The
introduction given for Andrée Martin by
SMWGA member Cindy Choate when Andree was
inducted into the Maine Golf Hall of Fame.
Click Here to Contact
Andree or call 336.399.4334
I
met Andree, that’s Andree with two ee s, when as
a high school student, she competed in SMWGA
tournaments. She was talented and focused with
an even temperament. She would laugh off a bad
shot and move on with a shrug of her shoulders.
She went off to college in Florida and I lost
touch with her.
Imagine my surprise at reading her name in a
national women’s golf magazine. It had to be the
same Andree with two ee s. She was being honored
as one of 50 top women instructors in the
country…..an honor which she has repeated four
times. We reconnected a year ago when she
returned to Maine for a summer Guest teaching
job at Prouts Neck.
Andree approached me with the idea of offering a
golf clinic for women and girls to raise money
for the SMWGA Scholarship Fund. The clinic would
be staffed with female pros many of whom had
started golf competing in Maine. Andree was
determined to give back in her home state where
she had been “encouraged to play the game and
realize a dream that a young woman could succeed
in the golf industry”. I was impressed with her
“can do” attitude and excitement about the
coordinating the event. Andree has given her
time and contagious enthusiasm to make the dream
a reality. In two years the clinic has taught
175 women and has provided scholarships to ten
college students.
Andree has compiled an impressive resume in the
golf industry during the past 20 years. I’d like
to mention a few highlights which may not have
reached Maine. She began her career as Assistant
to Ping Golf Chairman John Solheim, then moved
on to the Achusnet Company in the position of
Marketing Administrator for the Titleist brand.
She is well known for her dedication to junior
golf, her teaching skills and business sense.
This reputation evolved when in 1989, as
Executive Director of the fledgling LPGA Urban
Junior Golf Program in Los Angeles, she designed
and operated a program which involved over 500
inner city children. Her goal was to teach a
community how to help children to reach goals
beyond their wildest dreams and to come back and
teach the next generation how to do the same.
Having been told that her program model was too
expansive, Andree found a way to make it happen.
Her determination caused her to ignore her own
safety during the Rodney King riots in South
Central LA. Once getting police approval, she
drove through the riot torn area to pick up
children and take them away to play golf. Andree
stayed in contact with parents by phone. They
were amazed that she was willing to go into
their community under those circumstances to
help their kids. As a result of her dedication,
the program doubled in size and “volunteers came
out of the woodwork” to participate. The model
has expanded to 4 other cities. Andree ranks the
program as her proudest accomplishment. Don’t
tell Andree that something can’t be done, she
will find a way to make it happen. She was
awarded a commendation by the City of Los
Angeles for her work.
In 1995 Andree moved to Denver, CO to develop
the “Everyone Can Play” program for Denver
Junior Golf. A journalist remarked, “Wherever
Andree Martin goes, junior golf flourishes”. She
was awarded the Golf Digest Junior Golf
Development award twice, in 1993 and 1996.
While junior golf has been a special interest,
Andree has worked with students of all ages and
abilities during her 11 years as Director of
Instruction at Holly Ridge Golf Links in NC and
this summer at The Promontory Club in Park City,
Utah. Additionally, she has conducted schools
and clinics across the country. One of Andree’s
students wrote me a description of a lesson with
Andree. A former tennis player, the student
asked Andree to straighten out her swing as she
kept fading the ball. The student said in
frustration, “I sure wish this was just a
topspin forehand”! Andree thought a moment, then
placed a ball down by the woman’s left foot and
told her that the ball represented a tree. She
instructed the student to hit a “topspin
forehand around the tree”. Mission accomplished.
Andree has been recognized for her work in The
New York Times, USA Today, on ABC News, and CNN.
We are very fortunate to have this Maine native
representing us throughout the country and
amongst us. While she has lost a bit of her
Maine speak, listening carefully, I have heard
her say, It’s y’alls turn to hit, but also, “I
found YAW ball” ! You can take a woman out of
Maine BUT you can’t take Maine out of a woman!
Andree, it is my pleasure and my HONOR to
present you for induction into the Maine Golf
Hall of Fame.
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