2024 Lifetime Achievement Award
GARY PLAYER
Owner
Gary Player Design
https://www.garyjimplayer.com/
Having turned professional at the age of 17 in 1953, Gary has won 165 professional tournaments on six continents over seven decades.
Gary is a Golf Ambassador, Philanthropist and Golf Course Designer with a passion for fitness and thoroughbred horses. Known for his positive mindset, he has lived by the mantra of “the harder I practice, the luckier I get.”
The World Golf Hall of Fame Member is one of only five golfers to achieve a Career Grand Slam by winning all four majors, and is the only golfer on that list to have won a Grand Slam on the Senior Tour too. His achievements in golf resulted in the PGA Tour bestowing a Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Services to Golf on him in 2012.
A member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, which celebrates sport’s ability to create positive change in the world, Gary’s outstanding career was acknowledged with a Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award. He also captained the Rest of the World Presidents Cup Team in three consecutive tournaments against the USA between 2003 and 2007.
DAVID LEADBETTER
Founder, Master Instructor
Leadbetter Golf Academy
https://www.golfzonleadbetter.com/
Originally from Worthing in Sussex, England, David began his career in golf on the European and South African Tours. He soon realized his interest was in the technique, mechanics, and intricacies of the game, which eventually led him to spend more time teaching than playing. David’s career took off in the mid-1980s through his documented work with Sir Nick Faldo which produced 26 Majors.
Soon after David’s retirement from playing, he began to incorporate his methods and philosophies into a stringent, holistic training program for qualified instructors that remains unmatched even today.
Since launching the first Leadbetter Golf Academy over 30 years ago, David has coached players to 26 Major Championship titles and over 100 individual worldwide tournament victories. Seven of those players have even held first place in the Official World Golf Ranking.
With a desire to bring that same world-class instruction to players of all ages and abilities, and in addition to the numerous articles written for publications like Golf Digest and Golf International over the past three decades, David has authored eight books on the topic. Together, David’s books have sold two million copies making him one of the best-selling golf instruction authors in the world. His latest book, The A Swing, was released in May 2015 is set to transform the golf swing once again.
Additionally, David has produced a number of instructional videos, DVDs, an interactive video game, and other mixed media, and developed training aids—including the SwingSetter, SwingSetter Pro and a number of A Swing approved training aids released with the book—all dedicated to helping people play better golf.
Today, David remains a revered voice in golf instruction and continues to coach several top PGA, LPGA, and European Tour players, host his own satellite radio show, author new publications, develop new training aids, and continue to bring the same innovative and elite level instruction to players everywhere.
JIM MCLEAN
Creator
Jim McLean Golf School
https://www.jimmclean.com/
Top 3 Ranked Teacher in America for 25 Years, Currently Ranked #1 in Florida
Tournament Wins: Pacific Northwest Open, 3 Pacific Northwest Amateurs, Pacific Coast Amateur (at Olympic, SF), 3 College Tournaments, PGA National Skins Game ($51k), Westchester PGA, 3 PGA Club Pro Winter Events, Multiple Mini-Tour Tournaments
Major Qualifications: US Junior Championship, US Amateur (3 times), US Open (2 times), US Senior Open, 4 State Amateurs (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana), Washington State Junior (2 times), National Skins Game Regional Qualifier, US Amateur 4th Place Medal
Other Notable Honors: Medalist in multiple US Open, US Amateur, and US Senior Open Qualifiers, Runner-up in Met PGA and New York State Open
Hall of Fame Inductions: Miami Sports Hall of Fame, Metropolitan PGA Hall of Fame, South Florida PGA Hall of Fame, World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame, Northwest Hall of Fame (playing record)
DR. GARY GRAY
Chief Executive Officer | Chief Content Creator
Gray Institute
https://grayinstitute.com/
Dr. Gary Gray PT, FAFS received his initial education as a physical therapist in the mid-1970s. He immediately pursued additional training as an athletic trainer, personal trainer, and as a strength and conditioning coach. Realizing the common thread of creating transformational environments to enhance the lives of others being the science of movement, he developed the discipline of Applied Functional Science®. With his ongoing passion and mission of learning and sharing more, and with the goal of educating, empowering, and encouraging others through an appreciation of the wonderfully and fearfully made human body, Dr. Gray established the Gray Institute. Gary has been married to his 7th grade sweetheart (Cindi) since 1976 and has been blessed with two sons and daughter-in-loves (Brad and Shallon, Doug and Valerie) and six grandchildren (Denyon, Aryah, Calyx, Zion, Xyler, and Lawson).
MIKE MALASKA, PGA
President
Malaska International and Malaskagolf
https://malaskagolf.com/
2022 Golf Digest Legends of golf Instruction
GRAA Growth of the Game Teachers from its inception until Present. Know Emeritus Status