DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., September 18, 2015 — Dana Rader, a Master Professional member of the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals, joins an elite group of her peers as a recipient of the 2015 Ellen Griffin Rolex Award.
The Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, instituted by the LPGA T&CP membership in 1989 to honor the late Ellen Griffin, recognizes an individual, male or female, who had made a major contribution to the teaching of golf and who emulates Griffin's spirit, love, and dedication to students, teachers, teaching skills, and the game of golf. Griffin, who passed away in 1986, was one of the best-known women's golf teaching professionals in American history.
Rader has over 35 years of golf experience, earning golf professional status in 1980. Since then, she has been a teaching professional at several golf and country clubs in North Carolina. Aside from coaching and teaching, before founding the Dana Rader School of Golf in 1987, which instructs over 17,000 students annually of all skill levels and ages, including over 500 juniors, Rader served as a Buyer and Merchandiser for Raintree Country Club and River Hills Country Club, as well as acting as the Outing Specialist where she was tasked with creating fun and unique events and tournaments for numerous charities and corporations. During her 35 years in the golf business, she has worked nearly all aspects of operations and management, but her passion has always led her back to teaching and coaching.
In addition to Rader's professional work, she also holds many renowned titles, including LPGA T&CP National Teacher of the Year in 1990, Golf Magazine Top 100 Teachers in America and an induction into the Pfeiffer University Sports Hall of Fame for golf in 1996, earned the Charlotte Business Journal Top 25 Women in Business Award in 1998, won Charlotte Business Woman of the Year in 2003, served as the First Female named to Nike Advisory Board, voted number 3 on the 2008 list of Golf Digest's Top 50 Women's Greatest Teachers in America, won the 2008 Girls Scouts Hornets' Nest Council Women of Distinction award, the NC Federation of Women Award in 2010, the GFWC of North Carolina Woman of Achievement Award in 2011, one of Mecklenburg Times 50 Most Influential Women in Charlotte, NC, in 2012, and the Nike Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Award in 2014.
Outside of golf, Rader also gave back to the community. She served on the United Way of Central Carolinas Board of Directors, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, United Way of Central Carolinas Co-Chair of Women’s Leadership, Lois Lodge Board of Directors—a nonprofit that provides housing for young expectant women, assisting them throughout the term of their pregnancies, United Way of Central Carolinas Women’s Leadership Committee, and the Nancy Lopez Golf Advisory Board.
Currently, Rader serves as the National President of the LPGA T&CP. During her term, she has served on the LPGA Board of Directors, Leadership Committee and the Nominating Committee, assisted in the revisions of the TEP program and wrote the content for the business development section, assisted in starting the education program in South Korea, was featured in the T&CP's first public service announcement for the T&CP on the Golf Channel, and helped create the T&CP's mission statement.
Past recipients of the Ellen Griffin Rolex Award are: Peggy Kirk Bell, 1989; Linda Craft, 1990; Shirley Englehorn, 1991; Harvey Penick, 1992; Goldie Bateson, 1993; Carol Clark Johnson, 1994; Joanne Winter, 1995; Ann Casey Johnstone, 1996; Dr. DeDe Owens, 1997; Shirley Spork, 1998; Betty Hicks, 1999; Gary Wiren, 2000; Penny Zavichas, 2001; Annette Thompson, 2002; Dr. Barbara B. Smith, 2003; Marjorie Burns, 2004; Pat Lange, 2005; Donna White, 2006; Betsy Cullen, 2007; Lynn Marriott, 2008; Kay McMahon, 2009; Mary Beth McGirr, 2010, Dr. Debbie Crews, 2011; Dr. Betsy Clark, 2012; Kathy Murphy, 2013, and Kerry Graham in 2014.
About Rolex
Rolex is the official timepiece of the LPGA and sponsors of many of the LPGA's annual awards, including the Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, Rolex Player of the Year and Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year awards. Rolex honors the LPGA Tour's Rolex First-Time Winners and is a supporting sponsor of the annual LPGA T&CP National Championship. At tournament sites, Rolex has a presence by providing the official time at selected tournaments and advertises in many event programs.
The Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, instituted by the LPGA T&CP membership in 1989 to honor the late Ellen Griffin, recognizes an individual, male or female, who had made a major contribution to the teaching of golf and who emulates Griffin's spirit, love, and dedication to students, teachers, teaching skills, and the game of golf. Griffin, who passed away in 1986, was one of the best-known women's golf teaching professionals in American history.
Rader has over 35 years of golf experience, earning golf professional status in 1980. Since then, she has been a teaching professional at several golf and country clubs in North Carolina. Aside from coaching and teaching, before founding the Dana Rader School of Golf in 1987, which instructs over 17,000 students annually of all skill levels and ages, including over 500 juniors, Rader served as a Buyer and Merchandiser for Raintree Country Club and River Hills Country Club, as well as acting as the Outing Specialist where she was tasked with creating fun and unique events and tournaments for numerous charities and corporations. During her 35 years in the golf business, she has worked nearly all aspects of operations and management, but her passion has always led her back to teaching and coaching.
In addition to Rader's professional work, she also holds many renowned titles, including LPGA T&CP National Teacher of the Year in 1990, Golf Magazine Top 100 Teachers in America and an induction into the Pfeiffer University Sports Hall of Fame for golf in 1996, earned the Charlotte Business Journal Top 25 Women in Business Award in 1998, won Charlotte Business Woman of the Year in 2003, served as the First Female named to Nike Advisory Board, voted number 3 on the 2008 list of Golf Digest's Top 50 Women's Greatest Teachers in America, won the 2008 Girls Scouts Hornets' Nest Council Women of Distinction award, the NC Federation of Women Award in 2010, the GFWC of North Carolina Woman of Achievement Award in 2011, one of Mecklenburg Times 50 Most Influential Women in Charlotte, NC, in 2012, and the Nike Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Award in 2014.
Outside of golf, Rader also gave back to the community. She served on the United Way of Central Carolinas Board of Directors, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, United Way of Central Carolinas Co-Chair of Women’s Leadership, Lois Lodge Board of Directors—a nonprofit that provides housing for young expectant women, assisting them throughout the term of their pregnancies, United Way of Central Carolinas Women’s Leadership Committee, and the Nancy Lopez Golf Advisory Board.
Currently, Rader serves as the National President of the LPGA T&CP. During her term, she has served on the LPGA Board of Directors, Leadership Committee and the Nominating Committee, assisted in the revisions of the TEP program and wrote the content for the business development section, assisted in starting the education program in South Korea, was featured in the T&CP's first public service announcement for the T&CP on the Golf Channel, and helped create the T&CP's mission statement.
Past recipients of the Ellen Griffin Rolex Award are: Peggy Kirk Bell, 1989; Linda Craft, 1990; Shirley Englehorn, 1991; Harvey Penick, 1992; Goldie Bateson, 1993; Carol Clark Johnson, 1994; Joanne Winter, 1995; Ann Casey Johnstone, 1996; Dr. DeDe Owens, 1997; Shirley Spork, 1998; Betty Hicks, 1999; Gary Wiren, 2000; Penny Zavichas, 2001; Annette Thompson, 2002; Dr. Barbara B. Smith, 2003; Marjorie Burns, 2004; Pat Lange, 2005; Donna White, 2006; Betsy Cullen, 2007; Lynn Marriott, 2008; Kay McMahon, 2009; Mary Beth McGirr, 2010, Dr. Debbie Crews, 2011; Dr. Betsy Clark, 2012; Kathy Murphy, 2013, and Kerry Graham in 2014.
About Rolex
Rolex is the official timepiece of the LPGA and sponsors of many of the LPGA's annual awards, including the Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, Rolex Player of the Year and Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year awards. Rolex honors the LPGA Tour's Rolex First-Time Winners and is a supporting sponsor of the annual LPGA T&CP National Championship. At tournament sites, Rolex has a presence by providing the official time at selected tournaments and advertises in many event programs.
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