Tonya Gill Danckaert

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
N/A

Other awards won:
2025 Teacher of the Year for Bobby Jones Links (management company for 35 golf courses)

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 240
Female: 545
Junior: 75

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
350

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
This year, I delivered approximately 860 individual lessons and 350 clinics representing over 3,200 participant visits. Women accounted for 545 individual lessons and about 90% of clinic participants, reflecting my primary focus on helping beginner and intermediate women become comfortable, confident golfers.

My December-through-February Winter Program kept 25 golfers engaged during the offseason. Participants paid a registration fee and received discounted lessons and playing opportunities. The program produced 146 lessons and nine play days, generating $13,750 in revenue. It helped beginners retain their progress while giving more experienced golfers time to make meaningful offseason improvements.

I created The Women’s Golf Society in response to women in my lessons and clinics who wanted to play but did not have an established golf group. The 3 unique social events with 61 total participants utilized our Yates Putting Course, Cupp Links Par3 Course and a 9-hole scramble to be accessible for women at all skill levels.  The events connected women with potential playing partners and helped them become part of a welcoming golf community.

I led six four-session New Golfer Series programs that introduced beginners to the full swing, short game, putting, etiquette, and on-course play. The progressive format gives new golfers a clear starting point and a pathway into clinics, private lessons, and independent play.

I created our facility’s Women-only PGA HOPE program and led its six-week session for approximately 12 female veterans, providing an environment designed to build comfort, connection, and confidence. I also taught 33 clinic sessions within our six annual co-ed PGA HOPE cohorts. Both programs progress from instruction and individual coaching to a par-3 competition, nine-hole playing experience, and putting contest.

My junior programming included six PGA Junior League practices serving approximately 48 participants and 34 Summer and School’s-Out Camp shifts. I advocated for two dedicated girls-only camp weeks and helped tailor activities to better engage those participants. Our camps serve approximately 60 juniors each week, with 18–20 girls enrolled in the girls-only program during each of its two weeks.

I taught four Her Shot clinics as part of a six-week Atlanta mentorship program for young women ages 11–18 that was a new initiative for PGA REACH Georgia.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
I create a progression from learning golf to playing it independently. This year, I devoted nearly 100 hours to 32 total playing lessons. These popular on-course sessions help students apply their skills through course management, club selection, etiquette, and decision-making while building the confidence to play on their own.

The New Golfer Series provides beginners with four connected sessions rather than a one-time introduction. Many students then continue through clinics, private lessons, play days, and The Women’s Golf Society instead of being left without a next step.

TrackMan screencasts reinforce individual lessons with personalized summaries and practice plans. The Winter Program maintains progress through the offseason, while The Women’s Golf Society and Women-only PGA HOPE provide the community and playing connections that encourage women to remain involved in the game.