Nick Bruce started working for TGA in the fall of 2012 while a junior at Anchor Bay High School. As an assistant coach, he enthusiastically volunteered to work as many golf after-school classes and golf summer camp sessions as possible, always asking questions and soaking up information from lead instructors. He was promoted to lead instructor after graduation in 2014 and continued to work a very busy schedule. In 2017-18 he was lead instructor for more than 20 after-school sessions in addition to directing our summer camps at Sycamore Hills in Macomb Township and Glacier Club in Washington Township, bringing his high-energy and fun approach to more than 300 TGA students.
And now he is our lead instructor of the year for 2018. “I have been given a wonderful opportunity to teach the game of golf,” said Nick, who is finishing up at Macomb Community College and will be transferring to Walsh College to complete his business degree. “Kids come and go, but I hope I can help all of them learn, grow and keep enjoying golf.”
Emily Lin, who recently graduated from Troy Athens High School and will attend Michigan State in the fall, is our assistant coach of the year. Emily just started working for TGA in the spring, but she showed lots of initiative from the start. After teaching a few rules and etiquette stations using our two-hole teaching aid and student handbook, Emily decided on her own to create some new tools. She made flash cards with golf images and terms on the front and explanations on the back, then created a series of fun games to play with the flash cards. They were a huge hit with kids and will become a permanent part of TGA’s toolkit.
“I think my favorite thing about TGA is how creative you can get to help the kids learn how to play golf and love golf. I wish I had something like this when I was younger.”
Congratulations to Nick and Emily, who will receive $100 golf gift cards. This is the third year we have honored a lead instructor and assistant coach of the year. Past winners were Nick Lico and Jennifer Kowalczk (2016) and Ari Siegel and Mike Mercier (2017).
