Sarah Bidney

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
PGA Section Teacher of the Year, GRAA Growth of the Game Teaching Professional

Other awards won (if provided):
Iowa PGA Section Awards: Three-time Teacher of the Year Three-time Youth Player Development Award 2019 & 2024 Woman Player of the Year National Awards: Three-time Master Top 50 Operation 36 Coach (since 2021) Top 50 Operation 36 Coach (2019 & 2020) Golf Digest’s Best in State (Iowa) for 2024-25, 2022-23, and 2019-20 Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers in America (2018-19) GRAA Elite Member Status for Growth of the Game Teaching Professional (2017-2023) GRAA Top 50 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional (2012-2016) Seven-time Honorable Mention, US Kids Golf Top 50 Kids Teacher

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 150
Female: 150
Junior: 200

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
400

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
Instructional Programming Implemented at Hyperion Field Club in the last 18 months:
As the first-ever Director of Instruction at Hyperion Field Club I have been able to offer a diverse range of instructional programs designed to cater to golfers of all ages and ability levels, from our youngest juniors to our most seasoned members. Here is an overview of the current programs I offer:
*Leading Edge Elite: This Spring and Summer program is tailored for 7th/8th graders and High School players aged 12 and up. It focuses on advanced skills development and preparation for competitive play.
*Operation 36: I provide four semesters of Operation 36 Junior programming throughout the year—Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. This player development pathway integrates instructional goals with on-course play objectives, fostering comprehensive skill growth.
*Future 36ers: Designed for our youngest golfers, ages 3-6, this program emphasizes fun and engagement through interactive activities such as sticker books, puppets, and story-driven lessons. Utilizing the Birdie Basics platform, we aim to capture and sustain their interest in golf at an early age.
*June & July Junior Camps: These recreational camps, part of the legacy programming, serve as a gateway into the game – these camps offer a smaller time commitment but a strong commitment to fundamentals and FUN. I enhanced the Thursday play day by incorporating on-course instruction stations, a feature that has been well-received by families. Within this program I also introduced the Legends of the Links card game, these have been great fun to add to the program and kids really enjoyed earning the playing cards!
*Adult Operation 36: This program offers three semesters—Spring, Summer, and Fall—and provides a welcoming environment for adults to learn the game. This program has had a great turnout with over 40 adults participating each year.
*Adult Performance Coaching Program: Geared towards experienced golfers seeking to improve their scoring, this program focuses on skill development from 100 yards and in. It includes extensive on-course instruction, and many participants have achieved personal milestones such as breaking 90 for the first time.

Here are the new additions to my programs offered this season:
*Indoor Winter Bay Construction and Winter Programming
*Spring Break Camp
*Spring Sips and Swings Clinics
*Junior Club Fitting Event
*Legends of the Links Card Game
*PGA Junior League Integration

Instruction by the Numbers
In the last 12 months I have engaged over 300 members across junior and adult programs. This involved delivering 400+ classes and 525+ hours of programming. This total does not include the additional hours for setup, breakdown, detailed lesson planning, and communication with students and families. Additionally, I have conducted 400+ lessons in the last 12 months, with more than three months remaining in this year.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
Participation in Hyperion programming has grown by 85% compared to levels prior to my hire in February of 2023 at Hyperion. The engagement from our members has been exceptional, with adult participation exceeding three times the enrollment I had at my previous club. The growth of the number of classes offered is wild with over 1,000% growth – from 35 classes in 2022 to 403 in the last 12 months. Hours of programming has grown 1,600% from 31 hours in 2022 to 525+ in the last 12 months. Additionally, private and semi-private lessons are in high demand, typically with my calendar booked for over three weeks for non-member requests.

Given the rapid growth and high demand, I hired a PGA PGM Intern from Sam Houston State University, Chris Stephens, for a 3-month internship this summer. His presence helped to create a consistent student-to-teacher ratio of 4:1 or better in my programs. I also fortified my instruction team by re-hiring Steve Smith, current Drake University Women’s Head Golf Coach, and adding Carson Hattel, coach of the local Johnston High School golf teams. Their expertise definitely enhanced my programs, particularly the advanced Leading Edge Elite program and Operation 36. Hyperion Assistant Pros Tommy Vining and Will Babcock, along with Head Golf Professional Sharnae Winters and Director of Golf Adam Pritchard, also rounded out the instruction team and offered a consistent high level of instruction throughout the suite of programs. Collectively, these seven individuals contributed over 500 hours of support this season.

I think the programs I offer (listed above in question 9) alongside private and semi-private lessons keeps my students engaged. They know they have options, all of which are fun and motivating. For those seeking good instruction with a more social environment I have my Sips and Swings clinics. For juniors looking for a solid pathway to develop and test their skills, Operation 36 is available. For those approaching High School then Leading Edge Elite is for them which includes tournament play and meets 3 times a week for sessions. All programming and lessons have great communication with families and adults – I encourage adults to score keep for their children in the Operation 36 events but coach them on how to be a great sport parent. I provide shout outs on social media, in a private Hyperion Field Club Operation 36 Facebook group, in our monthly club newsletter, and in a slideshow that constantly rolls in our golf shop of players who have scored personal best or passing scores in Operation 36! I think families and participants enjoy the celebration of their successes and helps keep them motivated and feeling welcome!

Lastly, my instructional approach is grounded in a commitment to biomechanical principles, reflecting my extensive training and certification in advanced techniques. I have completed training with:
Mike Adam’s Ultimate Golf Lesson (BioSwing Dynamics)
WrightBalance
Operation 36
Proponent Group Education seminars
SportsBox AI (3D swing analysis technology)
Mach 3
Dr. Kwon’s Certification (renowned biomechanist)

I believe these qualifications set me apart from many instructors and underscore my dedication to tailoring instruction to individual biomechanical needs. My philosophy emphasizes aligning a golfer’s swing with their unique physical nature, utilizing body screenings to pinpoint how the person in front of me is designed to swing. These screenings promote a swing that is both powerful and sustainable for the long-term. This personalized approach helps ensure that each golfer can achieve their best performance in a safe and repeatable manner and the most important aspect of this all is that my students receive instruction that is tailored to them and provides results!