Editorial

6 Mar 2015 Corina Pelloni

RE-INVENTING GOLF

Watching a recent Golf Channel discussion group on the state of the game, the subject, as often does, came around to how to grow the sport. The ideas were thoughtful and sincere, with mentions of getting more juniors playing, getting behind things like 15-inch holes, foot golf and Top Golf. These are all fine and good, but I am amazed that no one ever brings up an area of the game that has shown steady growth for the past 15 years – hickory golf. That’s what we who play it reverently refer to it as. Twenty years ago, one tournament existed where men and women played with clubs that came to America or were produced in America from 1890 to 1930. It was part of the Golf Collectors annual meeting week. Today, you can travel the world and play in a hickory event almost every week of the year. More and more golfers – I say golfers, not dabblers – are discovering that hickory golf has relevant and valuable qualities that are disappearing from the game. So, why don’t we hear anything from the media, the USGA, the PGA, or the golf industry in general promoting this as a viable means of growing the game they are so concerned with? Could it be that manufacturers are controlling the game rather than serving it? Every year, technological changes attempt to make previous-model clubs and balls irrelevant. Sometimes, they don’t even wait a full year. Technical innovation feeds an insatiable appetite, they tell us, for stuff that creates distance beyond our wildest dreams. Then again, Jack thought the magic beans would make life so much better. If the keepers of the game continue to dance to the suppliers’ tune, we may wake up one day and find something we once loved unrecognizable. We don’t have to have huge expensive tracts of land requiring drives of 350 yards on golf courses that all look the same. Hickory golf offers players the opportunity to rediscover that hidden gem, an older, shorter course like Highland Park in Birmingham, where Bobby Jones won his first tournament. At 5,800 yards, you can get around it in three hours. Golf as an all-day adventure is not sustainable. That only adds to cost, time and difficulty, not things that will bring people back. Maybe at some point someone on the Golf Channel or the golf media will recognize that hickory golf is a viable way to expand the enjoyment of the game, and that golf played on a traditional course with hickory clubs is a challenging test for anyone of any age. One can only hope.

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.

1 Mar 2015 Corina Pelloni

THE POWER OF POSITIVE

“Is the glass half full or half empty?”  This is a great question for golfers.  We know people who either complain about their golf game all the time or the golfer who always remains positive about their game even when things aren’t going well.  Which one has a better chance of being a good player?  Which player are you?  Which one do you teach your students? If you watched the Honda Classic, you witnessed Padraig Harrington playing some great and not-so-great golf on Sunday.  He didn’t have a great start, but he continued to grind on his game.  After the commentators quit talking about him, he rattled off four birdies in a row to get back at the top of the leaderboard.  Leading by one shot going into the very tough par three 17^th hole, Padraig hit the ball into the water.  It was the one place he could not miss, yet he did.  His double bogey put him one shot out of the lead. Lots of different things could happen to a golfer at this point.  They could lose their temper, they could go into deep depression mode, or they could do what Padraig did: stay positive and focused.  He knew that a birdie would get him into a playoff.  That’s exactly what Padraig did.  He made birdie on the par-five 18^th hole, forcing a playoff.  He won on the second playoff hole, which, ironically enough, happened to be the 17^th hole – the hole he made double bogey on less than 45 minutes earlier. Having a short memory is a good thing in golf.  Golf is a game of misses and you have to stay positive to play your best.  With free will, we have control over our thoughts and whether we want to remain positive or negative.  Once again, is the glass half full or half empty?  It’s up to you to decide and model for your students.

25 Feb 2015 Corina Pelloni

HANDLING TOURNAMENT PRESSURE

I was speaking to a student today about pressure. He said, “My swing won’t hold up under pressure.” He always assumes bad shots translate to his swing flaws. My statement to him was, “I think your swing is solid. It is not your SWING that won’t handle tournament pressure. It is your MECHANICS that don’t stand up to pressure.” Bad mechanics open up a wound on a solid golf swing. They force you to contrive the motion in hopes of scratching out a good result. Most of the time, it is a position we adopt before we ever swing the club that ruins the shot. A good player is on the range and he is deciding whether or not to play you for money today. If he notices a number of quirky or individualistic aspects to your game, he figures that it might be hard for you to play well all day long or when the pressure is on, and decides to give you a try. On the other hand, if your method is simple and free of clutter, it will give him the feeling that you can hit good shots repeatedly and he will steer clear of you. Sometimes, a green driving range mat can be quite useful. When a good player comes to me to “find” his game, I begin on a green range mat. This mat has lines drawn on it that insure the same, correct ball position, alignment, and stance width. Over the course of time, the consistent mechanics begin to heal the wounded golf swing. When you know your mechanics have been the same (and correct) for thousands of balls in a row, you then know the things you feel are correct and worth grooving. Random experimentation makes it improbable that you will ever settle on those things that stand strong under pressure. When our actions, before we ever swing the club, are affirmative and purposeful, then our swing can start to build feel and instinct again. When our mechanics are sorted out, we need to do nothing more than look at the ball and swing. Our mind can lie peacefully and allow our swing to run its course. It is the best way to swing a club, to strike a golf ball and to play golf.

12 Feb 2015 Corina Pelloni

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

When coming back to the game after an absence, managing expectations is very important.  We have all had setbacks in golf; they could be due to a long winter in the north or an injury.  Once we start playing again, the competitive juices begin to flow and we naturally have expectations of picking right up where we left off. It happens to everyone, from Tiger Woods to our students.  It is very hard to manage expectations.  As golf teaching professionals, we need to help our students by developing a proper game plan for their return.  Without a game plan, they will be set up for heartache by not immediately performing to their prior ability. One of my current students, whom I have been working with for a few years, has been playing the best golf of his life over the past year.  His handicap had gone from an 8 to a 3.  Four months ago, he had to have reconstructive surgery on his left ankle.   This was a major surgery that had a great impact on his golf game.  He was not allowed to play for three months.  To make matters worse, the repaired ankle supports his entire weight at the finish of his golf swing.  The closer it came to his return to the course, you could tell how the excitement of getting back had begun to consume his thoughts.  All he would talk about was how great he was going to play, how much practice time he was going to devote to the game, and how he couldn’t wait to start playing in tournaments.  When we sat down to visit prior to his first round, I asked him to follow some guidelines. I recommended that he play the front tees on par 5s and long par 4s, playing one tee back from the front tee on everything else.  I also had him play the ball up everywhere and gave him two mulligans per hole.  At first he was not happy with my request, he was ready to start shooting low scores and beating his buddies. By doing this, golf was free of pressure.  He hit some poor shots without the penalty of having a bad hole.  It was fun.  The shorter course allowed him to swing within himself without putting more stress on his ankle.  The mulligans gave him the ability to redo a few poor swings or bad course management decisions. When dealing with students making a comeback of any sort, we need to help manage their expectations.  This will help their golf games in the short run, plus show your students you are there for their long-term success.

2 Feb 2015 Corina Pelloni

THE GOLF INSTRUCTOR

Just recently, say, two weeks ago, I felt very proud of one of my students.  She was playing in a two-day ladies’ tournament, and after the first day’s play, she came to me and said, “Coach, I need to say something to you concerning today’s play.  While marking my ball on the green, I accidentally pushed the ball forward.  No one saw what transpired, but I replaced my ball and called my marker to inform her of what had happened.  I then called a penalty shot on myself.” Golf shows who we are, what we are made of, what values our parents have instilled in us, and what our coach or teacher is teaching us. I hugged her and said, “Well done!”  She shot 78 with the penalty on that day.  On day two, she played very well and shot 75, thereby tying for first place.  There was a playoff, and in the playoff she three-putted the first hole and lost, but yet, there was a smile on the young lady’s face.  I again hugged her and said, “Well Done!  Did you learn anything from all of this?”  She replied, “Yes Coach.  I feel good about myself.” All of us as golf instructors have a special role to play in the lives of our students.  Whatever we teach them can have an effect on their golf game and on the rest of their lives in general.

13 Jan 2015 Corina Pelloni

REAL GOLF

I recently met a man in his late 50s who wanted to learn to play golf. I asked him some basic questions: Had he played before or taken lessons, why did he want to pick up the game and what were his expectations? He told me he played when he was first out of college, but had a horrible time. I asked him to elaborate on this comment. One of his father’s friends had offered to give him a set of clubs to play with as long as he followed all of the rules and counted every shot. So this man read up a bit on the rules, went out for a few rounds, played the ball down everywhere, holed every putt and counted every shot. Guess what? He hated the game and didn’t think about playing until some 30 years later. Why? Because it wasn’t fun! As golf teaching professionals, I feel we have two important duties to our students: We should help improve their game with proper mechanical training and develop their mental game with course management theory. But the most important factor that oftentimes is missed is that we need to make sure the student is having fun. We can teach people about the swing plane and how to hit a proper bunker shot, but unless they are enjoying themselves, they are not going to keep playing the game. I apologized to this man that he was told to play that way. I told him that our course of action would be to throw out the rules, play the ball up everywhere and not keep score until he wants to. My goal was for him to want to come back to the golf course, plain and simple. To grow people’s love for the game, we must emphasize the fun of the sport, especially in the beginning. It’s not all about following the rules and keeping score, but instead learning to love the feeling of a solid-struck golf shot, making a ten-foot putt, or solely enjoying being outside in some of nature’s most beautiful settings. Golf is a game, and it should be enjoyed.

9 Jan 2015 Corina Pelloni

WE PROFESSIONALS NEED TO TAKE BACK THE NARRATIVE

I was watching an interesting podcast the other night. It was about the state of golf and what needs to be done to keep the game vibrant. The fellow on the screen said the problem we face is that we have allowed the media to dictate the narrative. All we hear from them is how golf is dying; golf courses are closing; fewer young people are playing; it takes too much time and it is too hard.  With that type of message constantly hitting the airways, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. It is true that several courses have closed in recent years, but it is also true that projections of new golfers from the National Golf Foundation were unrealistic, resulting in an oversupply of courses being built. The market today is just correcting to actual demand as all businesses do. That does not mean the game is heading for a nosedive. Avid golfers will always be avid golfers.  It is our job as pros to keep the core golfers coming out regularly and introducing the game to new players with positive messages that counter the media doom and gloom. We need to emphasize the positives of golf. For example, studies have shown that golfers live an average of five years longer than most people. The challenges of the game stimulate the brain and help to prevent or slow age-related neurological disorders. It is a great way to network with family, friends and business associates. Golf is a fantastic game for kids as it gets them outside and away from video toys and too much television.   This is the narrative we need to be spreading and posting in our clubhouses and newsletters. If we continue to let the mass media speak for us, then we only have ourselves to blame.