I just wanted to email someone about how important an experience attending and graduating from the Orlando campus was. I just recently passed my playing ability test, second try, and have begun to arrange everything so that I can start my level one book soon.
This has given me some time to think about all of the hard work involved but also how good of an education I received at one of your campuses -- from setting up tournaments, to ordering merchandise, to running junior camps, and analyzing someone's swing on the driving range.
I have noticed within the last 3 golf seasons since my graduation just how much knowledge we crammed into 16 months and how critical the fundamentals and methods and principals were that we all had to study and learn, and now apply.
Bruce Martin was instrumental in my development as a player and all of the instructors were well prepared as teachers, on and off the course. The industry is very broad and you can get out of it what you put into it. It is comforting to know that nobody knows or understands the golf industry better than Golf Academy of America graduate!
Joshua Crowell Golf Professional Chesapeake Bay Golf Clubs @ North East & Rising Sun
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My name is Pam Brills. I graduated from the San Diego campus in August 2005 after retiring from a military career. Shortly afterward, I moved to Eugene, Oregon. In February 2006, I applied for a job from the Golf Academy's job list as assistant to the Head Pro at the Eugene Country Club.I worked full time during the summer doing just about everything in the Pro shop -- sales, tournament operations, junior golf lessons, club regripping -- applying many of the skills I learned at SDGA.
In the fall, I volunteered at the local Nationwide tour event in the scoring division and have done this twice more. I have also volunteered at LPGA events in Hawaii and Palm Springs, working in scoring. Most recently, I worked at the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship held at the Eugene Country Club. I assisted the USGA in contracting hotels and setting up the player banquet, and managed the Airport Hospitality desk, meeting over 145 players, USGA officals, and family members. I followed that up by managing Volunteer headquarters operations, ensuring volunteers were briefed on their duties and setting up all the standards for the match play portion of the event. I also had the opportunity to be walking scorer during two matches as well as standard bearer and walking marshal for the two rounds of the Championship match on Sunday, August 10. The golf was fantastic and it was great to see it up close.
When not playing golf, I continue to seek opportunities to work in the world of golf. Recently, I contacted the Oregon Golf Association to assist with course rating activities. The education and skills I received at SDGA has served as a door-opener. I have found there are many ways to be involved in golf without being at just one location. Each experience builds on the last and I am enjoying the journey.
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Congratulations to Aaron Wells, 2003 Orlando campus graduate, who has accepted a position as Head Golf Professional at Desert Highlands Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
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Golfweek included 1999 Orlando campus graduate Ryan Ely in their newsmakers section, stating:
"Ryan Ely, an assistant professional at Hawk's Landing Golf Club at Orlando World Center Marriott Resort, desires a career in golf, despite having a left arm debilitated by the effects of cerebral palsy. He had struggled to pass the Playing Ability Test, part of a battery of requirements by the PGA of America for Class A membership. Ryan's underdeveloped left hand does little more than help steady the club on takeaway.
With a nod to the Americans with Disabilities Act, "reasonable accommodations" were made, said Brian Whitcomb, the PGA's President. Faced with a shorter course and an understanding [of the] PGA, Ely's nine-year struggle to join the 28,000-member fraternity ended earlier this month. ...At a brief presentation at a recent board meeting, officers voted unanimously, Whitcomb said, to admit Ely." Golfweek, July 26, 2008, Pg 6
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Natalie Dotson, graduate of the Florida campus, earned her first SunCoast Series title with rounds of 72-76-76=224 to win the ladies event at eight over par. Natalie went wire-to-wire competing in not only her first event of the summer but her first competitive event in over three years. Dotson gave up competitive golf after a brilliant high school tenure in which she led her Cushing High School Team to four state championships. After high school Dotson attended Redlands Junior College to play golf but after a disappointing collegiate tenure she decided to attend the Golf Academy of America -- Florida campus.***
Having graduated from the Carolinas campus in April 2008, Theran Steindl recently passed his Player Ability Test at Rolling Meadows Golf Club in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin with a score of 156. This completed a week where he took three local juniors to compete in the Wisconsin PGA Pro/Junior 2 best ball tournament in which they won with a score of -10. Theran's team won both the gross and net divisions. He is employed at Glen Erin Golf Club in Janesville, WI.
