Kathy Gook wins LPGA western section Junior Golf Leadership Award
August 15, 2014
Morgan Gibbens (British Columbia Golf)
British Columbia Golf’s Director of School Golf, Kathy Gook, has won the LPGA Teachers & Club Professionals Western Section Junior Golf Leadership Award. The award recognizes outstanding leadership in the area of junior golf as selected by LPGA T&CP membership, and Gook is now in the running for the overall national award determined by the LPGA T&CP Executive Committee.
Kathy Gook delivers P2F instruction
Since joining as staff at British Columbia Golf in 2010, Gook dedicates 10 months a year to promoting golf in schools through programs such as Playground to Fairway (P2F), among a number of other initiatives she is involved with to bring golf to children, including SOAR and The First Tee Greater Vancouver.
The P2F program has taken off under the direction of Gook, who is passionate not only about teaching golf, but conveying through the program, the necessary physical literacy skills for kids to learn, enjoy and excel in all sports and physical activity.
Under her leadership, the program has been delivered to over 12,000 children province wide. Gook coordinates 25 coaches and 76 schools in an effort to bring golf to all kids. (For more information on Gook’s work with P2F click here).
During the summer months, though school takes a break, Gook does not. As a golf instructor, she runs her own junior golf summer camps in her hometown of Quesnel, B.C. including camps specifically for young female golfers, all with impressive registration numbers for a small town of only 10,000 residents.
Gook volunteers her time coaching provincial teams that have competed nationally and internationally with great success, and most importantly, coaches with compassion and support, driven by her passion for providing the best experience for the young golfers.
With a resume like this it is no wonder the Class A status LPGA golfer was recognized with the award.
Gook began playing golf at the age of 23, in Phoenix, Arizona after graduating from Simon Fraser University and playing two years of professional basketball in Australia. In just a few short years, Gook turned professional and went on to play on the Asian, European, Futures and Players West Golf Tours, eventually combining her passion for teaching with her love of the game, and began her journey inspiring the next generation of golfers.