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GOLF TEACHING PRO%u00ae 12 WINTER 2O26standard of the player, a good instructor will make him better. It is important that any learning situation should focus toward success. The attitude of the teaching professional and student should be characterized by two qualities: an open mind to receive new ideas and an enquiring mind to question new ideas.%u2022 Organization. Learning is based upon memory and students will recall more information when the material is organized. Think of our memory system like a file cabinet. The more organized the material is filed the easier it is retrieved. Thus, instructors need to devise their lesson plans. This allows the student to easily organize the material. Teaching is about creating environments that enable players to develop at their optimal rate. The brain is a powerful instrument. If we can find a simple way to correct a fault, we can have immediate results. But often, when a golfer finds a way to correct a fault, he thinks that after a few shots that all is cured. In reality, to produce a correct repeating motion, one has to age the correct motion until it is ingrained and have a clear mental focus with a simple thought to produce the correct movement%u2022 Use both blocked and random practice. Blocked practice (practicing the same skill under the same conditions) leads to more rapid gains in performance but limited transfer when variability is introduced. Random practice (adding variability and interleaving practice types) slows learning but improves retention and transfer which directly correlates to real golf course situations faced during a round.Random practice is a must when taking a golfer to another level. A good formula when developing players is to use blocked practice during the earlier parts of a session, and then have random practice predominantly in the remainder of the session.Providing Customer ServiceTeaching 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:%u2022 Promote the game of golf.%u2022 Provide superior teaching techniques.%u2022 Deliver excellent customer service.Some interesting statistics concerning customer service:%u2022 96% of customers who feel they were served poorly do not complain.%u2022 90% of those who feel they were served poorly will not return for a lesson.%u2022 Each poorly served customer will tell at least nine people and some will tell over 20.%u2022 95% of customers will return if their problem is resolved on the spot.Providing good customer service yields %u201cword of mouth%u201d referrals and students who continue to take lessons.Remember to evaluate yourself by putting yourself in the customer%u2019s shoes. Try to imagine what it is like to take a lesson. For instance, sometimes as teaching professionals 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.Continue Your Growth as a Golf Instructor/CoachTo be a successful golf instructor, continue to invest in your own education and growth as a teacher and player. Invest wisely into modern technology such as video, launch monitors, pressure plates, and other useful applications. Attend seminars and listen to other coaches' podcasts. Sharpen your tools and continue to add to your toolbox. Regardless of your swing philosophy or teaching methods, be open to new ideas, technology, and research.It is important to find your teaching style. My teaching philosophy and methods are a combination of \believe in a one-swing-for-all method. We look to make students more efficient and ultimately achieve the moment of truth %u2013 impact.Lastly, have a mission statement for your goals as an instructor. My mission is to grow the game while developing golfers into champions in golf and life. The game of golf has been %u201cthe profession of a lifetime%u201d for me. Therefore, I put great emphasis on paying it forward. Be passionate about the game of golf. See you on the range!KNOWLEDGE THOMAS T. WARTELLE