Q A & WITH PATRICK SHINE

BY TESSA ROBINSON

Patrick Shine, previously the Director of Golf at Commonwealth National Golf Club since 2006, and currently the President of the Philadelphia PGA Section, was named 2017 Philadelphia PGA Merchandiser of the Year and most recently, 2018 Philadelphia PGA Golf Professional of the Year.

Q:

At what age did you start playing golf? When and why did you decide to make a career out of it?

I started playing golf when I was about 10 years old at a modest 9-hole club outside of Detroit. Mostly I played golf with my dad as golf was not nearly as cool or popular as it is today. At age 14 I began caddying and that is where my desire to become a golf professional began to take shape.

I watched the golf professionals at this club, and I was able to see they had great clothes, the newest golf equipment, and most importantly how the members of the club held their golf professionals in such high esteem. From that point, I never looked back and was able to get my first head professional job at age 26.

What’s been the best part of turning your love for the sport into a professional career?

As Mark Twain explained, “The key to success is to make your vocation your vacation.” I enjoy the game of golf,

Q: and it has so many different facets as a profession, there is a service side, a business side, and a coaching and mentoring side. It never gets dull, and I love going to work every day, not everyone can say that.

When it comes to your job, what are the biggest perks? What are the biggest challenges?

A:

Golf has also allowed me to travel and play courses all over the world that would not be possible under normal circumstances. I jokingly refer to myself as a “poverty level millionaire” because the golf profession has rewarded me with so many incredible experiences.

Some of the challenge as any service industry, you work when people are off, so long hours on weekends and holidays are common. That said, it beats the heck out of digging ditches.

What would your advice be to anyone who just started playing golf?

Q:

A:

The first piece of advice to anyone starting golf would be to consider starting with a friend or small group of friends. Sometimes starting anything new can be intimidating, but if you do it with friends, you’ll naturally be more comfortable. You can also hold each other accountable to get out and practice or play more often.

Second, be patient and set realistic goals. Golf does have a big learning curve and can be discouraging unless you realize that every golfer has experienced the same thing when they began playing golf.

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, commit to a series of lessons with a PGA Professional. Learning the foundation of the golf swing with a PGA Golf Professional will create a solid basis for lifetime improvement, bad habits are hard to fix later down the road. We are fortunate to have so many talented PGA Golf Professional in the Delaware Valley.

Could you share some tips & tricks for more experienced golfers?

There is no silver bullet that will make you suddenly play your best golf My advice for all golfers is to have thoughtful and structured practice sessions. Use alignment sticks, spend double the amount of time working on your short-game (chipping, pitching and bunker play) and putting. Hit half as many balls when practicing, take time before every shot to go through your routine and simulate playing golf on the course. Take video of your swing, often the feel you have swinging the club does not match up with what is actually happening. Lastly, use it or lose it. As golfers age it is imperative to be actively engaged in stretching and

Q: weight-lifting programs focused on golf, general fitness, and overall well-being. What makes Montgomery County such a great place to play golf? How does Commonwealth National differentiate themselves from other golf courses in the area?

A:

Montgomery County has an amazing list of championship golf courses and practice facilities largely run and serviced by talented PGA Professionals with a common goal of helping golfers of all abilities and backgrounds enjoy the game of golf.

Commonwealth National was my home for the last 17 years and differentiates itself by being a true golf club. The entire focus is golf, from world-class course conditions to toptier practice facilities, with a dedicated team that caters to passionate golfers that want to get better and play their best golf.

Commonwealth has been dedicated to the promotion and development of junior golf way before most clubs realized how important this next generation is to the health of our industry. Over my tenure at CNGC I have seen many of our junior golfers go on to play competitive college golf and compete well in local golf competitions. Our junior Colonial League team has won the prestigious league crown three years in a row!

Q:

A:

Could you share some tips & tricks for more experienced golfers?

Focus on FUN! Don’t let a bad shot or round take away from enjoying a beautiful day on the course with your friends and family!