Timothy X. Wilkins has had an interesting and diverse career in the golf industry. Starting out as a caddie in 1964, as most pros did, at age 12 in the caddie yards of Cincinnati Country Club, playing on the University of Cincinnati’s golf team in the 1970’s before turning professional in 1974. In 1978 Tim became a Class “A” member of the PGA of America when he was promoted to the position of head golf professional at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Center, at Kings Island, Ohio.
In 1980 Tim won the Southern Ohio Sectional PGA Championship at Browns Run G.C., which qualified him for the first of his two National Club Pro Championships.
In 1992, The Ohio Special Olympics brought Tim onboard to create and promote its inaugural statewide golf program in conjunction with The Special Olympics International, which was introducing golf as an Olympic sport for their organization. During that time, he also served on the PGA of America’s National Committee for “Golf for the Disabled, as the Special Olympics golf program evolved into the amazing organization it is today.
Over his career Tim has been blessed to have learned from and been mentored by some of the PGA’s best. From the caddie ranks until becoming a golf professional Tim worked under Mr. Freeman Haywood, Jr. Who was the head golf professional at Cincinnati Country Club. For three years in the mid 70’s, as an assistant golf pro he apprenticed under Jim Ferriell, Jr., a very talented player who came off the PGA Tour and was hired as the head golf professional at Terrace Park C.C. in Cincinnati.
During his 8 years at the helm of the Jack Nicklaus Golf Center, Tim was invited, with a handful of other golf professionals under the “Nicklaus umbrella” of golf courses, to attend weeklong teaching and playing seminars in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida at Frenchman’s Creek Beach and C.C. hosted by Jack and taught by Jack Grout and Phil Rodgers in 1981. From 1982 through 1984 the in-depth seminars were taught by Phil Rodgers, and Jack was there during about half of the time as well to share his wisdom.
In the mid 1900’s Tim was again blessed to enhance his teaching knowledge and ability under the direction of one of the golf world’s most influential and knowledgeable instructors, Mr. Jimmy Ballard. What most people don’t know is that Jimmy was taught the fundamentals of the golf swing under the great Sammy Byrd. Sam was the only person to have played in a World Series MLB game and to have played in The Masters. He was quite an athlete and very few are also aware of the influence Sam had on Ben Hogan as he developed his swing mechanics.
All of Tim’s golf mentors continued to enrich his wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as his love of the game, and his love of teaching the game.
“All learning is the process of acquiring new understanding, knowledge, behaviors and skills which influence our attitudes, decisions and actions.”
Tim’s teaching “maxim” is, “SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS”.
