April 21, 2010



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May 17, 2010

Media Contacts:

Randy Stutzman, PGA of America (rstutzman@), 561-624-8438

Tammy Boclair, Alday Communications (tammy@), 615-791-1535, x26

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PGA Free Lesson Month Scores Huge Success for PGA Professional Matt Cardarelli

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.— Each year, thousands of PGA/LPGA Professionals nationwide participate in PGA Free Lesson Month, giving consumers the opportunity to receive a free 10-minute lesson that can help improve their game. For Matt Cardarelli, PGA Professional at The Fort in Indianapolis, Ind., PGA Free Lesson Month is much more than a promotion: it’s the way he builds his business.

“I initiate free lessons by spending a lot of time on the course. Using my iPhone, I can record peoples’ swings and then play it back to illustrate simple changes that can help them improve their game,” Cardarelli says. “No one has ever turned down free instruction, and I find that it often results in a call to schedule more lessons.”

Cardarelli has understood the importance of building the game of golf since the day he started working on a golf course and takes every opportunity to help golfers improve and grow the game. In addition to promoting PGA Free Lesson Month on Facebook and around his facility, he hands out his card at gas stations, coffee shops, restaurants and everywhere else around town.

“In many ways, golf comes across as elitist and unwelcoming. People come to the course and act like they don’t belong. I want everyone to know that they’re accepted as a golfer, regardless of age, gender or race,” said Cardarelli. “I try to be positive and encouraging at every lesson – even if I don’t retain that student, I want them to know that there are friendly golf professionals out there who want to help.”

Cardarelli estimates that during the month of May he gives more than 200 free lessons, and that’s just the beginning. He has seen such a great response that it’s now a daily aspect of his teaching strategy for all eight months that his course is open.

One of Cardarelli’s first students at The Fort was Randy Jones. Jones became a student after Cardarelli offered him instruction one evening on the range. Four years later, they are still having weekly lessons and Jones’ game has seen huge improvement. Jones shared that even when he’s out on the course playing a round, he’s comfortable asking Cardarelli for pointers on a difficult shot.

“For a lot of people, teaching golf is just a job, but Matt (Cardarelli) is truly passionate about the game. He genuinely cares about helping me improve,” Jones shared. “I’m a very visual learner, and Matt has taken the time to not only tell me how I can improve my game, but to show me as well. I send everyone I know who is interested in golf to him for a lesson.”

Celebrating its 95th year, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission of its founders: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in a multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

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