USGTF Monthly Newsletter

It’s been 10 years since Swing Profile received “Best Overall Product” at PGA Merchandise Show and began creating golf apps embedded with our patented swing analysis technology! To celebrate this significant milestone, Swing Profile golf app has released version 10 with many features custom-made for busy golf coaches! Brand new “Coach app” user interface designed for coaches to manage multiple students. “Student Lockers” system for organizing student videos into their own separate folders for easy retrieval. Fast video exchange with students. Send videos to student with a single tap. Receive videos on both Swing Profile app and on email. Simplified online video analysis workflow. Easily receive video from student, analyze with voiceover, and send back the voiceover video. Brand new golf coach directory to expose your coaching business to hundred-thousands…

October is here, and it’s time for the United States Golf Teachers Cup! The 26th edition will be played Monday and Tuesday, October 24-25, at Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club in Plantation, Florida, just west of Fort Lauderdale. The deadline to enter is Friday, October 7. The entry fee of $525 includes two rounds of tournament play, range balls, prize money, a closing luncheon and awards ceremony. A concurrent pro-am will also be contested and all USGTF participants are welcome to bring an amateur partner, but it is not a requirement to enter. To enter and for more information, please visit https://www.usgtf.com/uscup.

The International PGA was conceived on the notion of welcoming and providing membership for every golf professional, regardless of race, religion or national origin. It offers both PGA and WGTF members the opportunity to belong to a global body of professional golfers. The International PGA promotes career development and acts as one voice for individual professionals from every golfing nation. International PGA members are recognized and respected worldwide by both the public and golf management within the industry. Current IPGA members can now pay annual dues of $195 at http://www.InternationalPGA.org/renew. WGTF members wishing to join the organization may visit http://www.InternationalPGA.org/become-a-new-member.

By Grant Garrison, Queensland, Australia Golf is booming down under. While many courses were closed during Covid restrictions, it quickly became the activity of choice once courses opened. Our amateur body recently announced record growth in club participation, the largest increase since 1970. As golf instructors, the challenge now is to find new, innovative ways to engage those who are interested and get them playing. I personally teach beginners at a course that doesn’t have a driving range. With this mind, I created a program I call Fairways First. The goal is to get new golfers on the course right away. There are seven levels, which represents different distances from the hole. Once they pass Level 7, they have the skill and knowledge to get a golf handicap. The owner…

USGTF region directors are the voice of their respective regions and are tasked with holding an annual championship event. Currently, the Northwest and Southeast regions are seeking new directors. Those interested may contact the USGTF National Office at info@usgtf.com, or you may call (772) 88-USGTF.

Team USA once again captured the Presidents Cup competition held this past September, this time defeating the International team by a match score of 17.5-12.5. The USA got off to a fast start, leading 8-2 after two days, but the International squad fought back valiantly the final two days, outscoring Team USA 10.5-9.5. World #1 Scottie Scheffler of the USA actually failed to win a match in four tries, winning only half a point with a tie, showing that at the top levels of golf, anyone ranked in the top 100 in the world can defeat any other player on a given day. Tom Kim from the International squad was the sensation of the match with his showmanship and strong play. The PGA Tour rookie, by all accounts, is a…

Mike Stevens has been a USGTF member since 1995 and was formerly the Southeast Region director. He resides in Tampa, Florida, where he operated On Target Golf Schools at MacDill Air Force Base Golf Course for many years. The schools were a unique model in that they involve 6-week sessions of one hour per week, and the concept was very successful, as several other USGTF members also adopted that model. Stevens has always been devoted to the history of the game, and almost two decades ago he made the move to play exclusively with hickory-shafted clubs. He has won several tournaments, notably the Southern Hickory Four-Ball, and also the prestigious National Hickory Championship three times. When competing among his titanium-wielding peers, he more than holds his own. He was recognized…

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. Submissions may be made at info@usgtf.com.

By: Mark Harman, Director of Education Would Harry Vardon recognize today’s game if he could be magically transported to 2022? While some things would be the same, others would be so vastly different that Vardon might well wonder if it’s even the same game. Things used to change slowly in golf, but with the dawn of the 21st century, things are picking up at a rapid pace. Where once new technology took years to embrace, today’s players and coaches are quick to adopt a change if it is demonstrated to be beneficial. You would be hard-pressed to find a modern tour player who does not have a TrackMan or GC Quad – or in many cases both – to analyze their ball flight and club data to the nth degree.…