Bridget Ackley

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional, Other (Indicate specific awards below in 3-a)

Other awards won:
2020-2022 GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional, 2021 South Florida PGA Section Youth Player Development, 2021 Southeast Chapter Youth Player Development, 2020 U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 Coach, 2018, 2019, 2021, & 2022 U.S. Kids Golf Honorable Mention

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 100-150
Female: 150-250
Junior: 300-500

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
250

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
The Park officially opened in April 2023, and building adult and junior programs have been at the forefront of our business for the coaching staff. For the juniors, we offered summer camp and weekly clinics on Saturdays. The Saturday junior clinics offered are for ages 3-13 years old. One initiative that is unique to The Park is our Path Program. The Path is a community program that impacts the local youth and families of West Palm Beach through education, mentorship, and life skills development. During our Fairway Finders program, students receive homework assistance from certified teachers as well as receive golf instruction from our PGA coaching staff. Other junior programs will include drive, chip, and putt clinics and PGA Junior League.

The first adult initiatives offered at The Park were the men’s and ladies’ 9-hole 2-person scramble leagues throughout the summer. Now provided are a weekly short game series, weekly Play With The Pro through the beginning of December, a 120-yard on-course challenge, a weekly clinic consisting of a short game clinic and on-course management, and multiple adult 8-week programs run through Operation 36. I will also offer a Veterans clinic after the new year.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
As stated above, all programs listed are new to The Park. I am still learning what engages our adult customers and will continue to create and offer a variety of new programming. I anticipate growing the current junior and adult programs more significant and successful. I plan to provide a weekly junior after-school program to the community that is not part of The Path programming.

Students receive feedback during post-lesson discussions, emails, and V1 analysis. Once TopTracer Coach is available for the driving range, sending feedback after lessons will simplify the communication between me and my students.

Creating an environment that is fun for all and provides a space for all to feel welcomed, encouraged, and engaged is what I hope to provide my students. Giving back through golf is a blessing, and I look forward to growing new opportunities for all players throughout the upcoming year.