About

The Top 50 Kids Teacher Award honors dedicated golf professionals who have proven success in developing youth programs in their communities. These professionals bring knowledge, passion, energy and organization to their programs. They have been successful in engaging and retaining young golfers in the game by infusing their programs with fun while simultaneously providing a structured set of goals, objectives and rewards.

Top 50 Kids Teacher Selection Criteria

Award winners are selected based on the following:

Depth of experience coaching youth, especially those players 12 and under.
Percentage of coaching time spent with youth, focusing on players 12 and under.
Current status as a USKG Certified Coach.
Use of USKG curriculum and success in advancing young players through all three levels of the USKG Learning Program.
Time spent on course during instruction and availability of Family Course or Forward Tees for program participants.
Fun and creativity in program.
Communication with, and involvement, of parents.
Clearly defined mission statement/objectives for your youth program and how it aligns with the USKG mission —“To help kids learn the lifelong game of golf and to encourage family interaction that builds lasting memories.”

For Immediate Release

coaches@uskidsgolf.com

Brown named Top 50 Kids Teacher by U.S. Kids Golf

Peachtree Corners, Ga. – Richard Brown, from Richard Brown School of Golf, has been named to U.S. Kids Golf’s annual list of Top 50 Kids Teachers. The Award recognizes the world’s most outstanding youth golf instructors, and Brown is part of a select group that earned Top 50 accolades among nearly 350 applicants.

Since 2004, U.S. Kids Golf has honored the best youth golf teachers with the Top 50 Kids Teacher Award. Applicants complete an online survey and winners are chosen based on their contributions to youth golf, such as: experience young golfers; time devoted to teaching youth; innovation, creativity and fun in their programs; communication; parental involvement; use of a well-organized instruction program and overall effort to grow the game.

The Top 50 Kids Teachers of 2017 includes golf professionals from 26 states, and five international countries including Austria, England, Honduras, Italy, and Northern Ireland. Each year, award recipients include teachers who work at public, private, resort and municipal courses.

“These coaches are honored as more than instructors,” explained Dan Van Horn, the President and Founder of U.S. Kids Golf. “They create outstanding opportunities for young golfers to learn in a fun and rewarding environment that instills a love for the game and engages the entire family. Their ability to connect with students and fully engage them in the learning process sets them apart.”

The Top 50 Kids Teacher Award is administered by the U.S. Kids Golf Coaches Institute, a division of the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation. For more information about the Top 50 Kids Teacher Award, please contact U.S. Kids Golf at coaches@uskidsgolf.com.

Top 50 Kids Teachers – Class of 2017

Zoe Allen… Lurgan G.C… Lurgan, Northern Ireland

Jennifer Barnsley… Race Brook C.C… Orange, Conn.

Matt Barton… The Wyndgate… Rochester Hills, Mich.

Tasha Bohlig… El Caballero C.C… Tarzana, Calif.

Zachary Bowcut... Nibley Park G.C... Salt Lake City, Utah

Alexandra Braga… Denver C.C… Denver, Colo.

Richard Brown... Richard Brown School of Golf... Missouri, City, Texas

Mark Caldwell… Canyon Springs G.C… San Antonio, Texas

Todd Casabella... Barrington G.C... Aurora, Ohio

Matthew Clay... Del Mar Golf Center... Del Mar, Calif.

Kandi Comer… Kandi Comer Golf… Crozet, Va.

Susan Crowley... Blackhawk C.C... Danville, Calif.

Tony Decker… Purpoodock Club… Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Giacomo Dovetta… Verdura Resort… Sciacca, Italy

Brian Fallon… Westchester C.C… Rye, N.Y.

Chrissy Felton… Sea Island Golf Performance Center… St. Simons Island, Ga.

Alexander Fisher... The Glacier Club... Durango, Colo.

Michael Gervais… Bridgeport C.C… Bridgeport, W. Va.

Kent Graham… Army Navy C.C… Arlington, Va.

Mary Hafeman... Missing Links... Mequon, Wis.

Jim Hardy... Longleaf G.&F.C... Southern Pines, N.C.

Michael Herzog... Golf Etc... Bismarck, N.D.

Kyle Hess… GreatHorse… Hampden, Mass.

Jeffrey Hirose... Diamond Bar G.C... Diamond Bar, Calif.

Marshall Hoiness… The Minikahda Club… Minneapolis

Blake Jirges... Henry Brunton Golf Academy... Irvine, Calif.

Ryan Kalista… Tamarack C.C… Greenwich, Conn.

Paul Kaster… Forsgate C.C… Monroe Twp., N.J.

Cathy Kim… TPC Summerlin… Las Vegas

Justin Klemballa… Paradise Valley C.C… Paradise Valley, Ariz.

Mary Beth Kohberger... Black Bear G.C… Franklin, N.J.

Meredith Loosse… Woodcreek G.C… Roseville, Calif.

Courtney Mahon… Falcon Ridge G.C… Lenexa, Kan.

Wade Martin... The Villages Golf Academy... The Villages, Fla.

Kelli McKandless... Brookhaven C.C... Dallas, Texas

Bill Murchison… Towne Lake Hills G.C… Woodstock, Ga.

Oliver Oliquiano... Island Pacific Golf Academy... Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Manuel Ortiz… Indura Beach Golf & Resort… Tela, Honduras

Maria Palozola... Big Bend Golf Center... Valley Park, Mo.

Brad Petashnick… Riviera C.C… Coral Gables, Fla.

Boykin Powers… Charleston Municipal G.C…Charleston, S.C.

Tom Reid... Stoke Park G.&C.C... Buckinghamshire, England

Martin Rentenberger… G.C. Wien… Vienna, Austria

Mike Richards… Mike Richards Golf Academy… Parkland, Fla.

Rico Riciputi… Wentworth By The Sea C.C… Rye, NH

Ryan Smith... Rick Murphy Golf Academy... Greensboro, N.C.

Doug Spencer… Spencer Golf Academy… Fairfield, Ohio

Tina Tombs... Arizona Biltmore G.C. & Resort... Phoenix, Ariz.

Scott Wells… CommonGround G.C… Aurora, Colo.

Wade Wilson… El Niguel C.C… Laguna Niguel, Calif.

About U.S. Kids Golf

The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation, a Georgia non-profit recognized as a 501(c)(3) charity, was created in 2001 and provides services that include competition and instruction. The Foundation organizes over 800 tournaments each year for more than 10,000 players, ages 5-18. These tournaments include Local Tours in more than 50 cities, eight Regional Championships, the European Championship, and the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and Teen World Championship, which are held each year in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

The vision of the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation is to provide kids and their families the opportunity participate in the game of golf through instruction and competition. With the belief that family interaction is critical in the development of young golfers, parents are encouraged to serve as caddies for their kids during tournaments and to develop positive coaching techniques.

U.S. Kids Golf, LLC is based in Atlanta and manufactures equipment and related golf products designed for kids. It was created in 1997 when Founder/CEO Dan Van Horn found that his children were losing their interest in golf due to not having the proper equipment. In addition to more than 4,000 golf shops and retail locations in the United States, the company's products also are available in more than 75 countries worldwide.