 |
|
Monroe D.
Preston
USGTF Level III Member, Farmville, Virginia
|
I am a self-taught golfer with a USGA/VSGA 8.4 handicap index.
I never had a formal lesson until I was certified in 2005 as a USGTF
instructor. Bob Wyatt was the examiner.
Other than me, all the participants had formal lessons, were professional
instructors, or were golf coaches. I had played a lot of golf
with lots of very good players. I was always watching and asking
questions. I played lots of fundraising golf tournaments as well as many
amateur tournaments. I believe this is why I finished third in the playing
ability test.
You see, in high school I was a running back on the football team. In
1970, a friend and VISTA co-worker (Eric Reese and Russ Sellers) taught
me how to play tennis. After graduating high school in 1969, it was four
whole years before I attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in
1973. The number-one tennis player (Doug Younger) took me under his
wing. With hard work and his assistance, I was granted a tennis scholarship
my second year, and by my senior year I was the number-one player
and captain of the tennis team.
It was about 1978 that I began playing golf. Around 1984, Australian
Tour professional David Graham talked me into playing amateur tournament
golf. I credit, along with Graham, Mack Mann (professional) and
Milton Word (scratch golfer) as my inspiration and developers of my golf
experience. I learned a lot from them and always wanted to take a formal
lesson from them, but we never took the time. They were always willing
to play with me no matter how bad I played. I want to thank them and
give back. Early in my life I was taught that it was my responsibility to
pay back people who had helped me in life by helping someone else.
In 2006, I offered to give free golf lessons to any juniors or any
members of the Beulah AME Church. At this time, I was introducing golf
to the Youth Empowerment Program. I approached Greg Smith, owner
of Brookleigh Country Club, about integrating the Youth Empowerment
Program with the Brookleigh Junior Golf Program for kids. We are in our
third year and average about 20 kids a year.
I will never forget how proud I was when Greg introduced me
as a certified USGTF teaching professional. My goal is to teach good
fundamentals, rules, and most of all, enjoyment. We have a junior golf
tournament every year that the juniors really enjoy.
I thank God for all these experiences and for the people that
influence my blessed life.
Back to Member Profiles - Back
to Main Articles
