-John

Junior Golf School History

Tom Hanna's Playing Golf Camp

Coach Hanna has worked several Junior Golf Schools and Junior Golf Camps throughout the United States. He has either directed or participated in several Junior Golf Schools in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southern United States. He also has worked with the world renowned Golf Digest’s Swings the Thing Golf School. Through conversations and interactions with thousands of Junior Golfers it became apparent to him that although most Junior Golfers had an enjoyable experience almost all indicated they wished to receive more on course instruction. This was especially prevalent among the more accomplished Golfers attending these Golf Schools.

Also, working with and observing junior golfers through his 25 years as a PGA Class "A" Professional and PGA Tour Player, it became apparent to him that most juniors, even the most successful, were placing too much emphasis on the mechanics of the game and not enough on course management. Coach Hanna stresses the same basic fundamentals of course management to his students that he does to his team. As Coach says when you come to my Golf School, "You are a part of my golf team for a week."

In 1996, Coach Hanna introduced his playing schools, limiting each camp to 18 participants. This, he felt, would allow each student several quality hours of on course instruction in the areas of shot selection, shot identification, shot execution, specialty shots, short game, and scoring as well as stressing the importance of good mechanics in the golf swing. With a faculty of several top collegiate coaches and players, and P.G.A. and L.P.G.A. professionals who play with the campers (3 students to 1 coach ratio), along with playing some of the top courses in the country, the success and popularity of the playing school has skyrocketed. Many of Coach Hanna's students have gone on to win major junior tournaments in their playing region as well as on some popular Junior Tours such as the Plantation Junior Tour, Titleist Junior Tour, and the Future Collegians Tour.