Teacher and Coach of the Year, Presented by GOLFTEC
If you spend any time on the lesson tee with Gene Powell, you quickly notice two things: an eye for detail that could rival a scientist’s, and a warmth that makes even the most self-conscious beginner feel at ease. That combination of precision and humanity is the through line in a teaching career that’s spanned decades and now earned Powell the title of 2025 Southern Ohio PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year, presented by GOLFTEC.
Powell, the Director of Instruction at Four Bridges Country Club in Mason, and a PGA Master Professional, has built one of the region’s most successful and respected coaching programs. His students range from beginners finding their first solid contact to professionals chasing championships. Yet, what defines Powell’s teaching isn’t the list of names, it’s the process. His programs, like his demeanor, are structured but adaptable, grounded in science yet guided by empathy.
He’s certified in nearly every major coaching discipline and has participated in nearly every national teaching summit the PGA of America has hosted in the last decade. That curiosity and eagerness to refine is why Gene is a valuable resource for educating the next generation of golf instructors.
Powell has taught and mentored more than 4,000 PGA Associates nationwide as part of the PGA’s Professional Golf Management University Program, presenting at universities such as Eastern Kentucky, Florida Gulf Coast, Penn State and Methodist. His teaching video, filmed more than fifteen years ago for the PGA’s education platform, is still used in PGA Associate training today.
He’s a force at his club and in the greater Cincinnati area. Since arriving at Four Bridges, Powell transformed the club’s teaching culture. Junior participation has grown tenfold, from a dozen players to over 120 juniors each summer, and the number of women’s clinic participants has surged from zero to more than fifty. He redesigned the club’s instructional programs to make learning golf a family affair, with pathways connecting youth clinics, ladies’ programs and full-family events.
His innovations also include a year-round coaching program that replaces the “quick fix” lesson model with sustained player development. Golfers enroll for twelve months of structured sessions that cover the entire spectrum of player improvement, ranging from swing mechanics to fitness evaluations. It’s a model that mirrors how elite players train and it’s yielded real results. At Four Bridges’ 2024 Member-Guest Tournament, 11 of the 12 flight winners had taken lessons from Powell or his team.
Consistency like that is only achieved through real, tangible results. It’s not just about getting better but also, and perhaps more importantly, it’s about making the game a little clearer, kinder and a lot more fun.
That’s why Gene Powell, PGA, is the 2025 Southern Ohio PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year. A title that fits not just for what he teaches, but for how he makes the game feel.