Page 10 - Summer2020GTP

GENERAL SECTION HEADER

A NEW ERA
A NEW ERA

IN USGTF HISTORY
IN USGTF HIST ORY

BEGINS
BEGINS

His academy was extremely successful,
the result of his business acumen and previous
experiences, and this caught the attention of
Bryant, who named Lee vice president of the
USGTF in 2011. In that role, Lee established the
USGTF’s foreign language courses (FLC), which
were based on strong professional ethics and
educational programs, while continuing to
research and spread the latest golf teaching
methods in the United States. This has helped
foreigners in the United States earn USGTF
or 31 years, one man led the USGTF as its
president and CEO. That would be founder certification and continue the organization’s
FGeoff Bryant, who in 1989 started a revolution progress as a leader in golf.
in the golf teaching business that continues strong Here is a Q&A with the USGTF’s new president,
to this day. Brandon Lee:
Recently, Bryant said 31 years is enough and Q:
Why did you want to become president/CEO
it’s time to ride off into retirement. Enter Brandon of the USGTF?
Lee, who assumed the titles of president and CEO A:
The USGTF was started with a great mission
in February. Lee was formerly the director of the envisioned by Geoff Bryant. I thought it was
USGTF’s foreign language courses and president of time for a new generation to continue the
USGTF-Korea, among other entities. He also served mission and continue the development. I
as vice president of the World Golf Teachers worked through the ranks as a Certified Golf
Federation, the umbrella group that is comprised Teaching Professional, a Master Teaching
of more than 40 member nations. Professional and FLC course director. It made
Lee was born in South Korea and grew up sense to naturally progress into this role.
there. As a kid, he participated in many sports Q:
What do you see as the USGTF’s future and
due to the influence of his father. Lee’s dad what are your plans for it?
also got him involved in golf in high school. He
To make the USGTF certification more
later completed his Ph.D in Exercise Biochemistry A:
in Japan. After a career in that field, he came valuable by helping the members make
to the United States and completed the USGTF money through teaching and employment,
certification program in 2005. He began his golf because the USGTF is a career choice. I
teaching career in Orange County, California, also plan to work harder to define what a
in the cities of Irvine and Laguna Hills, where he golf teaching professional is and does in the
operated a teaching academy. industry. Many in the golfing industry believe
07
SUMMER 2020 Golf Teaching Pro