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GOLF TEACHING PRO® Magazine
 USGTF MEMBER BOB CARDEA TAKES RUTGERS-CAMDEN TO NEW HEIGHTS
The golden era of golf began taking shape at Rutgers
University-Camden last spring.
After years as a nomadic program that
followed the current employment of its part-time head coach, a
foundation has been laid for long-term success with the NCAA
Division III program.
That groundwork has resulted in a
building boom for its long-time head coach, Level III USGTF Member
Bob Cardea, and his Scarlet Raptors. Seemingly overnight, his team
has rocketed to 52nd nationally in GolfStat’s head-to-head Division
III rankings. It’s heady stuff for a program which continually has
had its share of setbacks and rarely broke .500 for years.
Within the past 15 months,
Rutgers-Camden has seen Cardea make the transition from a part-time
coach to full-time status, found a league affiliation in the North
Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC), and has witnessed the opening of
its new practice facility with the completion of the nearby Camden
County Golf Academy. Cardea, who spent years coaching the Raptors on
the side while working as the head pro at various South Jersey golf
courses, now serves as the manager of the new facility.
Rutgers-Camden opened its spring season
in impressive fashion, dominating a strong field at the two-day
Sheraton Invitational, hosted by Wesley College March 22-23. The
Scarlet Raptors posted a 631 team score to win the seven-team event
by 27 strokes.
“My goal is to be in the top 25 by the
end of the year,” Cardea said. “We have our eye set on winning the
conference championships and qualifying for the national
championships in Port St. Lucie, Florida.”
BOB ROTELA’S NEW
BOOK NOW AVAILABLE
Bob Rotella, the golf world’s most renowned sport psychologist, has
written his latest book, titled Your 15th Club: The Inner Secret To
Great Golf. With almost three decades of experience working with
professional golfers, Dr. Bob Rotella has seen what it takes to
become a champion on the golf course. And while there are many
techniques and skills that successful golfers need, there is one
crucial, intangible element that propels the very best golfers to
the top –a mental element that can only be harnessed with the
correct knowledge and practice. In Your 15th Club, Dr. Rotella
reveals the steps that any golfer can take to raise his caliber of
play to the next level, beyond the fourteen clubs that all golfers
have in their bags.
Your 15th Club is now
available at bookstores throughout the United States and Canada.
MICHIGAN/ONTARIO
GOLF TEACHERS RELEASE TOURNEY SCHEDULE
The schedule for the 2009 Michigan/Ontario Golf Teachers Tour has
been released: May 17, Port Huron, MI; June 15, Woodstock, ONT;
July 12, Highland, MI; August 16, Kingsville, ONT; September 13-14,
Romulus, MI (Kelly Cup). Entry fees range from $40-55, with an
optional prize money pool of $50 and skins game for $10. For more
information, please log on to
www.usgtfmembers.com or contact Charlie Henry in Michigan at
clh3@comcast.net or (989)
551-3993, or Dennis Babcock in Ontario at
ebabcock1@cogeco.ca or
(519) 354-4996.
SUAREZ COMPETES IN
PGA TOUR EVENT
USGTF Level III member and perennial World Golf Teachers Cup
contender Miguel Suarez of San Juan, Puerto Rico, competed in the
PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular, March 12-15.
Although Suarez’s 76-69 – 145 missed the cut by two shots, he tied
or beat 53 other participants in the field, including such notables
as Steve Pate, Darron Stiles, Brent Geiberger, Tim Petrovic, Frank
Lickliter II, Billy Andrade, Robert Gamez, Todd Hamilton, and Bob
Tway.
HOME AVAILABLE FOR
RENT DURING 2010 RYDER CUP
Have you thought about attending the Ryder Cup matches? If the 2010
contest at Celtic Manor in Wales, October 1-3, is something that you
may be interested in, hotel accommodations can be tough to come by.
James and Jo Cooper have a house available for rent that is 11 miles
from the course and can accommodate six adults comfortably. If you
are interested, you may e-mail them at
jtcooper75@hotmail.com.
MEMBERS TOURNAMENT
IN NEW YORK
USGTF member Jim LaBuda is hosting a tournament for USGTF members on
Monday, July 13, at Batavia Country Club in Batavia, New York.
The first tee time will be at 12:30 p.m. The entry fee is $95, which
includes golf and cart, and a steak dinner after the tournament.
There will be cash prizes and an optional skins game.
An entry form will be
available shortly. If interested, please contact LaBuda at
buda_golf@yahoo.com.
NATIONAL OFFICE
RECEIVES NEW LOOK
The USGTF National Office in Port St. Lucie, Florida, has recently
received an enhancement to its outward appearance. A landscaping
company was hired to upgrade the professional look of our national
headquarters. This included the installation of over 200 new trees
and shrubs, a new irrigation system, along with a 25-foot flagpole
proudly displaying both the United States and World Golf Teachers
Federation flags. This season has seen hundreds of visiting members
from this country and the world. The office staff appreciates and
enjoys meeting these visitors and encourages all members to visit
the national office when in Florida.
USGTF MEMBER TO
CONSTRUCT GOLF COURSE IN ROMANIA
USGTF member Septimiu Valasutean of Bucharest, Romania, is in the
final stages of putting together a plan to build Romania’s first
18-hole championship golf course. Coming from an investment banking
background, Septimiu has now secured most of the financing needed
for this ambitious venture. More news will be forthcoming as
Septimiu communicates with the USGTF national office.
INTEREST IN OHIO GOLF TEACHERS TOUR
SOUGHT
USGTF member Mike Babjak is interested in putting together an Ohio
Golf Teachers Tour for this summer and fall. Anyone interested
should contact Mike at
mike@mikebabjak.com with their contact details.
 MEET
ROBERT KLEABIR
If you ever get into a tight spot, Membership Service’s Robert
Kleabir is one person you would want in your corner – literally.
Robert, a winner of three boxing championships in three different
weight divisions in Florida, has been working with the USGTF since
1997.
Since his days as an
amateur boxing champion, Robert has also participated in tae kwon
do, judo, Brazilian jujitsu, kickboxing, muay thai, wrestling, and
submission grappling. Needless to say, not too many people give him
a rough time. Robert is parlaying that experience as the owner of
the Fist Factory, a freestyle fighting academy based in Stuart,
Florida.
Robert’s foray into
the fighting academy is just a continuation of his career as an
accomplished businessman. He turned a part-time job cutting grass in
high school into making a living as a landscape company owner, which
he sold many years later. His next venture was in the produce
business with a partner. After several years, he sold his interest
in the business to his partner, at which point he became interested
in the golf business.
His first job was
mowing greens at Jupiter Hills Country Club in Florida. Some people
would consider that a step down, but Robert was looking at the
bigger picture.
“My wife’s father was
a golf course superintendent, and I knew that some of them made very
good livings, so that’s the direction I went,” said Robert. “I
became the head equipment operator at Harbor Ridge in Palm City, and
from there I was going to take a job with the PGA complex in Port
St. Lucie as the head spray technician. That’s when I met Geoff
Bryant and instead started working at the St. Lucie Range, which was
then operated by the USGTF. He offered me the position of facility
manager, so that’s how I started with the USGTF.”
Robert’s game quickly
improved, so much so that he became a USGTF Level III member in
1998, and in 2000 was named head teaching professional at the range.
He soon proved to be a popular teacher, with his lesson book
constantly filled. The junior program he ran was huge, even
garnering press coverage in the Palm Beach Post.
In 2003, Robert
changed course again, coming to work in the National Office, where
he has been a tireless presence ever since. “Of all the jobs that
I’ve had, working at the USGTF National Office is the most fun I’ve
had,” said Robert. “Working with all the different personalities and
characters at the office is something the other jobs didn’t have,
and I’ve gotten to meet and know so many interesting members. As far
as traveling, I’ve been to Spain, Austria, Germany, Italy, and
Trinidad & Tobago. Before I came to the USGTF, I’d never been out of
the country and only on a plane once.”
Robert also serves as
the tournament coordinator for the annual United States Golf
Teachers Cup. Away from the office, and when he’s not managing the
Fist Factory, he remains a devoted husband to his wife and high
school sweetheart, Dawn, whom he married in 1992. He has two
children, Robert, 16, and Kyla, 13. Keeping a busy schedule, Robert
(the elder) coaches his kids’ football and softball teams during
their seasons. To relax, Robert also likes to hunt and fish, and
occasionally engages in extreme sports.
Oh, yeah, and
sometimes he’ll still step into the octagon at the Fist Factory and
teach the young hot shots a thing or two.
FORGAN GOLF OF ST.
ANDREWS JOINS USGTF AS INDUSTRY PARTNER
forgan Golf of St. Andrews has joined the list of USGTF industry
partners. USGTF members in good standing will be able to purchase
custom-fitted Forgan clubs for personal use as well as for profit.
USGTF members will receive the Forgan preferred pricing on all
existing Forgan golf products. This will give the shop owners as
well as the independent teachers the ability to buy and sell Forgan
golf gear at some of the lowest wholesale rates in the industry, at
some of the highest profit margins available. Forgan of St Andrews
will also waive the minimum quantity requirement so that all members
will be on the same level playing field.
Forgan is the world’s
oldest golf brand, established in 1860, dating back to the earliest
years of what would later become the Royal and Ancient Golf Club,
the sport’s traditional custodians. Currently, it is owned by Golf
Outlets of America, one of America’s leading online retailers.
In keeping with its
long and proud tradition, all Forgan golf clubs are manufactured
today to the highest quality and specifications, featuring
state-of-the-art technology and materials. We have continued our
pioneering approach in the golf industry by becoming the first
manufacturer to offer an online customized golf clubs service. This
complete custom fitting service allows players of all sizes and
gender to customize their clubs in a simple-to-use system to their
own exacting standards.
For more information,
please contact USGTF Tournament Coordinator Robert Kleabir at the
national office at
Robbie@usgtf.com, 1-888-346-3290. Forgan’s website is
www.ForganGolf.com.
 USGTF
MEMBER RELEASES BOOK - THE 20TH HOLE
we all know the 19th hole is the place to grab a drink, have
something to eat, and discuss the round with your playing partners.
Well, what happens after that? USGTF Professional Matt Gullo has
recently designed a book titled Hole – Stat Book and Log for
Golfers. The overall purpose of this book is to help golfers analyze
their overall game in a variety of ways, and then use what they’ve
learned to progress and improve. The book lets golfers focus on
achieving specifi c goals and has a written history of important
keys about their own games.
If you are interested
in learning more about this book, you can check it out at w
ww.THE20THHOLE.com.
You can also contact Gullo via email at
matt.gullo@gmail.com,
where he can provide you with a discount so you can, in turn, set
your own retail price and make a profi t. He also welcomes any
feedback, questions, comments, or suggestions.
INDUSTRY PARTNERS
HEADED TO WORLD GOLF TEACHERS CUP
This year’s World Cup is shaping up to be one of the best, with
Nike, TaylorMade, Cleveland, Wilson, Callaway, Mizuno, Tour Edge,
SwingRite, Trion:Z, and ABJ Golf Sales already confirmed to be in
attendance, and many more are expected. Christopher Richards is the
defending World Cup individual champion, and Team Caribbean will be
on hand to show that there was no luck involved with their first
team victory. This year’s World Cup will be held in Hilton Head
Island, South Carolina, November 2-5, at the world-renowned Palmetto
Dunes. Please log on to
www.USGTF.com and
click the 2009 World Golf Teachers Cup link to register.
IN MEMORIAM
USGTF member Anthony L. Ransford of Midwest City, Oklahoma passed
away on January 18, 2009 at the age of 62. He was a member since
1995.
USGTF member Frank A.
Mancuso of Bayonet Point, Florida passed away on September 19, 2008,
at the age of 69. He was a member since 1993.
USGTF member Jim W.
Docktor of West Seneca, New York passed away on September 11, 2008,
at the age of 78. He was a member since 1998.
The USGTF extends our
condolences to the family and friends of these fine ambassadors to
the game.
 GOLF
INSTRUCTION TO HEARING IMPAIRED
USGTF member Jack Wagner recently provided instruction to tournament
golfers from the Phoenix Association of the Deaf at Dobson’s Ranch,
Phoenix, Arizona. Wagner regularly provides instruction to deaf
golfers in the Rochester, New York, area.
 USGTF
MEMBER BLOOM RECEIVES TEACHING AWARD
USGTF professional Stu Bloom was voted the 2008 Teacher of the Year
for 9-hole courses by the Golf Course Owners of Wisconsin. In
addition to Bloom’s award, his course, The Preserve at Deer Creek in
New Berlin, was named Teaching Center of the Year for 2008. The
staff at the USGTF National Office congratulates Bloom for his fine
accomplishment.
2009 WORLD GOLF
TEACHERS TOUR SCHEDULE
UNITED STATES – The 9th biennial
World Golf Teachers Cup and The 14th annual United States Golf
Teachers Cup, November 1-5, 2009 in Hilton Head Island, South
Carolina. For more information, please log onto
www.worldgolfteacherscup.com or contact our office at
1-888-346-3290.
CANADA – Canadian Golf Teachers
Cup - August 23 & 24th at the Crosswinds Golf & Country Club in
Burlington, Ontario. For more information, please contact
info@cgtf.com.
GREAT BRITAIN – Great Britain
and Ireland Golf Teachers Cup - August 16th at Petworth Golf Club in
West Sussex. For more information, please contact Peter Hudson at
becomeagolfcoach@btconnect.com.
INDIA – Indian Golf Teachers Cup
- October 5-6, 2009 at the Golden Green Golf Resort, Gurgaon (New
Delhi). For more information, please contact Amit Saran at
spt@sptindia.com.
SINGAPORE – USGTF- Singapore
Annual Golf Challenge at Jurong Golf and Country Club – December 31,
2009. For more information, please contact Ben Ang at
usgtf.singapore@yahoo.com.
DUTCH – The Dutch Golf Teachers
Cup is scheduled for September 21, 2009 at the Dorhout Mees Golf
Resort in Biddinghuizen located 40 minutes from the Amsterdam
airport. For more information, please contact Edward Verstraten at
edjover@telfort.nl.
AUSTRALIA – Australian Golf
Teachers - September 6-8, 2009 at Gainsborough Greens Golf Course on
the Golf Coast Queensland, Australia. For more information, please
log onto
www.australiangtf.com.au or contact Gary Cooney at
g.cooney@bigpond.net.au.
HONG KONG – Hong Kong Golf Teachers
Cup - November 10, 2009 at the Nansha Golf Club in PRC. For more
information, please contact Steve Mak at
hkgtf@netvigator.com.
KOREA – USGTF-Korea tournament -
June 22nd, 2009 at Sky 72 Country Club. USGTF-Korea tournament -
September 28th, 2009 at Sky 72 Country Club. USGTF-Korea tournament
- October 26th, 2009 at Sky 72 Country Club. (Please note: In order
to participate in tournaments, every participant must qualify in one
of the pre-qualifying rounds). For additional questions or to
register, please contact Jenny Oh at
kusgtf@gmail.com or visit
www.usgtf.co.kr.
USGTF SOUTHEAST
REGION CHAMPIONSHIP
The second annual USGTF Southeast Region Championship will be
conducted Saturday-Sunday, August 22-23, 2009, at Wildwood Country
Club in Crawfordville, Florida, approximately 30 minutes south of
Tallahassee. The championship will be held in conjunction with the
Wildwood Open, a longtime staple of the Tallahassee tournament
scene. USGTF members will compete for overall tourney honors and in
the prize pool with non-USGTF members, with the low USGTF scorer
named as region champion. The Southeast Region meeting will be
conducted after the first round of play, hosted by Southeast Region
director Mike Stevens.
Play will be
contested in Professional, Senior Professional (over 50), and
amateur divisions flighted by handicap. The entry fee is $175 for
the professional divisions and $135 for the amateur divisions A $5
surcharge will apply to those paying by credit card.
The Inn at Wildwood
is offering a tournament rate of $59 per night to USGTF
participants. To reserve, please call (800) 878-1546. To enter,
please contact the USGTF National Office by Monday, Aug. 17.
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