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Sonny Skinner is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. He may also be the best golfer in Middle Georgia. He has had a great career in professional golf at many different levels. He is currently the PGA Teaching Professional at River Point Golf Club in Albany. He has had an amazing journey as a PGA and Nationwide tour player. He was recently honored as the best playing club professional in America when he received the 2007 PGA Player of the Year award.

Here are a few facts that make Sonny’s history unique. He has attended PGA Tour qualifying school twenty seven straight times. His first try came in 1982 after a stint at Shorter College in Rome, Georgia. “They couldn’t have the qualifier without me. I will be there again in 2009”, he said. He qualified for his PGA Tour card four times. “I am a good wedge player and I am very accurate out of the bunker”, Sonny explained. When asked about his weaknesses he said, “It is always very difficult to play at the highest levels if you are not a long player. You end up hitting mid irons into the greens when stronger players are hitting wedges. I have also had some injuries that have held me back. I have been sidelined with hip, knee, and elbow injuries, all on my left side.”

“I have had some great experiences out on tour. I got to play with Nick Faldo in the final round at Doral in Miami. I shot a course record 62 at the Buick Open in 1997. I played in my first major last year when I qualified for the PGA Championship. I am very blessed and thankful that I am still physically able to compete.”

Sonny played on the Nationwide tour for eleven years and still carries conditional (part time) status. Skinner is forty eight now and has his eyes on the Senior PGA Tour. He tells me, “The senior tour is a nostalgia tour. It is very difficult to break through and earn full time playing status. People want to see the big name players that were once a mainstay on the regular tour.” There are only seventy-six total spots available on tour and only six spots open for the qualifying school.

When asked who he admires on the tours, he mentions his friends Kenny Perry and Lauren Roberts. “They are both guys that are dedicated to their families and they are always giving back to communities and charities. I also admire Alan Doyle for his talent and perseverance. He has done a lot of work with the First Tee Program.”

Mr. Skinner won over $75,000 in purses playing at the club pro level in 2008. He finished second at the National Club Pro Championship at Reynolds’s Plantation. He is very much enjoying his new career as a teacher of the game. He credits amateur Wayne Cooper of Tifton for helping him to hone his playing skills. He has taken lessons from Gayle Peterson and Mike Shannon from Sea Island. They have very much influenced his teaching style. Sonny uses video analysis with his lessons and prides himself at being very deliberate and patient with his students. You can also find him playing in Middle Georgia at the PGA Central Chapter Dogfights played at different courses every Monday during the fall and winter.

Where can you get a lesson with a former PGA Tour player? Now you know. He charges sixty dollars per hour and uses video for all lessons. Give him a call at 229-206-1828. Sonny is a very down to earth person. Better players will be able to get a new perspective concerning what it takes to play on the big tour. You will be glad you called.