DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., September 5, 2013 – Kathy Murphy, a Master Life member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Professionals joins an elite group of her peers as a recipient of the 2013 Ellen Griffin Rolex Award.
The Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, instituted by the LPGA Professionals membership in 1989 to honor the late Ellen Griffin, recognizes an individual, male or female, who has 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.
“I think Ellen would be absolutely delighted that Kathy has received this award,” said Nancy Henderson, Chief Teaching Officer of the LPGA Professionals membership. “Kathy’s career just about parallels Griffin’s, and her love of the game and dedication to teaching and helping others would make Griffin extremely proud.”
Murphy has over 35 years of golf knowledge and experience. She joined the LPGA Professionals in 1978, starting her career as a teaching professional in Florida. She became a full-time golf educator following 10 years at The Plantation Golf & Country Club in Venice, Fla., where she held the position of Head Golf Professional and for which she received the LPGA National Professional of the Year award in 1988.
In 1991, Murphy headed north to teach at Bumble Bee Hollow Golf Center, Mechanicsburg, Pa. (owned by LPGA Hall of Fame Member, Lorraine Klippel) before moving to the Phoenix area in 1995, where she built and ran her own teaching and coaching business at the ASU Karsten Golf Course in Tempe for over 15 years.
It is during this time that Murphy became instrumental in the development of the LPGA National Education and Certification Programs. As lead instructor, she conducted over 100 education and training programs for members of the LPGA Professionals. She assembled and directed a team of instructors, challenging all to stay current in the industry, and evolved the LPGA Professionals nationally recognized -- and now with the 2012 addition of the LPGA Korean Education program, internationally recognized -- LPGA National Education program. Murphy is credited with the development, organization and implementation of much of the LPGA’s education and testing programming as well as the supporting materials for these programs that guide LPGA Professionals to become the best teachers, managerial leaders, and coaches in the industry today.
“I am so honored and excited to receive the 2013 Ellen Griffin Rolex Award,” said Murphy when notified that she had received the award. “Ellen Griffin, her dedication and ideals have been an inspiration to me since 1978 when I first became an LPGA member. As Ellen believed in the value of each of her students, I can’t help but think about the many great teachers and students I have met throughout my career and how each one has fed my desire to learn more about teaching, coaching and learning. Thank you to Rolex for supporting this award and sustaining the spirit of all golf teachers.”
Murphy recently returned to Gettysburg, Pa., and reunited with Lorraine Klippel. She is now a Golf Educator at Penn National Golf Inn & Resort as a member of the Bumble Bee Hollow Golf Academy where she conducts golf education programs and clubfitting for golfers of all skill levels, consults with NCAA golf coaches and golf educators and conducts research for personal projects. Murphy is also a Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Gettysburg (Pa.) Women’s Golf Team and a Contributing Writer/Editor for VISION54®, Scottsdale, Ariz., where she conducts research and contributes written material for education programs. Murphy will also continue to serve the LPGA as an integral part of the Research/Education Advisory Board.
Murphy is a Golf Digest Top 50 Women Teacher (2012, 2010) and a LPGA Top 50 Best Teacher. She was listed on Golf for Women magazine’s “Top 50 Teachers” in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 and as a “Top Teacher in the Southwest” by Golf Magazine and Golf Digest. In 2001 and 1997, Murphy received the Teacher of the Year Award for the Western Section of the LPGA Professionals membership. In addition, Murphy is one of only three LPGA Professionals members to have received both the LPGA National Professional of the Year Award (1988) and the LPGA National Teacher of the Year Award (2001). (LPGA Professionals Hall of Fame members, Mary Dagraedt and Peggy Kirk Bell, are the two other LPGA members to have received both LPGA National Awards. Mary Dagraedt received all three – Teacher, Coach and Professional of the Year – at various stages in her career.)
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 in 2011 and Dr. Betsy Clark in 2012.
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 Professionals National Championship. At tournament sites, Rolex has a presence by providing the official time at selected tournaments and advertises in many event programs.
About the LPGA Professionals
The LPGA Professionals membership, founded in 1959, has enjoyed an unprecedented rate of growth in recent years and boasts the largest membership of women golf professionals in the world. With more than 1,700 members, the LPGA Professionals are dedicated to the advancement of golf through teaching, coaching and managing golf facilities. Its national member programs include teaching, coaching, business management and leadership skills training and conferences, tournaments, employment services, online education and junior golf programs. LPGA Professionals members also teach and support the LPGA's various grassroots programs that are working to increase the involvement of women and youth in golf, as well as contribute to the overall growth of the sport, including LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, LPGA Tour Junior Clinics, the Front Row Experience and the LPGA Golf Clinics for Women.
The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information about the LPGA, log on to www.LPGA.com.
