(Grand Rapids, Mich.)-The reigning National Teacher of the Year, Mike Bender, will be on stage and provide free seminars at the 22nd West Michigan Golf Show to be held Feb. 12-14, 2010 at the DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. With his Golf Academy based at Timacuan GC in Lake Mary, Florida, Mike Bender attained the highest honor that can be earned by a golf instructor when he was named the 2009 National Teacher of the Year this past September by the PGA of America.
When he appears in February to share his instructional expertise, Bender will add his name to such National Teacher of Year luminaries as Jim Flick, Gary Wiren, Charlie Sorrell, Mike Hebron, Hank Haney and the late Bill Strausbaugh who have appeared at the West Michigan Golf Show, one of the oldest and most respected consumer golf shows in the country.
“It’s indeed an honor to join the list of prominent teachers who have been a part of the West Michigan Golf Show,” said Bender who was ranked no. 9 by Golf Digest in its biennial list of America’s 50 Greatest Teachers for 2009-10 in its August issue. “I’ve been to Grand Rapids a number of times and know first hand what a hotbed of avid and knowledgeable golfers live there. I love to teach and so I really look forward to sharing my thoughts and programs on developing better golfers.”
“We’re so pleased to have someone of Mike’s caliber and exceptional teaching ability to be part of the 2010 Show,” said Carolyn Alt, Show Manager. “The Golf Show has a long tradition of spotlighting the game’s best teachers and Mike Bender is now among the top names in his profession.”
Bender’s more celebrated students include Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, LPGA four-time tournament winner Seon Hwa Lee, LPGA rookie sensation Vicki Hurst, as well as PGA Tour veterans such as Jonathan Byrd, Mark Hensby, Robert Damron and two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen. In all, Bender has helped more than two-dozen PGA, Champions and LPGA Tour professionals with their games.
Bender began teaching after competing three years on the PGA Tour in the late 1980s and has been headquartered at Timacuan G.C. since 1991. Recently he opened satellite academies at Stoneybrook East and Stoneybrook West in metropolitan Orlando along with Mike Bender Elite Golf Academies at Sarabande CC in Howey-in-the-Hills, FL and in Seoul, South Korea. These Elite Golf Academies are for competitive junior, collegiate and young professional players who want a world-class, full-time training program.
Bender also is well known for his creation of the MEGSA Perfect Practice Equipment, a revolutionary training station that is used by thousands of amateurs and top professionals including 2007 major winners Johnson and Morgan Pressel. For more information about Mike Bender visit www.mikebender.com
Held continuously since 1989 and benefiting several local charities, the West Michigan Golf Show on Feb.12-14 will attract thousands of Michigan golfers to hundreds of exhibits, free golf lessons by PGA pros, instructional clinics and fun, interactive areas. The show attracts more area golfers than any single event or tournament during the year.
Produced by ShowSpan Inc., the West Michigan Golf Show’s hours are 4:00 pm-9:00 pm, Friday; 10:00 am-7:00 pm, Saturday; and 10:00 am-5:00 pm, Sunday. Tickets are $9 for adults, $4 for children ages 6-14, and children 5 and under are free. Sponsors currently include the Golf Association of Michigan, Odawa Casino Resort, and Srixon which will again provide a sleeve of golf balls to the first 100 attendees each day and to those buying tickets online. Tickets will be available at the door as well as online at www.westmichigangolfshow.com. For more information, call 1-800-328-6550 or visit the website.
Contact:
Carolyn P. Alt, ShowSpan, at 616-447-2860
Terry Moore, Sportserv Ltd, at 616-490-0433, terry50moore@gmail.com
