USGTF president Brandon Lee recently met with Gary Player and Charles Schwab at the Loxahatchee Golf Club in Florida this past month. The group teed off for a friendly round of golf while discussing the growth of the golf teaching industry. It is through the encouragement and applause of legends in the world of golf that we strive to continue to preserve our honor as the world’s best teaching professional training institution.

Player is a nine-time major championship winner, while Schwab is the founder of the Charles Schwab Corporation, the largest discount securities dealer in the United States. Although he retired as CEO in 2008, he remains chairman to this day.

Amidst greater restrictions and lockdowns currently in Canada due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Canadian Golf Teachers Federation has found a way to not only continue operations, but thrive as increased interest has taken hold. CGTF courses are now held online via Zoom. This interest serves to verify that teaching golf continues to be a viable career even during troubled times, and to cement the CGTF as the leader in the field of golf instruction in Canada. More information about the CGTF can be found at http://www.CGTF.com.

Tiger Woods survived a harrowing one-car accident in southern California on February 23, resulting in multiple fractures to his right leg and ankle. After surgery, Woods began the long rehab process with the single-minded focus that has been a staple of his career.

Outside of a few tweets on Twitter, Woods has been relatively silent regarding his progress, but in a recent interview with Golf Digest, Woods remarked that “this was more painful than anything I’ve ever experienced.” He posted a photo of himself on crutches and in a walking boot, but recently 10-year-old Luna Perrone posted a photo of herself with Woods, where the latter was seen without his walking boot. Woods has also been in contact with a number of touring professionals.

He gave no indication of whether he expects to play golf again, just saying that he is focusing on walking at the moment.

He’s the longest continuing USGTF employee in the organization’s history, and says he’s fortunate to know so many great members over the years. For Mark Harman, it all started in 1991 when he was an examiner at one of the very early certification courses held in Lehigh Acres, Florida. Two years later he became the USGTF national course director (now director of instruction), a position he’s held ever since.

Harman took up the game at age 12 and dreamed of a professional playing career. But the game came hard for him, and in his final year of college golf his scoring average was 80.1. He took a job in the business world as a finance collector and computer programmer, but golf was never far from his mind. He played virtually every day after work and on the weekends, and worked his way down to a scratch handicap. Through a mutual friend, he met Geoff Bryant, founder of the USGTF and at the time owner of the Florida Golf School. Bryant took a chance on Harman, and the rest, they say, is history.

Harman continued to work on his game in the meantime with several professional accomplishments, including winning the United States Golf Teachers Cup seven times. He also considers himself a rules geek and has gone through the USGA rules class, and is a frequent contributor to USGTF publications. Today, in addition to his work for the USGTF, he teaches at a PGA Tour Superstore and at Southbridge Savannah Golf Club in Georgia. This fall, he will once again serve as tournament director for the U.S. Cup, and looks forward to seeing everyone after a year’s absence.

Shelby Warner is a playing professional originally from Lima, Ohio. Her goal is to play professional golf on the LPGA Tour. Before turning professional, she was a student-athlete at the University of Findlay in Ohio, where she graduated in 2017 with an MBA in Finance and Accounting. Feeling like her athletic career was unfinished, she has decided to pursue a career as a professional golfer. Shelby now travels the country playing on the WAPT Tour to prepare for 2021 LPGA Qualifying School.

Currently based in New Orleans, Louisiana, she is coached by Thomas T Wartelle, WGTF & PGA Professional. The main focus is on her swing, short game, and tournament preparation.

Shelby is pound for pound one of the longer hitters in ladies golf. However, she also possesses great finesse and control both with her irons and short game.

Being a playing professional takes hard work, perseverance, and sponsors. Shelby is building her team on all fronts, from golf coaching to fitness.Shelby trains using the GOATA Golf System. This system uses slow motion technology to identify incorrect movement patterns that cause pain, inconsistent golf, and potential ligament and joint damage. Using this technology, Shelby is able to apply it to her golf swing and workouts. GOATA Golf allows her to move better and play better.

Look for Shelby on tour as she is a rising athlete who works hard on her game. You can support and follow Shelby’s golf career on social media at Instagram:@shelby.Warner.18 Twitter: @snwarner18

A revolutionary golf training mat (ForeMat) is starting to get a lot of attention. It has been successful for students of university coaches and top golf instructors.

ForeMat, a new training tool with built-in instructions, corrects the most common errors of more than 80% of golfers related to aim and alignment (head control). Practicing and perfecting this pre-shot routine develops good golf habits, making it possible for the golfer to be in the best physical and mental position prior to swinging, resulting in the head of the club square at impact and a straight shot at the target.

The methodology incorporates published tips of PGA tour pros such as Jack Nicklaus, Ernie Els and Rory McIlroy, which contributed to their own success on the course. ForeMat was originally called “The Good Golf Habit.” Bob Toski, PGA Hall of Famer, has no hesitation in endorsing this very innovative teaching mat as the best teaching aid he has seen in 50 years.

For more information, go to GolfForeMat.com