Lissa Bradford’s impressive career in Tennessee golf spans five decades, beginning as a standout junior and amateur golfer. Over the past 30 years, she has devoted herself to enhancing the Tennessee Golf Foundation’s junior golf program, earning national recognition for her efforts.
Bradford has also spent 20 years as a collegiate golf coach at Belmont University and has been an active member of the Tennessee Section PGA and PGA of America. Her journey began at Harpeth Hall, where she won the TSSAA state championship in 1981. She continued her success at the University of Alabama, serving as team captain from 1984-86 and earning Southeastern Conference Academic All-American honors as a senior. Additionally, she claimed two Tennessee Women’s Amateur championships (1983, 1985) and qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1983.
After graduating, Bradford earned her PGA Class A membership in 1989, which she has maintained ever since. She started her professional career as an Assistant Golf Professional at Gleneagles Country Club in Texas, followed by positions at Dallas Country Club and Springhouse Golf Club at Opryland Hotel. In 1990, she joined Belle Meade Country Club as an Assistant Golf Professional, staying until 1995 when she transitioned to the Tennessee Golf Foundation. She currently holds the position of Senior Director of Junior Golf at Golf House Tennessee.
From 2001 to 2020, Bradford led the women’s golf team at Belmont University as head coach. Throughout her career, she has contributed to various committees and boards, such as the Growth of Game Committee for the TPGA, NCAA Women’s Golf Committee Competition Liaison, USGA Regional Associations Committee, Tennessee School for the Blind Golf Program, Special Olympics Golf rules official, and the PGA Magazine 41 Leaders Platform.
Bradford’s awards and recognitions include the 2019 PGA Kim Evans Award, the 2019 Tennessee Section PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award, induction into the 2018 Harpeth Hall Athletic Hall of Fame, the 1998 PGA National Junior Golf Leader Award, the 1997 and 1998 TPGA Junior Golf Leader Awards, and was most recently inducted into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame.
The Tennessee Section is proud to award Bradford with the 2024 Tennessee PGA Distinguished Career Award.