Leading Instructional
Growth Into the Future
The 11th PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit
offers advice for building business
By Bob Denney
Golf ’s premier instructional forum returned to the PGA Learning
Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla., the week of Dec. 3–7, where 350
teaching professionals representing 40 states were joined by 36
international guests from 13 countries. Together, they shared knowledge
and advice “to add to their toolbox.”
Thirty presentations covering 24 hours of
instruction took place at the 11th PGA Teaching &
Coaching Summit, presented by Callaway Golf,
and supported by Golf Pride Grips and SkyGolf.
This biennial gathering, the fourth consecutive
Summit to be conducted at the PGA Learning
Center, followed the theme “Leading Instructional
Growth Into the Future.” It
attracted many of the game’s
premier teaching minds to
blend their expertise both in
teaching and how it may relate
to building one’s teaching
business.
The Summit’s opening day
led off with motivational
speaker Dr. Rick Rigsby of
Dallas, Texas, who gave a powerful challenge to the attendees before giving way to PGA
Director of Fitness David
Hundreds of
PGA teaching
professionals were
welcomed by PGA
President Jim
Remy (right) and
viewed outdoor
presentations.
A PGA Play Golf
America Day
(opposite) opened
the week’s
activities.
Donatucci and his associates from around the
nation to explore the Day One theme of physical
motion.
The Summit also featured the first segment
devoted to “Performance Coaching Challenges,”
highlighted by 2008 PGA Distinguished Service
Award winner Dennis Walters of Jupiter, Fla., who
carved a new life’s chapter after an accident 34
years ago left him a paraplegic.
The second day included the decorated triumvirate of the respective past three recipients of the
PGA Teacher of the Year award – Bill Forrest of
Scottsdale, Ariz., Jim Hardy of Houston and Martin
Hall of Palm City, Fla. Together, the trio evaluated
lessons each gave to students.
The Summit’s final day featured the remarkable
Errie Ball, a 98-year-old PGA Professional from
nearby Stuart, Fla., who is the last surviving member of the original 1934 Masters field, and who
continues a regular teaching
program today at Willoughby
Golf Club.
“The Summit achieved its
goals of providing a venue for
the PGA teaching professional
to improve his or her ability
and enhance their value with
their clients,” said Brad Sullivan, The PGA of America’s
senior director of member
programs. “This was a gathering of the greatest instructional
minds in the world to share
