Sloan, Alex

He has spent more than 50 years leaching golf to players of all skill levels, leaving a huge mark on golfers in the Shoals area. He went to work at Selma Country Club on Jan. 5, 1955, after receiving his discharge from the U.S. Air Force. He became the golf professional at Florence Golf and Country Club in May 1957 and quickly started a golf team at UNA. The Lions became a highly successful team over the next 15 years, including earning a spot in the NAIA golf championship. He also taught former Alabama Men's Amateur Champion Jud Stockard, He became a member of the Professsional Golfers Association of America in 1960 and became the golf professional at newly formed Turtle Point Yacht and Country Club in October 1960. He began conducting junior clinics at the club each summer. In May 1976, he was chosen Professional of the Year by the Alabama Golf Association. He was later introduced to "The Golfing Machine" teaching method and became a Dixie Section Senior champion. He ultimatety became a teacher of The Golfing Machine and provided instruction to professionals from Germany, England, Australia and the Far East, as well as professional from several southern states. He was the 1986 Teacher of the Year with the Dixie Section of the PGA. He retired from Turtle Point in April 2004 and still gives golfing lessons and plays golf where he carries a 9 handicap at age 78.