PGA Teaching Professional
I have spent my entire life in and around the game of golf. Initially elected to PGA Membership in 1998, I studied, tested and culled what matters and what is hype in the game and how to teach it. I played professionally (not very well) in the Central Florida Mini Tours and coached all levels from beginners and juniors to tour level players with the goal of making the game better and simpler, which leads to lower scores.
I now can say that through this personal journey with some of the greatest teachers and players, I have found that the only way to make lasting changes is through making a plan and following that plan, whether it is through a swing overhaul, focusing for an extended time on one small change or executing that clutch shot in the club championship, you have to have a plan and execute it. This plan leads to habits. And practicing those HABITS is what builds consistency.
I want to help students build that system to develop long-term solutions to your game that allows them to stop searching for the next swing tip and get to enjoying the game more. The key to long term growth and real improvement is to build a system around the three fundamentals in golf.
1. Controlling the Low Point of your Swing
2. Controlling the Path and Clubface at Impact
3. Swinging with enough Speed to be able to play the course
That’s it. Other discussions are on what the instructor feels the best way to get you to accomplish those three.
Swing Rebuild vs. Build the swing around you
Many fear that when you get a lesson or series of lessons, you are going to have to completely rebuild your swing. There are horror stories about this at all levels from novice to tour professionals. And the honest truth is both yes and no.
No, I am not going to make a student change everything just because I think it looks better or it matches some generic model or swing concept. I understand that a student wants to PLAY golf and not have ‘the perfect swing’.
But yes, you will need to correct flaws that are preventing you from achieving the three fundamentals. There can be no long-term improvement in consistency without changing these blockages to your improvement.
Golf is late night range buckets and early Saturday mornings tee times. Golf has to fit in around the club basketball and the business trips. I get it. And I understand you may not have 42 hours a week to practice and play. But I am also honest and will be frank that the more time and effort you put into improving your habits, the more enjoyable your game will be.