3 Oct 2017

Refresher Course Opportunity For All Members

Has it been several years since you achieved your teaching certification Since the art of learning is an ongoing process, a refresher course could be just what you need to “freshen up” those skills.

We are pleased to now offer a refresher course on the core training topics covered during your USGTF certification process. The online refresher course includes the following:

• Teaching the Full Swing video

• Teaching Faults & Cures video

• Teaching the Short Game video

• Clubfitting for Teaching Professionals video

• How to Teach Golf – The American Golf Teaching Method – 2nd edition

The course is available to current USGTF members only and membership must be verified before course access is permitted. You may go to click here to enroll in the course.

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3 Oct 2017

2017 Canadian Golf Teachers Cup Results

Shafiq Masih took home his first CGTF Cup championship when he bested a stellar field this past September at Bay of Quinte Golf & Country Club in Belleville, Ontario, firing a two-round total of 140 to run away with the title. Conor Hache and Brandon McLean finished a distant second at 149. Bill Hardwick and Peter Jaklic rounded out the top five. In the Ladies division, Lisa Fleming was a three-stroke winner over runner-up Jennifer MacKendrick, with Donna Dunbar placing third. Greg Salazar won the Senior division, also emerging victorious with a three-stroke win. Paul Duncan and Vito Cisternino tied for runner-up honors, with Don Sugden finishing fourth.

The event was held September 18-19 at the Bay of Quinte Country Club in Bellevue, Ontario. The CGTF Cup is an annual event and brings together teaching professionals from all over Canada, as well as from the United States and other countries.
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3 Oct 2017

Son of WGTF/USGTF Professional Wins National Title

Gabriel Augustin Wartelle, son of longtime WGTF/USGTF member Thomas T Wartelle, won the USSSA 11 & under National Championship. Gabriel also garnered the Tour’s Leading Points Winner award for this age group. The national championship was held at the TPC Louisiana in Avondale, home of the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic.

Gabriel held the lead from day one of the three-round event. However, he had to hold off two surging competitors during the final round. He sealed the win with a 10-foot putt on the last hole. Gabriel’s solid play during the week provided him the advantage to overcome the other competitors, as he lead the field in driving accuracy and ball striking.

In addition to his recent win, Gabriel was named to the Louisiana Golf Association’s River Cup team, which is a junior Ryder Cup-style format competition, to be played against Mississippi’s best junior golfers. The event will be held at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, Louisiana.

Gabriel trains under the tutelage of his father, Thomas. His current home course is TPC Louisiana. As a French citizen, Gabriel normally represents France. However, he holds dual French/American citizenship and will represent Louisiana in the LGA River Cup.

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3 Oct 2017

“Pro” File – Touring Professional Anirban Lahiri

Golfers from India have yet to make their mark as a superstar in the game, but Anirban Lahiri may be out to change that. He has played on the last two Presidents Cup teams for the International team, and is growing more comfortable on the American tour. Lahiri, nicknamed “Ban” (pronounced bon), learned the game when he tagged along with his father, a doctor. He began his professional career on the Asian Tour in 2008 at the age of 20 and scored his first win in 2011. He continued to do well on that tour with several more victories before moving on to the European Tour. A two-time winner there, Lahiri made his way to the United States after working his way into the Official World Golf Ranking’s top 50. He played in the Masters and PGA Championship, where he finished fifth, in 2015, and qualified for the PGA Tour after participating in the Web.com Tour final series. He has secured his playing privilege for 2017-18, and many believe he has a game capable of winning multiple times in his career. Lahiri also represented his country in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. The 30-year-old Lahiri is fluent in three languages and is married to the former Ipsa Jamwal.
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3 Oct 2017

Editorial: Do You Have A Good Caddie Or A Bad Caddie?

This past Labor Day weekend, Justin Thomas won the Dell Technologies Championship for his fourth tournament win of the year, which includes the British Open. (He would also later win the Tour Championship for his fifth win.) When asked what had changed this year, Justin emphatically stated it was his caddie, Jimmy Johnson. Justin’s caddie keeps him focused on the present shot at hand, which keeps his emotions under control regardless of situation or score.

While most people do not play golf with a caddie, you really do not need one to perform at your best. Ultimately, you must be your own best caddie.

When the pressure hits, you must tell yourself to stay in the moment, be positive, forget the past, focus on the present and remain calm. This is called self-talk, and all the great athletes and business executives have mastered their self-talk to be their own best caddie.

But when the pressure hits, does your bad caddie come out? It is easy to get into a bad caddie habit. Here are four easy steps to fire your bad caddie:

Step 1: Get a rubber band and tie it around your wrist.

Step 2. When you make a negative self-comment, snap your rubber band. Not so much as it hurts, but enough to startle you.

Step 3: Replace your negative comment with a positive one.

Step 4: Repeat as often as necessary.

Remember, you hired your bad caddie by creating a bad habit. You can un-create this habit by snapping your bad caddie out of existence.

By Dr. Gregg Steinberg, USGTF Sports Psychologist

About the author:

Dr. Gregg Steinberg is the USGTF sports psychology and is recognized by Golf Digest as one of the world’s greatest performance psychologists. He has worked with stars such as Brandt Snedeker and Brian Gay, and is a regular on PGA Tour Radio on Sirius/XM. He has also inspired companies such as Toyota, Hughes International, TRowe Price and Bank of America. His website is www.DrGreggSteinberg.com. See more articles like this at www.MasteringGolfPsychology.com. Also, please check out the USGTF-certified golf psychology course at this site. You can take this course for 1/2 off for the month of October with the promo code iggy199. On this site, there is a free mental game e-book, as well as many free videos and articles.

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2 Sep 2017

New Videos Featured Online as Part of Refresher Course for Current USGTF Members

Continuing in our role as “Leader in the field of golf instruction” and maintaining a cutting-edge teaching philosophy, the USGTF is proud to announce that “Teaching the Short Game” and “Faults and Cures” are two new videos which will be part of a special $99 online Refresher Course available to all USGTF members in good standing. “The Full Swing” and “Clubfitting” are also included in the course, as well as the 2nd edition of How To Teach Golf – The American Golf Teaching Method. The course is available under the Member Services tab or by clicking here. For more information please contact the USGTF National Office at (888) 346-3290.
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2 Sep 2017

Smith Wins USGTF Central Region Championship

With solid ballstriking and even better putting, Matt Smith of Columbus, Ohio, won the USGTF Central Region Championship August 6-7 at Lake Forest Golf Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Smith birdied the first two holes of the tournament, wound up with a 68 on the day and never looked back. He fired a 71 the final round for a two-day total of 5-under 139. Smith made nine birdies in 36 holes, successfully navigating the fast greens and difficult back nine at Lake Forest.

Grant Gulych from St. Thomas, Ontario, finished in second place with a fine showing of 74-72 – 146. Fellow Canadian Dan Estevan from Georgetown, Ontario, finished third with scores of 82-69 – 151. Estevan’s final round featured six birdies as he had the low score of the day.
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usgtf harvey penick golf teacher certified golf instructor pga
2 Sep 2017

Harvey Penick Award Nominations Being Accepted

Nominations for the 5th annual Harvey Penick Trophy for Excellence in Golf Teaching are now being accepted. Harvey Penick was one of America’s earliest great teachers, and his influence lives today.

The award is based on teaching accomplishments, service to the golf community and to the game in general. All USGTF Certified Golf Teaching Professionals and Master Golf Teaching Professionals, except past winners, are eligible. Nominations (including self-nominations) may be made through email at info@usgtf.com or through regular mail to the USGTF National Office at 1295 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34952. The deadline for nominations is Friday, September 15, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
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2 Sep 2017

Hotel Deadline for US, World Cups this Month

Thursday, September 28, marks the cutoff date for guaranteed discounted rates at the Fiesta Henderson Hotel & Casino for this year’s United States and World Golf Teachers Federation Cups. Featuring all newly remodeled rooms, the Fiesta Henderson is a 15-minute drive from both the tournament venue, Boulder Creek Golf Club, and the Las Vegas Strip. The nightly tournament rate for Sunday through Thursday nights is $45 plus tax, while Friday and Saturday nights the rate is $89 plus tax. To book call: 1-888-899-7770 and use group code: RCIGTF7 or click here to book online.

Please note that the hotel cutoff date is different than the tournament entry deadline, which is Wednesday, October 4. For more information and to register for both events, please visit www.WorldGolfTeachersCup.com.
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2 Sep 2017

USGTF Announces Cobra Golf as a New Member Benefit Partner

Cobra Golf is the newest golf equipment partner of the USGTF. USGTF members in good standing can participate in a 20 percent personal use discount from Cobra.

Cobra Golf, based in Carlsbad, California, is known for making high-quality and innovative golf equipment. King Cobra, one of the more iconic names in golf, is alive and well at Cobra. Cobra Golf became one of the biggest golf brands when it was acquired a few years ago by Puma. Featuring state-of-the-art drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons, Cobra has products to help any player’s game. Tour staff player Rickie Fowler, Lexi Thompson and Bryson DeChambeau lead a young group of professionals promoting Cobra.

Please visit the Cobra website at www.cobragolf.com to check out the latest equipment. If you are interested, please contact the USGTF National Office at (888) 346-3290 for pricing.
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