NORCROSS, Ga. (January 17, 2020) – Quincy Leonard is the Founder of Leo Golf Academy at Gateway Golf Course Montgomery, AL, and for the second time, he has received honorable mention recognition from U.S. Kids Golf, landing him on their annual Top 50 Kids Teacher Award. The Award recognizes the world’s most outstanding youth golf instructors and Coach Leonard is part of this select group who have earned honorable mention accolades among more than 500 applicants.
Leonard, 47, is an Alabama A&M University graduate and a prominent member of his community. His engaging coaching methods have brought success and a love for the game to thousands who have studied with him. In February 2018, Leonard was named as the US Kids Golf Montgomery Tour Director. Coach Leonard, through his LEO Golf Academy, has continued to offer high-level golf instruction to area youth with private lessons, group golf clinics, and local tours. Coach Leonard has over two decades of experience and has been coaching youth golf for the past 10 years. His strong industry knowledge is a benefit to boys and girls who attend his clinics.
According to Leonard, his work inspiration: “There are various reasons why I am inspired to do my work. For me it is God, family and a strong passion for helping youth develop in the game of golf. I have a strong belief system in God and even though I have faith, I also know that I have to work. The Bible states that ‘Faith without works is dead.'”
“Secondly, I was inspired by my kids playing the game of golf, which is one of the reasons I started the LEO Golf Academy. For my kids to start playing golf, a sport that I love, it motivated me to help them achieve their goals in golf and in life,” says Leonard.
“Finally, I am innately a passionate person, so whatever I set my mind to do, I am determined to get it done.” Leonard is a strong believer in affirmations and says that he teaches his children and his students things like this: “Hard work pays off”. And, “Champions don’t quit, they finish.” Along with “Having grit doesn’t mean you will always win but it’s definitely not quitting”.
In addition to his work, Coach Leonard is currently coaching students from the Montgomery Therapeutic Recreation Center (MTRC) with physical and mental disabilities and the champions have competed and won in Special Olympics Golf events.
“Being the Coach/Founder of LEO Golf Academy as well as the coach of Valiant Cross Academy High School’s golf team and teaching golf at various schools in the Montgomery Public School system, and coaching individuals with special needs, the Special Olympics gives me joy and inspiration. I enjoy seeing young people learning the game of golf and competing in this wonderful game.”
Since 2004, U.S. Kids Golf has honored the best youth golf teachers with the Top 50 Kids Teacher Award. Applicants complete an online survey and winners are chosen based on their contributions to youth golf, such as: experience young golfers; time devoted to teaching youth; innovation, creativity and fun in their programs; communication; parental involvement; use of a well-organized instruction program and overall effort to grow the game.
The Top 50 Kids Teachers of 2017 includes golf professionals from 22 states, Canada and Costa Rica. Each year, award recipients include teachers who work at public, private, resort and municipal courses.
“The teachers and coaches who win this award play an important part in our corporate mission to make the game of golf for kids,” said Dan Van Horn, President and CEO of U.S. Kids Golf. “Our goal in recognizing these youth golf coaches is to bot recognize their accomplishments and also to help parents find quality golf instruction for their kids.”
The Top 50 Kids Teacher Award is administered by the U.S. Kids Golf Coaches Institute, a division of the U.S. KidsGolf Foundation. For more information about the Top 50 Kids Teacher Award, please contact U.S. Kids Golf atplayandlearn@uskidsgolf.com.
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About U.S. Kids Golf
The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation, a Georgia non-profit recognized as a 501(c)(3) charity, was created in 2001 and provides services that include competition and instruction. The Foundation organizes over 800 tournaments each year for more than 10,000 players, ages 5-18. These tournaments include Local Tours in more than 50 cities, eight RegionalChampionships, the European Championship, and the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and Teen World Championship, 1`which are held each year in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
The vision of the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation is to provide kids and their families the opportunity to participate in the game of golf through instruction and competition. With the belief that family interaction is critical in the development of young golfers, parents are encouraged to serve as caddies for their kids during tournaments and to develop positive coaching techniques.
U.S. Kids Golf, LLC is based in Atlanta and manufactures equipment and related golf products designed for kids. It was created in 1997 when Founder/CEO Dan Van Horn found that his children were losing their interest in golf due to not having the proper equipment. In addition to more than 4,000 golf shops and retail locations in the United States, the company’s products also are available in more than 75 countries worldwide.
