Tim Cusick, PGA, added to Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers in America List
Taylor Coffelt • Apr 05, 2019
In March, Golf Magazine released their Top 100 Teachers in America list. For the first time, PGA Director of Instruction at Four Seasons Resort and Club Tim Cusick, was on that list. As a member of the Northern Texas Section for 22 years, Tim has worked tirelessly to improve his knowledge of the game and share that knowledge with his students. Tim was kind enough to answer a few questions for us about this honor.
When did you first being playing golf?
My first memory is hitting a ball around in a park with my dad in Erie, Pa. I believe I was about 4 years old.
Did anyone spark your interest in the game?
I grew up in Rochester, NY. There were two seasons winter and summer. In the winter I played basketball and hockey and the summer was baseball and golf. As I got in to high school I gravitated more toward golf. I worked in the bag room at the course my parents were members at. Working there really fueled my desire in golf.
What/where was your first job in the industry?
I took a year off from college after my sophomore year and took a job at Pinehurst Hotel and Country Club. It was called a golf internship. I worked in a different part of the golf operation every month for nine months. I didn’t even have a car. I walked to work every day, to the grocery store, dinner, everywhere. Best job I ever had!
Did you always know you wanted to teach? If not, why did you choose that path?
Teaching came to me as a result of my time at Pinehurst. Hank Haney, Mike LaBauve and Jack Lumpkin were teaching at Pinehurst. I would sit behind them for hours and watch. I get a thrill every time I help someone get better at golf.
You graduated from the Master Professional program in 2018. What drove you to pursue that certification?
It is the top level you can attain with The PGA of America. I’ve always had a thirst for wanting to be the best. It only seemed natural. It also kept me motivated to improve. First to get my Certification in Teaching and then my Master Professional status.
How does it feel knowing Golf Magazine considers you one of the top teaching professionals in the US?
Humbling. There are so many great golf professionals in the country. It’s nice to be recognized.
What are your thoughts on PGA of America Headquarters moving to Frisco?
It’s going to be one of the biggest things in the golf industry for the next 30 years, and we are going to get a ‘front row’ seat to it all. I can’t wait to see the facilities. It will be ‘cutting edge’ for sure.
Where do you see yourself going next (in the industry)?
One of the by-products of getting my Master Professional status is joining the Adjunct Faculty for Teaching/Coaching for the PGA of America. I get an opportunity to speak to the next generation of PGA Professionals in the 3.0 Business Schools. It feels good to give back when you get the chance.
Who is your biggest golf-inspiration?
All the other great PGA Professionals around the country. I take a little away from all of the ones I’m around. I can’t believe how dedicated they are to their craft.
What is your favorite golf memory?
The first time I ever went to the Masters was 1998. I stayed in a house with Mark O’Meara and Hank Haney. That was the year Mark won. It was a very memorable week.
Where is your favorite place you have played?
Augusta National GC. I got an invite to play there almost 30 years ago and turned it down. I got another invite in 2018 and didn’t let that one go by. Augusta is just a magical place. I get goose bumps every time I walk on the property.
Who are your ideal playing partners?
I play the most golf with my son, Carson. He hits it past me and beats me most of the time, but I enjoy each round we play together. It’s fun to give him the experience of playing new courses around the country. I enjoy playing with friends, especially ones I haven’t seen in a while. I probably play more golf out of town than I do in Dallas.
Do you have any advice for beginning golfers?
It’s a very difficult game but an addictive one. Have patience, find a good PGA Instructor and enjoy the game.
What advice would you give to those trying to become PGA professionals?
Being a golf professional is about serving others, and creating lasting memories for our members and customers each time they come to our facilities. When you understand that, the rest is easy.
FRISCO, TX – Tony Romo, CBS Sports broadcaster and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, is making a new contribution to the Northern Texas PGA Foundation by specifically directing a monetary donation to the Foundation’s scholarship pillar. Romo, who recently played in the Invited Celebrity Classic, is redirecting 50% of the funds he won through this event to create the Tony Romo / Invited Celebrity Classic scholarships. The remaining balance of the prize money he won will be donated to the tournament’s charitable partners. As an amateur, he is unable to accept the prize money for the celebrity portion of the purse. With Romo’s donation, two graduating high school seniors who are current or former Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour players will receive a total of $7,500 toward their college education. The winner of these new scholarships will be announced in early June alongside the Northern Texas PGA Foundation's other scholarship recipients. The NTPGA Foundation is projecting that more than 80 high school seniors will be awarded approximately $720,000 in college scholarships this year, most of which will be need-based. Romo is an avid golfer who has supported the Northern Texas PGA and the Foundation in several unique ways over the past decade. He frequently participates in many open Northern Texas PGA-conducted competitions like the M&P Group Texas State Open. Also, the 9 & Nine Putting Course on the NTPGA campus in Frisco bears his name. “We are thankful for Tony’s continued contributions to our Foundation, and this is a wonderful new commitment that he has made to us,” said Mark Harrison, Northern Texas PGA’s CEO. “He is such a great ambassador for the game, so we love working with him and making more students’ financial responsibilities a bit easier when heading to college.” More information about the Northern Texas Foundation’s scholarships will be available in June. Learn more about this pillar of our Foundation at foundation.ntpga.com/college-scholarships .
Ten Northern Texas PGA Members will compete in next week’s PGA Professional Championship. The Championship field is comprised of 312 of the top-playing PGA of America Golf Professionals from across the country. They will be teeing it up right here in our backyard at Fields Ranch to compete for the opportunity to play in the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Learn more about the golfers representing our Section and their journey to the Championship below.
FRISCO, Texas (April 16) – Dame Laura Davies is committed to play in this year’s Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open. The 2015 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee will compete in the Ewing Automotive Group Legends of the LPGA Division on May 29-31 at Grapevine Golf Course. “We are thrilled to have Laura Davies, one of the greats of the game, compete in the Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open,” said Northern Texas PGA CEO Mark Harrison. Davies has collected over 70 wins worldwide during her historic career including four major championships and two senior major championships. She also holds the title of all-time Solheim Cup points leader with a 22-18-6 record. Over the past two years, Davies has transitioned into a commentating role with Sky Golf but occasionally plays competitively. She competed in both the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the U.S. Senior Women’s Open. “I have no idea how my game will be in May because I haven’t played much tournament golf in the past two years as I’ve been commentating for Sky Golf, but I intend to put a lot of practice in over the next few months so I will hopefully be ready,” said Davies. “I have played many times in Texas over the years on the LPGA Tour, and I really look forward to playing there again.” The Ewing Automotive Group Legends of the LPGA Division will consist of 24 professionals competing for $75,000. Eligibility into this division is only open to members on the Legends of the LPGA Priority List. For more information on the Destination Grapevine Texas Women’s Open, please visit www.ntpga.com/texas-womens-open . ### ABOUT THE GRAPEVINE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU The Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau acts as the promotional arm of the City of Grapevine and is responsible for actively selling, marketing and publicizing Grapevine globally. The Bureau promotes the city’s hotels, meeting facilities, historic and family attractions, festivals and events, dining establishments and retail businesses to the group meetings and leisure markets. ABOUT GRAPEVINE GOLF COURSE Grapevine Golf Course is a 27-hole facility located in Grapevine, Texas. The original 18-holes opened in 1979 and was designed by Byron Nelson. In 1999, a third nine opened and was designed by D.A. Weibring’s Golf Resources. Golf enthusiasts for years have enjoyed playing a rare blend of rolling fairways, penalty areas and bunkers that create a simultaneously challenging yet relaxing experience. ABOUT THE NORTHERN TEXAS PGA The Northern Texas PGA is one of 41 Sections of the PGA of America. Its geographic territory includes the State of Texas north of the 31st latitude, or just north of Austin. Over 1,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals employed at more than 300 facilities comprise this Section. Northern Texas PGA headquarters are located on the PGA Frisco campus and feature state-of-the-art office space, a growth of the game pavilion and a golf park designed for junior golfers.
FRISCO, Texas (April 5) – The 54th playing of the M&P Group Texas State Open is set to return to Cascades Country Club in Tyler, TX. The tournament will occur July 30 - August 2, 2024, and registration is now open. The 54th M&P Group Texas State Open is a 72-hole stroke play event, and the field will play 36 holes before a cut is made to the low 55 scores and ties. The projected purse is $200,000. The Championship is open to all professionals, competitive amateurs and junior golfers with advanced tournament experience. The Championship field will feature 156 players who will qualify or are exempt. Qualifying for the Championship will be conducted throughout June and July at 18 sites. The deadline to register for qualifying is Thursday, May 30. Exempt players, should they choose to participate, are determined from the following categories: (1) Past Champions, (2) Top 10 professionals and ties from the 2023 Texas State Open, (3) Top 2 amateurs and ties from the 2023 Texas State Open, (4) Low PGA Professional from the 2023 Texas State Open, (5) Top 15 and ties from the 2023 final Northern Texas PGA and Southern Texas PGA Player of the Year Point Standings, (9) Top 10 point earners on the 2024 Northern Texas PGA Players Tour, (10) Top money leader from the All Pro Tour 2023 Fall Series Money List. Sponsors and host facility exemptions will also be reserved for certain players. Congratulations to the players who received exemptions at the beginning of March upon the completion of the NTPGA Players Tour: Ryan Grider - Lewisville, TX; Brian Dwyer - Southlake, TX; Sean Wilcox - Frisco, TX; Philip Barbaree Jr. - Shreveport, LA; Garrison Smith - Mansfield, TX; Wells Padgett - Dallas, TX; Brandon Shong - Sydney, Australia; George Toone - McKinney, TX; Chase Sienkiewicz - Frisco, TX; and Declan Kenny - Dallas, TX, have all earned a place in this year’s Championship. This is M&P Group’s second year as the title sponsor after signing a multi-year agreement with the Northern Texas PGA. The Championship will be presented by Joyce Crane. Proceeds from the Championship will benefit the Northern Texas PGA Foundation’s scholarship program with the awarding of the M&P Group Texas State Open scholarship during the championship. The scholarship is designated for a Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour Member from the Tyler area who will be attending college this fall. This year alone, the Northern Texas PGA Foundation is projected to award more than $700,000 in scholarships to approximately 75 high school seniors from North Texas. Registration is now available at ntpga.com, and again, the entry deadline is Thursday, May 30. For all Championship and qualifying details, please visit https://www.ntpga.com/texas-state-open now. ### ABOUT MYOUNG S. CHOI AND THE M&P GROUP Myoung S. Choi has been in the entrepreneurship industry for over 30 years. In 1986, Mr. Choi came to the United States to pursue his master’s at Texas Christian University. Shortly after in 1998, he opened a Dojo in Dallas, TX, to make his impact in the community by teaching Taekwondo. One of his notable students was former Olympian James Villasana that competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. In 1999, Mr. Choi made his first mark on the creation of M&P Investment Group US. The creation of Q Building Maintenance Inc. specialized in janitorial services. After a successful 6 years, Mr. Choi merged Q Building with a new construction company Q Total Building Inc. With all his successes, Mr. Choi always strived for more with the creation of M&P Group US in 2017. Mr. Choi’s vision was always set to more than he could possibly imagine. His goal and dream of coming to the United States were to purchase and run golf courses. He made that dream come true in 2019 purchasing Shady Valley Country Club located in Arlington, TX. After the first Mr. Choi didn’t settle for less, purchasing Coyote Ridge Golf Club and Cascades Country Club in the same year of 2021. It is not a surprise that Mr. Choi has always had a passion for being successful as he has proved himself time and time again. His passion for the game of golf has always been with him playing professional golf from 1994-1996. His goal is to leave his mark on the surrounding community, and it is without saying that Mr. Choi has just begun doing just that. He strives for more and the only question is what is next? ABOUT CASCADES COUNTRY CLUB Cascades Country Club, a Master-Planned 5-Star community, is the most comprehensive community in East Texas. This luxury lakefront golf, tennis, fitness and residential community sits on 386 acres and is located just five miles from downtown Tyler, Texas. Cascades Country Club is also conveniently located midway between Dallas, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana. The golf course was re-designed by PGA Tour player Mark Hayes to challenge players at any skill level. Lush, tour-quality greens and broad fairways wind among tall oak and pine trees, with many holes set alongside scenic lakes on the golf course, and a stunning backdrop framed by Lake Bellwood greeting you on your first tee shot of the day. ABOUT THE NORTHERN TEXAS PGA The Northern Texas PGA is one of 41 Sections of the PGA of America. Its geographic territory includes the State of Texas north of the 31st latitude, or just north of Austin. Over 1,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals employed at more than 300 facilities comprise this Section. Northern Texas PGA headquarters are located on the PGA Frisco campus and feature state-of-the-art office space, a growth of the game pavilion and a golf park designed for junior golfers. In addition to managing the day-to-day affairs of the Section, the Northern Texas PGA also operates a non-profit and charitable foundation that focuses on five pillars: junior golf, college scholarships, inclusion, internships and military & veterans.
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