Player Development Program

The Player Development Program is designed to assist students in passing their Player Ability Test (PAT). Students who have not passed the PAT will be required to take part in the Player Development Program. Golf instruction for the Player Development Program is provided by Chris Rowe, Director of Golf at Whispering Pines Golf Course.

Each student's golf swing will be analyzed a minimum of twice each semester with recommendations given by a PGA professional. At the beginning of every, semester, students will be given a schedule of when their two Player Development lessons will take place. At the conclusion of each golf lesson, a practice routine will be developed to address the student's specific weaknesses. Each lesson will be documented and kept on file in the PGA Golf Management office.

About the instructor: Chris Rowe

Chris started his professional career at Dornick Hills Country Club in Ardmore, Oklahoma after playing golf for East Central Oklahoma University. After three years of apprenticeship at Dornick Hills, Chris became an assistant at the historic Colonial Country Club in Forth Worth, Texas. Ten PGA Tour events and thousands of lessons later, Chris became the Director of Golf at Whispering Pines Golf Club.

Chris was nominated to Golf Digest and Golf Magazine's Top 100 list. Chris had one student make it through all three stages of PGA Q School to earn his card for the 2005 season along with having four State Champions under his tutelage. In addition, over a dozen of Chris' students have gone on to play collegiate golf. Chris has been published in Golf Digest along with other number publications and continues to write monthly columns for Houston Links Magazine and DFW Links Magazine.

Additionally, Chris has been recognized twice by the STPGA as Teacher of the Year and most recently was named the PGA National Merchandiser of the Year (Private) for 2026.