STAFFORD, VA-Leighann Albaugh, PGA, from Moseley, Virginia, was selected as the recipient of the 2018 Middle Atlantic Golfers’ Association (MAPGA), Youth Player Development Award for her contributions to growing community outreach through junior programming.
She received the award at Washington Golf & Country Club in Arlington, Virginia, during the 32nd Annual MAPGA Hall of Fame Banquet.
Over the past year, Albaugh connected more than 4,000 families to the game of golf through her community and grade school outreach and exposure opportunities. Her in-school community outreach programs have continued to thrive and expand throughout the last three years.
She has a structured curriculum for children ages 2-18 which include competition, clinics, camps and adult/junior components.
Her programming is designed to utilize golf as a tool for the development and practice of motor skills, social skills, critical thinking & emotional regulation in a safe and positive learning environment.
Albaugh has also worked directly with ‘underserved and at-risk’ populations through outreach with the Richmond Police Athletic League (PAL).
Approximately 200 PAL kids worked with her each week for an eight-week period. She did all this while also directing the Robins Junior Golf Program at Independence Golf Club, which entailed working with more than 3,000 juniors each year in the Greater Richmond Community through camps, clinics, leagues and in-school outreach programs.
Her contributions to junior golf and player development also expanded into the high school and collegiate ranks.
This past year she served as the coach for Cosby High School. Albaugh has been a successful college golf coach at both the NCAA DI and DIII levels. Her players have a strong track record of continuous performance improvement under her direction.
In 2013 and 2014 she was named the Old Dominion Athletic Coach of the Year as well as leading the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets to winning the 2013 and 2014 ODAC Conference Championships.
Throughout the years, she has held nine positions as a collegiate coach, an assistant and head professional and an instructor in the game of golf. She has recruited and coached six Academic All Americans, one Rookie of the Year, one Player of the Year and ten All-Conference Honorees.
Now, Albaugh is currently the Director of Instruction at Magnolia Greens Golf Academy and growing junior programming at the facility has been a major part of her role.
She has shared her ‘best practices’ during educational seminars, as a panelist at the Spring Teaching Seminar and as a presenter at the 2016 MAPGA Teaching Summit as well as through submissions to national publications. She is committed to developing and mentoring future professionals.
As a PGA Professional Golf Management alum herself, she designed a comprehensive curriculum where PGA Professional Golf Management interns are exposed to all facets of running an instructional operation. Interns learn how to communicate and apply a basic understanding of biomechanics, impact and ball flight to teaching students.
Leighann’s goal is to impart interns with a solid understanding of learning and child development as well as a basic skill set to develop and run their own high quality junior program curriculum.
Albaugh attended Methodist University. During her time there she was an NCAA Academic All-American, All American Honorable Mention, member of the NCAA Division III National Championship Team (placed T4th individually), and co-captain of the women’s golf team.
Throughout her playing, coaching and teaching careers she has been privileged with the opportunity to learn from many great instructors and coaches. Her passion is to give back to the game by passing on the knowledge others have instilled in her.
Believing in the idea of constant curiosity Albaugh’s primary role as a golf professional, coach and instructor is to develop, inspire, motivate and support people to realize their fullest potential.
Contact:
MAPGA Communications
Jeremy Beale, jbeale@pgahq.com
