Gene Bakkum

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
Golf Digest Best in State, Other (Indicate specific awards below in 3-a)

Other awards won:
2021 NCPGA Player Development Award, 2022 NCPGA Youth Player Development Award, 2023 NCPGA Player Development Award, 2024 NCPGA Youth Player Development Award & 2024 NCPGA Professional Development Award

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 200
Female: 50
Junior: 100

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
120

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
At ELEVATE Golf Academy, we are committed to making golf accessible, engaging, and educational for all students, particularly those from underrepresented communities. Over the past year, we’ve launched several innovative initiatives aimed at growing the game, introducing new players to golf, and creating unique learning experiences that connect golf with other disciplines.

Science On The Court Collaboration:
This summer, we partnered with Science On The Court (SOTC), a local nonprofit in the East Bay focused on integrating physics with sports education. Through a collaborative effort between SOTC and our nonprofit, Drive4Change, we secured grants to enable underserved children in the Hayward area to attend our PGA Junior Golf Camps. Not only did these students experience golf for the first time, but they also participated in engaging physics lessons that demonstrated how the principles of science apply to golf, such as ball flight, trajectory, and force. This unique combination of golf and science was a huge success, and due to the positive feedback, we will be running the program again next summer. This collaboration not only introduced new students to the game but also sparked an interest in both golf and STEM education.

On-Course Intensives for Junior Golfers:
Another exciting initiative we launched this year was our ELEVATE Golf Academy On-Course Intensives. Over three weeks during the summer, we hired college golfers—players who have trained with us and now compete at the collegiate level—to lead on-course instruction for junior golfers. These intensives provided juniors with valuable insights into navigating the course, understanding strategy, and applying their skills in real-game scenarios. By learning from experienced peers, the juniors gained a deeper understanding of how to think critically about their game and make smarter decisions on the course. The program was incredibly popular, and we are planning to offer it again next summer.

ELEVATE Fall and Spring Tournament Series:
To encourage participation in competitive golf, we developed the ELEVATE Tournament Series. This internal series serves as a bridge for juniors who are hesitant to enter formal U.S. Kids tournaments, offering a low-pressure environment where they can experience competition and build confidence. By preparing juniors for larger tournaments, we’ve helped increase participation in U.S. Kids events, contributing to the overall growth of junior golf in our community.

PGA Junior League Expansion:
Expanding access to team-based competition, we brought the PGA Junior League to a second public facility in Oakland. This expansion allows more local youth to participate in organized, team-oriented golf, providing a pathway for young players who may not have the financial resources to join private clubs. By offering PGA Junior League at a public facility, we’re increasing participation and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience the game.

Adaptive Golf Clinics for the Challenged Athletes Foundation:
Our commitment to inclusivity extends to adaptive golf, where we partnered with the Challenged Athletes Foundation to offer clinics for individuals with disabilities. These clinics provide participants with adaptive equipment and personalized instruction, helping them overcome physical barriers and engage in the sport. This program has shown that golf is a game for everyone, regardless of physical ability.

After-School Golf Programs and Community Partnerships:
This year, we launched Middle School and High School Path After-School Programs to give local students consistent access to golf instruction in a structured, supportive environment. These programs provide affordable, and often subsidized, golf programming after school, which makes it accessible to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn the game. Additionally, we are currently in talks with Oakland Park & Rec and First Tee Oakland to assist in running these programs, ensuring that they are available to even more students in underserved areas. By working with local schools and organizations, we aim to build a lasting presence in the community, providing students with a pathway to develop their golf skills over the course of their school years and beyond.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
At ELEVATE Golf Academy, we have developed a wide range of programs to keep our students engaged, motivated, and constantly improving. Our programming is designed to cater to golfers of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to more advanced players, ensuring that each participant remains excited about their progression in the game.

Games-Based Learning for Younger Players:
For our younger players, we prioritize fun and creativity to make golf enjoyable while teaching important skills. We incorporate games-based learning into every session, using activities like “Stop Light Chipping”—where players aim to chip at swinging steel plates colored red, yellow, and green—and “Carousel Coins”, where players chip coins into metal and ceramic trays. These games keep juniors engaged by turning practice into an interactive and playful experience. We also play Poison Dart Frog (a chipping game), Cow Pasture Pool (a putting game), and Cat & Mouse (a short putting competition), all of which foster healthy competition while teaching valuable golf skills.

Additionally, we run quarterly Drive, Chip, and Putt (DCP) contests where young players can experience the thrill of competition in a low-pressure environment. By gamifying skills development and offering a mix of structured and playful activities, we ensure that younger golfers stay engaged and excited about coming back to practice.

Tailored Progression for Older and More Advanced Players:
As players progress and become more serious about their development, we adapt our programming to keep them challenged. For older or more advanced juniors, we begin shifting from games to more structured drills, focusing on skills like course management, mental toughness, and strategic play. Our philosophy is to continue developing the same core skills but to present them in a way that is more age-appropriate—turning what were once fun games into focused, measurable drills. This progression ensures that players remain engaged while deepening their understanding of the game.

We also run on-course intensives for more advanced players, where they get to spend extended time on the course under the guidance of our coaches and college golfers who have trained with us. These intensives focus on applying their skills in real-world scenarios, helping them learn how to navigate the course strategically, manage their emotions, and improve their performance under pressure.

Seasonal and Year-Round Programming:
To ensure our students remain engaged throughout the year, we have designed a school-year calendar of offerings, with regular training and tournaments during the academic year and camps and intensives during the summer. The school-year program provides consistency, allowing students to build and refine their skills over time, while the summer camps and intensives give them the opportunity to focus on their game during a more relaxed period.

Our summer programs, like the PGA Junior Golf Camps, also integrate unique elements such as physics lessons from our partnership with Science On The Court (SOTC). By combining golf with STEM education, we engage students’ minds in new ways, making the learning experience both fun and educational.

The ELEVATE Fall and Spring Tournament Series:
To foster a competitive spirit and prepare students for larger events, we launched the ELEVATE Fall and Spring Tournament Series. This internal tournament series provides a supportive environment for players who are hesitant to compete in formal U.S. Kids tournaments. By offering them the chance to gain tournament experience in a more comfortable setting, we help build their confidence while giving them a clear path to more advanced competition.

The Parent Advisory Team (PAT) and Family Involvement:
Engagement doesn’t stop with the players—we also keep families actively involved in our programs. Through the Parent Advisory Team (PAT), parents participate as scorers, starters, and even caddies during our tournaments. This inclusion of parents not only strengthens the sense of community around our academy but also keeps families invested in their children’s progress. By making golf a family experience, we’ve built a support network that encourages long-term involvement.

Technology-Enhanced Learning:
We use a variety of technologies, such as the GC Quad launch monitor, Swing Catalyst video analysis, and LiveView Golf, to engage students and help them track their progress. We’ve found that showing students their swings and improvements through technology keeps them motivated and engaged. By providing immediate visual feedback, we give students a better understanding of their performance and the specific areas they need to work on. This use of technology not only makes learning more interactive but also helps students stay committed to improving.

On-Course Learning and Mentorship:
For older juniors who are serious about pursuing golf at a competitive level, we have introduced on-course mentorship programs led by college golfers. These players, many of whom trained with us, share their insights and strategies for navigating the course, helping our younger players build the skills they need to compete. By learning from peers who have gone through the same development path, our students stay motivated and are more likely to stay engaged with their golf journey.

Collaborations with Local Schools and Organizations:
We are also working closely with local schools and community organizations to engage students who may not have easy access to golf. Our Middle School and High School Path After-School Programs, in partnership with Oakland Park & Rec and First Tee Oakland, provide affordable and often subsidized opportunities for students to learn and practice golf after school. These partnerships allow us to engage with new students in the community and introduce them to the game, ensuring a steady flow of new participants and long-term engagement.