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PGA pro Ted Ossoff speaks at the Poland library
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Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.PGA professional Ted Ossoff of Columbiana gave a presentation about golf at the Poland library. Ossoff spoke about playing the game, handling winter layoff and he also took questions.
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Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.A small but enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Poland library to hear a presentation by local PGA professional Ted Ossoff about the game of golf.
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Neighbors | Tim Cleveland.Poland's Joe Downey was one of the people who came to the Poland library to hear PGA professional Ted Ossoff speak. Downey said he is an avid golfer with a 10 handicap and plays four to five times a week.
By TIM CLEVELAND
Area golfers got a chance to listen to a presentation on the game by local PGA professional Ted Ossoff, who spoke Sept. 16 at the Poland library in a 90-minute event called Golf, Game of a Lifetime.
Ossoff spoke about playing the game, handling winter layoff and more. He also answered questions.
“Just a day in the life of golf,” he said. “Maybe some instruction, maybe some myths. Just some informative knowledge about the game of golf.”
Ossoff has been a PGA professional for more than 30 years. He has owned and teaches at Valley Golf Club in Columbiana for 34 years. He has instructed numerous area players, with his famous pupil being LPGA professional and television broadcaster Dottie Pepper, who he worked with from 1996-2001.
Poland’s Joe Downey was one of the people who gathered to hear Ossoff speak. Downey described himself as an avid player who tees it up four to five times a week and has a 10 handicap.
“I play golf, I have an interest in golf and my wife knows this gentleman,” Downey said. “She said it’d be nice to come down and listen to his presentation.”
When asked what he was hoping to get out of Ossoff’s appearance, Downey said, “Just pick his brain some, see what he has to say.”
One of the main issues facing golf today is the decline in the number of players. Ossoff said marketing to younger people is necessary for the game to flourish.
“Golf right now faces the challenge of continuing to develop new players,” he said. “It’s down right now. People are finding other things to do. Getting people interested in golf and continue keeping the ones who are playing to continue to play is a big challenge.”
Ossoff said golf needs to offer more chances for people to try the sport in order to successfully market to the younger generation and other current non-players.
“They’re doing certain practices like today, coming to speak, give free golf lessons,” he said. “They’re trying to come up with different ways to play golf. Instead of a standard hole, they’re making a bigger hole. Instead of a nine- or 18-hole round, they’re talking three- or four-hole rounds. They’re just trying to promote the game. Through the whole industry and the PGA, which I’m a member of, it’s trying to promote it through the younger crowd, seniors, women.”