Forrest Named PGA of America National Teacher Of The Year

He has spent time teaching former Masters champion Seve Ballesteros and tennis great Jimmy Connors and worked with the golf swing that only a mother could love, Charles Barkley. Through it all, Bill Forrest has earned the respect and admiration of his teaching peers.

Forrest, Director of Instruction at Troon Country Club, earned his profession's highest honor: PGA of America Teacher of the Year. "When I received word of this award, it literally took my breath away," said Forrest. "This is our Oscar, our Pulitzer Prize, the pinnacle of achievement for a teaching member of the PGA. It is not something that you work for, but what hard work achieves for you. I am both honored and humbled by it. This award is about redemption for me."

A native of Ottawa, Ontario, Forrest moved to the United States at the age of 16. He was on the Canadian PGA from 1977-82 before taking a teaching position from 1983-87 at the Bonita Bay Club in Bonita Springs, Fla. After a brief stint at famed Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., in 1987, Forrest moved later that year to the TPC of Scottsdale, where he became director of instruction. Forrest spent 14 years at the club, developing an impressive list of students, including Tour pros, accomplished amateurs and athletes from a variety of sports.

In 2004, Forrest moved across town to Troon Country Club. Having been fortunate to have more than 100,000 students while traveling to 40-plus countries during his career, he has had a passion and a desire to tour the world and teach golf. "I'm more of an American now than I ever was, and am proud of it. I have seen all the great teachers teach and, while working at the TPC in Arizona, I saw many of the best players as well, and was able to watch them practice on a daily basis," added Forrest.

Forrest is a four-time Southwest PGA Teacher of the Year recipient (1992, '95, '96, and 2004) and has won two SWSPGA Horton Smith Awards, in 1997 and ‘98. The Horton Smith Trophy is emblematic of the PGA golf professional who displays on-going contributions to the golf pro's education. In 1997, Forrest was one of the first PGA professionals to be Specialty Certified in Teaching, He earned PGA Master Professional status in 2004 and remains a member of the Master Professional faculty. He is a teacher of teachers, having conducted more than 50 teaching education seminars in six PGA Sections and five countries. Forrest's other honors include being named to Golf Magazine's "Top 100 Teachers" and Golf Digest's "Best Teachers in Your State." He also received the 1992-93 National Golf Foundation Public Golf Achievement Award.

"Bill Forrest has done so much for golf in the state of Arizona and is truly deserving of this prestigious award. His contributions to the game are exemplary," said Kathy Wilkes, Executive Director of the Southwest Section - PGA of America.

"The most important aspect of the lesson is getting to know the student, understanding who you are dealing with,” Forrest said. “We are facilitators of learning, and self-discovery and self-evaluation are keys for both the student and the teacher. My strength lies in my perception and ability to assess the student and get to the cause quickly."

Forrest's list of past and present students include the PGA Tour's Per-Ulrik Johanssen, LPGA's Grace Park, Champions Tour veterans Tom Purtzer and Tom Weiskopf; 60 collegiate golfers at various levels; and such celebrity athletes as soccer's Mia Hamm and her husband, Nomar Garciaparra of the Los Angeles Dodgers.