over my 15 years with the team, I have had the privilege of working with golfers that have gone on to play at top Division I programs such as Duke, Wake Forest, and many others. Notably, Max Greyserman, Peddie class of ’13, recently joined the PGA Tour and finished tied for 21st at the 2024 U.S. Open. Our team has enjoyed significant success, becoming 7-time MAPL Champions, 5-time Mercer County Champions with two record-setting performances, and 9-time NJSIAA Champions with two record-setting performances.

However, one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career, thanks to the USGTF, has been working with young people new to golf. Peddie Golf Camp (peddie.org/pgc) introduces students to the game using the USGTF training method at the Peddie Golf Club in Hightstown, New Jersey. We have helped students learn the fundamentals of setup, grip, and stance, in order to place athletic young people from sports like soccer, lacrosse and baseball in the best possible position to meet success. One of our key focuses is to incorporate competitions, activities and on-course play to showcase how rewarding the game can be, inspiring students to continue practicing and improving, as well as having many playing in junior tournaments for the first time. Our hope is to plant a seed which then causes kids to ask parents to take them to the course and bring their clubs on family vacations.

In addition, the real strength of the camp’s curriculum is that it provides another avenue and opportunity to foster character development in both our campers and the young people who serve on the staff. My goal is to foster a culture of dedication, respect, and continuous growth among my students and athletes, both on and off the golf course, and the USGTF training helped provide me this opportunity.
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31 Mar 2025

NEW REGION

Southeast – They say there are two sure things in life, death and taxes. You might want to add a third to that list: Ron Cox wins a USGTF region championship. The septuagenarian from Nashville, Tennessee, did it again, capturing the Southeast Region Championship with a two-stroke victory over reigning United States Golf Teachers Cup champion Ken Kim from Orlando, Florida. Cox has now won multiple championships in the Southeast, Central and Southwest championships.

Cox fired rounds of 72-75 -147 to edge Kim by two strokes. Cole Golden from Orlando, Florida, finished third; Tony McMullin from Cincinnati, Ohio fourth and Mark Harman from Ridgeland, South Carolina, fifth to round out the money winner in the main pool. The event was held February 25-26 at Harbor Hills Country Club in Lady Lake, Florida.

U.S. Pro Hickory – USGTF member Mike Stevens finally did it: He captured his own tournament, the United States Professional Hickory Championship, played February 16 at the historic Temple Terrace Country Club in Tampa, Florida. Stevens won the prestigious John Shippen Cup (honoring America’s first golf professional), edging out Carlos de Barros by a stroke. With his victory, Stevens – a USGTF Hall-of Famer – has won virtually every important hickory championship this country has to offer.
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