Tom Morton

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
GRAA Growth of the Game Teaching Professional, Other (Indicate specific awards in 3-a below)

Other awards won (if provided):
2X National PGA Award winner (youth player development and player development), 9X NCPGA Section award winner, past GRAA Elite Growth of the Game winner

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 5500
Female: 2500
Junior: 2000

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
300

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
Please see image I emailed to Jeremy Schilling to fit with this question. In an attempt to solidify our junior golfers feeling like they are making progress and connect with our programs as well as the families to understand what is the right thing to do at the right times with their children, I created our Junior Player Pathway and how it connects with all of our programs. The children will receive a Player Passport in each program which shows what they can and should be doing at their appropriate age and level to move on to the next level. It is helping with retention for sure but also family education on ultimately the ADM model.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
Morton Golf’s Women’s Mentor League is a weekly program designed to introduce (or re-introduce) women to the game and help them become comfortable playing golf on any course with anyone. All women are invited to join this league regardless of whether they are new, newer returning or seasoned. Listed below are the days of play, start times and contact person for more information.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WOMEN’S MENTOR LEAGUE PROGRAM
1. The program is an organized “meet up” group with the #1 goal of having FUN while educating the golfers in a friendly and easy to understand manner the courtesies, rules, procedures and etiquette of the game. The mentors share those crazy things every golfer should know about the game – but are seldom taught!
2. Any woman who would like to participate in the program should phone or email the Woman’s Golf Ambassador at the course(s) of their choice to have their name and contact information added to the weekly email invitations.
3. We make every effort to pair women together or similar golf abilities.
4. Each facility has volunteer mentors who have substantial golfing experience and who are dedicated to assist players (at no additional cost) while golfing ON an actual golf course. Players are asked to request to be paired with a mentor when they respond to the email invitation if that is their desire.
5. NO PRESSURE! Most players in the leagues do not keep score.
6. The courses have complimentary clubs that can be used for new players, but golfers must have tees, golf balls and a glove to prevent blistering. The mentors are available to assist the new golfers with these purchases as well.
7. Golf shoes are not required. Many golfers initially use athletic shoes (tennis, running, etc.) but in wet weather, having waterproof golf shoes with non-skid soles helps to reduce the chance of slipping.
8. Casual clothing is acceptable.
9. Generally, the players gather in the Grille after the round to share their experiences and meet other golfers. The social atmosphere is a real highlight of the day for many of the women.

This program is not a golf swing or technical instruction program. The mentors are not golf instructors. They leave the coaching to the highly trained Golf Professionals. The mentors are aware of the programs, classes and clinics being offered and will help the players find the right fit if they request.

This has been a home run with our women customers as we now have over 200 ladies playing our courses in this program each week.