Why I Teach Golf

Posted on Sep 5, 2014 |

Dedicated instructors in all subjects throughout history have drawn upon their own experience, learned skills, and native teaching ability to transfer their knowledge to their pupils. Golf instruction is no different. Anyone can aspire to the field of teaching, but only those with a near-magical blend of selfless commitment, patience, and expertise rise to master the profession. True stories abound of famous individuals who have imparted their wisdom to ascending generations, each shedding light on teaching as a noble profession. Here’s one that still resonates today: Jascha Heifetz (1901–87) was a world-famous Lithuanian-born American violinist whose Carnegie Hall début was received rapturously. Shortly after his appointment as a professor of music at the University of California, Los Angeles, Heifetz was asked what had prompted this change of direction in his career. “Violin playing is a perishable art,” said Heifetz solemnly. “It must be passed on as a personal skill; otherwise, it is lost.” Then, with a smile, he continued: “I remember my old violin professor in Russia. He said that someday I would be good enough to teach.” (From The Little, Brown Book of Anecdotes, Clifton Fadiman, General Editor; copyright © 1985 by Little, Brown and Company, Inc.)

Golf as a Perishable Art

Many bemoan the diminishing number of golfers today, citing factors such as the game’s cost, difficulty, and time requirements. One constant, though, is the importance of instruction as a touchstone throughout the player spectrum, from beginners to tour professionals. Indeed, golf would perish without the steadfast work of teachers throughout the world who transmit their command of the game to others. No matter where an individual first may encounter golf – whether from a parent or friend, through caddying, junior golf, or a school program – the arc of skill refinement most often continues through formal instruction of varying degrees. Teaching truly is an art, and golf instructors help keep the flame of golf alive. The question of why certain people select golf instruction as their life’s work elicits a variety of responses. Not everyone knows from an early age what his path will be. No matter how one discovers his direction, though, the satisfaction derived from seeing a student progress seems to be the common denominator. Love of golf plus love of teaching equals success in this chosen field.

Youthful Exposure to the Game: Pathway to a Career

ANTHONY BENNY, head golf professional at St. Andrews Golf Club in Trinidad & Tobago, is a USGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional and course examiner. He was introduced to golf at the tender age of 11, when he began caddying to save money. His teacher had challenged his school class to a moneysaving competition. Benny’s mother, who worked at St. Andrews Golf Club, suggested that Benny take up caddying for a fee of 26 cents per round. Benny won the school contest, emerging with a love of golf. His family was facing difficult times, and, Benny says, “… food was hard to come by.” One year, his mother informed the family that there would be no toys or special edibles that Christmas. So, Benny and his two brothers entered a golf tournament to help out; they walked away with one large filled hamper, more than enough for the family to enjoy the holidays. From that moment on, Benny stuck with golf, determined to ensure that his family never again would be in need of anything. This award-winning teacher’s philosophy always has been one of human development and character building. Two of Benny’s current students are Thomas Taylor-Cross, age 10, and Serena Mackenzie, 14, a member of the Trinidad & Tobago National Junior team. “Through these two,” says Benny, “I am inspired to work with both young and old, implementing my experience gained through the years. Their love for the sport, their level of commitment to my teaching, and their patience to learn inspire me and everyone else.”

USGTF Master Teaching Professional RICKY CAMPBELL also entered golf as a caddie at age 12 at Mt. Irvine Golf Club in Tobago, West Indies, where he enjoyed watching the likes of Tommy Horton, Tony Jacklin, Sam Torrance, Carl Mason, and Brian Barnes. There his childhood dream was formed: to become a golf professional – a goal that eluded him until 2003, when he began teaching golf at no cost to children at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Trinidad. A year later, he met Anthony Benny (above), who made him a part of the junior golf program at the Pointe-a-Pierre Golf Club in South Trinidad. Since then, Campbell has held several professional golf teaching positions. In December 2009, the Trinidad & Tobago Golf Association, in conjunction with the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs in Trinidad, appointed Campbell coach/coordinator for golf in Tobago, with the responsibility of promoting golf on the island via the Strive for Excellence program. In this capacity, Campbell has taken the game to most of the schools on the island. His long-term goal is to have both the primary and secondary schools competing in golf, with scholarships given to outstanding players. “I became a golf professional because it was always a childhood desire of mine,” Campbell says. “Two students who have inspired me are Mr. Clyde Abder, a university professor whose wealth of knowledge encouraged me to be the best that I can be, and  young Jordan Stevens, whose work ethic and aptitude for the sport gave me encouragement to teach.”

An active USGTF member since 1997, KEN HANLEY is another example of a successful golf instructor whose entrée into the game was as a caddie. Hanley, from Terrace Bay, Ontario, Canada, was introduced to golf at age seven, caddying for his father and other adults at his home club, Aguasabon Golf Course. There, he watched many different golfers’ swings and learned by imitating the best players. Now, at age 58, he credits those early years as a young caddie for kindling his desire to learn and understand golf swing fundamentals, not only for his own improvement, but also to become a good instructor one day. He enjoyed success as a competitive player, winning many men’s amateur championships in his home region. Over the next few years, Hanley volunteered to help club professionals with their junior and adult-beginner lesson programs, and played in many Canadian and U.S. golf teacher competitive events. Hanley draws a direct line from his caddying experience to his success as a player and instructor. “After a few years,” Hanley says, “I found myself being asked by many players I caddied for or played with what I thought they were doing wrong with their golf swings. Explaining what I learned and observed seemed to come naturally to me, and I was able to help many of them improve.” A cancer survivor, Hanley donates a percentage of all lesson fees from his Get Golf Ready learning program to help cancer patients in his home region of Ontario. He acknowledges having gained a different perspective on what is important in life. His most important goal these days, Hanley says, is to be sure that everyone he teaches or with whom he plays golf enjoys time spent together, and goes home with a smile and a better game. During the summer golf season, Hanley now teaches mostly novice players and juniors who attend the Get Golf Ready in 5 Days learning program in Ontario. He also recently launched a training aid, The Putting Stroke Teacher. He says his favorite reason for teaching golf has not changed over the years. “I really enjoy and get great satisfaction from watching my golf students’ faces light up when they execute a good solid golf shot,” says Hanley.

USGTF Master Teaching Professional PAT CHURCH also was introduced to golf as a youngster, albeit not as a caddie. Growing up, she used to observe her father, a golf instructor at New Orleans Country Club, in the late 1960s and through the ’70s. As she watched her dad and the other instructors give lessons, Church began to see that no two golfers are alike, and that each student must be taught at his own pace and within his own style. This philosophy has become even more evident to her through the years. “The greatest example of this (individualized instruction) is through my work with The First Tee and Special Olympics,” Church says. “The young players in The First Tee give me a vision of golf through simple eyes…hit the ball the best you can, then go hit it again. The Special Olympics golfers have an even more simplistic view… just being at the golf course is a treat! Good shot, bad shot, any shot is a joy!” Church says the attitudes of her Special Olympians have taught her about patience and the true meaning of golf. Her work with Special Olympics has taken her to Athens, Greece, as a golf coach for Team USA in the 2011 World Games, and this summer she will be in Princeton, New Jersey, as the golf coach for Team Oregon in the USA Games. “All of my teaching has evolved from the lessons my dad gave and taught me,” says Church. “I watch and learn from the instructors I work with, as well as the children of The First Tee and especially the Special Olympics athletes. I have every intention of continuing on this journey through the game of golf for many years to come.”

MATT SMITH, a USGTF Level III instructor since 2008, is the director of golf instruction at Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City, Ohio. A competitive player since he was eight years old, with a strong desire to learn everything he could about the golf swing, he says he knew for many years that he would be a golf professional. As a lifelong stutterer, Smith has found that golf inspires him to reach for his best. “Golf has helped me build confidence,” says Smith, “and now I give two thousand lessons each year. I am motivated by success, and my success comes from my students’ improvement. It is addicting to be able to work with a student who is struggling, to see him smile and say, ‘I understand it now.’” Smith recently began working with Avery Dixon, a seventh grader who has had four heart surgeries. “I have enjoyed seeing Avery grow and helping him understand that golf teaches us about life,” Smith says.

Later Discovery of Golf: Same Passion for Instruction

Not everyone has the good fortune to stroll right into golf as a youth. The age at which one is introduced to the game seems to have no effect on the passion one brings to the profession. JOHN LINTON, a Level III USGTF Certified Golf Professional since 1999, was introduced to golf in 1971 while serving with the U.S. Air Force in Ubon, Thailand, and found he “…immediately was consumed by the game.” He began learning by reading books and watching videos, as well as by engaging in a lot of trial-and-error practice. Realizing golf could be taught and learned, and that there were few children and minority people playing golf, he started the EAGLE Golf Academy with the help of friend Grady Elliott and others, and the permission of the Commander at the Cedars Golf Course at Bergstom AFB, Texas. In the late 1990s, The First Tee came to Austin, Texas, and Linton’s program became affiliated with this national initiative. One of Linton’s most memorable experiences came in 2002, when he was chosen to escort two students from the Austin Chapter to Kansas State University, site of the Earl Woods Academy. Linton fi nds that his teaching methodology has remained constant. “The USGTF, with its American Golf Teaching style, touts fundamental skills development,” Linton says. “My golf teaching philosophy coincides with this and hasn’t changed over the years. The key is being able to correctly diagnose the problem and apply the simple fix.” Linton’s wife also fell in love with golf and golf travel. In fact, Linton believes they are the only husband-andwife couple who have traveled to and played a round of golf in each of the 50 United States. They finished in July 3013 at Mendenhall Golf Course, at the foot of the Great Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska. “You might say that for us, golf is a third family member,” says Linton.

KATHY HESTER, a certified USGTF member since 1992 and a Class A member of the LPGA since 2002, didn’t  learn to play golf until she was 26. A softball teammate exposed her to golf; she fell in love with it from the first day and subsequently quit softball cold turkey. “Most people who have achieved what I have learned how to play golf at a very young age,” says Hester. “I didn’t have that opportunity. I guess that is why I am so passionate about exposing as many young people to the game as I can. It just wasn’t there for me.” Hester began working relentlessly at golf. “One day I decided I had worked enough, studied enough, and I knew enough that I could teach someone else this great game!” Hester says. “I didn’t know at first how rewarding it was going to be, but I found out pretty fast how I could change people’s very lives.” As the owner and lead instructor of On Target Golf Schools Vicksburg/Jackson, Mississippi, and owner of On Target Golf Center of Vicksburg, an indoor-outdoor practice and training center, Hester has the opportunity to work with a wide variety of students, many of whom have inspired her, such as Casey Russell. Hester worked with him beginning when he was 13 years old. Casey practiced hard, resulting in his rise to the position as number-one player on his high school golf team by his senior year, followed by a college golf scholarship. Hester has no trouble identifying the reason she chose golf instruction as her life’s work. “The reason I teach golf has not changed,” she says. “I absolutely love it! I would rather give a lesson to somebody than eat! My goals are to spread the gospel of golf to as many people on the planet as I can. The ‘greatest game ever played’ changes people’s lives for the better. It makes children grow up to be better people.”