JIM EMPEY SELECTED FOR 7th TIME AS RMSPGA TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Jim Empey, the PGA Director of Instruction at The Valley Club in Hailey, Idaho, has been named the 2024 Teacher of the Year by the Rocky Mountain Section PGA.  The Teacher of the Year award bestows special recognition on a Rocky Mountain Section PGA golf professional that has performed outstanding service as a golf instructor. The honoree is chosen based on his or her performance, leadership, image, promotion of the game of golf, impact on teaching and golf instruction as well as their involvement in junior activities at their facility in addition to innovative contributions to golf instruction and published articles.

This is a remarkable 7th time that Empey has won this award having previously done so in 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2015 and 2017.   He also earned the RMSPGA Player of the Year honor in 2009, 2011, and 2013 to go along with his Senior Player of the Year awards in 2012, 2013 and 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022.  Jim was elected to PGA Membership in 1987 and has spent the vast majority of his career as a teaching professional.  Now beginning his 3rd season at The Valley Club, Jim teaches and coaches mostly seniors, more than half of which are ladies.  With his newly acquired Titleist Performance Institute Level One Certification, Jim has taken this fresh perspective and collaborated with the club’s Fitness Director to create a successful program incorporating golf specific fitness to enhance their members’ upcoming season with better physical conditioning and improved swing skills.

In addition to his regular duties as a Director of Instruction, Empey has a serious soft spot for physically challenged golfers.  Because of his deep appreciation for our military and veterans,  Jim has been and continues to be an integral part of the PGA Hope Program.  “Helping Our Patriots Everywhere” is a national initiative providing golf access and education to disabled veterans.  He has also been recognized by Golf Digest as the “Best Teacher in Idaho” and Golf Magazine recognized him as one of the “Top 10 Golf Instructors in the Northwest U.S.” and as one of the “Top 400 Teachers in America”.

Jim Empey is a lifelong learner and a man who never rests on his laurels.  This award is another notch in his magnificent award belt.  Empey will formally receive his 2024 accolade during the RMSPGA Annual Meeting in May.