Blog

6 Mar 2015 Corina Pelloni

THE MARKET DEMANDS NEW STRATEGIES FOR OBTAINING INSTRUCTOR POSITIONS

The current global economic conditions we live in and the state of the golf economy require the aspiring golf teaching professional to adapt and use sound strategies in attempting to obtain a teaching position. The teacher should be trying to accomplish two goals with his/her strategies: The first goal is to make yourself valuable. In other words, show your potential new facility how you can generate revenue for them. The second goal is to establish yourself as a viable professional. To create a task list for the first goal, the professional should start with a sound business plan. Business plan websites and software programs are easily available and make the task of creating a sound, professional business plan easy. When writing a plan to be presented, steer clear of simply writing philosophy; include solid research instead. Do your homework on the facility, no matter what type of facility it is. Armed with key information about the facility and its teaching business, you can tailor your plan to fit that facility. Honestly, a large majority of courses, ranges and indoor ranges have so many aspects of their business to manage that planning how to generate more revenue from instruction is not a priority. Professionally presenting viable and imaginative ideas in a business plan format might be the key to getting you in the door. I can tell you, as someone who has hired many golf professionals over the course of 30 years, it is things such as a professional business plan that can make the difference. Identifying the market and having new and out-of-the-box ideas to attract new customers are what many facility managers and owners are looking for. How will your students translate into revenue for them? What sort of customer traffic will you generate? Do you have fresh ideas to get people into the game? People still love to hit a ball, especially a golf ball. How can you turn that fun and desire into new golfers and new revenue streams? Armed with a solid and impressive plan, you will have a great chance at obtaining that position. It could an employment position, an independent contractor position, or simply becoming a renter. One idea the professional should incorporate into the plan is to offer to utilize any existing professionals at the facility. For example, include in your plan a position for a junior clinic or camp assistant. This displays to the owner or manager that you are a team player and you want to work with the current staff an not be an adversary or cause negative issues that they have to deal with. The number one reason a golf course is hesitant to incorporate a teacher into their structure is the turmoil such a move will cause among the existing staff. Creating a professional, credible image should be the second goal. This goal should include wearing the appropriate clothing, presenting yourself professionally to the owner or manager, and establishing credibility as an expert in the game. Wear a suit and tie to every meeting you have at the facility. Make your shoes are new and shined. Present letters of recommendation and letters from your students bolstering your image as an above-average instructor. An even more effective tool can be a small portfolio covering your career and accomplishments, even if they are not golf-related. Next, never introduce yourself over the phone. I have seen that mistake made hundreds of times. Positions aren’t acquired over the phone in the golf business. Also, never show up at the facility in shorts or clothes that put you in a bad light. If you are seen as just another golfer, you lose any chance of securing the position. There are many positions and opportunities for competent instructors. We need teaching professionals with common business sense and savvy to fill the need for instruction that currently exists. Think through your strategy and make a good plan before you approach the facility, and you may open a door that otherwise wouldn’t be there.

3 Mar 2015 Corina Pelloni

Student Assessment: Key Ingredient In The Golf Teaching Recipe

Student Assessment Check List √ Previous golf experience √ Medical issues √ Body shape √ Motor coordination √ Flexibility √ Goal and objective Conducting a student assessment should be part of the first lesson and can be as simple as interviewing and observing the student. A lot of things can affect the way instructors teach and how the student learns. The more the instructor knows about a student gives the instructor the best chance to be successful with the instruction. It has been said many times that no two persons have like swings, and some of the reasons for that may be associated with items on the assessment checklist. Some items on the assessment checklist may interrelate, such as body style with coordination, flexibility, and coordination. Medical issues could certainly impact several of those areas, as well. It’s helpful if the instructor knows if the student possesses a positive or negative attitude, or if the student has goals to achieve with the lessons. The information gathered from the assessment can be a valuable tool for the instructor in developing the approach and methods used in conducting the lesson. The student assessment should be a must-be for lessons and is a good starting point. No more than 15 minutes is needed to conduct the assessment. Let the assessment flow using the checklist, and before you know it, it is complete. You may want to take notes to refer back to. Start the student assessment by obtaining the student’s golf experience. This will assist in determining the skill level of the student; it could be at the beginner, intermediate, or advanced levels. This background information, along with the other assessment criteria information, are used together to structure the lesson plan. Understanding the medical issues the student may have is high on the assessment list. Any medical issues would be unknown in most cases, unless they’re discussed together in the assessment. For example, the student could have limited range of motion in the shoulders and/or knees from injuries and surgeries. Being aware of the student’s medical issues will allow the instructor to design and adapt the lessons accordingly. One’s body shape has effects on body posture, which is an important aspect of the golf swing. Being overweight or underweight may cause changes in the human body’s shape as well as posture. This is why it’s important to evaluate this aspect, because the student’s body shape may or may not allow hip turn, desired spine angle in the swing setup, or a normal follow-through. However, instructors can develop and adapt golf swings for different body shapes, allowing students the opportunity to learn the game. Motor coordination is defined as the movement of parts together, the skillful and balanced movement of different parts – especially parts of the body – at the same time. There are some people that have shied away from golf because they think they are not coordinated. The common response is, “I can’t play golf; I’m not coordinated.” In some cases that may be true, but most people possess enough coordination and actually surprise themselves when they venture into lessons. This aspect can easily be assessed from observations from a few golf swings by the student. From this assessment, the instructor can reinforce to the student that the golf swing doesn’t have to be picture-perfect to play the game. This would a good time for an instructor’s demonstration of various unorthodox swing movements, while hitting the ball, to help prove that point. Touring pro Jim Furyk has done real well on tour with a swing that is somewhat unorthodox and matches no others. Instructors can use various drills to help develop the student’s balance and coordinated movements of the arms, hips and legs to get the club in a good backward swing position and forward follow-through. Every golfer wants to have a full golf swing. Flexibility allows a full range of motion within joints and muscles to execute the golf swing properly. Often, joint restrictions (i.e., tight muscles) in the lower back, hamstrings and shoulders cause the golfer to compensate within the golf swing. As with coordination, you can evaluate the student’s flexibility by having the student take a few easy swings with the golf club. Check the student’s rotary aspect of the swing and get feedback from the student as to where any stiffness may exist. As a result of the assessment, the instructor may suggest the student needs some golf stretching exercises to improve flexibility. The Internet is great resource where the student can get information on exercises to improve flexibility as it relates to the golf swing. Lastly, knowing what the student’s goal is will help the instructor design the lesson plans. The student’s goal may be to break 90 in one year, become a single-digit handicapper, or be able to play the game of golf. With goals there should be objectives discussed, such as improving chipping, making more putts, hitting the driver straighter and longer, etc. Having something to work for that is attainable is a win-win for the student and the instructor.