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Dallas Green: An Inspiring Role Model

By Beaux Yenchik, UGA Intern

What do Earl Woods and Mike Thomas – along with so many other dads – have to do with Lakeside Golf Course’s Assistant Pro? Well, each has been and continues to be an inspiring role model in their children’s lives.

For many of us, our dads or individuals of the same caliber have played the role of coach, inspiring mentor, hero, personal confidant, etc. They taught us how to use a hammer, do our times tables, and swing a golf club. They are the type of person, whether we are female or male, that many of us inspire to be when we get older.

This is exactly what Dallas Green has done and will continue to do for his two children on and off the course.  

“You hear about Justin Thomas and how he lived at the golf course [because] his dad was a golf pro,” Green said. “I hope for that. I really look forward to being more on the golf course with my son and my daughter. I wish she was a little more enthusiastic about it. I know my son will be.”

Green, as a kid, was occasionally taken to the golf course by his dad. In the beginning, it was merely a way to spend quality time with each other – having yet to be sold on the idea of the sport he would later turn into a profession. As time passed and the more he played, Green began to develop a subtle liking for the game of golf.

Yet, nothing was more important to him as a teenager than basketball. It was his life and he was determined to make it to the NBA. As a key contributor on Woods Cross’ basketball team, he fought to make it to the next level but was unsuccessful.

Not letting his dashed hopes of being a professional basketball player get him down, Green then turned to golf – something he had let sit on the back burner.

Having worked at Eaglewood Golf Course during his high school years and even into his college days, Green developed a liking for competition when he would tee it up with his coworkers. Though he didn’t seriously believe he was good enough at the sport until after he finished high school, the drive to beat his colleagues was enough to keep him coming back.

Tired of getting spanked, Green would spend his entire day at the course – working on the maintenance crew or in the prop shop in the morning and then hitting the range or course in the afternoon. He improved so quickly at the game, due to all his hard work and dedication, that he broke into the 60s just a year or two after getting serious about golf.

“Every summer, I would come back and work at the golf course,” Green stated. “In about two and a half years, I was a scratch golfer and that is when I was like 'I can do this for a living.'”

Prior to his greatest golfing achievement, Green knew he wanted to have a career in golf when he shot even par in a club championship at Eaglewood GC. He proved to himself that he could do this if he was willing to put in the time and mental effort toward becoming a full-fledged PGA Professional.

Yet, it was his dad that truly solidified this decision. While out golfing one day, the two enjoyed a sincere heart-to-heart conversation. Terry Green told his son he could do it and that he would be successful in this line of work.

That was all Dallas Green needed to hear.

When he started in the profession, teaching was a drag. He was, in his mind, spending hours outside watching some golfers progress at the speed of a snail.

Not exactly what Green had envisioned. 

Yet, the more Green did it, the more people would tell him what a good teacher he was. And, after a while, the constant, positive feedback was changing Green’s outlook on being a teaching professional and his impact on people’s games. (Just as a lot of other things in life, when we are constantly being told we are good at something, we begin to believe it and it starts to boost our ego.)

Now, Green’s favorite part of the job is teaching, especially kids. As someone who has had to work exceptionally hard to get to where he is at now, Green enjoys the opportunity to help people through the same process. Though he teaches all ages, Green said he particularly enjoys seeing the light bulb go off when a kid finally succeeds at some aspect within their golf game.

“When things start to click, you can just see it on their face,” Green said emphatically. “They definitely see more joy out of it and are more willing to learn.” 

A key point of philosophy that Green firmly believes in is the idea that hard work is tough, but it reaps rewards. If someone wants something, I mean truly wants something, then they must go out and earn it. Not much in golf is given to you purely based on raw talent. Succeeding at the game of golf requires hours of hard work, not just tons of prayers.

Mike Tyce, a student of Green’s, is the perfect example of the said philosophy. Tyce, when he started taking lessons from Green, was a 15 handicap. With a goal of making it to the Champions Tour, Green has helped Tyce progress to a 2 handicap within a short period of time and sees him trending upward toward his goal.

Just as Green encourages and works on goals with his students, he too has placed goals in front of him that will greatly reward him and his family. For example, one day, Green has a deep desire to become a head professional or director of golf. (Green is in the middle of stage one of his PGA Professional training.)

With this specific goal in mind, Green works hard toward achieving it. Green even plans to finish his bachelor’s degree in business – something he started a few years ago at BYU and Utah Valley University – as a means to help achieve this greater goal. 

Green said: “Could I be happy if I was an assistant pro for the rest of my life? Yeah, I could be. Do I want more? Yeah, absolutely.”

Outside of the office, Green loves spending most of his time with his wife, Rainey, and their two kids. They enjoy going to Lagoon Amusement Park, swimming and gymnastics meets for their daughter. Occasionally, you may find the family on the course together, even if Mrs. Green doesn’t fancy the game.

Green will be coaching the boy’s sophomore basketball team at Farmington High School this coming winter and will oversee the youth program at the school. (More evidence for the fatherly impact Green desires to have on kids.)

Dallas Green, we thank you for your desire to help and inspire others, especially tomorrow’s generation. Good luck!