Since its origin in 1988, the PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit has been a forum for the foremost educators in the game of golf. The roster of presenters includes the most prominent PGA teaching professionals as well as experts in fitness, sports psychology, kinesiology and mental training.
The foundations for the 11th PGA Teaching and Coaching Summit, Dec. 3-7, will remain intact as The PGA of America's largest educational event makes its fourth consecutive appearance at the PGA Learning Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
The 11th Summit carries the theme, "Leading Instructional Growth into the Future," and extends through three days of focus on teaching methodologies of the past, present and future.
The Summit "week" opens with a public PGA Play Golf America Day on Wednesday, Dec. 3; followed by the PGA/USA Today Hotline and Summit Technology Day, Dec. 4; and three ensuing days of education.
The PGA/USA Today Hotline will feature nearly 100 of The PGA's premier golf instructors helping callers nationwide with their games. Callers can talk to a PGA Professional via a toll free number that will appear in Thursday morning editions of USA TODAY or on PGA.com.
The components of this year's Summit include an emphasis on physical motion, high performance coaching and technology to enhance high performance coaching.
Among the presenters is 1991 PGA Teacher of the Year Michael Hebron of St. James, N.Y., whose vision for a Summit came to life in 1988 in Dallas. Hebron will be joined by PGA Teaching Professional and former LPGA Tour professional, Susan Berdoy Meyers, of Tucson, Ariz., in a segment on "Insights into Learning Golf vs. Teaching Golf."
"I had been around the world in the 1980s, and I was exposed to a lot of great professionals and their teaching concepts, but most of my peers did not have the same opportunities," said Hebron. "I thought, why not have a 'Woodstock of teaching,' where there would be many ideas that my peers would not normally hear?
"I was fortunate to get the support of (former PGA Chief Executive Officer) Jim Awtrey, and the PGA Education Department. Without their support, the Summit would never have happened.
"I'm excited about the PGA Education Department continuing to support this, and about the most invaluable part of the Summit, which is the time spent networking with fellow professionals before and after the presentations. Some of the most powerful places for exchanging ideas come at the lunch breaks, coffee breaks and dinners. You get the chance to go over what you heard that day and also learn what others are doing at their clubs. For years, we have been tremendous communicators about the golf swing. In the 21st century, we have to be the best in learning how to deliver information and skills."
At this week's Summit, Hebron and Meyers will focus on learning in a creative environment rather than teaching in a fixed environment.
Hebron is one of five PGA Teachers of the Year recipients participating in the Summit. He is joined by Laird Small of Pebble Beach, Calif. (2003), Bill Forrest of Tucson, Ariz. (2006), Jim Hardy of Houston (2007) and 2008 recipient Martin Hall of Palm City, Fla.
Small will share master of ceremonies duties with Suzy Whaley of Farmington, Conn., who in July of 2003, was the first woman to qualify and participate in a PGA Tour event since the legendary Babe Zaharias, 58 years earlier.
To reach that special niche in golf history, Whaley captured the Connecticut PGA Section Championship - also a first by any PGA of America woman professional. She has since been a national spokesperson for women's golf and has been among the most honored woman teaching professionals in the nation.
This will mark the first Summit to showcase the coaching challenges of PGA Professionals in meeting the needs of the disabled. PGA Professionals Jim Estes of Olney, Md., and Judy Alvarez of Palm City, Fla., are among the premier teaching professionals for special needs golfers, including veterans of war.
They will be joined on the lesson tee by PGA Honorary Member Dennis Walters of Jupiter, Fla., who was the recipient of the 2008 PGA Distinguished Service Award, and by disabled amateur golfer John Nicholas, who, like Walters, is a paraplegic and took Walter's mentoring to learn to play golf and encourage others to join the game.
"It there is one thing I would like to leave with PGA members at the Summit, it would be to motivate and educate them on the importance of teaching golf to people with disabilities," said Walters, who will perform his nationally renowned trick shot program on Dec. 3, at Play Golf America Day at 4:30 p.m. at the PGA Learning Center.
"I hope to convey that message by telling my story and by telling them how much golf has meant to me. I'm hoping I can motivate some instructors at the Summit to get involved in teaching those with disabilities."
The Summit will conclude Sunday with a segment featuring Errie Ball, 98, who is the last surviving member of the original 1934 Masters field and who today is a vibrant age-defying teaching professional in Stuart, Fla. He will be joined by Small in a forum about the changes in golf equipment and how it relates to teaching.
Begun in 1988 in Dallas, the PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit has evolved from indoor sessions (1988-2000), to an all-outdoor classroom amphitheater at the PGA Learning Center (2002 to today).
About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: 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 Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry.
By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, 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.
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