Steve Whidden, PGA

Steve is a PGA Master Professional in instruction and the director of instruction at Rosedale Golf & Country Club in Bradenton, Fla.  Steve has received numerous awards this year including being named an Edwin Watts Top Instructors in America and earning North Florida PGA Section’s Teacher of the Year honors.  He is the founder and director of the instruction division of the North Florida PGA Section’s Southwest Chapter.  Finally, he started “Get Better Sarasota/Manatee” and “Give Golf a Go Sarasota/Manatee” which are both free programs to get lapsed and new golfers into golf.

Facility type: Public

Past awards/recognitions:

• GRAA Top 50 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional
• PGA Section Teacher of the Year
• PGA Chapter Teacher of the Year
• PGA Section Horton Smith Award
• PGA Chapter Horton Smith Award
• Edwin Watts Top Instructor

Technology used in instruction:

• V1 Pro
• Trackman
• SwingByte
• SKLZ Golf
• EyeLine Putting
• TOMI Putting Lab
• ES12 launch monitor
• Explanar

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

Growth of the game initiatives:

• BETTER Golf Coaching program
• BETTER Golf Prep program
• Get BETTER Sarasota/Manatee
• Give Golf a Go Sarasota/Manatee
• Get Golf Ready
• Get Golf Ready 2
• Ladies and Links
• TEE IT FORWARD
• Take Daughter to the Course Week
• Family Lessons
• Family Lessons & Play
• Discounted “pre-season” lessons for high schoolers
• Nite Golf