Perry Green, PGA

Perry is the lead instructor for PGA HOPE Charleston, an initiative to teach golf to veterans and returning wounded warriors. He is founder and co-site director of LPGA/USGA Girls Golf of Charleston, coach for The First Tee of Greater Charleston, is U.S. Kids certified and recipient of the 2010 Carolinas PGA Youth Player Development Award. Perry has been a PGA member and teacher since 1982.

Facility Type: Public

Past awards/recognitions:

• 2010 Carolinas PGA Junior Golf Leader

Technology used in instruction:

• JC VideoErnest Sports ES14
• Sports Sensors Inc. Swing Speed Radar
• Zelocity Pure Contact
• Zepp Golf
• Coaches Eye
• SNAG golf
• Orange Whip
• Impact bag
• Pelz Truth board
• Pelz putting track
• Speed Whoosh
• US Kids Speed stick

Approximate number of free “tune-ups” and lessons given per year: 150

Growth of the game initiatives: 

Besides all of my ongoing programs, First Tee 200+ classes per year, LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Chapter, Jr Camps and Special Olympics, I have two new Growth of the Game initiatives:
1. PGA Sports Academy- We have partnered with our local school district to create this program for elementary school kids. The focus is to encourage kids to engage in an active lifestyle. Each session covers four areas: Fitness, Nutrition, Golf skills and Golf experiences. Last fall we began with one school and served almost 40 kids over four weekends. This fall we have four schools enrolled and will work with over 100 elementary school students. Just one example of itssuccess is when we give each child a pedometer and they all try to come back to class with the most steps.
2. PGA HOPE: We formed the Charleston Chapter of PGA HOPE, a wounded warriors program, beginning last April by hosting a training class for PGA members and others to be trained to effectively teach veterans with various disabilities (Challenges) like missing limbs, paralysis, PTSD and TBI. Our first session of classes for vets began in late May running through July. In that first set of classes in the heat of summer we helped between 4-8 veterans each Friday from 3-5pm finishing with playing 9 holes with the group. Our new session began in mid September with 19 veterans coming to our first class. One quick note that is well documented in the Charleston Golf News about the effect we have on our veterans. One of our attendees who had suffered from paralysis and PTSD. After spending thirty minutes with me learning that he can still enjoy golf, he admitted that he was going to commit suicide that very day but came to our class on a whim. This same guy, two weeks later called me and asked if he could volunteer to work with kids. We, (the US) lose 23 veterans each day to suicide. My own son was a medic in Baghdad for 15 months and suffers 85% disability from PTSD. We try to help these guys assimilate back to society through golf and their time together as well as give them something to look forward to each week. It is a labor of love for me.