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When Kathie Walsh received her plaque and cash award from the American Bridge Association in Toronto, Canada in July 2011 as the National Bridge Teacher of the Year, there were no cheers or loud hurrahs from the crowd. The other eight contenders had brought along a large contingent of family members and supporters to cheer them along to victory with the prideful assurance one of them would be chosen. But Kathie Walsh, modest, yet hopeful, was there alone.
“They each thought they were sure winners, but I stepped forward to take the prize.”
Walsh had to wait until she returned to Hilton Head Island to see her etched plaque take its place of honor directly over the director’s desk at the Hilton Head Bridge Club. It took some time for the news to spread that the Hilton Head Bridge Club’s instructor, Kathie Walsh, was the National Bridge Teacher of the year
Walsh said, “People know Hilton Head as a premier golfing and tennis destination. When I brought home the trophy as the 2011 National Bridge Teacher of the Year, they had to recognize it wasn’t just New York City or all the major California cities producing top bridge players. Hilton Head Island’s bridge players could now claim the fame they richly deserved.”
Walsh loves the game for its ability to shut out all other thoughts and activities.
She said, “Bridge is wonderful because it’s a mind challenging game. You need to focus, to concentrate, if you want to become good at the game.”
Walsh has had plenty of experience in teaching students to concentrate. Before she was a bridge teacher, she taught English classes at both the senior high and college levels in Pennsylvania.
“If you really want to learn a subject,” said Walsh, “you have to be asked to teach it. By giving bridge lessons, I found myself becoming a better bridge player.”
Walsh goes on to say she feels bridge may have bypassed an entire generation.
“My own two children don’t play the game. But I’m not going to let my four grandchildren, ages 9, 10, 11, 12, walk through their maturing years without learning bridge and all it can do to increase concentration and learning skills, and most of all, how enjoyable a game it is for your entire life.”
Walsh’s students at the Hilton Head Bridge Club have only praise for her teaching skills. Gloria Freer, one of the five directors of the Hilton Head Bridge Club, with a membership of over 500 bridge players, said, “Kathie Walsh has always done a terrific teaching job for us. She’s one of the most conscientious and motivated teachers we have ever had. The proof of this evaluation is students keep coming back to ask for further instruction from her. Personally, I find her to be one of the most charming, enthusiastic, and most effective teacher I’ve ever met.”
