Ben Michelon

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional

Other awards won:

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 75
Female: 50
Junior: 250

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
125

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
Since becoming the Head Boys Golf Coach at Montini Catholic High School, one of my primary goals has been to create more opportunities for students to experience the game of golf. Five years ago, I launched an offseason Open Gym Golf Program that is available not only to current members of our golf teams, but to the entire student body. This gives students who may have never played golf an opportunity to be introduced to the game in a welcoming and accessible environment.

The program has helped grow both the boys and girls golf programs at Montini. In 2025, we had a record 50 boys and girls participate in golf between the two programs. For a school with an enrollment of approximately 500 students, having roughly 10% of the student body involved in golf was an accomplishment we were extremely proud of.

The offseason program has also had a significant impact on player development. When I started the program five years ago, our varsity team averaged approximately 380 for an 18-hole team score. This season, our current team average is approximately 320—a 60-shot improvement. The Open Gym Program allows our players to continue developing throughout the offseason while also giving new golfers a low-pressure environment to learn the game.

In addition to our offseason programming, we have hosted numerous summer and winter golf camps and clinics to introduce younger players to the game and provide additional exposure to our high school programs. My goal with each of these initiatives is not simply to develop better competitive golfers, but to introduce more young people to golf, create lifelong players, and continue growing the game within our school and surrounding community.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
One of my biggest priorities has been creating year-round programming that keeps golfers engaged beyond the traditional golf season. At Montini Catholic High School, I developed an offseason Open Gym Golf Program that gives both experienced players and students who are new to the game an opportunity to continue playing, practicing, and improving throughout the winter.

During our Open Gyms, I try to make each session different and engaging by incorporating skill challenges, competitions, speed training, simulator play, and individualized instruction. Rather than simply having players hit golf balls, I want every session to have a purpose. We regularly create competitions involving putting, short game, proximity to the hole from different yardages, ball speed, clubhead speed, and overall scoring. This keeps players competing with one another while tracking their improvement throughout the offseason.

I have also incorporated technology into our player development. Video analysis, launch monitor data, and simulator practice allow players to better understand their swings and see measurable improvement. Skill assessments throughout the offseason give players goals to work toward and help keep them motivated.

Outside of our Open Gym Program, I have continued to offer summer and winter camps and clinics that provide additional opportunities for golfers to stay involved with the game. These programs also serve as an introduction to golf for younger and less experienced players while creating a pathway into our high school programs.

The results have been extremely encouraging. Participation in our boys and girls golf programs has continued to grow, while our varsity scoring average has improved by approximately 60 shots over the past five years. More importantly, we have created a culture where players want to continue practicing, competing, and being around the game throughout the entire year rather than putting their clubs away when the high school season ends.