Alpenfels and Adams join an elite group of PGA members who have earned PGA Master Professional status
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The PGA of America is pleased to announce that Eric Alpenfels, PGA Director of Instruction at Pinehurst (N.C.) Country Club, and Mike Adams, PGA Director of Instruction at both Hamilton Farms Golf Club, in Gladstone, N.J., and Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla., are the first PGA Professionals to ever graduate from the new PGA Master Professional Program 2.0 (PGA MPP 2.0).
With this honor, they have achieved the highest educational designation that can be attained by a PGA member.
Alpenfels and Adams both achieved PGA Master Professional status with a certification in Teaching & Coaching. Since the program’s inception, 352 PGA Professionals have earned PGA Master Professional status.
The PGA of America recently updated its member education curriculum to ensure PGA Professionals are prepared to meet the growing demands of the current marketplace. The PGA Master Professional Program was established in 1969, to recognize PGA members who have made a significant effort to improve as golf professionals and maintain the highest degree of excellence for themselves and their operations.
Alpenfels, who has been part of the Pinehurst family for 27 years, was the 2012 and 1995 Carolinas PGA Teacher of the Year. A highly acclaimed PGA Professional, Alpenfels is recognized by GOLF Magazine as one of the “Top 100 Teachers in America”; by Golf Digest as one of “America’s 50 Greatest Teachers”; and by U.S. Kids Golf as one of the “Top 50 Teachers for Kids.”
“I am thrilled to be one of the first PGA Professionals to complete the PGA Master Professional Program 2.0,” said Alpenfels. “The PGA of America offers incredible educational opportunities that are relevant to today’s marketplace. And by achieving this designation, I am able to provide the highest level of expertise to my employers and students.”
Adams, who also teaches during the winter at Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla., has appeared on each Golf Magazine and Golf Digest Teacher’s list since their inception. He has mentored two PGA Professionals who were honored as PGA Teacher of the Year, as well as one LPGA Teacher of the Year.
In addition to several PGA and LPGA Tour players, Adams has taught four U.S. Presidents – George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford. Additionally, Adams has written and co-written 18 golf instruction books, including two GOLF Magazine Instruction Books of the Year: “Play Better Golf” and
“The LAWs of the Golf Swing,” a philosophy to help golfers of all levels find a swing that is customized to their physical build.
“It’s a huge honor,” said Adams. “While it’s a lot of work, one thing we should strive to do is educate ourselves and improve ourselves…Golf has been wonderful to me. It is important when you achieve something to give back and help members of The PGA achieve their goals, too.”
The updated PGA Master Professional Program (PGA MPP 2.0) is available for PGA Professionals who have achieved advanced certification through the PGA Certified Professional Program (CPP 2.0), which was launched in 2004. After a PGA member obtains PGA Certified Professional status, he or she is eligible to work toward their Master Professional designation by preparing a special project in one or more of the seven designated career paths that must meet the approval of a panel of examiners from the PGA education department. The PGA Master Professional applicant then presents his or her project to a panel and defends their methodology.
The PGA MPP 2.0 curriculum is comprised of an extensive project based on the specific certification previously acquired by the PGA Professional. The project includes a detailed demonstration that is overseen and evaluated by PGA Master Professionals, PGA Subject Matter Experts and professional testing consultants. Upon approval of the project and successful completion of a presentation (which includes a Live Lesson for the Teaching & Coaching Certification), a PGA member will earn PGA Master Professional status.
The program requires a minimum of eight years of PGA membership in order to be eligible to earn
PGA Master Professional status.
About The PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.
Contact:
Michael Abramowitz Tara Olivo
The PGA of America Mastro Communications
mabramowitz@pgahq.com tara@mastrocomm.com
561/624-8458 732/469-5700
