Editorial

8 Apr 2014 Corina Pelloni

TIME TO STOP TALKING AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT SLOW PLAY ON TOUR

Seems like every time I read something about professional golf these days, the subject of slow play comes up. I was watching the Valspar Championship a couple of weeks ago, and the commentators dragged on and on about how long it was taking the last group to finish up. At the Valero Open, several discussions ensued about one of the contenders taking 15 to 20 practice swings before each shot. Can you really blame someone playing for millions or trying to win his first tournament for wanting to be absolutely ready before taking a swing? Of course not, especially if no one is going to do anything about it. If, as I read, it is such a concern, then do something. “It’s complicated,” is often the response. “It is hard to monitor all the players in the field and they play in pairs or threesomes, and why should faster players be subject to penalties when playing with a slow player?” is often the excuse. I say nonsense. I was sitting on the 16^th green at Valspar, and on the giant screen leaderboard as each player would hit, I got their location and yardage to the green. Before each putt the distance was posted and percentage the player made from that distance. They were even compared to the rest of the field. A person follows each group entering such data continuously. How hard would it be to take the technology a bit further? For example, say each golfer was told they had to play a shot within a certain time limit. The group monitor could make an entry before a player’s turn to hit and record how long it takes him to play the shot. Too many bad times and the player gets hit with a penalty. I believe it could be done. There are probably many ways to speed up play. But, as I said in the beginning, either do something about it or keep quiet!

12 Mar 2014 Corina Pelloni

GETTING THE GIRLS TO PLAY

Here’s an unbelievable fact concerning women and golf: Hundreds of Division I and Division II women’s golf scholarships go unused every year. With the continual rise in the cost of a college education, it is disappointing that we cannot get more young girls to play golf. Another amazing fact to go along with the waste of unused scholarships: Any girl who can break 90 consistently in high school meets can easily get a Division I scholarship. Let that sink in for a minute…simply playing bogey golf. Currently, about 26,000 girls play high school golf. That would seem like a lot until you consider there were over 7 million girls enrolled in high school in the U.S. That works out to be less than .4%! I regularly get inquiries from college golf coaches looking for girls to fill spots on their team. Another opportunity is for the girls to play on a local junior college team and hone their skills in order to get a scholarship for a larger four-year school. This just requires some interest, not even a minimum score or experience. I have seen many junior colleges not even able to field a team, requiring them to forfeit all of their matches. Title IX became the law of the land in 1972, and it revolutionized women’s sports. Basically, any publicly-funded or publicly-assisted school had to offer equal education and sports programs for men and women. Softball, soccer, tennis, lacrosse, and many other sports immediately opened up educational opportunities for thousands of female athletes. So, what is the systemic reason that we can’t get more girls to take advantage of this opportunity? There is not just one easy answer, but it all starts with the golf teachers and golf professionals not getting enough girls to discover and fall in love with the game. Poor training of teachers on how to teach juniors is a big factor, as well. Another basic reason is a lack of female golf professionals that young girls can use as inspiration. According to my middle school-aged daughter, golf is just not cool. When I was a young golfer, Nancy Lopez burst onto the scene and captured the imagination of a whole nation. Not quite to the extent of Tiger, but she was a phenom and a household name. In addition, she was also a great role model and very easy for girls to relate to. Annika Sorenstam was a popular figure but did not generate the widespread excitement that crossed boundaries and into the conscious and hearts of non-golfers. Betting on another Nancy Lopez coming along is not a good solution. Golf teaching professionals need to get more young girls involved in junior golf. Set up programs that make it fun and cool to discover golf and do a better job of introducing the game to them properly. I know there many talented teachers that aren’t being utilized to promote and teach the game to the junior girls. I see teachers using poorly-suited equipment that makes the game more difficult to learn. I see teachers not putting in the effort to make it exciting for them when they are first introduced to the game. We need to get them on the course right away, think outside the box to discover ways to make it easier, and make sure they are using clubs they have a chance with. I recently observed three very young girls in a junior class at a course where I was serving as a tournament official. The instructor mostly ignored the girls and just let them stand on the range hitting bad shot after bad shot for 30 minutes. At the end of class, you could see the body language of the girls so clearly indicate they did not have fun. They were frustrated, and one girl even asked her mom if she had to come back the following week. To make it worse, their clubs were too long and unwieldy. They had no chance to get the ball up in the air. With women playing in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, we can only hope that a female golfer emerges as an Olympic hero who can inspire young girls to take up the game. In the meantime, we have to do a better job of showing the grade school and middle school girls how much fun golf can be. A chance at a life changing education is waiting for them.

6 Mar 2014 Corina Pelloni

THE FUTURE OF GOLF

There is much truth to the saying, “If it’s not, broke don’t fix it.” Every year, I go to the PGA Show, and there is talk of how to fix golf. This year, I heard more about bifurcating the rules, a topic that has been brewing for a couple of years. There was also the new sport of Hack Golf played with non-conforming clubs to a 15-inch hole. So, I had to ask myself, “Is there anything broken regarding golf?” The answer I came up with is that there are too many people trying to fix something that does not need fixing. Golf has survived for going on 600 years. There have been ups and downs in the cycle, just as there are ups and downs in all businesses. The basic game is fine and it appeals to a certain percentage of the population. Not everyone gets or likes golf, but those who do will play until they can’t anymore. Where golf got off-track was unrealistic predictions about growth that was supposed to occur over the past 20 years. Remember when it was forecast that there would be 60 million golfers by now? That led to expansion on the anticipation of all these new golfers. There was a period when a new golf course was opening about every week. Many of these were poorly designed, with huge maintenance costs and overblown greens fees. To make matters worse, in an age where people began wanting things easier and faster, golf was doing the opposite – longer rounds and more difficult layouts. So, when the anticipated growth did not happen, the industry panicked and began coming up with all kinds of grow-the-game initiatives. Maybe it would be better to just step back a bit. Leave the game as it has always been, and let people who get it, get it; and those that don’t, so be it. As a great man once, said not all seeds fall in fertile ground.  

5 Mar 2014 Corina Pelloni

FAIRWAY METAL, THE SHORT GAME SECRET

We have all been there, giving some great insight to a student’s swing fault, knowing they will not practice enough for the changes to become permanent.  It is not our place to yell at them and tell them they have to practice to become better.  But, it is our place to show them how to score better, even though their golf swing might not improve. We see it almost every week on the PGA Tour: A player uses their fairway wood to chip with around the green.  Why would the best players in the world use this method?  Because, it is easier than chipping off of poor lies.  The outcome of these bad shots is better than the outcome of bad shots when chipping. When speaking with students, we talk about a good miss versus a bad miss.  A shot bladed over the green into a bunker is a bad miss compared to a shot that rolls 20 feet from the hole.  By using a fairway wood around the greens, the higher-handicap player can get the ball down in fewer strokes, thus lowering their score and having more fun. The way I teach this shot is to use a fairway wood with loft between 15-25 degrees.  Some of the strong-lofted fairway woods that players carry today make it difficult to get the ball out of poor lies.  I have the student choke down about 1 1/2” on the grip, have a slight forward press, and play the ball just in front of the center of their stance.  From here it is like a long putting stroke. It amazes me each time I show someone this shot how quickly they pick it up and how easy they think it is.  Some players might think it is not a “real” shot, but once they see the results, it changes their mind. If you have students who need some help with their short-game shots, or you know a student isn’t going to put some time into practicing his full swing, teach them this shot.  They won’t be disappointed.

3 Mar 2014 Corina Pelloni

VIDEO ANALYSIS

The correct video camera is an excellent teaching aid and an essential tool for the teaching professional.  It provides the ability to freeze the action, slow the swing down, and give added information when diagnosing faults.  But, caution must be taken with our analysis.  We do not want the student to become confused and lose confidence. Positioning of the camera is essential.  The ideal position is at right angles to certain points.  One important point is the hands.  Therefore, the camera should be at right angles and at the level of the hands.   Other camera angles are possible but often require more specialized equipment. The two most used camera positions are facing the student (Teaching Position 1) and behind the student between the intended target line and body (Teaching Position 3). The camera you invest in should be simple to use and compatible with your software for playback and video replication.  It should have features that are designed specifically for high-speed video resolution such as a golf swing. The next step is to review the video by using a software program to analyze a student’s action.  A good software programs offer some of the following features: • Slow Motion Playback, Reverse Motion Playback. • Drawing Tools, Angle Measurement Tool, Grid Tool. • Side by Side Comparison. • Overlay Two Videos. • Still Shot Export/Printing. • Save Videos with Markings. • Ability to Create Video Lessons. • Lessons are created in a format where the student can play video on any computer or DVD player. • Pricing Point that is Ideal for a Golf Teaching Professional There are many fine programs available at different pricing points.  The best piece of advice is to research and be well-informed before investing in any of these products.  Make sure to understand your system’s compatibilities and what your teaching needs are.  Often, the best systems are simple to use and offer less frills than some of the other systems.

14 Feb 2014 Corina Pelloni

GOLF IN THE OLYMPICS?

In the spirit of this month’s Winter Olympics, it is imperative we in the golf industry – and all golf fans worldwide – voice our opinion about the individual format for golf at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as recently decided upon by the International Golf Federation ( IGF).  I know I’m not alone in espousing an anti-individual format and would highly revere witnessing a team competition for a host of reasons. I am not going to mince words. The IGF got this wrong, in my opinion. I’ll prelude my position by also stating I don’t even believe golf should be in the Olympics in the first place.  However, since it is a “fait accompli,” a team competition should take precedent over an individual one. I’ll digress. First, to remove a staple sport such as wrestling, a sport dating back to the 1896 Games in Greece during the first modern Olympics (and 708 BC in the Ancient Games), only to replace it with golf, is not fair…although wrestling was later reinstated.  There are also many typical North American backyard barbecue hobbies which are sports with both a wide audience and intense interest level in other parts of the world when played at a high level…badminton and table tennis come to mind.  Another inclusion in 2016 is rugby, and rightfully so, not because it is incredibly popular worldwide (although somewhat), and not simply because of its rough and athletic nature, but because winning an Olympic medal in this sport and the aforementioned backyard barbecue hobbies is the pinnacle for these athletes. Wrestling naturally falls into the same category. Turning back to golf. Is an Olympic medal the revered prize? Is it something a young Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Annika Sorenstam, Suzanne Petterson, Lydia Ko, or any other prominent professional golfer grew up dreaming about winning? Of course not! Now, some may argue today’s professional golfer never had the dream of Olympic glory, for it was not an available opportunity. Nor should it be. Golf has a storied history of revered championships that golfers thirst to win. An Olympic medal may look nice on the mantle, but a green jacket, Claret Jug, or US Open trophy will always glimmer brighter. Take it a step further. A Masters victory offers a lifetime invitation down Magnolia Lane. I’m sure Greg Norman would agree he was blessed with a fine career, but to say something is missing is an understatement, and it isn’t Olympic gold. Without getting bogged down in the political and financial argument that surely propagated golf into an Olympic sport, it is fair to say an Olympic medal is not the “Shangri-La” for the individual golfer. If golf is to gain a stronghold within the Olympic movement, a team competition is paramount. National pride is at stake, as we witness in sports such as hockey, basketball, curling, soccer, and now even figure skating. The Ryder Cup portrays an emotional intensity level not seen in any other professional golf tournament. The President’s Cup falls short in this regard; however, fragments of intensity are apparent. The same can be said for a variety of other golf team competitions, be it in the professional or amateur ranks. This being said, would golf fans tune in in droves to witness Tiger or Phil win another tournament, say the right things, and then have them go about their business two weeks later at the FedEx playoffs? What about Olympic glory?  Forget about it! There is a $10 million dollar annuity, season-ending championship, and player of the year award at stake. The Olympics were great and all but hey, there are other big fish to fry. Would sport fans tune in to watch their underdog nation have a chance against a stalwart golf nation? You bet. The IGF proposed a format to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) for a “72 hole individual stroke play format for both men and women, reflecting the leading players’ opinion of the fairest and best way to identify an Olympic champion,” according to the IGF website. Wow, is all I can say! Here we have an international sporting organization, governed by the leaders of the stewards of the game in the Royal and Ancient, the USGA, worldwide national golf associations and professional golf tours, and they leave it up to the leading players to choose the format? Whatever happened to true stewardship? Should the millions of golf fans and thousands of professionals employed and driving the industry not have a voice? Here we have an opportunity to grow the game in developed and emerging markets, and the decision is left to the top 120 players in the world? Sure, they may be popular, but do they truly know what is needed within the industry and relished by sporting fans? Do they truly understand the weight of their decision? As the competing athletes, I question their objectivity, and the enormity of the decision should not have been placed in their hands. Golf has a competitive edge over many sports in its uncertainty. Underdogs on paper often win, especially in a team format.  We’ve seen it time and again in the Ryder Cup with Europe. Who’ll ever forget the “Miracle on Ice” during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, when the US hockey team won the gold, upsetting the Russians during the semi-final match at the height of the Cold War? A winning team’s dynamic is often immeasurable and cannot be defined. This uncertainty is what can often propel a sporting event and a sport to a different stratosphere. The fact golf has an opportunity to not only be showcased, but to embrace its competitiveness and uncertain outcome on a world stage, is fortunate. It has been given a second chance in the Olympics. As golf fans, we already know who the top players are and do not need the Olympics for further proof. This cannot be said for other sports; hence, the Olympics are very much required for individual accomplishment and glory for many athletes. National team over individual pride for a golf victory would be held in great stead by the players, future stars, and fans alike. Furthermore, the uncertainty of a team victory heightens the suspense. Imagine an emerging country taking on the USA in a final match for the gold. How much weight would that hold in growing our game both home and abroad? Sorry IGF, I believe you missed the mark.  

13 Feb 2014 Corina Pelloni

SOCIAL MEDIA: IT’S A MUST

As golf teaching professionals, most of us are independent contractors. Some of us might work for a golf club, driving range, or golf school.  Like most businesses, we are always looking for ways to grow our business, gain new clients, and solidify our trade.  Social media is a great way to advertise, reach new clients, and stay in touch with current students. Websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are free to use and efficient, as many of your students are most likely already using these sites.  By accessing these forms of marketing, you can stay connected to your students and grow your business for free.  Free is always good for small business owners! When you start a Facebook page, it will help you expand in many ways.  You are able to show pictures of your business.  You can highlight training aids you use and show pictures of people taking lessons.  The people in the pictures are most likely on Facebook, so make sure you “tag” them.  Their network of friends will see these photos, thus growing your business without paying for advertising.  People will “like” the photo, and thus send your business information to others whom you wouldn’t be able to reach directly without paying for it. Next time you visit a local business, look to see if they ask their customers to follow them on social media sites.  Think of other successful businesses and pull up their social media sites for ideas.  If you think it’s too hard or you are not “techie” enough, think again.  It is a must for small business owners to connect to social media, especially for those of us in the golf business.

6 Feb 2014 Corina Pelloni

LEAVE IT TO THE GOVERNMENT TO LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH

The business consultant Peter Drucker said that what we call management consists of making it difficult for people to get their work done. If I were to apply this to government, I could say it consists of making it difficult to conduct business. ESPN recently did an exposé on the charitable giving of the PGA Tour and noted that a watchdog group gave them a zero rating because they don’t give enough to the charities they support. The basic issue comes down to the fact that the PGA Tour gets tax-exempt status, and according to the report, they have been able to avoid $200 million in taxes over the past 20 years. The fact that the tour has raised over $2 billion for charities appears to mean nothing. Now, some of our so-called astute leaders in Congress want to take away the Tour’s tax-exempt status. Don’t they have more important things on their plate? A quote from the watchdog group:  “The lion’s share of the money is going to big prizes, cash prizes for athletes, and all the promotion around it, so it’s really pathetic, actually, every single taxpayer in this country ultimately is bearing the burden of having to pay the taxes for this wildly inefficient organization that’s giving so little to charity.” This makes no sense. The PGA Tour is a business. Their primary function is entertainment, at which they do a pretty good job. Each event is a major undertaking that supports a significant number of big and small businesses. The fact that the tour has decided to help charities is a bonus. I would also bet that the taxes paid by all the people employed by the tour to run each tournament and those paid by the athletes far exceed the annual exemption the tour receives. Didn’t Phil Mickelson say he pays 65% of his income in taxes? I don’t feel the burden and neither should the government.

3 Feb 2014 Corina Pelloni

PROVIDING CUSTOMER SERVICE

Teaching golf is a service industry.  It falls in the same category as restaurants, tourism, and entertainment.  The client does not have to take a lesson; he wants to take a lesson.  It is important to remember this, as golf lessons are basically luxury items. As a teaching professional we should: • Promote the game of golf. • Provide superior teaching techniques. • Deliver excellent customer service. Some interesting statistic concerning customer service: • 96% of customers who feel they were served poorly do not complain. • 90% of those who feel they were served poorly will not return for a lesson. • Each poorly served customer will tell at least nine people and some will tell over twenty. • 95% of customers will return if their problem is resolved on the spot. Providing good customer service yields “word of mouth” referrals and students who continue to take lessons. Remember to evaluate yourself by putting yourself in the customer’s shoes.  Try to imagine what it is like to take a lesson.  For instance, sometime as teaching professional we forget what it is like to be a beginning golfer. Our perception of ourselves is not always the reality.  Therefore, it is important to honestly evaluate your actions.  To grow as a teaching professional, continue your education.

14 Jan 2014 Corina Pelloni

TRAINING AIDS

As golf teaching professionals, we constantly look for ways to help our students get better.  We read books, attend continuing education classes, watch videos, and visit with other golf teaching professionals, all the while trying to learn more and become a better instructor. For anyone has been to a large golf store chain like Edwin Watts or watched  Golf Channel, we have seen numerous training aids.  Ironically enough, each piece of equipment or technique boasts that it can cure every fault in the golf swing.  Now, while it would be nice, we all know there is no quick fix or miracle pill you can take to attain the perfect golf swing. How often do you try these training aids?  Do you research the new training aids as they come into the market?  Are you investing into your own teaching career?  These are some questions you should ask yourself to make sure you are staying current on new training aids and teaching methods. When you are in one of the big golf store chains, head to the training aid section and try a few out.  While there is no reason to buy all of the training aids in the store, it might be helpful for your business to invest in a few that you think can benefit your students.   When you are trying these training aids, think about some of the common problems your current students have and imagine yourself in their shoes, asking, “Will this help me?”  If you think it will, then it will help your students get better, thus helping your business grow.  Don’t be afraid to invest in the future of your business.