Peachtree Corners, 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 newest list of recipients represent 26 states as well as five international countries including, Austria, England, Honduras, Italy, and Northern Ireland.
“These coaches are honored as much more than instructors of golf,” explained Dan Van Horn, the President and Founder of U.S. Kids Golf. “They create outstanding opportunities for young golfers to learn in a fun and rewarding environment that instills a love for the game and encourages the entire family to enjoy the game. Their ability to connect with students and fully engage them in the learning process sets them apart.”
Since 2004, U.S. Kids Golf has recognized golf’s best teachers with the Top 50 Kids Teacher Award. Applicants complete an online survey are winners are chosen based on a variety of factors that grade their contribution to youth golf. Considerations include, but are not limited to, experience, innovation, creativity, communication, parental engagement, organization, devotion and growing the game.
Teachers who receive this recognition three times are then awarded a Master Kids Teacher Award. Since these awards were introduced in 2008, 155 coaches have earned this elite status, including an additional 21 in 2017.
“This is the highest distinction we have,” noted Van Horn. “These are the professionals that have demonstrated a long-term dedication 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 celebrated Wednesday, January 24th with a special presentation during the PGA Show in Orlando, Florida. For more information, please contact U.S. Kids Golf at coach@uskidsgolf.com.
The 2017 Top 50 Kids Teachers:
Zoe Allen… Lurgan G.C… Lurgan, Northern Ireland
Jennifer Barnsley… Race Brook C.C… Orange, Conn.
Matt Barton… The Wyndgate… Rochester Hills, Mich.
Tasha Bohlig… El Caballero C.C… Tarzana, Calif.
Zachary Bowcut… Nibley Park G.C… Salt Lake City, Utah
Alexandra Braga… Denver C.C… Denver, Colo.
Richard Brown… Richard Brown School of Golf… Missouri, City, Texas
Mark Caldwell… Canyon Springs G.C… San Antonio, Texas
Todd Casabella… Barrington G.C… Aurora, Ohio
Matthew Clay… Del Mar Golf Center… Del Mar, Calif.
Kandi Comer… Kandi Comer Golf… Crozet, Va.
Susan Crowley… Blackhawk C.C… Danville, Calif.
Tony Decker… Purpoodock Club… Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Giacomo Dovetta… Verdura Resort… Sciacca, Italy
Brian Fallon… Westchester C.C… Rye, N.Y.
Chrissy Felton… Sea Island Golf Performance Center… St. Simons Island, Ga.
Alexander Fisher… The Glacier Club… Durango, Colo.
Michael Gervais… Bridgeport C.C… Bridgeport, W. Va.
Kent Graham… Army Navy C.C… Arlington, Va.
Mary Hafeman… Missing Links… Mequon, Wis.
Jim Hardy… Longleaf G.&F.C… Southern Pines, N.C.
Michael Herzog… Golf Etc… Bismarck, N.D.
Kyle Hess… GreatHorse… Hampden, Mass.
Jeffrey Hirose… Diamond Bar G.C… Diamond Bar, Calif.
Marshall Hoiness… The Minikahda Club… Minneapolis
Blake Jirges… Henry Brunton Golf Academy… Irvine, Calif.
Ryan Kalista… Tamarack C.C… Greenwich, Conn.
Paul Kaster… Forsgate C.C… Monroe Twp., N.J.
Cathy Kim… TPC Summerlin… Las Vegas
Justin Klemballa… Paradise Valley C.C… Paradise Valley, Ariz.
Mary Beth Kohberger… Black Bear G.C… Franklin, N.J.
Meredith Loosse… Woodcreek G.C… Roseville, Calif.
Courtney Mahon… Falcon Ridge G.C… Lenexa, Kan.
Wade Martin… The Villages Golf Academy… The Villages, Fla.
Kelli McKandless… Brookhaven C.C… Dallas, Texas
Bill Murchison… Towne Lake Hills G.C… Woodstock, Ga.
Oliver Oliquiano… Island Pacific Golf Academy… Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Manuel Ortiz… Indura Beach Golf & Resort… Tela, Honduras
Maria Palozola… Big Bend Golf Center… Valley Park, Mo.
Brad Petashnick… Riviera C.C… Coral Gables, Fla.
Boykin Powers… Charleston Municipal G.C…Charleston, S.C.
Tom Reid… Stoke Park G.&C.C… Buckinghamshire, England
Martin Rentenberger… G.C. Wien… Vienna, Austria
Mike Richards… Mike Richards Golf Academy… Parkland, Fla.
Rico Riciputi… Wentworth By The Sea C.C… Rye, NH
Ryan Smith… Rick Murphy Golf Academy… Greensboro, N.C.
Doug Spencer… Spencer Golf Academy… Fairfield, Ohio
Tina Tombs… Arizona Biltmore G.C. & Resort… Phoenix, Ariz.
Scott Wells… CommonGround G.C… Aurora, Colo.
Wade Wilson… El Niguel C.C… Laguna Niguel, Calif.
The 2017 Master Kids Teachers:
Roger Adams… Highfields G.&C.C… Grafton, Mass.
Leighann Albaugh… Magnolia Green G.C… Moseley, Va.
Ryan Anderson… The Glencoe G.&C.C… Calgary, Alta.
Peter Bakker… Mike Bender Golf Academy… Lake Mary, Fla.
Paul Belongie… RiverPines G.C… Johns Creek, Ga.
Kathy Bounds… Dona Lerner Golf Academy… Raleigh, N.C.
Allen Burton… Lake Hickory C.C… Hickory, N.C.
Eva Chaffin… Santa Maria Golf Course… Baton Rouge, La.
Kelli Corlett… Haggin Oaks Golf Complex… Sacramento, Calif.
Bryan Heim… Columbine C.C… Columbine Valley, Colo.
Michelle Holmes… Michelle Holmes School of Golf… Chesapeake, Va.
Emanuel Kasio… Golf For Kids… Kiserian, Kenya
Sally Krystyn… Shadow Glen, The G.C… Olathe, Kan.
Sean Lanyi… Royal Oaks C.C… Vancouver, Wash.
Cindy Miller… Cindy Miller Golf… Buffalo, N.Y.
Gene Powell… Four Bridges C.C… Liberty Township, Ohio
Eddie Roethlisberger… Ponca City C.C… Ponca City, Okla.
Tom Shea… Eagles G.C… Tampa, Fla.
Jim Sykes… The Landings Club… Savannah, Ga.
Adam Williamson… Rumson C.C… Rumson, N.J.
Phillip Yudys… Glen Oak C.C… Glen Ellyn, Ill.
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:
Christopher Carme, U.S. Kids Golf
ccarme@uskidsgolf.com, 770-441-3077, ext. 682
