TMP Reports
Posted: Thursday, February 4, 2010 3:32 pm

Vikki Vanderpool receives the PGA Junior Golf Leader Award from PGA of America Jim Remy at the 2009 awards in Orlando, Fla.on Jan. 28. Photo by Montana Pritc

Vikki Vanderpool, a PGA professional and president of Approaching the Green, a golf consulting company in Murfreesboro, was named the recipient of the 2009 PGA Junior Golf Leader Award.

Vanderpool, 38, is an 11-year member of The PGA of America and is the second member of the Tennessee PGA Section to be named recipient of the national PGA Junior Golf Leader Award. The award was established in 1988, recognizing the PGA Professional who is a leader in junior golf and who reflects the ideals of those who work with youth.

Vanderpool was recognized at The PGA of America Awards, Jan. 28, 2010, during the 57th PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center’s Linda W. Chapin Auditorium in Orlando, Fla.

“Our 2009 award winners reflect the best of our Association,” said PGA of America President Jim Remy. “The recipients have each left an impact upon the game long before they were designated for this past year’s accomplishments. By their example in benefiting the lives of others, working with their members and inspiring both juniors and young professionals they have made us very proud to say that PGA Professionals are experts in the game and the business of golf.”

“I am grateful for the many PGA Professionals, particularly Roy Pace [of Darien, Conn.], who have helped me in my career,” said Vanderpool. “Roy taught me how to be a PGA Professional. He and all those I have worked for gave me all the resources I needed to help juniors. I also made the commitment that if I couldn’t teach some one I would find someone who could. I am very proud and honored to be able to win this award. I called all the professionals I had worked for to thank them. I was able to have very good mentors.”

Born in Nashville, Vanderpool is the daughter of a military officer who first picked up a golf club at age 8, while her father was stationed in Guantanomo Bay, Cuba. She would go on to spend most of her youth in Virginia Beach, Va.

She attended the University of South Carolina on a golf scholarship and graduated with a degree in retailing while also competing in the Virginia State Amateur and several U.S. Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior Championships. In 1999, Vanderpool captured the Carolinas Women’s Open.

Vanderpool made three attempts to advance through LPGA Qualifying School, before accepting a position in 1992 at Fords Colony Country Club in Williamsburg, Va. During the next two years, she also served as golf coach for William & Mary College.
In 1995, Vanderpool met PGA Professional Roy Pace at Wee Burn Country Club in Darien, Conn., where she served until 1996, and also assisted Pace in his winter golf schools at Windsor Golf Club in Vero Beach, Fla.

Vanderpool accepted an assistant professional position in 1997 at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, N.Y., and also assisted PGA Professional Grant Turner in winter golf schools. Vanderpool moved to the Carolinas PGA Section in 1999, spending two seasons at Carolina Trace Country Club in Stanford, N.C.; and followed with three seasons under the guidance of legendary Peggy Kirk Bell at Pine Needles Resort in Southern Pines, N.C.
In 2003, Vanderpool began a five-year term at The Little Course at Conner Lane in Franklin, Tenn., a facility affiliated with Golf House Tennessee and owned by the Tennessee Golf Foundation.

“So many kids want to start playing golf early, and I believe that The Little Course was one of the few anywhere to begin teaching the game at age 4,” said Vanderpool. “I was able to create a lot of fun programs for juniors. I wanted to make our programs fun and a safe environment. I wanted every kid to come and have a good time. We do not ever want to give up on a kid.”

While working at The Little Course, Vanderpool met her future husband, Matthew Vanderpool, the executive director of the Tennessee Golf Association.

Among the many programs that Vanderpool has helped start include the Tennessee Girls Golf Network, featuring and advisory staff that includes coaches, PGA Professionals and college golfers; The Little Course Junior Golf Association; and the Fall Golf League, an eight-week program to encourage intermediate golfers to take their game to the next level.

Beginning this year, Vanderpool started her own consulting company, Approaching the Green, which supports women’s golf, merchandising and junior programs.