EDITORIAL – THE USGTF MISSION IS CONTINUING: “LEADER IN THE FIELD OF GOLF INSTRUCTION”
But a funny thing happened along the way. The USGTF continued to improve and update its certification program and more people interested solely in teaching – without the other attendant duties required of a club professional – sought out the USGTF to become educated in the art and science of teaching.
Today, the USGTF has a more rigorous standard of earning certification than ever before. Due to the work of USGTF president Brandon Lee and National Office examiner Jerry Ellstrom, candidates receive the most up-to-date information and methodology in teaching.
As the old saying goes, if you aren’t moving ahead you are falling behind, and the USGTF is certainly taking this to heart and enhancing its presence in the golf world. In addition to upgrading the certification process, the USGTF has committed to reaching out to younger candidates to further the long-term health of the organization. It is also committing to a marketing plan to continue and improve the USGTF’s visibility among the golfing public, all the better to serve its members.
Thirty-five years after the founding of the USGTF, the organization, along with the WGTF, has become an incredible standard of excellence for the golfing public to rely on in terms of top-notch instruction from its members. This will only continue to increase, as the “leader in the field of golf instruction” maintains the highest standards and ethics possible continuing into the 21st century.
During its annual membership meeting in 1992, the PGA of America was concerned about a new entity that had come on board in 1989 – that entity, of course, being the USGTF. The PGA’s then-president stated to the membership, “If we aren’t careful, this won’t be our industry anymore.” The PGA was so concerned that starting in 1994, for the first time ever, it required prospective Class A members to learn about teaching golf where before it had only been optional.
