"National Instruction Day" is Wednesday

 

Golf Channel -- in partnership with the PGA of America -- announced its plans for the inaugural “National Instruction Day,” airing on Wednesday, May 4, and featuring a dedicated day of live programming devoted to helping golfers improve their game. National Instruction Day will bring together several of the most respected and recognized PGA Professionals in the game -- a culmination of a 100-day campaign celebrating the PGA of America’s Centennial -- staging live clinics on Golf Channel, originating from golf courses around the United States, and spanning across four time zones, beginning at 10 a.m. ET.

 

The six golf course locations participating in National Instruction Day will feature a lead PGA Professional, along with two guest instructors working in collaboration on a live, one-hour clinic from their respective location. Participating PGA Professionals include: Michael Breed, Martin Hall, Hank Haney, Craig Harmon, David Leadbetter, Cameron McCormick, Jim McLean, Stan Utley, along with several others, including PGA President Derek Sprague and PGA Secretary Suzy Whaley. The schedule of programming airing throughout the day, as well as corresponding instructors at each site includes:

 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4: NATIONAL INSTRUCTION DAY SCHEDULE (All times ET)

 

7 a.m.-10 a.m.  Golf Channel’s Morning Drive (Orlando, Fla.)

                          Special Guests: Pete Bevacqua, CEO, PGA of America (in-studio); 

                          Blair O’Neal & Jeff Ritter (in-studio co-hosts for National Instruction Day)

 

10 a.m.-11 a.m. Baltusrol Golf Club (Springfield Township, N.J.)

                          Lead Instructor: Michael Breed

                          Guest Instructors: Lou Guzzi, Tom Henderson

                          Special Guest: Derek Sprague, President, PGA of America             

 

11 a.m.-Noon    Ibis Golf & Country Club (West Palm Beach, Fla.)

                          Lead Instructor: Martin Hall

                          Guest Instructors: Jim McLean, Craig Harmon

                          Golf Channel Host: Sara Brown

 

2 p.m.-3 p.m.    Keeton Park Golf Course (Dallas)

                         Lead Instructor: Cameron McCormick

                         Guest Instructors: Tony Martinez, Randy Smith

                         Golf Channel Host: Matt Adams

 

4 p.m.-5 p.m.   Cog Hill Golf & Country Club (Lemont Township, Ill.)

                         Lead Instructor: Stan Utley

                         Guest Instructors: Todd Sones, Kevin Weeks

                         Golf Channel Host: Charlie Rymer

 

6 p.m.-7 p.m.     Golf Channel’s Golf Central (Orlando, Fla.)

                          Special Guests: National Instruction Day instructors

 

7 p.m.-8 p.m.    Fossil Trace Golf Club (Golden, Colo.)

                         Lead Instructor: Hank Haney

                         Guest Instructors: Trent Wearner, Sandy LaBauve

                         Golf Channel Host: Brian Crowell

 

8 p.m.-9 p.m.    TPC Harding Park (San Francisco)

                         Lead Instructor: David Leadbetter

                         Guest Instructors: Suzy Whaley, Secretary, PGA of America; Josh Zander

                         Golf Channel Host: Lisa Cornwell

 

9 p.m.-11 p.m.  Golf Channel Studio A (Orlando, Fla.)

                         Lead Instructors: Michael Breed, Martin Hall

                         Guest Instructors: Mike Bender, Cheryl Anderson

 

Blair O’Neal and PGA Professional Jeff Ritter will participate in National Instruction Day, as hosts throughout the day from Studio A at Golf Channel’s World Headquarters in Orlando. O’Neal and Ritter will help viewers transition from one live clinic location to the next, expanding upon tips and themes offered at each clinic location leading up to the live, in-studio two-hour primetime show airing at 9 p.m. ET. Golf Channel’s Morning Drive will prepare viewers for the day of instruction ahead, welcoming O’Neal and Ritter in-studio for an overview of the clinics. Additionally, Pete Bevacqua, CEO of the PGA of America, is expected to join Morning Drive that day, along with Breed and Hall, who will offer a preview of their respective clinics.  

 

National Instruction Day also will serve as an exclamation point on the PGA of America’s celebration of its Centennial in 2016. The 100-day celebration campaign began with a tribute from the PGA’s “Outdoor Demo Day” during its annual PGA Merchandise Show in January, which featured ceremonial tee shots with PGA Professionals from each of the 41 PGA Sections, along with members of PGA Junior League Golf. National Instruction Day on Wednesday, 

 

May 4, will mark the 100th day of the campaign. Since January, Golf Channel has been airing PGA Section spotlights on Morning Drive, profiling a charitable, social or educational program initiative taking place within each of the 41 PGA Sections.