Coaches

24 Oct 2016 Ben Bryant USGTF contributing writer

How Head Injuries Cause Parents To…Turn To Golf

By: Ben Bryant, WGCA contributing writer On June 15, 2013, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Alex Cobb delivered a fastball to the waiting Kansas City batter, Eric Hosmer. Hosmer made solid contact with his bat, sending the ball straight back toward the mound. Cobb, who was at the end of his throwing motion, falling off the mound and in a vulnerable, defenseless position, could not dodge out of the way of the incoming 103 mph (166 km/h) line drive. The ball hit Cobb squarely in the head just above his right ear. For the crowd and the audience watching on television, the worst part was the sound – a hollow thump that reverberated throughout Tropicana Field. Trainers rushed to Cobb, who was lying face down on the turf, to render assistance. Although Cobb never lost consciousness, he was eventually placed on a stretcher, carted off the field, and taken to the nearest emergency room. The true dangers of concussions and head in-juries are finally beginning to be understood by the medical community and parents. As a high school golf coach, I have to undergo concussion protocol training every year and have a plan of action in place in case of head injuries. Over the last few years, I have had several players who have come from other sports whose parents have become more and more concerned about the physicality and head injury risk in sports like baseball or football. As the parent of a four-year-old on the cusp of athletic greatness myself, I have struggled with the need to balance sports participation and safety for my own son. This is becoming a common situation for parents all across the United States and the rest of the world. As a result, the sport of golf – as a mainstream, safe alternative to the other major sports – stands poised to attract a large, new generation of young players. Alex Cobb was lucky. In the end, he suffered only minor injuries, including a small cut and a concussion. He missed two months, returning in August for the Rays. His injury, and others like his, raises the question that has been asked several times over the last several years: should pitchers wear head protection? Strangely enough, despite there being several companies that manufacture head protection specifically for pitchers, Major League Baseball has not adopted new rules requiring pitchers to wear it. Even Cobb said that he does not want to wear extra protection. The reasoning behind their refusal is that these helmets make the player look funny. In fact, so far only one pitcher, Alex Torres of the Atlanta Braves, has decided to wear the extra protection,and he is routinely derided by fans and even other players for the way it makes him look. This is the current state of baseball and many other sports. While there are changes being made in the children’s levels, the professional leagues seem reluctant to embrace safety out of fear of watering down their game or changing fundamental appearances. American football, of course, is having the greatest struggle with these new revelations. New rules have been imposed with the intention to reduce head injuries, but the fact of the matter is that the professionals who play these sports are dragging their feet when it comes to embracing those changes. Ed Reed, the future Hall of Fame safety for the Baltimore Ravens, was recently asked about the dangers of head injuries in football. When asked whether he would want to be tested for CTE – a condition caused by repeated concussions and head injuries– Reed replied that he would rather not be tested because he did not want to know the damage the game was doing to him.  Historically in the United States, baseball and football have made up the bulk of sports that parents choose to involve their children in. Despite changes being made to children’s sports leagues– new tackling methods in football, helmets for defensive players in baseball, banning headers in soccer, etc. – parents face a difficult decision when involving their child in a sport where the professional role models have not embraced the new safety culture. Cobb continues to pitch without a helmet, and anyone who has watched an NFL game recently knows that head injuries are still a major problem in football. The difficulty faced by other sports creates opportunities for the sport of golf. In 2010, the Wall Street Journal and other media organizations wrote about the problem of the lack of young players in the world of golf. But so much has changed since then with the rise of great young players like Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth. As the dangers endemic to other sports become more well-known, golf is positioned to become the go-to sport as parents search for safer alter-natives to football, baseball,hockey, and other high-impact physical games. As teaching professionals,we need to use this opportunity as a recruiting tool to get golf clubs into the hands of younger players, although many of the traditional barriers to golf still exist. Equipment is still expensive, and the traditional 18-hole golf course might not be the most exciting thing to a 10-year-old. But golf’s relative safety versus other traditional sports has given it a new leg up in this era of head injuries in sports.        

11 Oct 2016 Thomas Wartelle, USGTF Level IV Member

Teach Playing The Game

By: Thomas T Wartelle WGCA contributing writer When I was younger, I was fortunate to spend some time with Lionel Hebert, winner of the 1957 PGA Championship. That year was the last time this major championship was played as match play. His brother, Jay Hebert, later won the 1960 PGA Championship when it was stroke play. Both played on the Ryder Cup team and were close friends of Ben Hogan, Jimmy Demaret, Jack Burke, and the other greats of that era. I was eager to listen to his stories and readily absorbed Mr. Lionel’s wisdom of golf. He was not a traditional-type teacher, as he was first and foremost a player. He often spoke in parables about the game and had a unique way of conveying his homespun messages. I will never forget one afternoon when Mr. Lionel and I were walking together near the driving range the day before a tournament. He looked me directly in the eyes with the most serious look and said, “You see all those fools working on their swing the day before a competition? You know, if you ain’t brought it with you, you are not going to find it out there!”  Truer words were never spoken. You see, Mr. Lionel knew that playing the game, especially tournament golf, is about getting the ball into the hole. When we think about tough major championships like the Open or U.S. Open, we think about perseverance and the ability get the ball in the hole under the most extreme pressure. Mr. Lionel knew this; Mr. Hogan knew this; champions know this and find a way to win. Good golfers find a way to get the ball into the hole. As golf instructors, we can learn from this lesson. Instructors would do well to teach less on the driving range and more on the golf course. Teach the game.  I have seen so many cases over the years where a golfer spends hours and hours on the driving range pounding balls. They are not even working on their short game, yet endlessly picking apart their swing. Several times when I was working overseas, I saw golfers, including kids, who had never been on the golf course because of their instructors insisting that they learn to swing it a certain way. What a terrible way to learn the game of golf.  I actually prefer to do the opposite with my students. I like to get them on the golf course as soon as possible and have fun while learning to golf your ball on the course. Golf is meant to be played on the golf course. When golf course play is not an option, simulate playing the game as closely as possible on the practice area. Get your students playing and watch your students’ skill level and enjoyment soar. It will make for more return customers!

3 Oct 2016 Arlen Bento, USGTF Level IV Member

America’s Ryder Cup Win Shows Why Team Chemistry and Spirit are So Important – Tiger, Take a Lesson

By: Arlen Bento, WGCA contributing writer What a performance by the USA Ryder Cup team this past October. Not only were the crowds in Minnesota large and in charge, but the players finally showed what it looks like to play for something more than just yourself. In this day and age of golf with private jets, millions of dollars in endorsements and players with one major win or a few tour wins that can set themselves financially for life, it was great to watch our USA’s best just lay it out on the line for the Ryder Cup and their teammates. For those of you that follow me, you know that I feel the number one thing that separates a good golf team from a great team is team chemistry. You just can’t put a bunch of great players that only play for themselves together and expect them to win all the time against similar talent that really, truly plays for more than themselves. The USA Ryder Cup coaches did a really nice job trying to figure out who the best players would be for this team, not just by world ranking or money earned.  I think the selection process was much better, and in the end because we won, the process was validated. Patrick Reed, in my opinion, was the star.  He was so fired up with emotion and his win over Rory was amazing.  He is exactly what the USA needed.  Just one guy, playing his heart out for his team and country is a very powerful thing. The USA just wanted to win so badly compared to Europe, it made for great golf! In the past, when I watched the Ryder Cup when Tiger was on top of his game, it was always a problem to figure out who is going to play with Tiger.  That always bugged me about the team.  Tiger is so good or so dominant that no one can play with him.  I put that blame on Tiger. There was not that kind of thing this year.  Captain Davis Love did a great job of pairing players that actually looked liked they liked each other.  It was very obvious in the singles matches that the players that were put out first were chosen for a good reason: to lead the team! Hats off to the USA and the Ryder Cup win.  I think Europe played well and I am sure they are going to be ready to play in two years in Paris. 033Master Teaching Professional Arlen Bento Jr. is an award-winning golf coach, business owner, product developer and content writer living in Jensen Beach, Florida.  He is the former head golf professional at the PGA Country Club in PGA Village, Florida, and the director of golf at Eagle Marsh Golf Club in Jensen Beach.  Arlen is a “Top 100” golf instructor recognized by the World Golf Teaching Federation, with over 30,000 members in 40 countries.  

3 Oct 2016 David Hill, USGTF Level IV Member

Time To Change The Message – (Part 1)

By: Dave Hill, WGCA contributing writer During a recent lesson with a gentleman who’s been playing for over 55 years, I was able to reaffirm my belief about how golf swing instruction took a wrong turn a few decades ago.  Soon to follow is the movement toward specialized fitness for golf. I’m fully aware of the controversy of such statements, but it is imperative as golf instructors and coaches that we have a solid grasp as to why so many continue to struggle with the game. This will be a multiple-part series, and for many readers, very little may be groundbreaking information. After all, the golf swing has never truly changed throughout the years. However, our knowledge of how it can/should be performed is always improving due to research into kinesiology and technology. Interpretation, or maybe more in the case of teaching professionals, “observation” of golf swing technique, determines the approach to instruction adopted by both individuals and as a collective group. I’d like to preface the series with the notion that restricting hip rotation and weight transfer during the backswing are two instructional elements to which I don’t subscribe.  The restriction of hip rotation in order to achieve more “torque” between the upper body (shoulders if you will) and lower body (hips) in order to maximize distance need go the way of the dodo bird. It should never have been part of the instructional equation to begin with. Yet, to this day it remains pervasive throughout the golf teaching industry, so my apologies if I have insulted any readers who continue with this practice, but I implore you to cease and desist immediately or stop reading now. Returning to my lesson, the gentleman who was somewhere in the vicinity of 65 years of age plays to about a 6 handicap but was once a scratch. Naturally complaining about distance, he was under the “torque” spell, as I prefer to call it, yet he admitted he had difficulty turning. I asked him a leading question along the lines of, “There must have been a time when it was easy to turn?”  He then referred to when he was a teenager caddying at a nearby club that had hosted the Canadian Open during his tenure. The head pro was a fine player who competed during the week alongside Palmer, Player, a young Jack Nicklaus, and other greats of that generation. When the tournament was over, he asked his head pro how he could hit the ball further based on the prodigious distances all the pros could hit the ball. The answer was short and sweet: “ Keep your weight on your left foot (front foot) on the backswing.” Fast forward a couple of decades and the tune changed. We had to load on the rear foot, followed by pushing from the rear foot in order to transfer back to the front foot. Easy stuff! My goodness, whatever happened to Sam Snead’s “turn inside the barrel” advice? In returning to the lesson, it was summed up with the fact there is a difference between weight transfer and distribution of pressure on the feet. There is no need to move the COM (center of mass) laterally during the backswing in order to feel weight on the rear foot. By virtue of moving the arms, club and body rotation away from the target, pressure, rather than weight, into the rear foot can occur. In this instance, one key was implemented where the new movement quieted a former movement. Rather than stabilizing hip rotation, we increased it. How? By straightening the rear leg during the backswing. This is commonplace within most, if not all good golf swings to some degree. If I may digress, our observations, or buying into the observations, of some created a culture of misconception amongst golf instructors over decades. Next article (Part 2) – The rear leg, weight distribution, how the spine turns

27 Sep 2016 David Hill, USGTF Level IV Member

Long Live The King

By: Dave Hill WGCA contributing writer Arnold Palmer came from humble beginnings. As a boy, he was not permitted in the clubhouse at Latrobe Country Club, where his father oversaw the duties as head professional and greenskeeper. However, this did not stop him from becoming the legend everyone could not help but love. We could give Arnie every admirable adjective under the sun to describe his character, and he’s deserving of them all. Arnold Palmer truly brought the game to the masses. He took nothing for granted, which is likely a tribute to his roots and upbringing in the small working-class town of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. On the day following his passing, I’m thinking about the state of the game when he entered the scene compared to now. It makes me think we’ve perhaps forgotten about the roots of the game, a game Arnold not only loved, but wanted everyone to play by sharing his passion in a such a modest and humane fashion, which was his gift to us all. Is it fair to state one person can change the tide of an industry or culture? If anyone did, it was certainly Arnold Palmer. In the history of the game, there has been no one like him. Yes, we had Walter Hagen’s bravado, which broke down doors for professionals, and John Daly’s appeal to the working-class guy. However, the persona of Arnie was all-encompassing, not only in North America, but worldwide. In Japan alone, the Arnold Palmer brand is iconic, as it is fashionable and expands well beyond the world of golf. Perhaps the best way to describe Arnold is in the form of an oxymoron – “a humble jetsetter” – and in literal terms, he was. So the question or questions now are, is it possible to ask a player, any player, to take on such a role? Is there a player out there who can, wants to, or has the persona to do so? Perhaps not, but what we are witnessing is a younger, newer breed of professionals who seem to be getting it right. The first name that comes to mind is Rickie Fowler. His brand seems to have crossed over to different demographics. He is the consummate gentleman, has a swashbuckling appeal both on and off the course, and his game shows signs of brilliance at times. He is no doubt a fan favorite, but the torch in today’s game is too big to carry alone. It is important for the growth of the game that today’s and tomorrow’s biggest names take a page out of Arnie’s legacy and continue to carry the bright torch he carried throughout his life.

12 Sep 2016 Gregg Steinberg, USGTF Level IV Member

Slumpbust Like Rory Mcilroy

By: Gregg Steinberg, WGCA contributing writer Not long ago, Rory Mcilroy was the number one player in the world. With four majors, amazing power and youth on his side, it seemed like Rory would dominate golf for years to come. Then he fell into an amazing putting slump. Rory recently mentioned that he lost his confident so bad that he only believed that he could make 3-footers. Anything longer than that would be a struggle—and it was! Then Rory did something very smart to break out of his putting slump. He changed everything. He changed his putting instructor, his grip and his putter. It worked. He went from one of the worst putters on the PGA tour for the past two years to having one the best putting performances at The Deutsche Bank Championships. He won this event with his laser like irons along with his amazing putting! Rory McIlroy was following a psychological process to break out of a slump: Change can help eradicate a slump. Newness of a grip or club gives you a different mindset and with this renewed mindset comes renewed confidence. Next time you are in a slump, or you have a student in a slump, you may want to try a simple strategy: Change. This small step can result in a huge leap in performance for the better. The IGPA is endorsed by the USGTF and the International PGA. Please check out both organizations. The IGPA is running a 1/2 price special on all products. Please contact mentalrules24@msn.com if interested. The IGPA is also running a Sept and Oct promo for the mental game/golf psychology certification course. Type “iggy199” in the promo code to get half off the course. About the author: Dr. Gregg Steinberg is ranked by Golf Digest as one of the world’s greatest sports psychologist. He is the head sports psychologist for the IGPA and USGTF. He has worked with PGA winners such as Brandt Snedeker and Brian Gay as well as NCAA championships  golf teams such as UF and University of Alabama.

17 Aug 2016 David Hill, USGTF Level IV Member

Growing The Game

By: Dave Hill WGCA contributing writer I woke up Sunday morning, August 14th, thinking about the Olympics and the day’s events. Going to be an exciting day as the gold medal will be decided and, oh yeah, I think there’s golf. The gold medal I’m talking about is, of course, the fastest man on earth. No need to mention a name, because we all know who won. Oh yeah, who won the golf again? Wait, let me check…oh okay, it was Justin Rose…oh, and look at that, the champion golfer of the year won the silver. Who got bronze? Not sure, but me being Canadian, it was incredible and a proud moment to witness Andre DeGrasse get the bronze medal head-to-head against Usain Bolt and the bond they developed. It is clear Bolt clearly recognizes his successor. Okay, back to the golf. Course looks alright. Wonder when the Olympics are over if anyone in Rio is going to play there? Other than soccer, it is apparent beach volleyball is the other fixture for Brazilians. Who can blame them with the spectacular beaches of Rio, warm climate and the low cost of the sport? Okay, back to the golf. Wait, it was just playing on the CBC (Canada’s national network)! Oh, okay, now they’re showing beach volleyball with boxing to follow. Cool! Is golf playing on the Golf Channel?.. no of course not; they don’t have the television rights. Oh, here we go, it’s on TSN2 (TSN is Canada’s national sports broadcaster). Wonderful; I don’t have that channel in my package. No biggie, back to the beach! Oh, here we go, more golf… sorry it’s just an update…Rosey and Stenson are tied, but it’s early…back to the beach, followed by women’s 3-meter diving. Cool, we have a Canadian in contention for a medal! Oh, okay, now the golf is back on. Let’s check out Facebook and see what’s going on. Can probably mutli-task while watching golf. Let me see…Rob Kleabir laughing at the low medal count of team Canada compared to the U.S. in spite of the fact we have nine times less population… all in jest and good fun. Okay an interesting article on growing the game. Making it younger via dress code, cell phone/social media on course and simply being more welcoming for our youth. Some of it makes sense. Here’s an interesting comment by a young professional in Utah stating there is an influx of new young professionals employed at golf courses and developing incredible youth programs through their passion and exuberance. He’s very excited about the future growth and health of the game in his state! Et voila! This is not the first time I’ve professed my views how golf in the Olympics will not grow the game. Let’s call a spade a spade here. Some of the best players in the world, including numbers 1 and 2, bowed out, along with Rory McIlroy, who stated how he did not grow up watching the Olympics or dream of winning gold. He dreamt of winning the Claret Jug and a green jacket. I realize he was attacked for his comments, but the truth hurts. Golf’s reintroduction into the Olympics was a big yawn-fest. I can’t speak for other countries; however, golf in Canada has one of the highest participation rates in the world, yet we showed very little of the event on our main networks. I’m not sure what this says about its appeal as an Olympic sport, but we’re a golfing nation and there was little interest. Makes one wonder how this Olympics’ version of golf will help grow the game. Fortunately enough, the golf aired on our national network was so not awe-inspiring that it propelled me to multi-task and discover the game is doing quite well in some regions. This also made me realize the game can grow via internal measures from those employed in the industry and who are in the trenches every day, welcoming and teaching existing and new people to golf of all ages. It will take vision, effort and courage to grow the game, but as a like-minded collective group of professionals, we can accomplish this feat and regain our true status as the stewards of the game.

12 Aug 2016 Dr. Shaunna Taylor, Ph.D

Three Ways To Boost Confidence In Your Athletes

By: Dr. Shaunna Taylor, Ph.D Start by encouraging them to examine their core beliefs about themselves. Every coach has struggled with building confidence in their athletes and team, and yet, there are surprisingly few resources that help address this important challenge. While every athlete has their own individual profile and history, there are some important foundational theories that apply to all. Confidence really begins with the idea of belief. It emanates from an athlete’s core beliefs and is combined with the effect of real-life evidence. Core beliefs are formed throughout childhood and are integral to how we operate in our lives. They are foundational and affect the way we view the world— many of these beliefs are set by the time we reach the age of ten. They tend to drive our actions and the way we navigate life. Belief is the “director” that often runs the entire production. Early in life, we are heavily influenced by the people who cared for us, and the early experiences that formed our worldview. Our core beliefs involve such things as whether we believe most people are essentially good (or bad), whether we are capable and powerful (or incapable and powerless), or whether life can be satisfying and joyful (or a struggle and full of sadness). Beliefs are the lens through which we determine if the glass is half full or half empty. Although beliefs are forged at a young age, they do not have to dictate our destiny. In fact, when we re-evaluate them later in life, we can come to see that many core beliefs aren’t based on fact. But unless we examine and critique the core beliefs that drive our actions, they will continue to run the production, and we may find ourselves limited (versus being set free) to make the necessary choices that can move us in new, positive directions in life. In light of this, here are three concrete steps coaches can consider to help athletes increase their confidence:

1. Help them become aware of — and challenge — their core beliefs.

Some of the athletes you are coaching will have very positive and empowering core beliefs. When mixed with a strong work ethic and a solid base of skills, this can be a potent combination. But you may also have athletes with a strong base of skills who also have negative core beliefs. As a result, the confidence levels — and performance record — in this second group may often be more inconsistent and volatile. One way to help athletes put their core beliefs to the test is to challenge them with evidence. For example, show athletes (through videos, storytelling, recalling past performances as a group or individually) that they are capable of overcoming adversity, or achieving past positive performance outcomes. Create a highlight reel, or encourage them to come up with one of their own. Show them the evidence of their past accomplishments. If your athlete has a generally negative self-view, or you observe negative body language, it can help to offer up evidence of their capabilities. Talk about your belief in them, and provide them with goals to override their defeatist perspective. This can serve to build competency which, in turn, can lead to greater confidence over time. 2. Build a confidence and evidence inventory. One form of irrefutable evidence that can demonstrate an athlete’s capability is examples of past wins and strong performances. But sport is a dynamic and often heartless arena, and wins come and go. Coaches need to build a steady bank of strong past performances, and include current examples of how the athlete’s strong work ethic is paying off — as well as evidence of skill progression and mastery— in order to challenge an athlete’s negative core beliefs. Athletes can also incorporate visualization while reviewing techniques and tactics through mental rehearsal. Coaches can also encourage them to engage in constructive self-talk that involves optimistic, evidence-based statements. 3. Keep your standards high. Coaches who maintain high expectations for their athletes and teams should also follow up with constructive and encouraging actions. If you believe an athlete can reach their goals and you have faith they can improve, then be sure to act like this is the case. Expect hard work and commitment, factors that are within your athlete’s control and have nothing to do with outcomes. This will translate into a greater probability of encouraging a self-fulfilling prophecy in the athlete. It also cultivates a culture of continual improvement and striving for yourself as a coach and leader for your program. The belief we have in ourselves drives our actions and our ability to strive for positive performance. Don’t compromise or lower your work ethic, be sure to create a positive environment, and incorporate a relentless pursuit of daily improvement and mastery. Setting the bar high will drive everyone — athletes and coaches included— to rise up and feel confident when it comes to aiming for their goals. Editor’s note:  This article first appeared in Coaches Plan magazine and can also be accessed online at www.CoachesPlan-Digital.com. Reprinted by permission. Dr. Shaunna Taylor, Ph.D., is a sport leader at Pacific Sport Okanagan and co-chair of the managing council of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association, as well as an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia in the Masters of Coaching program. She has been consulting with coaches and athletes from the grassroots level to the Olympic/Paralympic level for 15+ years.

8 Aug 2016 Steve Williams, USGTF Level IV Member

Working With A New Student

By: Steve Williams, WGCA contributing writer It can be very easy for a golf instructor, working with a new student, to just pick out swing faults, and then tell a person how they’re doing it wrong. Then, that teacher shoves their knowledge of the golf swing down the student’s throat until the student feels intimidated, embarrassed, or even angry at that teacher.  All this can happen while the teacher has no idea what has happened. Weeks or months later, though, they may realize that they didn’t hear back from that person again regarding golf lessons. When working with a new student, we simply have to go through an interview process.  In that discovery period, I am trying to ascertain many things that simply must be understood before I can have any realistic chance at helping that student to experience the excitement, improvement and fulfillment of taking lessons, thing such as: *Average score *What defines fun for them while playing golf *What their goals might be *Physical limitations *Work ethic *Time available for practice *What they hope to gain from lessons *Any preconceived ideas of what it takes to improve This is just a basic outline of things I need to understand.  There will be more questions as we proceed and I find out certain things about that individual. It is necessary for me to acclimate each student to what my intentions are during our time together.  I actually have to reprogram the vast majority of new students to a new thinking pattern regarding lessons, if we are to make progress at a rate which makes lessons and the improvement process…FUN! How much fun they are having is directly proportional to how long they will work with me.  Fun – not being defined as laughing – but more in the aspect of excitement and anticipation of what boundaries they will break through as we proceed.  Additionally though, fun can be defined as them overcoming obstacles that have controlled them in the past. Believe it or not, oftentimes I have to eliminate prior thinking patterns which were placed there by other instructors, or possibly even by me in times past. I also have to (and this can take weeks) train that person that their improvement will be a result of us developing a relationship, built upon trust.  That trust is not the result of me showing them how much I know about the golf swing, or trying to make them believe that I am the best teacher they have ever met.  It is built upon us exchanging thoughts.  It is built upon me understanding them by listening to their frustrations, their fears, what makes them excited, and what discourages them. It is built upon me looking them in the eye when I talk, and when they talk. They will become fascinated if I listen well enough to their words, to actually tell them about obstacles I see, which they have created and suspected were present, but had not really shared with me up until that time. If a person is not comprehending more about themselves, including their weaknesses and their strengths as we work together, I am simply not doing my job as well as I could.  When a student starts to gain epiphanies about themselves – and what has held them back in the improvement of their golf game – they will start to see that many of those same obstacles have held them back in life.  When our time together reveals those things, we start to form a bond that makes our time together rich, exciting and full of anticipation for our next lesson. I must always remember that although I am the expert being sought out by the student, I will learn things as I work with that person.  But that fact, if not kept in balance, will slow our progress if I forget that it is my responsibility to stay in control of the lesson and motivate that person to leave their comfort zones, both mentally and physically.  I have to lead them away from old habits which may have been destructive, without them knowing. I still get goose bumps when I see a person start to overcome a swing fault.  I also get goose bumps when I see the light go on in a person’s mind, about inefficient and destructive thinking patterns in which they have dwelt for far too long.  Nothing creates more passion for me and my job than seeing their expression and life-changing results when they realize that their boundaries are only defined by the prison doors they have erected themselves, through the years of them being defeated by their own lack of focus, understanding and fears. I’ve had people tell me that I don’t really work because I am teaching people to play a game, rather than something that is worthwhile or necessary.  Unless they have seen the richness of seeing people change through what we endeavor to do together, and the richness of our relationships together as we both experience the highs and lows of working through problems while we identify obstacles which have held them back, they have no idea. Each new person I work with is a new adventure for me. Each person I work with helps me to discover more of my weaknesses. Every person has a puzzle to put together. Puzzles can be fun and exciting. The puzzle pieces are already present in that person’s life.  All I do is help them to see the actual picture of the puzzle so that together, we can start to identify each piece. Getting older doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, getting older can be more fun than when we were young if we stay on the edge of self-discovery. I don’t just teach a game!  I help people to discover more about themselves and grasp the fact that although their time on earth is getting shorter, it can become richer through self-discovery, diligence and hard work. Golf is simply the vehicle with which we use to illuminate these things!

8 Jun 2016 Steve Williams, USGTF Level IV Member

JORDAN SPIETH AND THE FUTURE OF THE PGA TOUR!

By: Steve Williams, WGCA contributing writer How refreshing was it to watch Jordan Spieth at Colonial, on Sunday, on the back nine? There is a new excitement in the air right now regarding the PGA Tour and its future.  We have a great crop of young men, as well as some middle-aged men, who each possess the quality game to provide years of fantastic entertainment for golf fans. Twenty years ago there was Tiger, just getting started on tour…and raising the bar to a level so high that it brought out a standard of training and competitiveness which, I believe, helped create what we have now.  Tour golf has never been this competitive! Additionally, all of us who make our living in the golf industry owe a sizable portion of our income to what Tiger did for the game.  He created an excitement, which brought tournament golf into the homes of millions of people who otherwise would not have watched PGA Tour golf before he emerged. But now, tour golf is in the hands of guys like Spieth, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Dustin Johnson, Ricky Fowler and Bubba Watson.  On a lesser note, guys like Danny Willett, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Hideki Matsuyama and James Hahn have the talent to jump to the top of the rankings. Then there are the stalwarts, such as Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose and Louis Oosthuizen, all of whom are a threat to win a major tournament at any time. But back to Spieth!  How long has it been that you could recall a man on tour who did magical things with his clubs, and…who had the depth of character, discipline and likability that Spieth has?  Not only that, but he is as fine a gentleman on the course as I can ever recall seeing. He also knows how to deal with disappointment while congratulating those who were better than him on any particular day, with an amount of poise that is rarely seen. If I am being brutally honest here, I could say that although Tiger lifted the quality of competition to a level that was rarely reached prior to his emergence, I was never comfortable with him being a role model for the young kids who were starting to dream about being on tour some day. Sorry if that is offensive to anybody, but although competitively he was like a man among boys at times, when it came to maturity and respect for the game and his competitors, he was sometimes an adolescent among men on the tour.  I cringed sometimes when I heard his language and saw him throw and kick clubs, like some 13-year-old junior-high student. I cringed because I knew that the young kids growing up watching that behavior would emulate it to some degree, at the very least.  I also cringed when Tiger made huge mistakes in his personal life, mistakes which ended up taking a massive toll on his mind, but more importantly, which young golfers might feel should be acceptable behavior. Keeping things in balance, though, I think few people actually comprehend how much Tiger did for the game because of his phenomenal talent, wise decisions on the course, and because he loved the thrill of the competitive moment. Tiger provided unparalleled amounts of quality shots which will go into the annals of golf lore.  He is certainly one of the all-time greats of the game, and he lifted the quality of golf to a higher level than previously attained, in my opinion, anyway. Spieth, though, has such respect for the game, its history, his competitors, the fans – and especially the young fans – that he seems willing to handle the responsibility of being a role model.  Additionally, he obviously knows that it is the fans who have made playing tournament golf so lucrative for those who are fortunate enough to make it in professional golf. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to believe that the vast majority of parents would be proud of their child’s development as human beings if they turned out like Jordan Spieth, the person. So, I will suggest that when you think of the short list of the names of the men on the PGA Tour who created a stir that catapulted golf to a level formerly not achieved before they became household names, it would be names such as these: Bobby Jones, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Greg Norman, and Tiger Woods.  There were many other great names, but those I mentioned seemed to transcend golf and reach people who had no interest in watching it before. From what I can see right now, I believe Jordan Spieth will fit solidly in that list as the years go by.  I can find faults in his swing to the point that personally, I wouldn’t rate his golf swing much better than average on the tour.  But he has virtually every other strength that a man needs to become a superstar. And…he is currently in the process of stoking the imagination of millions of serious young golfers across the globe. That fact in itself will encourage a large percentage of parents to get their children involved in golf.  Does it get any better than that? Good golfing!