A Review of Teaching Techniques
Golf has always seen a proliferation of teachers touting “new” or “better” ways to swing a golf club than what is considered conventional. The reason that these methods gain traction is that there are golfers who actually play better with them than with the “conventional” swing. Some teachers of these methods, unfortunately, become quite militant in saying that their way is the “only” way for all golfers to play the game. Their...
Byron Nelson on Teaching Golf
This article first appeared in the Spring 1996 edition of Golf Teaching Pro, and is another in a series of looking back through the magazine archives. This interview with Byron Nelson was compiled by USGTF contributing writer Russ Pate and has never appeared in any other publication except for Golf Teaching Pro. The article is Nelson’s first person account on his thoughts on teaching golf. By the time I got my first pro job in...
The Evolution of the Golf Swing as Dictated by Equipment
From wooden golf balls to modern urethanecovered rockets, from tree branches to graphite- shafted aerodynamic titanium clubheads, the golf swing has evolved along with changes in the equipment used throughout the years. Here is a primer of how the golf swing has changed in response to the equipment being used at the time. Feathery golf balls The feathery was made by stuffing wet goose feathers into a leather pouch, sewing the pouch...
How I Teach Golf
At my golf academy, our teaching philosophy and methods are innovative. We use a combination of “old-style feel” with the latest in technology. We specialize in golfers who are serious about moving to the next level. Training includes all aspects of the game with a focus on: Swing Mechanics Short Game Tournament Preparation Techniques Mental Focus for Tournament Golf Fitness Training The goal of my academy is to create a positive...
Balance is the Key to Great Ball Striking
Before driving ranges, most pros shagged their own balls. They would hit balls from one end of a field, walk to the other end, and hit them back. Pros needed endurance and accuracy. An unintended benefit was that they’d focus on most of their shots so they didn’t have to go all over hell’s half-acre picking up balls. From the ages of 14 to 19, Moe Norman shagged more than one million golf balls, most of them in a 225- yard field at...
Teaching Amputee Golfers
One of the most important things to an amputee is to fi nd some sort of physical activity. It lifts their spirits and gives them the feeling that they can accomplish more than just being able to walk. They must fi nd a place where they can have fun. Some have found golf. There are many associations they can join, should they seek a competitive outlet. There are numerous clinics conducted across the United States that are sponsored by...
Fixing a Student’s Hook
Most of the time, we find ourselves teaching beginners and novices, or intermediates who have typical problems such as over-the-top, slicing, etc. From a technical viewpoint, teaching beginners and novices isn’t that difficult, because we mainly focus on the basics of setup and a good rudimentary swing motion. Teaching intermediates with typical problems is still not overly strenuous from a technical viewpoint. Their problems tend to...
A Challenge to Golf Course Owners
As a golf course owner or manager, you are always expected to look for ways to increase your bottom line and explore opportunities to promote your facility. My question to you is this: have you looked at all types of golfers to reach this goal? I would like to introduce to you a larger, growing group of golfers that has visited your facility at least once a week for years. This foursome is made up from one family, a grandfather,...
Five Strategic Questions Every Golf Club Manager Should Know
Today, there are approximately 17,000 golf clubs in the United States and an equivalent number worldwide. With many golf facilities and courses being constructed annually and the industry continuing to grow, there is a need for more qualified and effective golf club managers in the golf industry. The United States Golf Managers Association is dedicated to training and certifying golf club managers nationally and internationally to...
What Makes a Good Test?
At the risk of having any future invitations to Augusta National revoked, I wanted to point out what I consider a fl aw in the current design from the championship tees: there are too many holes that are too similar in length. Take the yardage of four of the par-4s on the first nine: 455, 455, 450, 460. Not much variety there, wouldn’t you say? The two par-5s measure 570 and 575 – again, not much variety. The second nine at the...
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