THE BOOK (Issue 3, Fall 2022) SCPGA CA Teaching & Coaching Summit

EACHING &

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THE BOOK

Publisher Southern California PGA

Contributing Editor

Bill Hulbert, PGA, SCPGA Past President

SCPGA Editorial Staff

Bryce Seiver, SCPGA Section Staff Special Thanks to:

Jamie Mulligan, PGA of Virginia Country Club California Teaching & Coaching Summit Originator

Randy Chang, PGA of Journey at Pechanga SCPGA Teaching Committee Chairman ...and all of our partners and article contributors

© 2022 by the Southern California PGA. All rights reserved. Printed by Precision Services Group 15201 Woodlawn Ave., Tustin, Ca 92780

BRAND AMBASSADOR SAM BURNS

Robin Shelton

PGA Members and Associates,

Kaizen is a word from the Japanese language meaning continuous improvement or constant change for the better. The idea of ‘Kaizen’ is to continually make changes to create improvements, and know that these improvements can have big impact on the future. It is the idea that things, systems, cultures, processes – anything - can always be made better.

There is no corresponding or translated word in English that is the equivalent to ‘Kaizen.’

The California Teaching and Coaching Summit, to me, represents this idea of ‘Kaizen.’ Every year this event becomes better. Every year the speaker lineup becomes better and more engaging. The presentations and topics are improved and more relevant. The keynote speaker always has engaging and entertaining stories and reflections. The Teaching Committee works hard every year to make the summit, better than previous years.

Once again in 2022, we will have a Teaching and Coaching Summit that does not just let the success or impact of a previous year define the event. The teaching committee under the leadership of Randy Chang and the influence of Jamie Mulligan have put together a ‘best in class’ event that will have a great impact.

The spirit of ‘Kaizen’ is also represented in our PGA Professionals and Associates who attend this event. You are attending this event because you want to improve; because you want to be better; and because you are committed to being a better teacher, coach, and golf professional.

I hope this year’s California Teaching and Coaching Summit will give you takeaways and applications to use to make improvements that will have a big impact on your students and for you in the future.

Welcome to the 2022 California Teaching and Coaching Summit!

All the best,

Robin Shelton, CCM, PGA Master Professional Southern California PGA, President General Manager, Newport Beach Country Club

Robin Shelton, SCPGA Section President, is an Executive leader with nearly twenty years of experience creating impactful success outcomes for Private Country Clubs. Using an extremely visible and hands on approach, he has significantly improved all Clubs in membership growth, member retention, food and beverage profitability, and EBITDA. He is passionate about all facets of Membership, leadership, and hospitalityand generating results by using a strategic approach involving culture and vision.

Robin has been in the Club business for over twenty years and currently serves at the General Manger at Newport Beach Country Club in Newport Beach, CA. A PGA Master Professional and Certified Club Manager (CCM), he is motivated and driven to lead teams to create positive uplifting outcomes for personal experiences and human relationships.

Photo Courtesy of Golf Digest

Founded in 2007, TravisMathew draws its inspiration from the culture and lifestyle of Southern California’s surf, sand, and sun. As a premier lifestyle brand, TravisMathew has created versatile, everyday apparel that seamlessly transitions from work to play. With a smart blend of performance and innovative design, each product is crafted to achieve a perfect balance between functional comfort and superior style. In other words, we make the clothes you can actually live in.

RYAN ELLIS MESSAGE FROM TravisMathew

CEO

Golf has always been an integral element of the TravisMathew identity. The brand was started by golf professionals from the PGA Tour and from the Southern California PGA Section. Over the past two years, we have continued to cultivate our golf roots. We began with a renewed investment in our PGA Tour team, highlighted by the signing of Jon Rahm and Sam Burns as TravisMathew ambassadors. Additionally, we created a golf specific product line with our Heater Series and continually collaborate with Callaway, our parent company, to develop innovative products and relationships through golf.

We’re excited to continue our relationship with the PGA and support the Southern California PGA Section, just as we have for the past 14 years. It’s our goal to give back to the sport and to the people that have given us so much. We believe that through our partnership with SCPGA we can be directly involved in growing the game, but more importantly, in addressing topics like sustainability, diversity, and inclusion.

As an aspirational brand, TravisMathew prides itself on being approachable. Anyone and everyone can look great—and feel great—in TravisMathew.

About TravisMathew

AINROFILAC

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Monday, October 17

8:00 – 8:45am Registration & Breakfast

8:45am - 9:00 Welcome

Tuesday, October 18

8:00 – 9:00am Registration & Breakfast

9:00 – 9:15am Welcome

9:oo – 10:30am Mark Blackburn, PGA 10:45am – 12:15pm Stephen Sweeney

12:15 – 1:30pm

Lunch & California Teaching Hall of Fame Induction Rick Sessinghaus, PGA, & Keith Lyford, PGA

1:45 – 3:15pm Dave Phillips, PGA

3:30 – 4:45pm Jonah Oliver

5:00-5:30pm Tech Time

5:30pm – 8:00pm

TravisMathew Cocktail Party

9:15 - 10:45am Suzy Whaley, PGA 11:00am - 12:15pm Randy Smith, PGA

12:15 – 1:00pm Lunch

1:00 - 1:15pm Jim Richerson, PGA

1:15 - 3:00pm Mark O’Meara Keynote Presentation w/ Jamie Mulligan, PGA

It takes luck and immeasurable support to enjoy and succeed in the golf business for nearly sixty years. I’ve been fortunate and blessed to have that luck and support, and I recently celebrated my Half-Century anniversary as a PGA member.

Grateful for a Lifetime in Golf

SCPGA Executive Director/CEO, Tom Addis III, PGA

My career started under my father, also a PGA Member. The journey started in 1966 at Sun Valley in La Mesa, Singing Hills, my company Medallion Golf and now, until the end of this year, the Southern California Section of the PGA. Of course, along the way many things have changed including the way and means we do business. Whether it is teaching or golf instruction (now instruction and coaching) or daily golf operations and management, we do things differently. But one thing has not changed because game improvement, developing golfers, service, and attention to detail is still what it’s all about!

Golf instruction, player development and coaching has grown and improved so much. Technology has come a long way since still and graph check cameras. We can measure anything and everything, and high-speed cameras are the norm. The foundation of knowledge available to student and teacher alike is monumental. One means of helping us improve our instruction and coaching techniques that I wish was still available today is the PGA teaching seminars and workshops that were available nationally through regional scheduling. Of course, the PGA Business Schools, where I was an instructor for seventeen years, were very hands on with golf instruction as well. The PGA even conducted playing workshops, taught by the leaders and great PGA golf professional

players in our industry. By sharing that time with other PGA professionals on the tee and on the course, we seemed to engage and learn more and more, as well as improve our methods and the golf games of many. Thankfully we have, through the leadership of Randy Chang and Jamie Mulligan, our California Teaching and Coaching Summit. It provides us with on-the-spot information and methodology from the best in the business that we can take with us and add to our foundation of learning and our methodology for coaching and instruction. That couldn’t be better.

Success in the golf shop when I started nearly sixty years ago was not that different, other than the electronic controls we now have available, than today. Knowing your customer and recognizing what they wanted and needed and providing them the opportunity to satisfy their golfing needs was paramount, as it is today. Yes, we may not have the wrist scorekeeper any longer, our Putting Pal to retrieve the golf ball from the hole or the ParPak to organize your tees and stuff on your trolley, or pull cart, but we do have alignment sticks, golf shoes that help us add distance, game improvement equipment, yardage finders, yardage apps and golf instruction apps as well. Back in the day we made notes on our scorecard or had our instructor’s list of hints on our 3x5 card with us in our pocket. Some things do change.

As I started this piece I thought, I’ve been very lucky and very blessed to have been at this for so long, especially the past seventeen years as the CEO and Executive Director for the finest Section in the PGA. I have worked with some of the finest and best golf professionals, officers, boards, leaders and staff members, including Section presidents Dave Foster, Patrick Casey, Scott Stubbs, Jason Taylor, Jeff Johnson, John McNair, Todd Keefer, Tony Letendre and Robin Shelton. And I wish Nikki Gatch the very best as she takes the Executive Director and CEO seat in January and continues to work with the great team for the SCPGA.

My mentors have been solid beginning with my dad Tom and the former owners at Singing Hills, Steve Horrell and Jerry Hollingsworth. Unforgettable is the late Pat Rielly, former Section

and PGA president who single handedly, through the PGA, made it possible for me to become a PGA member. My wife Susan is and always has been super supportive and a mentor for me, especially when the tough decisions need to be made. As well, my two sons Tom and Bryan have been rock solid with their care and support over the many years as they’ve enjoyed successful careers in golf themselves. I have been extremely fortunate in my days at Singing Hills, with the PGA and with the SCPGA, the PGA’s finest, to work side-by-side with the best professional people anywhere. I thank everyone for the opportunity, and that’s what it was and is, an opportunity, with luck and support, that will never be forgotten and always appreciated.

Thank you!

SECTION 1

The Lineup

THE LINEUP

• Master Putting Instructor

• Quintic Ball Roll Certified Instructor and Dr. Paul Hurrion Certified Putting Instructor

• Clients include Shane Lowry, Joaquin Niemann, Luke List, among others

STEPHEN SWEENEY

DAVE PHILLIPS

MARK BLACKBURN

PGA MEMBER PGA MEMBER

• Co-founder of TPI

• World-class, high performance coach

• Worked with numerous players on the worldwide professional golf tours and highly sought-after speaker and golf media contributor

• Top-100 Teacher for GOLF Magazine

• Top-50 Teacher for Golf Digest

• Worked with PGA TOUR players Jon Rahm, Hal Sutton, Tom Kite, Peter Jacobsen, Brad Faxon among others

• Alabama-N.W. Florida Section PGA Teacher of The Year in 2008, 2009 & 2010

• Finalist for The PG A National Teacher of The Year in 2010, 2011 & 2012

• Alabama-N.W. Florida Section Horton Smith Award winner in 2011

• TPI Advisory Board Member

• Golf Dig est’s Top 40 Teachers in America Under 40

• Golf Mag azine’s Top 100 Teachers in America

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• Based a t Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas

• 18-time PG A of America National Award winner and PGA America Hall of Famer

• Clien ts include Scottie Scheffler, Justin Leonard, Harrison Frazar, Kris Cox, Matt Weibring, John Rollins, Martin Flores, Colt Knost, Ryan Palmer, among others

Jonah Oliver is one of the world’s masters of elite sport and performance psychology for both individuals and organizations.

He brings mastery, curiosity and playfulness to all of his work which includes clients such as world champion race car drivers, Olympic Gold medallists, entrepreneurs and even surgeons.

Jonah currently provides:

• S trategic organization and high performance culture assessments

• Elit e performance psychology development for athletes, surgeons, entrepreneurs and corporate leaders

• Leader ship development seminars

• Ex ecutive coaching

Message From The PGA of America President

words by Jim Richerson, PGA General Manager at The Riviera Country Club

I’m excited to be participating in the California Teaching & Coaching Summit. Once again, it’s a great opportunity to learn, develop, and grow as a golf professional.

With the on-going effects of covid and the increase in golfers and families picking up the sport we are seeing many beginners and novices in the game right now. Golf can be intimidating for those new to the sport. Because unlike skiing and other sports, it

does not have a structured program on how to enter and enjoy the game.

PGA professionals are constantly looking at ways to communicate and connect with their clients, their members, and their community. Teaching and coaching the game is one of the best methods of connecting. The communication and personal interaction help build lasting relationships and create loyalty and trust.

In that regard, the PGA of America has been promoting the modern coach for several years. The modern coach is passionate, gets results, and is sought out by other golfers because of the improvement they consistently deliver.

Modern coaches possess all the “traditional skills” - how to assess a person’s game, how to set an achievable goal with a clear improvement plan, how to manage a group while achieving results, and how to speed up the learning process via coaching. But they also know that it’s important to provide results, not just time!

Coaches need to create a business model that is not just selling inventory (aka time/lesson packages). A modern teaching schedule should provide a healthy work/life balance. Adapting a user-friendly calendar will reduce burnout and help keep our great coaches in the profession longer. It can also be a key selling point for the next generation of PGA Coaches that are essential to growing the game.

Modern coaches build strong relationships with their students & athletes based on overall communication, and not just with a focus on knowledge of golf skills and techniques. As PGA Professionals, we know that relationships are at the forefront of everything that we do.

PGA Coaches are modern coaches and help deliver an outstanding experience to golfers of all levels. Finding and having a great coach and a supportive community helps keep people in the game, having fun and enjoying the physical and mental benefits that golf has to offer.

If you want to learn more about becoming a Modern Coach, go to pga.coach to get started on your journey.

Photos Courtesy of PGA of America

Rotating your entire body through impact creates efficient speed.

Setting up so that your arms move freely leads to accuracy. Loading your trail hip gives you power and consistency.

Golf School: Four Tour Moves to Make Your Own

By Top 100 Te a cher D a ve Phillips with L u ke Kerr-Dineen

SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2004, the Titleist Performance Institute has collected thousands of physical assessments from golfers at every level, along with 3D motion-capture data of elite-level and Tour players from all over the world.

I’ve spent hours upon hours studying this intel alongside my TPI cofounder Dr. Greg Rose. We’ve found that the best players consistently create space for themselves to swing freely during both their backswings and downswings. This discovery has become such a central part of my teaching that I even developed an acronym for it: SPACE, which stands for Speed, Power, Accuracy, Consistency and Eciency. Here’s how to get more of each.

1. Set up like an athlete

Creating space for your swing starts at setup. Most recreational golfers sit at a desk all day, which isn’t conducive to good golf posture. These golfers tend to slump their upper body and bend too much at their knees, which removes space before the swing has even started and shuts o key muscles in their core.

The best players hinge from their hips and push their belt buckle back. This natural, athletic setup switches on the muscles that power a good swing and creates space for your arms to hang down freely in front of your chest.

2. Load your trail hip

Check out the photo to the immediate right. Look familiar? It’s a common fault among average golfers: straightening your body while simultaneously

...push your hips away from the ball.

“load” into your trail hip and heel.

Instead of “slumping” at address...

Instead of “straightening” at the top...

lifting your arms. This automatically shifts you closer to the ball. You’ve now run out of space and your swing has just begun.

The x: As you turn to the top of your backswing, move your right glute back (as in away from the ball), so that you feel your weight shift into your right hip and into the heel of your trail foot. The picture to the right of the error, by the way, is what a powerful, loaded backswing looks like.

3.

Keep your chest down

When you fail to load your trail hip, you’ll extend early or drive your hips toward the ball. Not good. Doing this doesn’t just reduce the space between you and your Titleist, it results in the club getting stuck behind you and prevents you from turning through the shot like you should.

The easy x is to simply keep your chest pointed toward the ground as you start down from the top, with your lower body working down and back. That’s what the best players do, as it creates space for the club and your arms and hands to swing through the impact zone unimpeded.

4. Turn, don’t flip

Without space for your body to rotate or the club to move through the ball, your only option is to “release” your wrists and ip the club at impact. Goodbye, power and consistency. Focus on continuing your body turn (both shoulder and hips) as you move through the ball. Strive to keep your chest down (or at least feel like it is) and let your legs straighten. Elite players do this e ortlessly, and it allows them to retain their wrist angles. The result? Maximum energy transfer to the ball.

Dave Phillips coaches U.S. Open champ Jon Rahm, among others, and is the cofounder of the Titleist Performance Institute in Oceanside, Calif.

Swing student Short hitter High handicapper

Stephen Denton

...keep your chest down and rotate.

...rotate and straighten your front leg.

Instead of “thrusting” toward the ball...

Instead of “flipping” your wrists...

The Difficult ‘Calibration’ Drill This PGA TOUR Coach Uses With His Players

Words by Luke Kerr-Dineen / Stephen Sweeney GOLF Magazine

You’ve got a few minutes before your round, so mosey over to the putting green, drop a few balls down, and roll them across the green half-heartedly. You repeat for a few minutes before heading to the course and wondering why you’re not making more putts.

See how pros practice, and it’ll quickly become clear.

On Tuesday at the BMW Championship, putting coach Stephen Sweeney, who works with the likes of Shane Lowry and Joaquin Niemann (and who you can follow on Instagram right here), was setting up the kind of drill that would give golfers nightmares — but would work wonders for their putting. Here’s how it works.

First, Sweeney sets up a series of plastic hole markers. The first hole is situated at five feet; then it jumps to 15 feet and continues every five feet up to 40 feet. You can see the setup in the photo above.

The plastic holes range in size: The five-foot marker is the same size as a regular hole; the longest one is “about the size of a pizza”, Sweeney says. The holes get proportionally

bigger because the putt is longer, but all represent the same margin for error. You probably don’t have these same plastic holes before, but you can recreate your holes using golf tees.

The goal is simply putting to each of them. You can do it as a ladder drill (meaning you start putting to the short one then work progressively up) or simply randomize it. If your ball rolls past the plastic marker as it inevitably will, step off the distance, put the ball next to a real hole, and practice holing out.

So, if you hit your five-footer two feet past the hole, don’t just pick up your ball. Set up a twofooter at the hole and knock it in.

The drill, Sweeney says, does two things: Helps you hone-in on your distance control and dials-in your green reading.

“It’s absolutely about getting calibrated,” he says. “You’ll get feedback so you’ll be able to identify the areas where you need to improve.”

It’s not easy, because practicing like a professional golfer isn’t meant to be. But it’ll be worth it.

Double Whammy

I consider myself very lucky to coach both Nelly and Jess Korda. They’re each fierce competitors with great heads on their shoulders—a true inspiration to the next generation of female golfers. They’ve also got two of the most beautiful, efficient and technically gifted golf swings in the game today. Whenever someone asks how they can swing like Nelly or Jess, my answer is simple: The key to an effective golf swing is less is more.

By Top 100 Teacher Jamie Mulligan

“Set” Your Setup

A balanced address built around good fundamentals allows your athleticism and ability to shine Using your big muscles to start your swing creates a powerful coil—and more “oomph” at impact

A poor setup can create issues that you’ll need to account for during your swing. Nelly works hard at keeping her posture athletic, with a straight spine and her hands hanging directly under her shoulders. The ball position for her shorter clubs, like the one she’s hitting here, is in the middle of her stance.

In my opinion, Jess has the best swing in golf, which starts with her takeaway. You see me holding a club under the shaft of her club—that’s to help her engage the big muscles in her arms and torso and keep her takeaway in one piece. The big mistake? Using the smaller muscles in your wrists.

Far left: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images; All others: Michael Schwartz; Hair: Sierra Siroky; Makeup: Paulina Perez

Keep Your Center Stable

Turning around a stable center leads to consistency and eliminates the need for compensations

I’ll often place a club lightly on Nelly’s head as a way to make sure she swings around a centered base. A little movement is fine, but big slides with your hips hinders your ability to turn effectively and robs you of power (photo, far right). Coiling around a “quiet” body and into your trail hip (middle photo) limits variables that lead to inconsistent contact.

4

Shift, Then Turn

In this drill, I’ve placed a club on the ground by Jess’ front foot while “nudging” her hips toward it—and the target—with a second club at the start of her downswing. The goal of the drill is to make sure you finish with your weight over the club on the ground (and your front foot). When you do, it means that you’ve correctly rotated around your front leg and imparted a crisp strike on the ball. This drill takes the help of a friend, but it works wonders for your contact and consistency.

“Trap” Your Right Hand

Keep your right palm facing the ground as you come into impact for pure compression

Often, Nelly feels like she’s hitting a forehand with her right hand: Her right palm faces the ground as she starts down. (Most rec players have their right palm facing away from their body.) It’s a feeling that helps her “trap” her short irons, like the 9-iron she’s striping here.

Keynote Speaker MARK O’MEARA, PGA

An accomplished golfer throughout his career — a winner in the 1980s and early 1990s — Mark O’Meara finally blossomed into one season of greatness after meeting Tiger Woods. O’Meara became a mentor to Woods in Tiger’s earliest years on the PGA Tour; the two became neighbors, dinner companions, and played golf together frequently on their home course in Orlando, Fla.

And something happend to O’Meara as a result of all that Tiger time: “I learned the value of self-belief and drive from him,” O’Meara would later say. The full quote:

“I had won plenty of times before I ever met Tiger (Woods), but I learned the value of selfbelief and drive from him. He always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe I could be a major champion.”

In 1998, that self-belief and drive — and the golf game that had always been there — produced two major championships, the only ones of O’Meara’s career, at the age of 41.

O’Meara took up golf after his family moved onto a golf course in California when he was 13. He became good enough to earn a scholarship to Long Beach State University, and his collegiate career peaked when he defeated another future PGA Tour winner, John Cook, in the finals of the 1979 U.S. Amateur Championship. (Cook was another golfer became a part of the O’Meara-Woods practice group in the 1990s.)

O’Meara turned pro in 1980, made it through Q-School at end of the year, and joined the PGA Tour in 1981.

O’Meara’s best years were 1995-98, when he won twice each year. His 1998 season was previewed in 1997, with two wins on the USPGA and one on the European Tour.

And then 1998 arrived. In addition to The Masters — which O’Meara won with a finalhole birdie — and the British Open, O’Meara also won the World Match Play Championship in England, defeating Woods 1-up in the 36hole final.

He played for Team USA in the Ryder Cup five times and in the Presidents Cup twice.

O’Meara joined the Champions Tour in 2007 and posted two senior victories in 2010 and one in 2019. He was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2015.

In the early 2000s, O’Meara was frequently seen in Golf Channel advertising for the hinged swing trainer called the Medicus. In 2004, O’Meara was one of two featured pros in the VHS instructional tape sponsored by Medicus and named Top Tips from Top Pros.

O’Meara today has a golf course design business.

PROFESSIONAL WINS

PGA Tour (16)

1984 Greater Milwaukee Open 1985 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am 1985 Hawaiian Open 1989 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am 1990 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am 1990 H.E.B. Texas Open 1991 Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic 1992 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am 1995 Honda Classic 1995 Bell Canadian Open 1996 Mercedes Championships 1996 Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic 1997 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am 1997 Buick Invitational 1998 Masters Tournament 1998 British Open Championship

Champions Tour (3)

2010 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf 2010 Senior Players Championship 2019 Cologuard Classic

SECTION 2 Business Success

The Business of Teaching & Coaching

How to increase & maximize your income

Words by Randy Chang, PGA 2017 Inductee, California Teaching Hall of Fame

Whether you teach and coach at a golf course, driving range, or an indoor facility you can raise your compensation. Here are some best practices to help maximize your income.

SPECIALIZE

Find a niche in the Teaching & Coaching industry that you enjoy. Specialize in Elite players, Juniors, Women, Seniors, Beginners, Disabled or special needs players, short game, distance enhancement, club fitting, Junior league, or golf coaching.

I found a niche in the beginning of my career that nobody was doing, which provided me immediate

substantial income and has become an integral part of my current school programs. Tiny Tees focuses on kids 3-6 years of age and Junior League involves group lessons, which is the fundamental core to maximizing income.

ORGANIZE, PLAN AND COMMUNICATE

Organize multi-week sessions with a plan of improving specific parts of the game such as mechanics, short game, distance, rules, course etiquette, or playing the game. Plan your schedule according to your weekly availability and put it on a calendar. Utilize your facilities communication assets such as their website, social media and

in-house marketing/promotion to post your schedule. Communicate and negotiate with your facility the revenue and exposure benefit these programs will generate. Make sure these benefits are measurable and tracked, including range usage, new memberships, food and beverage, equipment and tournament sales.

Communication with your clients is extremely important for retention and referrals to grow and sustain your business. Establish a line of constant communication with your student through email, text, or app. The lost art of a personal phone call to see how things are going pays heavy dividends at the end of series and programs. Build your own website, which you can do for free or minimal costs. Invest in services such as TextMagic (SMS), Mailchimp (email), SwingU (business app), and V1 golf (video app) as your data base grows.

FOCUS ON GROUPS & RAISE YOUR INDIVIDUAL LESSON FEES

Do not be afraid of raising your individual lesson rates! What I have experienced in my career is that when I have raised my prices, I did not lose any business but in fact got busier. The perception to many is that when you are more expensive, you must be better. I grandfather current students at their original rates and guide new students to semiprivate or group sessions.

Here is an example of how to go about pricing yourself into your market. Do some research on the average individual lesson rates in your area. In our case in Orange County, $100 is an average rate for a 45 to 60-minute lesson.

# Students Current Rate Rate Adjustment Increase %/per hr Individual $100/hour $150/hour 50% Semi-private N/A $80 ea. $160 60% Group 3 N/A $60 ea. $180 80% Group 4+ N/A $50 ea. $200 100%

Most people getting into the game of golf like to do it with a friend or family member and will be incentivized by the savings. You should also package this pricing into a series of lessons with a plan and objective to deliver RESULTS.

DEVELOPING AND MANAGING A DYNAMIC TEAM OF GOLF COACHES

words by Eric Lohman, PGA General Manager, Monarch Beach Golf Links

If you are in a position at your club or facility to create and manage a team of instructors, the following are a few suggestions on how to support them.

Find quality teachers who are also good people. They should love the game, be passionate about teaching, and enjoy assisting others. There is no room on a team for a selfish member who won’t support their fellow instructors.

Look for instructors that as a group will fill your clientele’s needs. Depending on the size and diversity of programs at your facility, you might need multiple “specialists”. Junior golf, player development, ladies, better players, and group lessons are just a few areas that may require the right person to lead them. As you build your team it’s important to recruit accordingly.

Host semi-regular team meetings where you discuss concepts, drills, new equipment and any issue or opportunity that might arise. Share the wealth and try and make sure that your instructors work a schedule that is both advantageous to them and to your facility.

At a facility with limited resources, such as Monarch Beach Golf Links, we must make sure that we use a universal calendar to coordinate space usage and work with our course superintendent to make sure that our on-course coaching doesn’t interfere with our course maintenance.

When promoting your instructors give everyone the opportunity to promote

themselves, including instructional videos on social media like Monarch’s Monday Mulligans.

Make sure to support your instructors with the right equipment and educational opportunities. Help them attend the annual SCPGA California Teaching and Coaching Summit or any teaching seminars provided by the PGA, the SCPGA, or your Chapter. Encourage your instructors to join and support the SCPGA Teaching Committee, if possible.

Be a mentor. Make sure your instructors know they can come to you for advice. Be receptive and free with your time when they do.

Encourage your instructors to shadow more experienced instructors. Push them to finish their PGA certification if they haven’t already. There are so many resources available to study about teaching. The more we learn the better we will be.

Try and avoid “coaching over” a less experienced instructor in front of their student. Ask them first for permission to watch them and provide feedback. You never want to make your instructors feel insecure, nervous or embarrass them.

Encourage your instructors to also take lessons and work on their game. Then make them go play!!!

CHANGE YOUR BUSINESS MODEL TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE

words by Blake Jirges Director of Player Development at Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club

Did you read the recent Golf Digest Article called “The Golf Pro Crisis?” Are you an instructor, head professional, or assistant professional experiencing or nearing burnout? Do you have time for family and activities of your own? Do you want to quit the business entirely? Work-life balance should mean that you’re earning the money you deserve, spending quality time with your family, and you’re able to play the game you love.

My life includes a wife of six years, a three-yearold daughter, a two-year-old daughter (yes, 12 months apart), a mortgage, and a cute golden retriever. Currently I am the Director of Player Development at Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club, running coaching programs with highly trained golf coaches. My priority in life is my family- my wife and kids. I put them first above anything else. Depending on the week, I work roughly 35-45 hours. Over the last two years, I have doubled my income while still having more time to spend with my family. I have gone on more vacations this year and I have played over 75 rounds of golf, including 5 tournaments, which is vastly more than any other year.

However, it wasn’t always this way. I was the typical PGA Professional working 60-80 hours a week at a private facility as a 2nd Assistant, running tournaments, and coaching 10-20 hours a week. It was an absolute blast, and it didn’t feel like work. It felt like I could do it all day and had no worries about the world outside of golf. Some weeks, though, I would feel the fatigue that I know many professionals face year after year. It was draining at times, and I knew something had to change or I was going to get burned out in the industry that I absolutely love.

The PGA launched PGA.Coach and started a new training program called ADM (American Development Model) Certification. This training was the start to shaping my mind on how students learn and develop. During the process I came across the PGA Modern Coach training featuring Will Robins and the program he runs called RGX (Revolution Golf Instruction). This free education helped me understand more on how to become a modern coach. After completing the certification, I had a couple of meetings with Will reviewing my current role at my facility. After many discussions with my family, I jumped into a yearlong program with RGX that challenged me and molded me into the professional that I

am today. The goal was to triple my investment in 3 months, and I blew that number out of the water.

When transitioning from doing the one-hour private lesson model to running group sessions, specializing in on course coaching, I created programs that would give students the results they desire. I knew this would save me more time and I’d be able to coach more students on a weekly basis. Below are some programs that I run at Coto de Caza that have increased my hourly rate from $140 per hour to $250+ per hour.

Elite Golf Performance – Tournament Level Junior Golfers

• Weekly On Course Sessions

• Weekly Skills Development

• Benchmark Training Sessions

• Goal Setting

• College Support

• 16 hours of coaching

• 8 students in the program

The Biggest Loser – Adult Program

• Weekly On Course Sessions

• Weekly Purposeful Practice Sessions

• Guaranteed 20% lower index in 6 months

• 11 hours of coaching

• 8 students in the program

Today I can proudly say I have become a PGA modern coach. I have developed group coaching programs, seen amazing results from my students (16 strokes on average in a 10-week period), and have balanced my life. I can take all my girls on dates, not miss a beat within my family needs, and pay off any debt that I have. The SCPGA has been selected to pilot this RGX program, in partnership with the PGA. Eight PGA Professionals went through the training, and we saw some amazing results. If you feel the burnout coming, don’t wait for it to come crashing on you. Make a change in your life today to make tomorrow better.

SELLING THE PROCESS

Words by Jackie Riegle, PGA Director of Player Development at Monarch Beach Golf Links

I have spent most of my career either playing golf or being a saleswoman. For the past handful of years, I have immersed myself teaching the game of golf to people of various skill levels. During that time, I have applied my sales techniques to coaching and have been successful at continuing to fill up my lesson calendar. Most coaches understand the relationship between swing plane, clubface, and swing fundamentals enough to give a quality golf lesson. However, what I want to focus on here is how to build your reputation as a coach that students want to be around, come back to, and sell lessons for you.

1Practice A Way To Coach The Swing In Complete Layman Terms

Golf is complicated – it’s our job to “dumb it down” and make it easier for everyone to understand. I often ask my students to repeat back to me what I have just said in their words, that way, I know if what I am coaching is really sinking in.

2Never Assume Your Student Knows Something That Is Innate To A Coach

I often find that my students need help with simple things – like how to mark their golf ball, what clubs to bring with them on a cart path only hole, or the understanding that every putt off the putter face is a straight putt. My favorite is when I coach something I feel every golfer should know and my student tells me, “No one has ever told me that”.

Find Different Ways To Say The Same Thing

There are 3 basic ways people learn – through talking about the action, seeing you perform the action, and physically creating the action. I typically start with talking, then perform the action, and then if the student is still struggling, I physically help them with their action. I ask for feedback regarding which helped them best to understand. I also have multiple ways to explain one action as everyone digests information differently – a sales technique easily applied to coaching.

4Creating A Safe Space To Learn

Golf is hard…lessons are supposed to be fun! We laugh when a funny shot is hit, and I love to remind my students that the less seriously they take themselves and enjoy the learning journey the more fun they will have. I love to get to know my students, ask about their day and get a feel for their mental state at the start of a lesson. I am never set in my lesson structure as I have learned to adjust and adapt to my student’s mood to ensure a fun experience is had.

5Take Advantage Of PGA.com’s Booking Engine

It’s effective, holds my clients accountable for showing up for their lessons, and minimizes unnecessary communication. Plus…it’s free!

There has never been a better time to coach the game of golf. Find a facility that supports your passion and never stop learning new ways to coach the game.

SECTION 3

Excellence in Coaching

GET YOUR PLAYERS TO GIG!

words by Jamie Mulligan, PGA & Charlene Bendt, PGA

Photos Courtesy of PGA of America

One of the most frequently asked questions we get is, “What is the most important attribute to playing well that a regular golfer can copy?” We believe that there are strategies and tactics that every golfer can use and implement today to improve.

Sports, and in particular golf, challenge us on many levels. There are very tangible physical components such as the swing, the stroke, and training your body the right way. There are also the less tangible elements of managing one’s emotions with a proper mental state and mindset.

Now more than ever, with the addition of new technologies and media outlets, there is a plethora of swing advice out there We love the golf swing as much as anyone and we understand and appreciate the value of sound fundamentals and creating a repetitive and efficient swing.

Regardless of your player’s ability level - beginner, intermediate, club champion, collegiate player or aspiring or existing professional - and without ever seeing them move the club, the concepts in this article can help them play better today with the swing they already have. These ideas are based on what we see happening in the control tower of the game’s top players and are undoubtedly the most important attributes to their success.

Even if they don’t swing like a PGA or LPGA tour player, they can start thinking more like one.

Out on tour, we get to be at a lot of Pro-Am’s. Countless times business moguls and other highly successful executives will express to us that they are intimidated playing with a professional. We find it a little bit humorous that hugely successful people who spend their days making major decisions are overwhelmed to hit a little white ball that doesn’t know they are coming!

We have always used the word GIG to describe how a player understands and utilizes three major components to get comfortable and be able to execute the appropriate shots. Every player performing at the top level has their GIG wired. The weeks that our students play their best or win a tournament are the weeks that they stay in their GIG and their bubble the best.

There are three important aspects to GIG: Get your mind quiet, Implement a routine, Get rid of tension.

When you marry the three components of your GIG, you can produce ideal golf shots. While you may be familiar with some of these ideas, knowing how to put them into practice is the key to benefitting from them. You can do a lot

of reading about the mental game and find great insight, but actual implementation and practice is key. Improvement at golf requires repetition physically and even more so mentally.

Use the process below to help your players better define their GIG and to be on the way to playing better today.

GET YOUR MIND QUIET

Learning to control your thought pattern is key. While there are some incredible machines and tools that can measure brain waves and thought patterns, we believe that our players (and YOU) already have the device to do this - you don’t even have to pay for it! The less thoughts you have when playing, the more effective you are. It used to baffle us, but now it makes us smile when players tell us that they can’t even describe what they were thinking about during a tournament because their minds were so quiet! The more they picture the shot, trust it and allow it to come out of them naturally, the better they play. Quiet mind is paramount.

Practice: You Run the Sound Board

The nature of the mind is to always be thinking, analyzing, reflecting or anticipating. Learning to turn down the volume on the chatter is a learned skill. As hitting balls helps groove your swing or lifting weights strengthens muscles, practicing quieting the mind enhances your ability to do this at will. Carve out a few minutes each day to observe the dialogue in your mind. Odds are there will be a lot more noise than you realized! After taking note of the state of the mind, see if you can direct your mind toward a single point of focus, such as breathing. The goal of the exercise isn’t to be able to think about nothing; the aim is to be able to observe when your mind gets busy and loud and to be able to turn down the volume so you can get back to a more quiet and calm state.

IMPLEMENT A ROUTINE

The purpose of the routine is to control the biochemistry of your body. Thankfully, our breathing and heartbeat happen automatically. However, it’s important to recognize that we can also control these processes voluntarily and that doing so is essential to getting comfortable and ready to execute a golf shot. Ideally, and especially when competing, a player breathes through the nose, using the diaphragm muscle. It’s imperative to have a routine to control your vitals.

Practice: Incorporate a Diaphragmatic Breath into Your Pre-Shot Routine

Diaphragmatic breathing helps to manage tension, maintain energy levels, stay present, increase focus and concentration, establish and maintain rhythm and calm nerves. It can also be a reset button for the mind to help manage emotions (frustration, excitement, etc.). When you breathe slowly and deeply through your nose, it activates the vagus nerve and triggers a relaxation response from the parasympathetic nervous system.

Check that you are breathing diaphragmatically by placing one hand on your chest and one hand on your stomach, just below your lowermost ribs. When you inhale, feel the hand on your stomach rise and move outward. On the exhalation, take your time to completely release the breath as you feel your hand move back inward toward the center of the body. Ideally, the hand on the chest won’t move much at all on either the inhale or the exhale.

GET RID OF TENSION

With all that is going on in the world, one of the words we hear most is tension. This tension and stress manifests as rigidity

throughout the body. We often think back to watching John Cook, Peter Jacobsen, Curtis Strange and Mark O’Meara playing the 18th hole at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. There was a huge gallery and plenty of good golf but what stood out the most was how comfortable the club looked in their hands throughout the round.

After teaching for four decades, one of the biggest differentiators on the barometer between a beginner and a tour player is tension level. Frequently we will try to grab the golf club out of a student’s hands and it’s impossible. If I do the same with the CEO from the Pro-Am mentioned above, we have a tug of war. On the flip side, we can grab the club from any of our tour players and it nearly falls out of their hands. We believe you can’t be too light throughout the body and learning to feel and control this whether you are working, exercising, or relaxing will spill over into your golf game. It’s a phenomenal attribute to help you perform better in golf and life.

Practice: Body Scan

As it relates to golf, rigidity most often occurs in the hands, forearms, jaw and shoulders. Make a point to periodically check-in with your tension levels and grip pressure. For the full swing, this will help you sequence your swing better and maintain rhythm and tempo. Around and on the greens, it will enable you to sense and feel your wedges and putter which is vital to establishing touch. We encourage you to take your time to identify and refine your GIG. Once you do, you can use the exercises above to practice finding it and staying with it regardless of what is going on around you. The more you can be in your bubble the more comfortable you will feel on the course, the more fun you will have, and the results will follow naturally.

California Teaching & Coaching Hall of Fame

Bringing Flow to Golf

Words by Rick Sessinghaus, PsyD, PGA 2021 SCPGA Teacher of the Year

Photos Courtesy of PGA of America

My passion as a coach is to bring more “flow” to my students. Flow is that state of optimal experience when we play and feel our best. I have found that certain personalities can get into flow easier than others. They are more likely to show higher self-esteem and lower anxiety. They apply selfactualization, meaning they have a clear advantage in fully realizing the development of their talents. And they have a positive view of their lives, needing less outside recognition, because so much of what they do is already rewarding.

Individuals with flow personality also can detect and utilize a challenge-skill balance when they encounter it, including a greater ability to manage the complex balance between the play of finding the challenge and the work of building the skill. They most likely outperform non-flow prone people in any situation. They are able to enter the flow state even while doing things that many people consider boring. The flow personality lives a fully immersed life, experiencing a deep sense of purpose. The flow personality can also be described as having the following manifested traits:

• Persistent - A person with flow personality remains on course despite difficulty or conflict.

• Curious - A person with flow personality has a limitless desire to learn and discover.

• Low self -centered- When being in the flow state, the sense of self is being lost.

• Open to experience & challenges- Individuals with flow personality expand their possibilities, learn from others, adapt to new situations, and adopt new ideas, so they have a higher likelihood of taking on challenges, while playing on the edge of abilities.

• Positive - People with flow personality have a low fear of failure with a playful approach that keeps them in a positive, fearless state.

• Internally driven - People with flow personality have a high rate of performing acts for selfless reasons. They are less influenced by money, prestige, or other extrinsic factors

FLOW FOLLOWS FOCUS

Perception feedback is when we get an immediate result on how well we’re doing. Goals tells us what we’re doing, immediate feedback tells us how to do it better. If we know how to improve performance in real time, the mind doesn’t go off in search of wrong clues for betterment. I encourage each student to ask questions after each training repetition. Not critical questions like “Was that good or bad?”, but experiential questions to understand the cause and effect of their action. Become curious with the result and look for patterns of what led to the outcome. These causes could be mental, emotional, and/or technical. By being curious instead of judgmental it allows the student to remain childlike and look forward to the next opportunity, not fearful of what could happen.

When we have clear goals, our mind doesn’t have to wonder what to do next. We know what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. One set of clear goals should be long term, which provides us with

a projected vector of what is to be accomplished. Once they are set, we don’t need to focus on the finish line anymore, but focus on the immediate, the now, the present moment. Clear goals give us a focal point to act toward. We then break down those goals into intentions.

An intention to the flow is a clear and positive statement of an outcome we want to experience. This could be the intention of visualizing the next shot like an “IMAX movie”, creating what you want in a way that is fun and exciting. It is a goal, or vision, that guides our activities, thoughts, attitudes, choices and effectively drives our attention and focuses our energy on the direction of the flow. Pushing ourselves just outside our comfort zone, stretching to accomplish a set goal and working toward that goal with focus and determination expands our minds and teaches us to be creative and innovative. These skills increase the quality of both the golf we play and the life we live.

May the Flow be with You.

Creating a Mental Scorecard for Better On-Course Results

Words by Alison Curdt, PsyD, PGA, LPGA PGA Master Professional Wood Ranch Golf Club

Trust Decisions Emotions

Most golfers utilize the number of strokes they take on the golf course to assess whether they are improving, including hole-by-hole and total score. Utilizing one’s handicap index and how it is trending is another assessment. However, when focusing too much on score, or the outcome of the game, players can get bogged down with irrelevant tasks and decline in performance.

Heavy focus on score pre-or mid-round pulls the player out of the present moment and switches their mind to “outcome” thinking. Research suggests an athlete’s performance will improve when they are “process” focused. Process focus would include focusing on task relevant items pertaining to hitting a golf shot, such as components of one’s mental game. I encourage my students to switch from outcome scoring (total score when playing golf) to process scoring, or mental scoring.

Scoring your mental game is an effective way to assess how well you are taking care of things that are in your control. For example, regulating emotions when challenges arise during a round of golf will lead to improved performance. Rating your decision making and how well you commit to that decision brings a sense of awareness most golfers do not recognize.

Here is a way I suggest my students and clients keep a scorecard of their mental decision making and emotion regulations to effectively lead to lower strokes. After a round analyze how many errant shots occurred due to mental and tactical errors such as poor course playing strategy, indecisiveness and lack of commitment, or selecting the wrong strategy for the shot at hand. Learning to improve

decisions, being clear minded when flooded with emotions, and committing and trusting the choices one makes will certainly save a few shots from the outcome score.

I explain to students an example of poor course strategy is going for a par 5 in two shots yet ending up in a compromising place, causing the player to scramble to save bogey. Another example is when lack of commitment or indecisiveness in hitting the shot prevents the body from committing to the swing the golfer wants to make. Finally, I explain that selecting the wrong strategy for the shot could include hitting a sand wedge to chip on to the green when a 7-iron bump and run is a low risk and high reward selection.

Suggest to your players they create a mental scorecard and keep track of these three suggested elements: Trust, Decision Making, and Emotional Regulation. Players earn a score of 5 if they fully trusted their intended move, committed to the decision, and handled the feelings felt inside. Players earn a lower score, down to a 1 or 0, if doubt, choosing a high risk shot, or hanging on to an emotion from a previous hole, such as anger or frustration, was prevalent. In this scoring system the higher total indicates a round of golf completed with good decisions, trust, and a neutral to positive emotional state. Beginners can start with rating themselves after each hole, and elite players can go as deep as rating themselves on every shot. Players can also track other elements in their mental score card such as focus, commitment, awareness of selftalk, and confidence. Track student’s results over time and notice the strokes fall of their game.

TRUE COACHING:

5 KEYS TO USE WHEN A STUDENT IS IN CRISIS

words by Robbie Schneider Los Angeles Country Club

We’ve all had a player come to us desperate for help, with a major fault that needs fixing. The 10-handicapper who suddenly has the “horizontals”. The scratch golfer who can’t seem to line up and make a 2-or 3-foot putt. A previously competitive golfer who can’t chip onto the green from 10 yards away.

These moments pose unique coaching challenges, calling upon our entire skillset and experience, to impart meaningful improvement and lasting change. As a golf professional and avid player, I hope we instructors can re-examine our approach to extreme struggle. We should go beyond bandaid fixes and truly examine everything a student is doing mentally and physically. Furthermore, demonstrating patience and enabling our students to self-coach can prevent these instances from happening again.

Allow me to briefly explain my personal connection to this issue. Due to a unique set of circumstances in 2020, I developed a stunning case of the chipping yips. County mandates forced the

closure of our short game facility, and I was “deep in the weeds” trying to grow my understanding of wedge play and finesse wedges for the sake of instruction.

It was the perfect storm of overthinking and technical confusion that served as a bedrock for a very difficult period of golf. Add in the pressures of professional demonstration during lessons and selfimposed irrational expectations, and the vicious anxiety-ridden cycle compounded on itself. I felt a sense of impending dread over every simple chip shot, and my scoring ballooned.

While having the chipping yips was miserable, I am grateful as an instructor for the experience. I worked extensively with a support network of friends, professional experts, and coaches to calmly map and follow a corrective course. Today I can proudly report I have reached the other side. As a result, I feel immensely confident about fixing these issues with players and hope to share some helpful tips you can use on the lesson tee should a similar situation arise.

Be An Honest Mechanic

You need to look under the hood, examine the car, and talk with the owner before you start tearing out parts. Your responsibility as an instructor is to understand the unique flaws in their technique AND their mental approach before proceeding to cues and technical fixes. You should be aware of common technique issues that can exacerbate the fault, but the true underlying issue is undoubtedly “between-the-ears”. Are they too emotionally invested in their golf? What is their execution routine? Are they playing golf for themselves or attaching their ego to performance and assigning unnecessary pressure? These questions must be answered before moving into any motion cues.

3Be the Wheelman: Help Them Bust Out of Their Own Brain (Focus Externally)

Your student is trapped in their own internal prison of doubt and mechanical focus. You’re driving the van through the wall helping them escape. It is imperative that any tools or cues provided have an external focus. For example, a player with the shanks would be well served trying to hit balls in front of a 2 x 4, where the cue is simply “avoid hitting the board”. Now is not the time to discuss lead wrist flexion at P4 and P5 or early extension.

For my chipping woes, I used an Orange Whip wedge and practiced clipping a dime off the turf. I had to keep the buttons of my shirt and the grip of the club pointed at each other. For the struggling student, this is a better cue than having them “rotate their ribcage” or “keep a cup in the lead wrist”.

2Before You Teach Them To Sail, Re-Teach Them To Row The boat

When a player is in a period of serious struggle, the first step to fixing the motion begins with building confidence in more remedial tasks. From there, gradually progress in difficulty as the confidence continues to build. For example, before I could relearn how to hit a dead-handed finesse wedge with rotation, I practiced putt-chipping with a wedge, focusing exclusively on turf interaction. This relatively simple task helped me experience success that could be built upon and used to play golf as I gradually progressed in the more advanced technique.

Teach Them Unconditional Confidence: “The Mind and Self Talk Is the Dog When You Get Home” 4

When I return home from a long day at work and open the door, my Bernese Mountain Dog Aidy is excited to see me. It doesn’t matter what my mood is, or how well I’ve played golf or done my job. Her tail wags just the same. Her love and excitement is unconditional and in no way contingent on what else is going on. Your player must develop a similar steadfast sense of confidence and assuredness in the task they struggle with despite how it is progressing. This is a prerequisite to fixing the problem. In order to progress beyond struggle, the mind must learn to accept bad shots as part of the learning experience, and not as a reflection of a lack of skill or ability. Remind your player that the opposite of fear is commitment, and that commitment for their next shot does not waver based on the execution of previous shots.

Don’t Set It and Forget It!

Working with a seriously struggling golfer is more than just that one hour lesson. Set reminders to follow up with your student and remind them of their keys. Fixing these issues is not a simple fix and requires long-term support. Be their friend and cheerleader! Most of the students we work with are not tour players with a full-time practice

schedule. The weekend warrior or club player has a million different inputs every day that have nothing to do with golf, and it can be easy to forget some of the keys you have worked on. By showing interest outside of the paid hour you spend together, you’re further developing the relationship AND improving the likelihood that they fix their issue.

Coaching Different Skill Levels

words by Steve Adamiak, PGA The Legends Golf Club

We all know there is an astounding amount of information available on the golf swing. Many instructors “coin a phrase” or have a certain philosophy they hope will attract clients or subscribers. And they believe their way is the best. The truth is that many instructors have a wonderful approach to getting results, but the one constant that everyone seeks is to get their students back to a repeatable, proper impact position.

When it comes to teaching people of different skill levels the proper swing mechanics, I have a different approach with each, but with the same goal. It’s to make them understand how to get back to a consistent impact position. I typically break down the categories of players into beginners with absolutely no experience, novice players with no formal instruction, intermediate players, and advanced players.

When it comes to beginners with no experience, it’s all about educating the hands and wrists. It’s frustrating always hearing people get told to keep their head down, keep their arm straight, and try to get more under the ball as the answers to having more success in striking the ball. I always tell my beginners that the only connection between the body and the club is in the hands, so you must educate the hands and wrists first to achieve more clubface and club path control. I see beginners create poor body movement patterns right away due to not being properly educated on the hands and wrists.

Novice players with no formal instruction typically need education on swing myths versus correct fundamentals. Then we move into coordinating proper body movement with the hands and wrists. I’ll give these players 4 steps to create the proper rhythm and tempo in the swing. For example, a

player could do the correct grip as step 1, setting the club down next to the ball and finishing the setup as step 2, making the backswing as step 3, and swinging through the ball as step 4. This really allows the player to keep things simple in their mind even though multiple steps are being achieved in the process. It’s such a critical part because many students immediately feel overwhelmed when they’re not seeing positive results. This leads to just being distracted in contacting the ball instead of achieving the proper arm and body movement. I will tell people with a smirk and slight sarcastic tone that the club has a funny way of cooperating when you focus on the correct movements.

Intermediate players require more observation and information on their background. This gives me a better perspective on how to approach these students. I want to know if they’ve taken previous lessons, had success with a certain teaching method, or simply felt better with a particular ball flight. Fundamentals are always at the core of helping any student but having insight into these other layers of the individual really helps with the diagnosis and developing a game plan.

With advanced players I take the initial process for an intermediate player and expand it. I will typically watch this type of student hit different shots to a target or play a succession of holes to study their thought process, game management, and shot making ability in addition to observing general swing mechanics. I’m never too quick to judge since this player has achieved varying degrees of success but needs subtle refinements to take their game to another level.

Coaching these different skill sets creates its own distinct challenges, but we must remember that the goal is to educate each student on how to create repeatable proper impact while teaching swing mechanics. My goal is to make all students a better coach to themselves and give them the tools to achieve their own personal success.

Photo Courtesy of PGA of America

BECOMING THE ULTIMATE COMMUNICATOR

words by Brandon Bittner, PGA Director of Instructors, Golf Made Simple, Inc.

As an instructor it’s usually simple to identify what needs to be corrected in a student’s golf swing. But helping your Player to comprehend, apply, and retain what you’re asking them to learn is another story.

The Player should NOT have to adapt their communication style to match your philosophy, preferences, or golf terminology.

We have two eyes and two ears to listen and observe twice as much as we speak. Asking certain questions allows us to use our eyes and ears to gather important information. The point is to be clearly focused on understanding the golfer in front of us. Towards that end:

HAVE GENUINE INTEREST IN THEIR WORDS

“No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” Many Players we coach are successful and good at reading people. For them to trust you, show that you care by doing what may be the most important aspect of communication … being present and actively listening.

UNDERSTAND THEIR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF GOLF As coaches we have the pleasure of working with so many different personalities. I like a good steak as much as the next person, but I’m not typically getting it at Maestro’s. Understanding that my Player’s communication and expectations (of themselves and service received) outside of golf directly influences their communication and expectations inside of golf. Knowing this helps to ensure that I set and manage expectations while communicating with them at their level.

KNOW THEIR OCCUPATIONS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY PROCESS INFORMATION.

This not only helps us understand how to speak to them, but it can identify what’s holding them back. For example, a person who’s very technical and analytical is probably seeking out specific information based on how they learn. But maybe that style of learning has reached its peak. And if I recognize that, I can change how I am delivering information in a way that offers a better chance for success at that time. A highly technical player may now respond to kinesthetic learning

All of this helps my coaching immensely, by allowing me to gather as much information as possible. I can now adapt my communication style to theirs so they can apply what I’m asking them to do successfully.

I start this process by asking a simple questionWhat’s your problem? Because I want to hear their concept of their swing in their words

From there my communication can adapt to better serve my Player by using this Problem-Solving

Process throughout the day:

• What’s your problem?

• I understand your problem

• I can fix your problem

• Do you understand your problem?!

Each person learns and communicates differently. They also possess a swing that’s as unique as their fingerprint. Ask yourself- “Are you coaching golf or are you coaching a person who plays golf?”

My perspective is that coaching the person produces Golfers seeing the best results in their swings. And if I get to “Do you understand your problem” and the person does not understand… then we have a communication breakdown. It’s up to me to be a chameleon and alter my communication style to help the Player understand.

It’s becoming more common for Golfers to become over coached or bewildered by self-analysis. Many Players feel they’re in good shape, athletic, and have some understanding of their swing. But they don’t understand why they are so inconsistent.

As very few Golfers can correctly identify what’s ailing their game, in many instances what they’ve been attempting to do in their swing is the exact reason why their swing isn’t as athletic and consistent as they believe it should be.

I need to understand what they’ve been working on, so I don’t add more information to their already overloaded mind.

If I follow these rules, I will better understand the operating system controlling their golf swing and short game.

I share these rules and a problem-solving process with you because I see how working to become a better communicator has allowed my blinders to continue to open. My effectiveness in coaching Golfers to become more confident, skilled Players continues to grow. I wish nothing but the same for you.

LESSONS LEARNED

words by Gavin Witzer, PGA Owner and Operator of Gavin Witzer Golf at Tijeras Creek Golf Club

Self-reflection is essential for growth. Over the years I have learned so much about myself and how I try to help people play their best. In THE BOOK from last year’s Teaching and Coaching Summit there was a great article from coach Billy McKinney. He talked about the things he has learned over the years as a coach. With his article in mind, I decided to piggy-back with some tenets I follow when working with players who entrust me with their time and resources. Certain pitfalls, ruts, and what ifs are part of every person’s journey, and below are some things I have learned over the past 18 years coaching golf. The more we coach, the more experience we gain, and we can share with others what we’ve learned from our mistakes. This list is by no means in order, just a particular reflection of things I have learned along the way. I’ve had many great colleagues, mentors, and people in the industry help me and I hope these ideals can help you become a better coach.

Create environments that produce long term learning, not just performers on the lesson tee. We often rate our lessons on how well someone hits it right away or has an epiphany on the lesson tee. As coaches, we all want those “buy ins” but I am looking for retention and

long-term ownership. The important thing is that these skills can be replicated in an environment where it matters, on the golf course. When they “get” something and are making headway, throw a challenge at them, make them apply it, get them being more comfortable in uncomfortable situations, because that is where the real growth happens.

Get your students on the golf course. The culture within our industry is backwards. Can you think of another sport where your coach might never watch you practice, play, or compete? Golf requires us to apply what we have learned and adapt to situations with constant stressors and challenges. Be a coach and find the cracks in their process, strategy, and implementation of information, not just how they move on a lesson tee.

Say less and ask more. The quality and the quantity of the feedback is as important as when and where. If you went into a doctor’s office, would they just give you medicine without a full diagnosis? Observe their awareness of what is happening, their tendencies, their thoughts and concepts of why. Often their perception of what is happening is far from reality. You are the expert, so make sure you give them time to process and apply what you are doing.

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Take a video of yourself coaching. Have you ever watched yourself coach? This is an extremely humbling experience. Watch your manners, your body language, how you talk, what words you use. How much information did you give the player? Were you staying on topic and were you clear with your delivery? Did they understand the concepts? There is so much you can learn from watching yourself. Critiquing your performance will help you grow and enhance your coaching sessions in the future.

Coach them to understand that learning takes time and set realistic expectations. There are a lot of PhD’s and golf bio mechanists that understand exactly how the club and body should move but still cannot play a lick. It is important to understand the kinetics of the club and kinematics of the body. Making people aware of how motor learning and skill building works will aid them with the learning process (which inevitably has ups and downs). Let them know the reality of consistent golf is a 15-shot swing from their worst to best score, and the average round falling somewhere in the middle.

Check your own BS meter. Make sure if you claim something should be happening, that it is happening. In the past everything we said was just taken as fact. We now have great technology that shows exactly what happens in the great golf swings and why. Are you sure what you think is happening is in fact happening? Make sure you “measure twice and cut once.” Use technology to verify absolutes and show that the changes are influencing how the club is being delivered. Measure! Don’t guess.

Give your students a plan and make them accountable. Asking students to work on their game in a more structured manner creates a process to abide by and keeps them in check when things don’t go as planned. We all watch how people practice at the range and a lot is wasted time and just exercise. Show them a more methodical approach that will help them ensure implementation of techniques, building of skills, and how to use their time more effectively to transfer skills faster. Leave them

with more than just how to move. Build a plan and show them statistically what they would need to do in order to play the golf they are aiming for. This gives your students a realistic sense of what must happen with their skill set to reach a certain level.

If you can move better, you can play better. Knowing your students’ limitations gives them strategies to get stronger and more mobile to play better golf. Titleist Performance Institute and Golf Fitness is more at the forefront than ever in our sport. Everyone wants to hit the ball farther and play without pain. Find a partner who is a specialist and try to educate yourself in this area. Use this to help supplement your coaching. The body moves along the path of least resistance. If your students are having trouble doing something you are asking them to do, often it is a physical limitation. Making people stronger, more flexible, and more stable will keep your clients happy, healthier, and playing better golf.

Never stop learning. If you think you know it all, you probably know very little. This is called the Dunning-Kruger effect. The best in any field is always looking for ways to improve their craft. Do not discount information even if you do not agree with it. Often you will come away with something that challenges you to think differently. Read, watch, reflect, and bounce ideas off others. Shadow other coaches and constantly strive to refine what you do to represent yourself, your students, your club, and your industry at a higher level.

Teach them to love the process. Research shows that one of the biggest determining factors for success in life is GRIT. Teach your students to never give up and that they can accomplish great things and to push forward into places they never thought possible through hard work and determination. Self-belief is something that all top performers have cultivated. The ability to deal, reframe and grow with failure and setbacks is what separates the greats from the good. Fostering a growth mindset in your students will result in them playing better golf and spending more time with you.

CREATING DEEP CONNECTIONS TO THE GAME

words by Tasha Bohlig, PGA Head Golf Professional & Director of Instruction at El Caballero Country Club

We are in a unique position as PGA Professionals to examine the growth of the game that occurred during Covid. The benefit to golf is undeniable and the lessons learned in retention are ones to treasure for any era, with or without a Pandemic. We have a chance to retain new golfers while sustaining the increased appetite of existing ones. When reflecting on ways to accomplish this, one of the best ways is to create deeper and more meaningful connections to the game. Players may form connections to the learning process, to their PGA Professional, to their family and friends, or to any combination of the three. While this is especially relevant during this time of the Pandemic, these are key concepts for retention at any time.

“A Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”

- Unknown

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Deep Connections – The Learning Process

• Deep Drills – When making changes in a session we have an opportunity to connect information on a deeper level. Combine learning experiences, when possible, to target multiple ways of processing information. For example, if working on an equidistant putting stroke, you can play a metronome sound while having the golfer make putting strokes in between two tees on the ground at equal distance. This combination incorporates an auditory and visual cue while tapping into kinesthetic feels as well. By combining multiple methods to process information, you are making a deeper connection to the swing corrections.

• Bursts of Information – Neuroplasticity is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. In researching how the brain learns and forms new memories, MIT scientists in a 2015 neuroplasticity study examined synapses before and during brain activation. What they found was short bursts of information can prepare the brain for neuroplasticity. Specifically for coaches, when we introduce short bursts of new information and make quick, poignant corrections, we aide in the process of learning new skills and forming new memories. To take this a step further, generations of all ages are seeing a reduction in attention span with our reliance on technology, with the Pandemic increasing this reliance exponentially. Short bursts of information are critical in communicating our message and connecting with golfers of all age groups.

Deep Connections – The Golf Professional

• Personality Detective – Pay close attention to your student and observe more than just their swing. The cues you can pick up from their habits, their occupation, their background, and even their clothing choices, tell you a great deal about that individual. When you pay attention and note these details, you

customize that golfer’s experience and the information you give becomes significantly more personalized.

• Communication – Meet your students where they are and engage with them as they communicate. If some of your golfers consume golf mainly through social media, find ways to reach them in this medium. A direct message on Instagram might be easier for them than a traditional email, and they may be more comfortable sharing information this way. The most important part of this for retention is having consistent and open communication to keep them on track to reach their goals.

Deep Connections – Family and Friends

• Family Connections – During the Pandemic our club has installed family tees of 3,000 yards, Toptracer mobile technology, and 3 Pickleball courts. Engaging members and their families are of utmost importance in engagement and retention. When Golf Professionals expand programming and services to target the entire family, we show how valuable golf and golf facilities are to enjoyment.

• Friendships – Organize toss-up games, blind pairings, golf schools, and games with casual formats like an ABCD to help people meet and build friendships. This is especially important in the women’s game which is getting a big boost. The women’s golf industry is seeing a 16% increase in participation and even golf companies like Golf Digest and TaylorMade are targeting women in the game like never before. Helping women to build friendships in golf will create a meaningful bond to the game.

This is a very exciting time in the game where we can use the Pandemic era as a catalyst to begin deep, meaningful connections within golf. Whether it is through relationships with us as Professionals, through the learning process, or with family and friends, we can tap into these connections and build retention for years to come.

SECTION 4 Teaching the Game

CHOOSE YOUR WORDS WISELY

words by Bob Madsen, PGA Teaching Professional at Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan

SWING

In his book Five Lessons Ben Hogan states, “It is categorically impossible for anyone to play good golf without a swing that will repeat.” I agree with this, as I am sure you would as well. The problem is the term: SWING!

Long ago Bobby Jones was playing golf with his father. His father was having trouble with his ball striking. The Colonel, as he was known, asked Bobby what was wrong with his swing to which Bobby replied, “Nothing. Why don’t you use it?”

I bring up these two examples in an effort to highlight the word “swing.” Somebody (Old Tom?) chose the right English word for what we should be doing with the instrument. We should swing it. Swing is a word that should be removed from the amateur’s vocabulary. The word swing should not be bantered about. It must not be taken lightly. Let us all use it only when appropriate.

When I think of swing I think of Payne Stewart, Jack Nicklaus, Colin Montgomerie, and others like Elkington, Freddy, Annika, and the Big Easy. And TW when it’s chill. When I think of swing I think of syrupy and effortless power. I think of a to and fro motion with freedom oozing out of it. I think of kids

in swings or a hanging rope with a tire attached. I think of a pendulum and gravity.

Sadly this word has become the one we use to describe anybody’s golf motion. Let’s regroup before all is lost. A “hack” is not a swing. So don’t call it that. An off-balance attack is not a swing. An attempt to whack the ball is not a swing. Anything filled with tension/strain (seen all the time) is certainly not a swing. A hit from the top is not a swing. A scoop isn’t either.

Magically we have found that if you get students truly swinging freely with confidence, their mechanics improve. Whereas improved mechanics DO NOT always result in a beautiful, effortless, powerful, and free swing.

Your students will appreciate the distinction you make as you move them towards swinging and away from “hitting.” Note: regarding hitting, ask me sometime about hand eye coordination and how it doesn’t work in golf.

FUNDAMENTALS

While we are at it, every teacher knows the basic fundamentals. Right? Grip, stance, ball position, alignment, posture, etc. (Yawn). How about instead we try fundamentals like these on for size? Let’s help students learn about awareness, cheerfulness, commitment, confidence, creativity, fearlessness, inspiration, intuition, invincibility, kindness, studiousness, toughness, and trust, among many others.

I call them the intangibles. They are human qualities. You cannot see them. You cannot photograph them. You cannot launch monitor them. Thus, they are glossed over or disregarded in golf instruction. Bigger breakthroughs will occur when you tap into the intangibles with your learners.

As I have said many times to this audience, you are not teaching golf. You are teaching human beings.

Thank you for choosing your words more carefully and being willing to coach what you cannot see.

Photo Courtesy of PGA of America

GAMES AND FUN (GAF)

AS THE

BACKBONE

FOR JUNIOR GOLFERS - LEARNING, DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION

words by Josh Alpert, PGA Good Swings Happen/Precision Golf Centers/FlowCode Golf Academy

When we were kids, my friends and I made balls out of rolls of tape, bats out of old broom handles, and played numerous versions of stickball until our equipment fell apart. There were no referees or coaches. Magically, we were darned amazing at baseball by the time little league season rolled around. Mostly, we had a bunch of fun.

My brother and I had a nerf basketball hoop on our bedroom door and played horse, imitating our favorite players’ best moves. We played one on one in simulated NBA Finals games until the wee hours

of the morning, or until our dad had enough of the walls shaking. Although the dimensions of the court and equipment were considerably different than in “real basketball,” we still managed to learn a tremendous amount by being creative, solving conflicts, and controlling our energy levels while getting a round ball into a hoop. Mostly, we had a bunch of fun.

Our skills were honed through trial and error and the sheer volume of games played. There were days where games were low key, “hanging out”

being the centerpiece of the experience. On other days, we competed tooth and nail to the final play as if our game was a matter of life and death--the golf equivalent of playing in a major and hitting that final putt.

We were outdoors, we were active, we were creative in our game rules and relentless in our playing strategies. Games got more difficult as we improved, in order to keep our engagement and interest levels high. A good game was a close game that came down to the final shot. We celebrated the wins and lamented the losses, but my most vivid memories as a child growing up on playgrounds, courts and fields had nothing to do with victories. The scores and numbers faded, but the memories of good times and a love of the games linger to this day.

It is in this spirit that we set up summer golf camps, tournaments, leagues, and our year-round golf programs, for today’s generation of young golfers. I strongly believe that when we build technical instruction into an innovative world of game playing (and not the other way around), we engage a greater number of kids. Ironically, we also create an elite level of skillful players that accomplishes what the entire metric was about in the first place.

There is mastery in well thought-out game creation. It is a skill that will draw the attention of the player just as certain lures attract fish more than others. Coaches in today’s junior golf landscape must pay more attention to setting up the field space so that young players want to engage in the activity. There will be some young players who are

motivated by scores and results. And there will be others who simply get lost in the joy of playing the game. Both experiences are valuable, and both should be fostered. Junior golf coaches’ ability to be “game architects” and create a playful and engaging atmosphere for player participation, is in many ways as important as their ability to teach young players how to hold the handle of a club and position themselves to strike a ball.

Remember when we were kids?

It’s Never Too Early to Learn Golf!

words by Nicole Weller, PGA, LPGA Teaching Professional at Compass Pointe GC and Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina

I often have people ask how it’s possible to teach golf to children ages 2-3 and I think there are many unique and creative ways to go about it. Swimming, soccer, tennis, martial arts, basketball, gymnastics and other sports have opportunities for youngsters, as does pre-school... it’s just done in a very different way than what an adult might be used to. Some teachers are geared towards high school education while others favor kindergarten education Find your niche and the right people to help you develop opportunities in your programs, club or course.

Youngsters ages 2-3 learn mostly through observation, playing games, and with ageappropriate learning tools, not verbal instruction geared towards adults. Some say that youngsters don’t quite have the attention span for golf but remember, this isn’t adult golf, this is a fun way to introduce youngsters to the sport and offer life skills through near-golf experiences. Adult golf is different than how 2- and 3- year old’s experience golf... imagine the difference in a college classroom and one that you would see in a pre-school environment. If golf isn’t offered in some form or

fashion, it gives other sports a chance to gain their attention and I think our wonderful sport and pastime deserves just as much a chance as other sports!

As an example, I’ve included some photos of a typical setup for a 2–3-year-old full swing station (and by the way, that would be different than a 4–5-year-old station… two very different developmental ages and needs). I call them ‘Big Hits’ and I love using a specific brand of plastic club with molded grip technology before moving youngsters into another system of clubs based on height. Using safe, colorful and lightweight clubs is much safer than using heavier steel clubs or cut down adult clubs. They are easier to swing and make the learning curve much more fun, even if starting cross-handed, which is OK!

Minimize constant adult verbal corrections (such as what an adult thinks a proper grip is) but allow youngsters to explore and experiment with intermittent and guided suggestions (“What happens if you switch your grip?”). I’ve learned that not all children like their hands ripped off the club for correction at this point... let them explore what works for them right now and they have plenty of time to learn and grow. If the ball goes into the hole with a reverse grip or one-handed grip, they achieved the goal of ball-in-hole. We don’t expect 3-year-olds to pass the SATs at an early age, they need the building blocks first, so the same goes for learning a motor skill. Let kids learn through the motor skill stages (understand, acquire, maintain) and don’t rush them into becoming an adult or proficient 10-year-old as a 3-year-old! Right now, it’s about FUN to keep them coming back and again, this is near-golf experiences. Most youngsters begin cross-handed or reverse-gripped, like I did, and I turned out pretty well with a scholarship to play at Wake Forest University… the initial reverse grip didn’t hurt! Kids will find a way to hole out without our constant chatter. Some like using just one hand and raking the ball.

I’m good with all that, they will find ways to get the ball moving and falling into the hole, with all parts of the club or even their hands - many just love to squat next to the hole and drop the ball in. How fun to see the smiles and delight on their faces… I think sometimes we as adults might like the option to just drop the ball right into the hole!

Here are some other ways to provide youngsters with a fun and effective life-learning activity through golf:

• Use visual aids like poly rubber footprints on which to model, match and stand.

• Use a hula hoop or upside-down range basket in/on which they remain during any swinging time (no clubs in that circle, maybe some fun safe toys or dry erase boards to occupy them creatively if they must wait and take turns).

• Start with big lightweight balls found in ball bins at local big-box stores

• Progress to 3” pit plastic balls.

• Finally, finish with foam golf balls of standard size.

• Use oversize tees to make it easier to tee up –their fine motor skills aren’t developed yet.

• Require one adult (parent or grandparent) with each child and coach everyone on how to work with each youngster.

• Children may move in and out of activities based on interest. It’s never in their best interest to force them to participate or produce a standard adult-style concept like a grip. Allow freedom at this point, plenty of time to learn more later like grades in a school but offer other activities until they’re ready to come back into golf.

Set up a learning environment in which they have choices, are safe and free emotionally and inperson, have a mix of some guided and free-play time and love the quick-moving activities that make them not want to leave, or want to come back the next day. If you enjoy, they’ll enjoy, and it’s a winwin for all!

The Importance of a Proper Pre-lesson Assessment

Golf instructors love to talk and teach angles, data and other complex matters. This is great, but sometimes we skip a very important step, the prelesson interview. All the technology in golf won’t normally help your student if you don’t understand their needs, desires and physical profile.

A quality assessment helps set the road map for great lessons. Here are some of the items that you may consider using for your initial interview of the student. This should happen at the beginning of

the first lesson with every new student.

SPORTS HISTORY - what other sports have they played or still play. What level? Hockey and tennis players, and baseball players that hit to the opposite field, are normally easier to teach.

INJURY HISTORY- you don’t want to put a student in a position to hurt themselves. Make sure you understand if the player has had any previous injuries, and if there are any current physical issues that would affect the golf swing.

words by Jim Hartnett, PGA Teaching Professional at myhome4golf.com and at the LOR Golf Lab

Photo Courtesy

FLEXIBILITY ASSESSMENT- you should do a quick test to see what flexibility and mobility issues the player has so you can teach within the restriction. I like to have the student to try touch their elbows together in front of their chest with the palms up.

EYE DOMINANCE- this is almost as

important as knowing the player’s dominant hand. Most people don’t know their dominant eye so you should provide a test that let’s you both know the answer. Most tour players are cross-dominant while most amateurs have the same eye and hand dominance.

MINDSET- what are the fears and anxiety they have or currently suffer from playing golf. Many players are afraid of embarrassing themselves or fear they can’t improve. You need to understand how a player really feels about their golf game. Women are normally more honest about this.

GOALS- it’s embarrassing after a full swing lesson to learn the player just wanted to learn how to hit better wedges. The information gleaned from learning the players goals can set a base line. Many players have a distorted idea of their abilities, positively or negatively. Sometimes you need to be very honest with the student about their deficiencies or they will never think they have improved. If Bob thinks he hits it 280 off the tee, hits most fairways and greens, and has a great short game, but his handicap is 19, this needs to be addressed.

COMMITMENT- we need to know if this is a quick fix or a long-term project. Most players overestimate how much they practice. You need to be very clear about the changes you are making and define how many range balls or hours of practice you estimate before the player sees some improvement.

After going through the pre-lesson interview, you should be ready to have a great lesson and really help your student.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT EMPHASIS ON HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS

words by Vincent Bertagna, PGA Director of Performance at Bahama Golf in Corona, and a co-owner of GOLF24/7 and operator of his own Youth Golf Academy in Chino Hills

I have been teaching and coaching golfers of all ages for over ten years. I’ve come to realize my favorite players to work with are the high school students who are ready to take their game to the next level. Player development at this stage in a person’s game is very important. As PGA professionals we have a duty to provide a fun and coachable environment that provides positive outcomes and encourages learning.

Impactful Player Development is a process that doesn’t happen overnight. It requires the right amount of attention to detail and proper steps in

order to build a strong, lasting foundation. As coaches we can help many players achieve their short- and long-term goals in golf and in their daily lives.

Structure, patience, goal setting, and time management are just a few of the necessary tools that we must teach our students to implement. As they mature and grow each year, they will realize how to accomplish all of these, with our help. Here are the phases of coaching that I use with my high school players.

PHASE 1: ESTABLISH A CONNECTION AND FIND COMMONALITIES

For a student/player to fully trust and commit to what you are telling them they must first feel comfortable and connected. I always ask my students questions about their everyday life outside of golf. If all we talk about is golf, we won’t establish the same connection we would if I were to talk to them about video games, break dancing, skateboarding, music, movies etc. Build the connection and establish their trust first and foremost. They will get excited about coming to see you.

PHASE 2: SET GOALS WITH THEM

Now is a good time to set some basic short term and long-term goals. Teach them to be realistic when setting these goals. One of my first assignments I give my students is to go home and give me 5 short term and 3 long term goals they want to achieve. When they bring them back to me, I will go over the list with them and if necessary, we’ll adjust or add some substance. There is nothing wrong with adding or adjusting goals when needed. Doing this will also help you as a coach understand where the player is in his life, as well as what their commitment level to improving is going to be.

PHASE 3: DEVELOP AND UNDERSTAND THE SWING – (Fundamentals/Foundation)

Now that we have established a connection with the player and come up with their goals it’s time to get to work on the swing. I will always start my first few sessions with a student (if I haven’t been working with them already in the past) on the range looking at the fundamentals, any tendencies, and if there are any MAJOR swing flaws that need immediate attention. We don’t want to rush any changes with the players currently, especially if they are in mid-season or approaching a season. Any major swing changes should be made during the off season.

“GASBP” – Grip, Alignment, Stance, Ball Position, and Posture

This is the foundation that I make sure each of my students understands, as well as which areas need the most attention in their setup.

PHASE 4: SHORTGAME ARSENAL/DISTANCE CONTROL/PUTTING KEYS

Now that we have the foundation established for the full swing, I will typically switch gears and begin to place much more of an emphasis on the short game, from about 100 yards and in. I have a collection of Wedge distance control drills and combines that we will do. Beyond that we are looking at setup options and different shot options they can begin to use and start to collect an arsenal of shots they can hit around the greens. My main keys to teach in this area are understanding bounce and the leading edge, and low point control. Once we work our way into putting, the 3 keys that we consistently work on would be green reading, setup and routine, and distance control.

PHASE 5: THE NEXT LEVEL

Once I see my student’s level of consistency is where we want it from 100 yards and in, we are ready to take it to the next level. Here is a list of what we begin working on when I feel a student is now ready to start preparing for elite tournament and collegiate golf.

• High end technology Indoor Performance (Trackman, V1, pressure mat, sportboxAI,)

• Stat Tracking (ClippD)

• Fitness for strength, mobility, range of motion and speed.

• On course Work/ Course management

• Mental Game/ Tournament Prep/ Nutrition

• Confidence/ Commitment/ Relaxation

Never Forget to Remember to Have Fun and Why We Play This Game

CAN YOU HIT IT FROM THERE?

Asking this simple question can help with building a powerful and repeatable golf swing.

words by Jake Toliver, PGA Director of Instruction, The Los Angeles Country Club

Take a student who is position conscious and busy rehearsing step by step static positions and ask them “Can you hit it from there?”. Can they easily make solid contact from a given position? Look through that lens with your student in the interest of simplifying the movement of the club and body throughout the swing.

Would you agree that at any stage during the golf swing, your student should be able to turn their body back down on its path of least resistance, and strike the ball squarely, with little to no manipulation? I think we can all answer yes to that… but how many of your students can do that?

What if you just start from P2 and hit a little chip shot off a tee? My experience tells me that asking students to hit from the P2 and P3 positions forces them to be more careful about what they do with the club during the takeaway. The same is true for virtually all check points.

The point is many golfers manipulate their club face and/or shaft angle in the backswing without ever realizing it. Once they go “offcourse” in the backswing, the golfer enters a state of recovery in the downswing as they try to get the club back to square at impact. This state of recovery is what ultimately robs them of speed and repeatability.

As soon as the golfer needs to accelerate their hands and arms to “correct course” and route the club into the delivery position, their hips and torso become a supporting act. The hips and torso are the big players that need to be driving the motion, but they can’t do their job if the club is out of position. On the other hand, if the club, hands and arms are already in a near hitting position, the hips and torso can fire as hard as the player can manage, creating a fearless, uninterrupted motion through the downswing.

Applying this in practice:

Do you ever have a student tell you, “I’m not good at half or three-quarter shots, I’m only good at full shots.” This is typically because their positions through P2 and P3 are way off! They need the extra time provided by the full swing motion to get the club back in the right position at impact. This is where this teaching tool can be very effective.

Why is this important? Well, those who aren’t proficient at half and three-quarter shots have a huge wake-up call on the golf course, when every shot they face on the back 9 has them in between clubs. We know that not every shot is going to be a perfect full 7-iron, yet we let our students show us how good they are at that shot over and over.

Whether fine-tuning the competitive player’s game or helping a high handicap player build a more repeatable motion, I encourage hitting half shots, three quarter shots, and even hitting from these static checkpoints to help your students build strength in their positions, and ultimately in their golf swings.

Photo Courtesy of PGA of America

FINISH THE FINAL THIRD OF THE GOLF SWING

words by Jordan King-Thomas, PGA Director of Instruction at the Rick Smith Golf Academy Trump

National Los Angeles Golf Club

Photo Courtesy of PGA of America

It seems like in the golf world we are mostly thinking of the backswing and downswing. I have found that when we put just as much importance on how to finish the golf swing as on the prelude, a lot can fall in line. If the takeaway to the completion of the backswing is the first third of the golf swing, then from the completion of the backswing to impact is the second third. From impact to the early follow through and then into the full finish is the final third of a good golf swing.

If we answered two-thirds of the questions on a test, we wouldn’t get a good grade. Finishing the golf swing can be one of the most paramount parts of creating a great golf shot. We must always finish the final third of the golf swing.

If we have done most things correctly in the first two thirds of the golf swing, then we must just finish the race. A lot of amateurs feel or think that once they contact the ball, they are done with the process of the golf swing. This simply isn’t true. Centrifugal force is a key essential in the golf swing. The definition of centrifugal force reads, “a force that acts on a body moving in a circular path and is directed toward the center around which the body is moving.” The length and width of the back swing is very important and must be matched post impact and all the way to the finish.

Post impact, here are a few points that I look for: The club shaft and arm form a straight line when the club shaft is parallel to the ground. This is the power point of the follow through. Maintaining the good width and centrifugal force is how we can increase our clubhead speed.

A good drill for this is to have the student hit shots and hold a halfway through finish with their arms straight until the ball lands. This is a great way to get rid of chicken wings as well.

Making sure the lower body is still active and helping to drive off the ground while we continue to shift our weight towards the target. The foot, knee and hip working together is important. Our trail heel should be off the ground and rotating to the toes, while the lead leg straightens, and we get to the outer part of the lead heel.

To initiate proper weight transfer where the trail heel lifts and rotates, I have the student step on the face of a wedge with that heel. The shaft should point away from the target. At or after impact the shaft of the club should drop to the ground.

For getting to the lead heel, I would put a golf ball under the ball of their lead foot. This will help the golfer stay off their toes and find the weight in their heel.

A few key points that I look for in a good finish position would be the club exiting out of the left shoulder from a down the line position. If the shaft is coming a bit out of their neck or head, they have thrown the club out in front of them and are swinging too far in-to- out. Also, if you see the club coming out of the rib cage it is a clear sign that the student is swinging the club across the lead side of their body, which will indicate that their club path is coming too far out-to-in.

Utilizing water bottles or golf balls you can create a gauntlet to have them fix whichever club path issue they are having.

The last part of the final third is just as important as the rest. In the finish position, I really look for the student to be in balance and strong on their lead leg. High hands away from the left ear will indicate that they have fully extended their arms and created a wide swing arc after impact. One thing that we all have heard of is to hold the finish for 3 seconds, or until the ball lands. A good thought, but it wasn’t until I taught a brain surgeon that I truly understood it. In a discussion on the lesson tee, he explained how the act of holding the finish allows the conscious brain to talk to the subconscious brain about what went well, or what were the faults that could be fixed. Also, by holding that finish position for an extended period it burns in the subconscious, so that innately when you swing the club your body will know this is where you need to finish.

Using Two Patterns to Find Neutral

words by Alan Ochiai, PGA PGA Master Professional

It is common for players of any caliber to have tendencies toward a fade pattern or a draw pattern. Identifying the ingredients and keeping them aligned with the desired shot shape can greatly simplify pattern optimization or error correction. Players that habitually slice would benefit from learning a draw and vice versa. Advanced players seeking the ability to shape their shots can do so by developing a near neutral pattern and making minor adjustments to create predictable start lines and shapes.

The key to the adjustments lies in the ball position and upper axis alignment- ball forward with minimal secondary tilt for a fade, ball more centered with additional tilt for a draw. I recommend a square stance line for either pattern. The amount of adjustment is based on the amount of curve desired. This simple key elicits the necessary alignment differences: face alignment to start the ball slightly off the target and body lines to match. A minor face adjustment is necessary for precision, but the basic start line and curve usually appears as soon as the pattern becomes comfortable.

DRAW PATTERN

Address

• Ball more centered

• Upper axis secondary tilt

• Club face right of target (for right handers)

• Eyes, shoulders, and forearms closed to target

• Plane line square to slightly in-to-out path

Backswng

Downswing

FADE PATTERN

Address

• Little or no secondary tilt.

• Club face left of target (for right handers)

• Eyes, shoulders, and forearms open to target

• Plane line out to in

Backswing

• Outside along shoulder line

• Hands high

• Shaft laid off

Downswing

Just Easing the Tension, Baby

words by Travis Nelson, PGA Teaching Professional at Big Canyon CC and the LOR Golf Lab

Chubbs Peterson, Happy Gilmore’s classic golf instructor, nails it with one simple phrase, “just easing the tension, baby.” In this article we will address how impactful tension is in the golf swing, where I think it is most prevalent, and how to address it so your students gain energy from each swing.

As we reflect on that famous scene, Chubbs addresses Gilmore and says “it’s all in the hips” and starts moving him around softly as if they were dancing. Gently moving back and forth, they both start smiling because Gilmore’s club is softly swinging too. If you look closely his hands, wrists and arms are super soft, almost “Gumby” like. Gumby, the green bendy character created in the 1950’s, would move in a very free flowing way. This can be a very good image for our players to emulate. Another image I give my students is from a youth golfer I taught, and she said “Oh, you want my shoulders, arms, hands and wrists to be like cooked noodles, but not over cooked, more al dente.” She nailed it! I never want my students to learn or play like they are noodles out of the box. Always al dente, especially if you want them to learn specific, challenging swing mechanics.

Let’s discuss a student that has some game, addresses the ball well, and overall has a decent move but struggles with the following: club face awareness, over the top, impact, and finishing in balance. As the student addresses the ball, I grab the shaft and move it around, checking for tension in the hands, wrists, arms and shoulders. For me to feel the shoulders and upper body I’ll move the shaft vertically towards the player’s belly and if the club doesn’t move, I ask them to soften their shoulders and arms. Once we recognize this, they address the ball again. I check it again. For the final check, I have them set up a third time and I shake their shoulders out to make them feel soft. Once

we have checked how soft they are, I ask them to make a swing and try to feel this throughout the entire swing. At this point most have a shocking discovery, they feel like they didn’t do anything! That’s great! Exactly what I’m looking for. They didn’t lose energy, they gained it! Their battery stayed full. You remember the energizer bunny, that’s what I remind my students. Be the energizer bunny that can keep going and going and going. When students gain energy from every swing, they can play more, practice more and their bodies and mental game will thank them for chilling out. Just ease the tension, baby!

Another avenue I take is the grip. I have my students grip the club in their fingers but keeping their top portion (both thumbs and fat pads) off the club. The hands will look open but their eight fingers will be gripping the club lightly. As they waggle the club and then lightly swing it back and forth, they recognize something, it’s heavy! As they begin swinging it deeper into their backswing and follow-through, the club is now “swinging.” It’s less managed and more “free.” This experience opens the discussion for swing flaws mentioned before: lack of club-face awareness, swinging over-thetop, and finishing off balance. When the student understands how heavy the club is, they are more aware of the power potential it has. They turn off their muscle influence and allow the club to do the work. They begin to recognize where the club and face are throughout the swing, they minimize the over-the-top move, and have a balanced finish because the club is pulling them into it.

Just like Chubbs said, “Just easing the tension, baby.” When we can educate our students on tension, where it can be found, lock in on it and allow them to gain energy from each swing, they will be putty in your hands, shaping them to reach their inner “Happy.”

Photo Courtesy of PGA of America

Here’s Johnny!

words by Bill Hulbert, PGA SCPGA Past President

Those of us who saw Johnny Miller in his prime remember him as an elite ball striker, particularly with his irons. Reportedly at one point he was asking his caddy for yardages to the ½ yard. In 1976 his book “Pure Golf” was published. As with most books written by tour players, it described how he did things and what his feels were. Since nearly all of you have probably never read it, I’d like to share some of his ideas with you, in the hope that something he wrote might have an application to help one of your students.

He broke the swing down to “The Five Basic Moves”. Sounds like Hogan, right? His iron shots were Hogan like for sure. Johnny’s five moves are:

1. The One-Piece-Takeaway. Set the right leg at address, start everything together on the takeaway, and you will get the entire left side involved.

2. The Early Set. Early wrist cock sets up the late release.

3. The Hinging of the Right Arm and Wrist. Winding up and leveraging the right arm and wrist is essential for an athletic action, and it ensures that you are swinging in the RIGHT PLANE.

4. Knees into the Downswing. The pull of the left knee toward the target transfers the weight to the left foot and initiates the clearing action of the hips to the left. It also pulls the still-hinged wrists down into the hitting area where the release of the angles in the arm and wrist will take place.

5. The Release of the Angles. “There’s no doubt in my mind that the right hand and arm have to hit hard”. (Note- Johnny is left-handed) “I’m firmly convinced too that there are more problems caused by inactive right arms and wrists, where the angles are never released, than practically anything else in the golf swing”.

We can all probably agree that the right arm is staying bent coming into impact, but it should be released and extended post impact. Some can and will lead with the trail elbow longer than others.

But how many amateurs are still trying to pull hard with the left side into impact and because there is no release of the angles there is no squaring of the clubface? Nick Faldo made a statement years ago on TV that we as instructors understand but our students may not. “If there is more pull than release you will block it”. And he was talking about tour players.

It can be highly effective in creating quality backswings to focus on how the right arm and wrist should work. This is particularly useful for a right-side dominant player. The action of the right arm (for right-handed players) influences path, plane, and width going back. If it rotates too much, especially early on, the club will work inside and under plane. Which of course often leads to outside and over-the-top downswings. If it works too independently of the right shoulder retraction the path will be off. And if it hinges beyond 90 degrees width will be lost. When the player can learn to synchronize the correct action of the trail arm and wrist with the movement of the trail shoulder, they start to get the club into a better position at the top. Feeling the arm hinge and the wrist extend will do wonders for some backswings. From there we can work on transition, rotation, and release of the angles.

This is just one way to help get athletic motion into a player’s swing. And to learn release. Maybe one of Johnny Miller’s Pure Golf ideas can help that one player who is struggling to find a natural feel that works. And isn’t that what it’s all about? Keep learning, keep teaching, keep making a difference.

EARLY EXTENSION, FAULT OR COMPENSATION?

words by Bill Hulbert, PGA SCPGA Past President

We all see players who “early extend”, and in many cases they come for a lesson to fix the problem. But in my mind Early Extension (EE) is a symptom, a reaction or compensation for something in the swing that makes it necessary. Therefore, setting someone up against a chair or an alignment stick or anything else to provide feedback as a fix is doomed to fail. We must correct the actual issue that is necessitating a pelvis moving towards the ball before impact.

Here are some possible reasons a player might be extending early:

• A steep shaft on the downswing may be the most common cause. Extending early helps to shallow the club and might enable better contact.

• “Fire the hips!” Hip-spinners fire the hips too hard or too soon and the arms and club are left behind. EE allows the club to catch up, sometimes.

• Clubface too open on the downswing. EE might in some cases be considered a catch-up move. As the body is extending it’s also stalling, which may allow the clubface time to close.

• Not loading the trail hip/glute. Without a deep enough hip turn on the backswing the trail hip wants to fire incorrectly starting the transition.

• Not enough lead side bend on the backswing. If the hips and torso are too horizontal going back there will be no trail side bend on the downswing, which helps facilitate extension and the lead side opening at the proper time.

Photo: Adam Young shows early extension.

• Too much lateral hip motion on the downswing. Getting too far ahead inhibits clearing the lead side and will cause EE. The motion must go somewhere, and in this case, up too soon.

• Getting the lead knee past the lead foot. Very similar to the previous mistake.

• Hand path too much in to out. As the handle moves out instead of in the body responds with EE.

• Early wrist release. Rather than hitting it fat the body responds with EE to avoid it.

• Too much forward bend at set-up. Being too low to start only leaves one direction to go coming into the ball.

• Excessive trail side bend on the downswing. Dropping back will again necessitate some EE to allow the club to get to the ball instead of a low point well behind it.

• Moving the upper body off the ball on the backswing. Ironically, not enough extension here. Same as above, basically.

• Stance too narrow, either for the club involved or the body type. There must be enough width for a proper shift.

• Lack of rotation in the downswing and forward swing. Several of the causes listed above inhibit rotation and therefore cause EE. But some players may be ok up until it’s time to rotate the chest and torso through, but they simply stall out and EE. The Head-Downers are a classic example.

• Physical issues. Undoubtedly many players lack mobility. Tight hip flexors, hamstrings, quads, calves, and even ankles can be the problem. The inability to do a proper squat is a good indicator.

It is an absolute that we know how the pelvis should move during a golf swing. And some success may come from teaching a player that motion. But I suggest that the diagnosis of what may be causing Early Extension is a huge part of fixing the problem. Please consider this list and add your own observations to it.

Photo Courtesy ofGolf Digest

Photo: Rory Mcilroy does not show early extension.

PIVOT LIKE A PRO

Two of my favorite drills for a backswing that sings

By Tasha Browner Bohlig

it’s true that there are many different backswings at the tour-pro level, but the one common denominator is that no one is doing anything that hurts his or her chance of hitting a solid shot. Many amateurs get their swing off to a poor start and have to make mid-swing adjustments so that they can make reasonable contact with the golf ball. It’s a recipe for inconsistency.

We get a ton of sunshine where I teach in Southern California, so one of my go-to drills is using your shadow to train for a better backswing. Before we get to that, here’s a simple way you can groove a better takeaway and make those first few feet of your swing more valuable.

Grab an iron in your lead hand while placing your dominant hand on your trail thigh. Now take the club back with one hand, stopping when the shaft is parallel to the ground (right). As you repeatedly do this, feel how your lead leg responds, preventing your body from swaying or sliding away from the target—a common backswing mistake that makes it really tough to get the club back to the ball in a proficient way. If your hand moves up or off your thigh as you take the club back, you’ll know your body is starting to slide instead of pivoting. Now that the start of your swing is fixed, check out my shadow drill on the opposite page.

—with ron kaspriske

TASHA BROWNER BOHLIG is one of Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in California. She is director of instruction at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana.

Check out Tasha’s new Golf Digest Schools Series, “Fundamentals of Golf,” and other great instruction videos at schools.golfdigest.com.

THE SHADOW KNOWS

To get to the top of the swing the way the pros do, find a spot where your body can cast a shadow at address, then drop a rod down so that it vertically dissects the image. Now make a backswing, paying attention to how your shadow moves in relation to the rod. When you turn back with your body, your shadow should remain fairly still in relation to the rod (below). It shouldn’t drift noticeably in either direction. Remember that feeling when you’re back out on the golf course.

CA Summit Through the Years 2017

The inaugural California Teaching & Coaching Summit hosted on October 2324, 2017 was born out of the SCPGA Fall Teaching Summit. The revitalized CA Summit was hosted by Virginia Country Club in Long Beach and has raised the bar on teaching and instruction for golf professionals.

Virginia Country Club Long Beach, California Established 1909

Virginia Country Club

EDDIE MERRINS, PGA SEAN FOLEY

MARK BLACKBURN, PGA JAMIE MULLIGAN, PGA AMY ALCOTT

JOHN COOK

DR. TIM BROWN JAMES SICKMAN

The Fairmont Grand

JOURNEY AT PECHANGA

The Lineup

KEVIN DUFFY DR. ALISON CURDT, PGA BRAD FAXON JOSH GREGORY SETH WAUGH CHRIS COMO FRED COUPLES

JAMIE MULLIGAN, PGA

MARK BLACKBURN, PGA KEVIN KIRK, PGA JAMIE MULLIGAN, PGA JUSTIN PARSONS DR. BHRETT MCCABE NEALE SMITH, M.S. TASHA BOHLIG, PGA BOB MADSEN, PGA RICK SESSINGHAUS, PGA RANDY CHANG, PGA

JOURNEY AT PECHANGA

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