Los Alamos County Head Golf Professional Michael Phillips, far left, Dan Erickson, Parks, Recreation and Open Space Manager, and Mike Lippiatt at Friday’s Los Alamos Golf Association reception at Cottonwood on the Greens. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Long-time members of the Los Alamos Golf Association at Friday’s reception in honor of Michael Phillips. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Michael Phillips, center, is congratulated by friends Pawel and Dorota Listwan, owners of Cottonwood on the Greens restaurant during a reception there Friday evening in his honor. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Michael Phillips and Barbara Clements at Friday evening’s Los Alamos Golf Association reception held in Phillips’ honor at Cottonwood on the Greens. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
SPORTS NEWS
Los Alamos County Head Golf Professional, Michael Phillips, has been honored for the second time as a Top 50 Kids Coach by U.S. Kids Golf, the world’s leading organization in developing young golfers. Phillips, also, was honored in 2018 as a Top 50 Kids Coach.
Phillips was recognized for his achievement at a reception Friday evening at Cottonwood on the Green hosted by the Los Alamos Golf Association and will be honored at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 by the Los Alamos County Council at their regular meeting in Council Chambers at 1000 Central Avenue.
The award recognizes coaches who have excelled in developing players, fostering a positive environment, and using the best available resources to help advance their students. The Top 50 Kids Coaches of 2019 includes golf professionals from 25 states, and seven countries including Australia, Austria, Canada, England, Hong Kong, Italy and Northern Ireland. Each year, award recipients include coaches who work at public, private, resort and municipal courses.
“This is the highest distinction for youth coaches,” U.S. Kids Golf founder Dan Van Horn said. “These are the professionals that have dedicated a career to youth golf and families, and truly embody the spirit of the U.S. Kids Golf mission.”
The Top 50 Kids Coach Award has been administered by the U.S. Kids Golf Coaches Institute (a division of the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation) since 2004. This award was officially presented to Phillips Jan. 22, at a special presentation during the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.