Growing up the son of a PGA of America member, Keegan Bradley quickly acknowledges he was a bona fide range rat in his junior days and that if fortune and fortitude had not driven him onto the PGA Tour he would have followed his father, Mark, onto the teaching ground as a club professional.
“I used to go to the course with him when I was 5 or 6 years old and hit balls. As I got older I would hit the range. I just loved it,” Bradley told GolfChannel.com. “I probably would have become a PGA member if playing didn’t work out. I have a lot of respect for PGA members and what they do.”
Playing did work out for Bradley, but his club pro foundation has prompted the former PGA Championship winner to team with his father and National Car Rental to create the PGA ProAm Series, which will be announced on Tuesday at the PGA Merchandise Show.
Keegan and Mark Bradley will serve as ambassadors for the Series, which will link together 82 new and existing amateur events across the country. One of the 82 section champions will be randomly selected to receive a “VIP experience” with the Bradleys.
Just don’t expect an impromptu lesson from Keegan, who tied for 18th in his 2014 debut last week at the Humana Challenge.
“I’m a terrible teacher, but my dad is an excellent teacher. And he will be quick to give pointers,” Bradley said. “Everybody thinks that because I am a pro that I can teach and help people get better. But I have no clue what to say. I leave that to my dad.”
The Bradleys will promote the “Go Like A Pro” mobile experience, a traveling tour bus that will feature Trackman swing analysis, demo clubs and a club re-gripping service.
Mark Bradley is the director of instruction at Jackson Hole (Wyo.) Golf and Tennis Club. For Keegan, the decision to be a part of a PGA of America initiative was an easy choice.
