To be more deeply involved in or dedicated to the great game of golf than Penny Zavichas is would require two people.
Penny’s roots were set in Pueblo in 1940, age 2, when she moved from Oklahoma City. She’s embellished her great reputation as a teacher, motivator and innovator ever since as one of the more dominant members of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), on whose tour she played professionally from 1966-73.
Succinctly, Penny has gained fame as one of the most outstanding teachers of golf in the country, male or female, all the while working tirelessly for the LPGA Tournament Division as well as striving to upgrade the standards and abilities of professional golf teachers.
Penny’s involvement with the LPGA has been immense, from 1961 to the present. She served as LPGA treasurer (1973-74), on the executive board (1973-74), was LPGA National Teaching Chairman (1970-71), and served on LPGA Teaching Committees (1970-74). She’s served as TV analyst for NBC and ABC at LPGA tournaments, filmed a CBS TV series, conducted clinics for Royal Golf, and from 1979 to present is a staff member of Karsten Mfg. (Ping) for whom she conducts clinics and exhibitions.
After working in the dietary department of the Colorado State Hospital, she became an assistant professional at the Valley Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.; Eastern Hills CC in Garland, Texas; Tamarisk CC in Palm Springs, and from 1973-79 as instructor at the Golf School for Seniors in Sun City, Fla.
In 1968 she and Linda Craft founded the highly successful Craft-Zavichas Golf School in Pueblo which she has directed totally since 1991. Her charitable work for cancer, multiple sclerosis and other organizations is legend.
Penny was LPGA Teacher of the Year in 1973, inducted into the LPGA Master Professional Program in 1979, and won the LPGA Ellen Griffin Rolex Award in 2001. In 2009, Penny’s long service to the game was recognized when she was inducted into the LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals Hall of Fame.
Penny has given golf clinics and exhibitions for U.S. servicemen in Vietnam and the Far East, and organized and chaired the first LPGA Teaching Committee in 1970-71. It was then that she also initiated the idea of allowing LPGA members or apprentices to attend and receive points for the PGA Business schools.
Concisely, Penny Zavchias is world renown for her clinics, exhibitions and teaching expertise with women, men and juniors alike, and for her talent in bringing out the most of each student’s ability.
