Teacher of the Year

Established 1986

The Teacher of the Year Award bestows special recognition on a PGA golf professional who has performed outstanding service as a golf instructor. Criteria to be considered are: overall performance as a golf professional at his/her facility, service to his/her Section and the Association, leadership ability, image and ability to inspire fellow professionals, use of teaching aids and the ability to illustrate their effectiveness, involvement in junior golf activities at the facility and in the community, techniques for teaching small and large groups, articles written for publication in books and magazines.

2011 Winner

Jon Hoover - Wood Wind Golf Academy

In 2010, Jon Hoover helped over 1,700 players of all ages and abilities with lessons and clinics. Over 250 of these were juniors who participated in his junior golf program. Almost all of his students take instruction either through a series of multiple lessons or on a monthly retainer fee so that he can best evaluate their abilities, identify weaknesses and construct a program to improve their game. His comprehensive approach includes full swing analysis with video feedback, TrackMan analysis to evaluate numerous angles and planes, short game education, putting analysis in the SAM Lab, green reading through AimPoint, club fitting, and on-course evaluation.

Hoover also works with area high school teams such as Brebeuf, Westfield and University High Schools. In 2011 he will serve as head coach for Westfield High School with plans to develop their middle school program as well. For the juniors who wish to pursue competitive golf beyond high school, he is working to develop “The Leading Edge”, a junior development program designed for juniors 12-18 years of age.

Students of note who have been instructed by Hoover include Seth Fair, Erich Johnston, and Nels Surtani, a nationally ranked 9-year old.

Additionally, based on the Suzuki method of learning how to play musical instruments, Hoover co-wrote a publication named “PAC Golf (Parents as Coaches)”.

Past Winners