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Terrie Purdum

Growing the great game of golf, giving young, and beginner Golfers a sense of comfort on the course.

Publishing charity golf events, and giving sponsors the kick they deserve for participating in tournaments that make a difference, and change people’s lives.

Anything to support ANY Military golf events and, showing gratitude, for the men and women dedicated to serving our country.

Making golf fun, being a rebel visionary with a very traditional game, and assisting all the PGA, GCSAA, in getting the consumer educated, and being included in the ONLY regional Golf Magazine to survive in the south since 1999.

Oh, yeah, dancing in the full moon light.

Shannon Coates

Editor-in- Chief

Shannon Coates was born and raised in West Palm Beach, FL. She moved to Oviedo, FL 20 years ago.

Wife to Kenny Coates and mother of Madison Coates, she spends most of her free time watching Madi play volleyball. She has also been a member of the Oviedo Woman’s Club since 2012.

It was June 2002 when she read a “Help Wanted” ad in the newspaper and her fate was forever sealed with Terrie Purdum and the motley crew of Golf Central Magazine (Florida Golf Central Magazine at the time). Since then, it’s been rollercoaster of well-timed obscene jokes and spewing drinks through her nose with no end in sight.

In 2015 she helped Terrie launch www.turflife.club. A lifestyle brand saluting all things turf, whether you play on it, grow it, or mow it.

Shannon can be reached at Shannon@golfcentralmag.com

Melahn Cable

Melahn was born in Orlando (a true Native!), grew up in College Park, and has remained in the Central Florida area her entire life. After attending UCF for a short stint, putting her love of horses in the forefront pursuing a degree in Equine Genetics, she acquiesced to the fact that math was not her strong suite, and decided to go with her second love, graphic design. She has been a professional Graphic Designer for over 25 years.

Melahn’s interests range from horses, to photography, to quilting, and she can be seen on most weekends out and about enjoying the local music scene (and often onstage, singing with the band). Melahn is also an avid reader, and enjoys creative writing.

Greg Corbo

Prior to graduating the Golf Academy of America (Orlando, 1999), Greg met Terrie Purdum and joined Florida Golf Central Magazine where he was a welcome addition in the magazine’s first year of publishing and eventually served a role as Managing Editor. Greg’s experiences at FGCM thrusted him into a career of newspaper journalism serving as Sports Editor for The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, N.C., and The Montclair Times, Montclair, N.J. Other than straight sports reporting, his duties included photography, pagination and strong headline writing at both publications where he earned Press Association awards at each stop.

Greg is still very active in the game of golf as a professional caddie (Professional Caddies Association, 1999) serving members and guests on weekends at prestigious private clubs in the Northeast such as Lancaster Country Club, Lancaster, P.A., Essex County Country Club, West Orange, N.J., and Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N.J.

In 2008, Greg organized an annual 911 Be A Hero For Zero Memorial Caddie Walk where him and other fellow caddies walk over 20 miles with bags of clubs from West Orange N.J., into Ground Zero Manhattan to honor victims that were members of golf clubs in the greater Northern New Jersey area. Greg has lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania since August of 2010 working as a Quality Assurance Engineer for Williams Forrest – a digital product agency. Greg also keeps in touch with his passion for photojournalism by doing freelance work for sidelinechatter.com. A graduate of Lycoming College (1997) Williamsport, P.A., Greg is also the proud founder of Lycoming Lacrosse (1995).

Greg Wise

Greg is a frequent contributor to “Golf Central Magazine,” for the past 15 years.

Greg Wise is a freelance golf writer and photographer and graphic designer. He writes golf features, covers professional events, destination stories as well as equipment reviews, and clothing.

Having played golf for more than 50 years, Greg brings an interesting view to the game of golf with a low handicap and a very smooth swing. His eye for photographs of courses, help sell his philosophy that a “picture is worth a 1,000 words.” “Getting the reader in to the photo is my main goal.”

Extending his passion for golf, Greg extends his time and talents to The First Tee of Greater Ocala, serving as a Director for the past 4 year and now serving at the President of the Youth Organization.

Greg is also a member of the Golf Writers Association of America, and the International Network of Golf.
okwiseguy@gmail.com

Jay Golden

Jay Golden, PGA, has taught and coached golfers from every age group and skill level ranging from children to Tour Players. Although students differ in skill, athletic ability and personality, his goal always stayed the same: TO SHOOT LOW SCORES.

Additionally, GolfWorld Magazine coined the title of an article “Jay Golden: Golf’s True Renaissance Man” which can now be seen on the Golf Digest website. This is in relation to Golden combining his interests, hobbies and skills with this great game. His humor, art, poems, songs, articles, books, trick-shot shows, screenplays, TV appearances, cartoons, DVD’s and YouTube videos, are examples.

Golden says, “I hope to ignite an interest for you to combine YOUR interests, hobbies and skills with golf to enhance your enjoyment of the game you love.”

Joel Jackson

Joel D. Jackson, CGCS Retired: I was born and raised in Tampa, FL. Graduated with the Charter Class of the University of South Florida in 1964 with a BA and a major in Geology.

I enlisted in the U. S. Coast Guard OCS program and served as an Admin Officer at Base Miami Beach as the Operations Officer on the Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock, a 180 ft. Buoy Tender that covered the east coast of Florida from Miami to Cape Kennedy. My final post was as Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard LORAN Station on South Caicos Island.

My golf course maintenance experience began in the 1960’s working on construction and maintenance of the Apollo Beach GC near Tampa. In the early 1970’s, I worked on some projects as an assistant for golf course architect William H. Dietsch, Jr.

In 1974 I began a career at Walt Disney World, which would span 20 years. I left briefly from 1988-91 to work with Arnold Palmer as he developed the Isleworth G&CC.

I returned to Disney in 1991 as Superintendent at the Osprey Ridge GC and then the Magnolia Course. Finally in December 1997 I retired with 20 total years of service with Disney.

I had also been active in the Florida GCSA and beginning in 1990 I served as the editor of the chapter’s Florida Green magazine until 2013. In 1998 I also took on the role of Communications Director and eventually Executive Director until my retirement in 2013.

In 1998, Pat Jones asked if I would like to write for Golfdom Magazine. I accepted and have been a regular Contributing Editor ever since. In 2017, I asked current Editor-in- Chief Seth Jones if I could continue to write, but on a part-time basis.

Rick Harris

Rick Harris was born in White Plains, New York on August 25th, 1930. He moved to Jacksonville, Florida in March 1947. After graduating from high school he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in October 1948. He served during the Korean War and was discharged in October 1952. Using the G.I. Bill, he enrolled in the University of Florida in September 1953 and graduated with a business degree in August 1956. After 15 years in the insurance industry he returned on a part time basis as a student to the University of West Florida in Panama City, Florida while working as a teacher in a private school.

Rick earned two master degrees in Psychology, and Administration and Supervision. He spent 19 years as a school psychologist in Monticello and Orlando, Florida until He retired in August 1992. During that time he also worked part time as an area golf director running golf tournaments for Golfweek magazine.
Also, while in Orlando from 1979 to the present Rick started the Ventura Golf Association (VGA); served as a member and was president twice of the Amateur Golfers of Orlando (AGO); and in 1994 he started the Senior Amateur Golfers Association (SAGA). He has lived at Ventura Country Club for the past 36 years.

Rick also began working on a part time basis as a writer for the Florida Golf Central magazine in 2000 owned by publisher Terrie Purdum.

Rick has been retired for the past 25 years while working part-time as a golf director, writer, and author of a book while playing golf 1-2 times weekly. Over the years Rick has participated in and won many golf tournaments culminating in a 10th place finish out of three thousand plus golfers in the 2005 World Amateur Golf Tournament in Myrtle Beach. Currently Rick and Betty enjoy visiting with their 4 children and 9 grandchildren.

Chad Smith

Chad smith grew up in Stanton Texas, He has been involved with many sports and has had many wins under his title. He first started shooting Trap and Skeet at the age of 9. During this point in time he won four straight state championships. Chad also played Football and Basketball during high school. Chad was a first team all state football player and Basketball player. His football team won state in 1997 with an undefeated season going 16-0. He received a football scholarship at Northern State. While playing as a true freshman he injured his knee for the third time and had to end up quitting football. After this injury he rehabbed on his own and decided to join the army and served until 2007. After he got out of the army after a fractured hip and bad infection where he almost lost his left leg. He then went through a period of being lostand depressed until he found The game of Golf. The game of golf gave him the peace and purpose he had been searching for. Since rediscovering his love for the sport of golf he has become a brand ambassador for Ben Hogan golf, quantix golf, Cativa CBD, Yolked, Greens plus, Haloheadband, quantum force golf, falko golf gloves, GROOVEITBRUSH, turf life, and sunfish golf. He is also an influencer and brand ambassador for golf, health, and fitness. He is a scratch golfer and, not only enjoys playing the game of golf, but he loves to promote and help grow the game. He works with children locally teaching them the game, and sharing his love for Golf. He enjoys to travel, and is always up for a new adventure, he loves having the opportunity to meet others that love the game of golf just as much as he does. He considers his family a huge part of his success and enjoys getting to watch his kids love for golf as well. Chad Smith, golfer and golf.

Cheryl Anderson

-Teacher of the Year

-PGA of Mike Bender Golf

Bill Filson

-PGA Golf Professional of the Year

-PGA of Royal St. Cloud
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