NORCROSS, Ga. – U.S. Kids Golf has announced the recipients of the Top 50 Kids Teachers Award, which annually recognizes the world’s most outstanding youth golf instructors. The class of 2014 includes golf professionals from 22 states, Canada, and Costa Rica, with recipients chosen from more than 500 applicants.
“The teachers and coaches who win this award are critical to the success of the U.S. Kids Golf mission of making the game fun for kids,” said Dan Van Horn, President and CEO of U.S. Kids Golf. “The award identifies the best youth golf coaches and we hope recognizing them helps parents find the best in instruction for their kids.”
Since 2004, U.S. Kids Golf has honored the leading youth golf teachers with the Top 50 Kids Teacher Award. Applicants complete an online survey and winners are chosen based on their contributions to youth golf, such as: experience young golfers; time devoted to teaching youth; innovation, creativity and fun in their programs; communication; parental involvement; use of a well-organized instruction program and overall effort to grow the game.
Teachers who are named a Top 50 Kids Teacher three times are recognized with the Master Kids Teacher Award. Since the award was introduced in 2008, 104 instructors have earned this distinction, including 28 teachers in 2014.
“The most prestigious honor a coach can receive from U.S. Kids Golf is the Master Kids Teacher award,” Van Horn said. “These professionals have dedicated their careers to youth golf and truly embody the spirit of the U.S. Kids Golf mission.”
The Top 50 Kids Teachers and Master Kids Teachers will be recognized Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida. For more information about the Top 50 Kids Teacher Award, please contact U.S. Kids Golf at playandlearn@uskidsgolf.com.
Top 50 Kids Teachers – Class of 2014
Joseph Anders…Farmers Branch, Texas
Angela Aulenti…Stamford, Connecticut
Mike Berning…Kennesaw, Georgia
Fred Bond…Monroe, North Carolina
David Branstad…Hopkins, Minnesota
Casey Brittain…Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
Michael Bulger…Fairfield, Connecticut
Mary-Lee Cobick…West Palm Beach, Florida
Gary Cressend…Augusta, Georgia
Ray Cutright…Macon, Georgia
Mike Davis…Irvine, California
Mike Dickson…Bethesda, Maryland
Joseph DiDomenico…Pelham Manor, New York
John Dunigan…Malvern, Pennsylvania
Alejandro Duque…San Jose, Costa Rica
Mike Fay…Boyne Falls, Michigan
Jeff Frasier…Gainesville, Georgia
Anne Gajda…Plymouth, Michigan
Linda Gaudi…Fairfax, Virginia
Rudy Gonzalez…Laredo, Texas
Jeremy Green…Salt Lake City, Utah
Jered Gusso…Orlando, Florida
Adam Harrell…Leesburg, Virginia
Rick Heard…Boca Raton, Florida
Chris Holmes…Heathrow, Florida
Brian Jones…Cincinnati, Ohio
Mat Kent…Bedminster, New Jersey
Mark Krizic…Chicago, Illinois
Ralph Landrum…Florence, Kentucky
Andrew Lane…Winchester, Massachusetts
Sean Lanyi…Yorba Linda, California
Doug Lawrie…Burlington, Ontario
Christy Longfield…Bee Cave, Texas
Meredith Loosse…Keswick, Virginia
Corey Lundberg…The Woodlands, Texas
Steve Madison…Avon, Connecticut
Jonathan Mielke…Omaha, Nebraska
Cindy Miller…Williamsville, New York
Andy Miller…Reading, Pennsylvania
John Pallot…Miami, Florida
Ryan Peffer…Tuxedo Park, New York
Jason Peterson…New Canaan, Connecticut
Matthew Primrose…Riverview, Florida
Brandon Ray…Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Dylan Ross…Lerma, Mexico
Tom Shea…Odessa, Florida
Maggie Simons…Charlotte, North Carolina
Mark Summerville…Gladwyne, Pennsylvania
Rick Timm…Centennial, Colorado
Matthew Wilson…Los Gatos, California
Master Kids Teachers – Class of 2014
Dale Balvin…Scottsdale, Arizona
Mark Becker…Oneida, Wisconsin
Justin Blazer…Viera, Florida
Karen Bukowski…Erie, Pennsylvania
Mike Carbray…Oak Brook, Illinois
Dale Claussen…Green Cove Springs, Florida
Jim Collins…San Ramon, California
Kay Cornelius…Chandler, Arizona
Chris Dewar…Reno, Nevada
Michael Doctor…Skaneateles, New York
Berne Finch…San Jose, California
Brian Groszek…St Charles, Illinois
Jon Janik…Trumbull, Connecticut
Joseph Ludeman…Coral Gables, Florida
John Mascari…Wayne, New Jersey
Kammy Maxfeldt…Westport, Connecticut
Cameron McCormick…Dallas, Texas
Valerie Moore…Lake Worth, Florida
Bela Nagy…Vero Beach, Florida
Ryan O’Mahoney…Atlanta, Georgia
Megan Padua…East Hampton, New York
Todd Smith…San Diego, California
Chris Stahlnecker…South Kent, Connecticut
Kate Tempesta…New York, New York
Deb Vangellow…Sugar Land, Texas
Michael Wenzel…Northbrook, Illinois
Wendy Werley Bullock…Rancho Viejo, Texas
Joyce Wilcox…Acworth, Georgia
About U.S. Kids Golf
The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation, a Georgia non-profit recognized as a 501(c)(3) charity, was created in 2001 and provides services that include competition and instruction. The Foundation organizes over 800 tournaments each year for more than 10,000 players, ages 5-18. These tournaments include Local Tours in more than 50 cities, eight Regional Championships, the European Championship, and the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and Teen World Championship, which are held each year in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
The vision of the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation is to provide kids and their families the opportunity participate in the game of golf through instruction and competition. With the belief that family interaction is critical in the development of young golfers, parents are encouraged to serve as caddies for their kids during tournaments and to develop positive coaching techniques.
U.S. Kids Golf, LLC is based in Atlanta and manufactures equipment and related golf products designed for kids. It was created in 1997 when Founder/CEO Dan Van Horn found that his children were losing their interest in golf due to not having the proper equipment. In addition to more than 4,000 golf shops and retail locations in the United States, the company’s products also are available in more than 75 countries worldwide.
Contact:
playandlearn@uskidsgolf.com
