Char Carson has been a Ladies Professional Golf Association teaching pro at Springfield Golf Resort in Chandler since July 2018.

After a 19-year career with The A.C. Nielsen Co., where she had formed a corporate golf league, Carson moved to Arizona and attended The Golf Academy of America’s two-year program. She earned her advanced teaching certificate, learned about making clubs, repairing clubs, running tournaments, managing golf operations and was introduced to long-drive competitions.

In 2007 and 2008, she earned entry into the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship with qualifying drives of more than 300 yards.

She has long worked with Golf for Cause, a consultancy that develops strategies to accomplish goals by incorporating golf through speaking programs, book signings and custom golf events.

In 2021, Carson qualified to compete in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open.

What’s one thing you want people to know about women golf pros? LPGA teaching professionals care first and foremost about the student and design their lessons to be student-centered. The LPGA has earned a reputation as the leader in research-based golf education and has the highest standards in earning certification. The LPGA holds its members accountable to continue to learn and grow as a professional, give back and get involved.

Who are your role models, both in your personal life, and in terms of golf people known most widely? In addition to being able to learn from so many amazing LPGA and non-LPGA teaching professionals, the owners of Springfield Golf Resort, Rich Stozewski and Morgan Kimmins are my daily role models. The care they show toward the customers, the staff, the course and the game of golf is unmatched in this industry. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

Debbie Waitkus, president and founder of Golf for Cause, who grows the game through more channels that I can count, influenced my golf career early on and still does — even if she may not be aware of it.

What gives you the most joy in your business? Two things motivate me daily: Watching a golfer learn, develop and reach their goals — especially when they don’t think they can do it, and hearing that golf opened new doors for them, in either their personal or professional life.

How do you define success in your profession? Personal referrals and heartwarming stories from the answer above.

Outside of the Valley, what’s your favorite golf- or non-golf destination within Arizona? I’ve had the privilege to play golf in Sedona and Tucson. I don’t think there is a city in Arizona that doesn’t have a gem of a course to enjoy.

What inspires you? I get inspiration from so many people and avenues, but two at the forefront for teaching golf are: 1) The juniors and adults that I have the privilege of working with, inspire me to be better every day and 2) The chance to compete in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open. I believe that the preparation to compete makes me a better teacher.

The USGA introduced the Senior Women’s Open in 2018. In 2019 I qualified as an alternate, 2020 was paused like the rest of the world for COVID, in 2021 I qualified to compete, but didn’t make the cut.

In 2022, I did not qualify — wasn’t my year.

Many people think that teaching professionals play golf all of the time and sometimes confuse us with tour players Teaching professionals typically get to play more in the off-season and rarely in the prime season. (Here in Arizona, our off-season is our few blistering summer months).

Once a year, since 2019, I start to train in late May for a chance t qualify in July for the U.S. Senior Women’s Open.

Is there a great golf movie or TV episode/show, in your mind? If so, what’syour favorite? “The Greatest Game Ever Played” is one of my favorites and is full of life lessons.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org