During 2017 Zoe has been very active in introducing the first US Kids learning programmes to Ireland, helping as a Tournament Director at the US Kids European and World Championships and establishing the first US Kids Local Tour in Ireland.
In light of these achievements, Zoe was nominated in December 2017, for a US Kids Golf Top 50 Coach award. Each year, US Kids Golf select 50 of their coaches for special recognition. Zoe will be only one of five coaches from outside USA to receive the award.
Zoe became the first Irish Teaching Professional to qualify as a US Kids Golf Coach. This enabled her to introduce US Kids Coaching methods and Learning Programmes to Lurgan along with her other coaching classes. To date, Zoe has had a great response with the US Kids Level 1 programme now running for a third time and the Level 2 award running for a 2nd time.
In May, Zoe was invited to help run the US Kids European Championships in Scotland where she was appointed as one of the Tournament Directors, with responsibility for 149 players, between the ages of 7 – 9, at Longniddry Golf Club. Following the experience gained at the European Championships, Zoe was invited to the US Kids World Championships at Pinehurst where she was one of the Tournament Directors.
Zoe also assisted the US Kids organisation to run their first Irish training sessions for Golf Professionals. Until this time, Professionals had to travel to USA to be trained. The first Professional’s training session was held in early November at Carton House outside Dublin when 12 Irish PGA Professionals attended.
The next step Zoe is taking is to introduce US Kids Golf Tournaments to Ireland. Zoe, with the help of Lurgan Golf Club and support from Allen Park Golf Centre, Ardglass, Ballycastle, Galgorm Castle and Shandon Park, has created the US Kids Golf “North of Ireland” Local Tour. The North of Ireland Local Tourcomprises a series of six events during April and May 2018 including a “Tour Championship” which will be held in Lurgan.
Zoe will receive the award at a ceremony held at the annual PGA Show in Orlando, Florida at the end of January.
