Group Lessons
10 Sep 2014

Group Lessons

Recently, I was contacted by a woman who wanted to take a series of lessons with two of her friends. She stated she felt more comfortable being around her friends while trying to learn how to play golf. This comment made me ask her to elaborate on her feelings. She continued on, saying she would be embarrassed to take a one-on-one lesson, and that it would be less intimidating to have some of her friends join her. This conversation made me think a lot about how I market my lessons and if I was missing out on something. Over the next few weeks, I spoke with some friends about group lessons, and to my surprise, many said they would like to take lessons in a group setting. Some of the reasons they gave were being embarrassed in a one-on-one situation, less cost, and being in a less serious environment if with friends. To me, I was really excited to market lessons to this niche, helping others learn the sport who might otherwise not even consider individual lessons. By adding a few group lessons a week, I was still keeping my hourly rate where I wanted it to be, but also illustrated to other patrons on the course that there were different avenues to taking lessons. As golf teaching professionals, we need to step away and think about some of the fears held by our students. Most of us are friendly and easy to talk to, so we might take for granted that some people are just nervous having a professional observe them and possibly criticize their movements. Try to set up a few group lessons and make them fun; you will be surprised how much success it will bring you.
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Group Lessons
10 Sep 2014

Group Lessons

Recently, I was contacted by a woman who wanted to take a series of lessons with two of her friends. She stated she felt more comfortable being around her friends while trying to learn how to play golf. This comment made me ask her to elaborate on her feelings. She continued on, saying she would be embarrassed to take a one-on-one lesson, and that it would be less intimidating to have some of her friends join her. This conversation made me think a lot about how I market my lessons and if I was missing out on something. Over the next few weeks, I spoke with some friends about group lessons, and to my surprise, many said they would like to take lessons in a group setting. Some of the reasons they gave were being embarrassed in a one-on-one situation, less cost, and being in a less serious environment if with friends. To me, I was really excited to market lessons to this niche, helping others learn the sport who might otherwise not even consider individual lessons. By adding a few group lessons a week, I was still keeping my hourly rate where I wanted it to be, but also illustrated to other patrons on the course that there were different avenues to taking lessons. As golf teaching professionals, we need to step away and think about some of the fears held by our students. Most of us are friendly and easy to talk to, so we might take for granted that some people are just nervous having a professional observe them and possibly criticize their movements. Try to set up a few group lessons and make them fun; you will be surprised how much success it will bring you.
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FedEx Cup still doesn’t have an identity – here’s how it can get one
10 Sep 2014

FedEx Cup still doesn’t have an identity – here’s how it can get one

The FedEx Cup has an identity crisis, in my opinion. Here we are, eight years into it, and I still haven’t figured out what it’s supposed to represent. Player of the year? No, that’s done by a vote. Leading money winner? No, the $10 million that goes to the winner is considered bonus money, not official prize money. A season-long reward, as it was originally advertised? No, someone can come out of nowhere and get hot and win. A reward for playing the best in the playoffs? No, because a player can win the first three playoff events, finish second at the Tour Championship, and not win the trophy. So, what is the FedEx Cup? My idea helps to give it a bit of an identity, and here it is. First, let’s simplify this thing so it’s easy to follow, instead of using a complicated points system. Re-set everyone at zero points, just like all other sports do. Next, 125 players at the first playoff event, the Barclay’s, are far too many. Let’s cut that down to 75. That represents about the average number of players who make the cut each week, and allows everyone to play all four rounds. Let the top 60 and ties at the Barclay’s move on to the Deutsche Bank; top 45 and ties from there move on to the BMW; and the top 30 and ties move on to the Tour Championship. The only exceptions are that the regular season points leader (this year it was Rory McIlroy) and all playoff winners automatically qualify for all playoff events, including the Tour Championship. My system prevents everyone else from skipping a playoff event and still getting to play the following week. Finally, the winner of the Tour Championship should be the FedEx Cup champion, and make the $10 million official prize money, so the winner of the FedEx Cup also has the honor of being the leading money winner. I believe my idea would vastly improve what the FedEx Cup is now. What do you think?
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Superstar
6 Sep 2014

Superstar

By: Gregg Steinberg, WGCA contributing writer That is the vision for Rory McIlroy.  In a recent interview, Rory did not tell the media that he wants to win more tournaments or majors, or even stay #1 in the golfing world. His vision is much greater. By winning the PGA Championship, Rory McIlroy has four majors under his belt at the ripe age of 25. But, he sees well beyond his years, as his vision is more than just to be a bright star on the PGA Tour. Rory proclaimed to the world that he wants to be the superstar of golf. Vision boosts your commitment to excellence. Rory’s vision will make him work harder every day. He will never rest on his laurels. He will dig it out of the dirt, when needed.  His vision will help make his talent shine upon the golfing world. Vision guides your destiny.  This truth has been known for thousands of years. The ancient philosopher Seneca proclaimed, “When a man does not know what harbor he is sailing for, no wind is the right wind.”  Zig Ziglar, a present-day motivational guru, has noted that the happiest people he knows are those who are working toward a vision, whereas the most bored and miserable people are drifting along with no worthwhile objectives in mind.  People who are vision-less will sail with any wind. Vision shines our motivational light. Psychologists have discovered that when mice were placed in a tub with no way out, they would stop swimming after 45 minutes and drown. However, if the mice had a light shining upon them, they would continue to swim for an unbelievable 36 hours. Our vision will keep us swimming upstream, regardless of the obstacles we will face on a daily basis. What is your vision for yourself in golf? Unfortunately, most golfers don’t have a clear vision and, most importantly, don’t allow their vision to propel their game to the next level. Here are a few steps to create a vision that you can share with your students: Step 1:  Get a vision. It is that simple. Pick a vision that is challenging but something you greatly desire. Perhaps their vision is to win the club championship, make their college team, or to be the superstar of their high school team. Step 2:  Have them select three strategies to attain their vision. If it is to win the club championship next year, then one of their strategies should be to practice  putting four times a week for 15 minutes. Step 3:  Have them visualize their vision as a reality. They need to visualize what it would feel like when they attain their vision. This will greatly promote their commitment to making the vision a reality. Henry David Thoreau once stated, “In the long run, people hit only what they aim at.” I would add, “We need to know where to aim.” Dr. Gregg Steinberg is the sports psychologist for the USGTF. He is a  regular guest every Wednesday on “Talk of the Tour” heard on Sirius/XM PGA TOUR Radio. He is a tenured professor of sports psychology and has been the mental game coach for many Tour players.  Dr. Steinberg is the author of the bestselling golf psychology book MentalRules for Teaching Golf. Please visit him at www.drgreggsteinberg.com.
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