Chris George

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
PGA Section Teacher of the Year, GRAA Growth of the Game Teaching Professional, Golf Digest Best in State, Other (Indicate specific awards in 3-a below)

Other awards won (if provided):
Golf Magazine Top Teacher to Watch

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 1000
Female: 375
Junior: 325

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
230

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
Growing the game is one of Chris’ daily goals and one that is successful through positive experiences with current and potential players. Every day, golf professionals have a great opportunity; to Connect with potential players, to Grow the number of players playing at our facility, to Retain those players and allow them to become ambassadors for our facility and instruction programs. Several specific Growth of the Game initiatives he has implemented in the past year are Lunch & Learn, Practice Pods, Junior Elite Training Zone (JETZ).
Chris believes that the landscape of golf instruction has changed dramatically over the past several years. Players are consuming information and taking golf instruction in different ways. Online access to high level instructors and information has become more mainstream. Chris has proven over the past several years that this type of instruction can be very productive to a player’s success. He currently coaches’ players in multiple states across the country and can coach them more frequently through live online sessions. However, Chris prefers in-person instruction and coaching because it gives him the opportunity to connect and build relationships. Many of the members and guests Chris teaches take instruction for more than just golf. All players learn and explore the game of golf during a session with Chris, but many are there for friendship, exercise and social engagement just to list a few.
One of Chris’ highly successful programs is “Practice Pods”. This in person initiative is designed for golfers to learn how and what to practice. Players enroll with their foursome that they currently play in during the week. Each week Chris is on the course with them for nine holes and provides coaching during their round. Chris’ program participation increased 50% from March- October 2024. He has seen an increase in golfers seeking out private and group instruction after experiencing success in their game through on course instruction.
Another instruction initiative Chris has implemented is “Lunch and Learn.” Lunch and Learn is a player development program designed for short-term improvement. Players attend an online zoom meeting on the day’s instruction topic. Chris encourages attendees to submit questions and potential interest topics during the week for discussion during the session. The suggestion topic with the most votes wins and the discussion is centered around it. The session is 30 minutes, and it creates a buzz around the club and on the range the rest of the week. Attendance continues to grow and is a great break from work and gives players something to work on during the week.

Chris’ most innovative instruction program is a training program called JETZ “Junior Elite Training Zone”. He designed this program for high school players aspiring to play collegiate golf. Chris host coaching sessions that include tailored individual training drills, tournament round analysis, tournament preparation, nutrition, golf specific exercise, game management and strategy. Chris believes this is an important and influential group of golfers that will become the core of golf and club supporters in the future.
Chris was fortunate to have talented professionals mentor him at a young age and help shape him into the golf professional he is today. As a result, Chris is extremely passionate about growing the game of golf and providing opportunities for others to learn the game. He strives every day to introduce new players to the game and instill a desire in them to pursue it further, as well as, encouraging core golfers to play more often. In the end, it is about developing relationships with his members and guests, providing opportunities for them to be engaged with the game, and delivering uncompromised service and attention to detail. Chris continues to give back to this great game that has given him so much.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
Chris also has designed a consulting program for learning, developing, and proficient players, elite junior, collegiate players and
teams as well as coaches. This program encompasses round analysis, performance metrics, tournament scheduling, tournament
preparation, and practice schedules. He analyzes round data and designs practice and performance plans for students to reach
their scoring goals in a specific timeline. This programming allows each player to stay engaged with the game and instruction