(January 24, 2019) For the last 16 years, Richard Degree has worked in the golf industry as a Professional Player and General Manager. He has spent time teaching others the game of golf and has been very successful during his time in Charlotte, NC; Clearwater, FL; and Shelby, NC. At Royster Memorial Golf Course in Shelby, NC, Degree is a strong part of the team and devotes his time wherever it is needed.
As a part of the 2018 Class of US Kids Golf Top 50 Teachers, Degree solidifies his history of industry professionalism. Degree has been also on the African American Golfer’s Digest list of Top African American Golf Instructors for over 5 years.
“These coaches are honored as more than teachers of the game,” explained Dan Van Horn, the President and Founder of U.S. Kids Golf. “They create outstanding opportunities for young golfers to learn in a fun and rewarding environment that instills a love for the game and engages the entire family. Their ability to connect with students and fully engage them in the learning process sets them apart.
View the complete list of Top 50 Teachers for US Kids Golf below.
The 2019 Top 50 Kids Coach Application will become available September 3, 2019.
Top 50 Kids Coaches: Class of 2018
Since 2004, U.S. Kids Golf has recognized golf’s best coaches with the Top 50 Kids Coach Award. Applicants complete an online survey are winners are chosen based on a variety of factors that grade their contribution to youth golf. Considerations include, but are not limited to, experience, innovation, creativity, communication, parental engagement, organization, devotion and growing the game. Award recipients include coaches who work at public, private, resort and municipal courses.
| Coach Name | Facility | City | State/Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Klemballa | Paradise Valley Country Club | Paradise Valley | Arizona |
| Leon Faulkner | Golf Rocks Kids Academy | Sydney | Australia |
| Martin Rentenberger | Golf Club Marco Polo | Vienna | Austria |
| Kathleen Robinson | Skywest Golf Club | Hayward | California |
| Josh Kendall | Lomas Santa Fe Country Club | Solana Beach | California |
| Tasha Bohlig | El Caballero Country Club | Tarzana | California |
| Jane Rosenberg | Black Gold Golf Club | Yorba Linda | California |
| Andy Griffiths | MIGA | Shanghai | China |
| Ed Oldham | The Ranch Country Club | Westminster | Colorado |
| Kerry Bower-Herr | Victoria Hills Golf Club | DeLand | Florida |
| Bob Usher | Grey Oaks Country Club | Naples | Florida |
| Mackenzie Mack | Rogers Park Golf Course | Tampa | Florida |
| Abigale Schepperle | Fox Creek Golf Club | Marietta | Georgia |
| Chrissy Felton | Sea Island Golf Performance Center | St. Simons Island | Georgia |
| Frankie Chan | Tuen Mun Golf Centre | Hong Kong | |
| Emily Burns | Cantigny Youth Links | Wheaton | Illinois |
| Anna Diletta Daffan | Golf Club Ca’ Daffan | Arzignano | Italy |
| Jordan McKelvy | Rolling Hills Country Club | Wichita | Kansas |
| Daniel Neben | TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm | Potomac | Maryland |
| Leslie Andrews | Nehoiden Golf Club | Wellesley | Massachusetts |
| Katie Hanneman | Pioneer Creek Golf Course | Maple Plain | Minnesota |
| Hoppy Smith | Diamondhead Country Club | Diamondhead | Mississippi |
| Cameron Milton | Polson Bay Golf Course | Polson | Montana |
| Rico Riciputi | Wentworth By The Sea Country Club | Rye | New Hampshire |
| Chip Ranco | Haworth Country Club | Haworth | New Jersey |
| Paul Kaster | Paul Kaster Golf Coaching | Little Silver | New Jersey |
| Christine Brembs | Mt. Freedom Golf | Randolph | New Jersey |
| Evan Sales | Angel Fire Resort | Angel Fire | New Mexico |
| Michael Phillips | Los Alamos Golf Club | Los Alamos | New Mexico |
| JP Bedard | Niagara Falls Country Club | Lewiston | New York |
| Deac Dawson | Cabarrus Country Club | Concord | North Carolina |
| Linda Campbell | The Peninsula Club | Cornelius | North Carolina |
| Richard Degree | Royster Memorial Golf Course | Shelby | North Carolina |
| Zoe Allen | Lurgan Golf Club | Lurgan | Northern Ireland |
| Suzie Fisher | The Golf Club of Oklahoma | Broken Arrow | Oklahoma |
| Brody Whetham | Academy at Sawmill Golf Course | Fenwick | Ontario, Canada |
| John Bierkan | Aronimink Golf Club | Newtown Square | Pennsylvania |
| Brian Moose | RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve | Phoenixville | Pennsylvania |
| Boykin Powers | Charleston Municipal Golf Course | Charleston | South Carolina |
| Travis Lynch | The Trails of Frisco | Frisco | Texas |
| Richard Brown | Richard Brown School of Golf | Missouri City | Texas |
| Janean Murphy | Oakhurst Golf Club | Porter | Texas |
| Mark Caldwell | Canyon Springs Golf Club | San Antonio | Texas |
| Lauren Gates | Summit Golf School | Spring | Texas |
| Dan Shea | Michelle Holmes School of Golf | Norfolk | Virginia |
| Billy Hoffman | Westwood Country Club | Vienna | Virginia |
| David Pocock | Bryn Meadows | Ystrad Mynach | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Michael Gervais | Bridgeport Country Club | Bridgeport | West Virginia |
| Andrew Spaulding | Broadlands Golf Club | North Prairie | Wisconsin |
