Arizona Biltmore Golf Club is proud to announce that the club’s director of golf instruction, Tina Tombs, has received the 2014 LPGA National Teacher of the Year Award from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) Membership.

Established in 1958, the LPGA National Teacher of the Year Award annually recognizes a female golf professional who has most exemplified her profession during the year. Candidates must be a master level LPGA Certified Teaching Professional primarily engaged in teaching golf and making significant contributions to the game. Winners are selected by the LPGA T&CP Membership’s executive committee from a pool of sectional award winners across five regions. Tombs received the LPGA Central Section Teacher of the Year Award earlier this year.

As Director of Golf Instruction since 2001, Tombs has developed a premier teaching program at Arizona Biltmore Golf Club for golfers of all ages and skill levels. Using advanced golf curriculum and teaching techniques, she provides customized programs for juniors, women, amateurs, professionals, corporate clinics and more. In 2014, she introduced a state-of-the-art mobile canopy system with two teaching bays.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the LPGA with this prestigious award,” said Tombs. “Through sharing my experiences and expertise with others, I hope to provide the same mentorship and support to my students that I received throughout my career with the LPGA.”

Tombs has long been dedicated to improving the professional landscape for women golfers. As a professional who toured with two daughters, she is one of the founders of the Smucker’s LPGA Child Development Center, which provides free day care services for traveling families. Established in 1993, the program enables mothers to continue their golf careers while touring with children.

Tombs began golfing at age 14 and has competed internationally for more than 35 years. She began her 17-year career with the LPGA Tour in 1988, winning the LPGA Jamie Farr Classic in 1990 and played a career-best round of 64 at the Sara Lee Classic in 1993. Among her many accomplishments is being recognized as a “Top Ten Amateur Golfer” by Golf Digest in 1984. She played collegiate golf at Arizona State University where she became a Western Athletic Conference champion, a two-time NCAA All-American and a three-time member of Regional PAC-10 All Conference teams. Tombs was inducted into the Arizona State University Hall of Fame in 2006.