By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
There’s been a trend in recent years. Many highly accomplished PGA of America Golf Professionals are realizing the importance of being a Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) Award winner.
Rob Elliott is a Past President of the Wisconsin PGA Section, a two-time Wisconsin PGA Section Player Development Award winner and the Co-Chair of the PGA of America’s Adult Player Development Committee. He recently earned his first GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional Award.
“I started playing golf with my dad, Bob Elliott, at Hansen Golf Course in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, when I was just six years old,” he recalls. “I lost him 28 years ago and would give anything to play one more round with him!”
Elliott entered the golf business in 1987 and attained PGA membership in 1993. He recalls several PGA of America Golf Professionals who helped shape his role in the industry, citing Mitch Joannes at New Berlin Hills Golf Course and Don Hill at West Bend Country Club.
“Once I got into the business, I was lucky to have Rob Muranyi, Eddie Terasa and Honorary PGA President John Lindert as PGA Members who helped guide me into the professional I am today,” he says.
Today, Elliott, a Quarter Century PGA Member, runs his own golf academy, teaching students from 4-89 years old at several outdoor facilities in his area and at an indoor location during the winter and inclement weather. He uses SkyTrak and Flightscope Mevo+ in his coaching sessions with golfers who are just starting out and others playing in college and professionally. He teaches many junior and high school golfers and currently has 14 girls participating on 12 school teams, with five of them heading to the state tournament.
When asked about his programming, Elliott is proud of his work with women at his facilities, turning two Ladies’ Nights with an attendance of just 26 golfers into four nights and two days of instruction and coaching with a total of 70 participants. He also looks forward to reimplementing Get Golf Ready in 2025.
He conducts playing lessons where he plays the same tees as his students. He hits his tee shot to where the student’s ball is so they can discuss all of the options available on the next shot.
“These lessons have been very beneficial,” he adds. “I also play golf with the students and a friend of theirs, which often turns into more lessons, as some students share their lesson time with a family member or friend.”
Elliott says golf in Wisconsin is still strong, and with his women’s clinics, he has continued to grow the game.
“I have a passion for the game and the desire to make all of my students perform to the best of their ability and feel that helping players understand their swing and how to play the course allows them to enjoy the game more,” Elliott concludes.
