3 Jul 2018

Marketing Yourself In The Summer

By Ben Bryant USGTF contributing writer

For those of us in the golf business, the summer season can be a challenge. In Florida, the summer months are so unbearably hot that many people can’t imagine being outside at all, much less playing a round of golf for four hours. As a golf teacher, how do I make the most of one of the slower times of the year? Even if you live up north where the summer might be the only time to play and practice, these tips could still make a difference in growing your clientele:

Capitalize on the major tournaments

If you check out Google search trends for “golf” on a yearly basis, you can see how interest in the sport spikes right around the beginning of April, which just happens to coincide with the Masters tournament. The dates of last year’s U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship also reveal similar spikes in attraction. As a golf teacher, it would be most prudent to time any advertising or special discounts with the weekends of these tournaments as further incentive to get those new potential clients out on the course or the range for a lesson or two.

Organize children’s summer camps

We’ve all heard in recent years about how golf participation is down from the highs of the early 2000s. And it’s true, except for one demographic: youth participation is at an all-time high. As the summer approaches, working parents will be looking for ways to occupy Little Johnny or Little Sally for the two months school is not in session. Offering half-day or full-day summer camp programs give you an opportunity to make inroads with that ever-growing golf demographic.

Give demos to schools and local businesses

Speaking of schools, offering free demonstrations toward the end of the school year can be a great way to make sure your planned summer camp program is full of participants. Check your local school district calendar to find out when high-stakes testing is completed, and schools may be more willing to allow you on campus to distribute materials or ask for sign-ups. Offering to provide breakfast for a school faculty or local businesses workers can also be a great way to make connections, which will result in more clients.

Tap into the tourism of your area

Changes in the weather mean changes in who travels to your area. To use Florida as an example once again, the summer months tend to see an overall slowing of tourism, but also a change in the types of tourists. Elderly tourists, for example, tend to head back up north. But there’s a corresponding increase in Europeans due to the reduced hotel and resort rates during the summer months. Any advertising specials you offer on golf lessons should take these changes into account.

The summer might be a slow time of year for golf, but the rules of a good business still apply. Continue marketing yourself and working to get new clients, and the summer won’t have to be the doldrums of the years.
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2 Jul 2018

Does Golf Need A Shot Clock?

By Mike Stevens, USGTF contributing writer

I love watching the European Tour. They are not afraid to try different things. A few weeks ago, I turned on the Austrian Open on Golf Channel one morning and as I watched a player get ready to hit a shot, a clock was ticking down on the television screen. Oh yeah, I remembered this was the tournament where a shot clock was introduced.

Each player had 40 seconds to play a shot or incur a penalty of one shot. Players were also allowed to call a timeout twice per round, giving them twice the allotted time to put the ball in play. It was fantastic, and the action was nonstop. No incessant watching a player spend several minutes preparing to hit a shot he practices about every day of his life. Two fellows taking five and a half hours to play 18 holes is ridiculous regardless of how much money is at stake.

Slow play on the professional tours is a common complaint. Maybe some drastic measures need to be taken. A look at the results of this experiment might surprise some. Round times were down significantly. Threesomes were playing in under four hours. Guess what else? Average scores were better. The winner was 16 under par. Not shocking to me. I know that when I just get up and hit the ball without much thought, I almost always hit it better. The more time, the more negative thoughts have a way of creeping in and the more anxiety. I’d like to see this tried on all tours. Maybe not for the majors, but at a routine stop, it just might make for a more interesting event.

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15 Jun 2018

Music…Good Or Bad For Golf?

By Cole Golden, WGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional

At this year’s Zurich Championship, the two-man teams started their match by walking out to the first tee accompanied by the music of their choice.  Some players went for old-school rock music, while others selected today’s Top 40 hits.  Most reactions were extremely positive.  Players liked it; fans liked it.  Is this a trend that will continue?

About four years ago, I remember hearing music for the first time on the golf course.   A member added speakers to his personal golf cart.  At first I was not a fan at all.  It bothered me for some reason; maybe it was his choice of music!  Now on a Saturday at our club, almost every group has music playing, either through small speakers or installed on a personal golf cart.

This is a trend, I think, that is here to stay.  Many tour players warm up with earbuds in while listening to music.  Other amateurs want to relax and enjoy their round, adding music to the ambiance.  More often than not, new golf carts almost always include built-in speakers and USB jacks.

As with anything, music on the course can be abused.  I hope players don’t add extremely loud speakers that can be heard from one end of the course to the other.  It is also important that music lovers are respectful of other athletes who do not like distractions during their round.  As golf morphs to appeal to younger generations, music will be part of the experience.
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12 Jun 2018

Be Prepared, No Matter The Forecast!

By, Cole Golden, WGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional

Last weekend, I attended the USGTF Southwest Region Championship hosted at Ridgeview Ranch Golf Club in Plano, Texas. The two-day event was held over the weekend. I left Kansas on Thursday afternoon, and prior to packing I looked at the forecast, which called for temperatures in the low 90s and ZERO chance of rain!

Saturday’s forecast was spot-on, hot and windy. While at dinner that evening, afternoon showers were added to the weather report; no big deal for our event, since we were teeing off in the morning. Sunday morning, I woke up to the sound of rain outside my hotel window. A few afternoon showers had turned into rain all day.

As you can guess, I didn’t come prepared. When I packed my car in Kansas, I removed my umbrella, extra towels, weather-proof pullover and bucket hat out of my golf bag. Why? I really don’t know. I assumed that the weather wouldn’t change that much in a few days! So when tournament director Bruce Sims said it was time to play, in the rain, I went into panic mode.

Fortunately for me, a few of my fellow playing competitors had some items I could borrow. I procured rain pants, a jacket and a few towels. Teeing off without being prepared for the weather was a horrible feeling. I was nervous about keeping my grips dry; I was a mess. It rained for the next few hours until the storms turned into a pretty nice afternoon.

On the drive back home, I laughed at myself. If this had happened to one of my students, they would have gotten a lecture! I would have told them that they need to be prepared for any type of inclement weather and that it’s better to have too much than not enough. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been playing the game. Sometimes we are reminded of the basics, like being prepared, the hard way!
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1 Jun 2018

Hooray For Recognizing That Women Might Like Golf

By Mike Stevens, USGTF contributing writer

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club just unveiled a new Women in Golf Charter as a drive to encourage more women and girls to play the game and work in the industry. Only a couple of centuries too late, but at least they have acknowledged that their behavior toward the fair sex has been woeful over the years. The new executive director of the R&A, Martin Slumbers, has thrown his full support behind the effort, which is nice to see from an organization that didn’t even allow women into their clubhouse. Men have a right to have their own club as do women, I get it. But there have been too many times when men have purposely discouraged females from taking up the game.

If growth is an objective – and it is, according to everyone associated with the sport – then getting more women and girls to play would seem a no-brainer. Nice to see Augusta National adding a women’s amateur tournament next year and their fantastic support of the Drive, Chip and Putt event. We need as many major golf associations and leaders to push such efforts. Every initiative needs champions to push to a next level. Looks like the effort is taking place. Let’s hope it bears fruit.
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10 May 2018

The Proof Is In – You Can’t Buy A Game

By Mike Stevens, USGTF contributing writer

Just ran across a study by a group named ARCCOS, a golf-tracking statistics organization that found over the last three years the average golfer has actually lost distance. Can it be? With all the technology involved in golf these days, from launch monitors to TrackMan to speed slots, the average golfer has lost about three yards. Maybe it is time to refer to that Shakespeare line, “A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Or, as Barnum may or may not have said, there’s one born every minute. Now, I don’t know how many drivers have been introduced over the past three years, but I’d guess in the hundreds. Every club was touted as the longest ever assembled. Yet, for all that $500 or more invested, the net result – three yards less.

Time to be honest. Golf requires effort. I didn’t become good because of my wallet. I spent hours on the range applying sound fundamental techniques. I rehearsed specific motions over and over until they became second nature. Only after that did I settle on a set of clubs that gave me good results. Did I try a new driver now and then? Of course; it’s human nature to fall for the hype sometimes. But the real secret to improving one’s game is to develop a swing that encompasses a good path and getting the clubhead squarely on the ball, then doing it time after time. If it was simply about equipment, then everyone would be good.
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23 Apr 2018

Regional Events

By Cole Golden, WGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional

Earlier in April, the Masters golf tournament was contested. For many people in the United States, it symbolizes the official start of the golf season. In the colder parts of the nation – especially those of us in the Midwest or further north – the season is beginning to kick off. With the excitement of a new golf season building, it is time to start planning your calendar for events.

First and foremost, you should plan an October trip to the United States Golf Teachers Cup, which will combine with the Canadian Golf Teachers Cup in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Other golfers might also plan on trying to qualify for the U.S. Open, Senior U.S. Open, Monday qualifiers for Web.com events or other tournaments. One opportunity often overlooked is playing in the USGTF regional events.

Regional events are great for a number of reasons. It’s an opportunity to work on your tournament game. Meeting fellow USGTF members who are somewhat local to your area is a great networking avenue. One of my favorite things about these events is the “teaching talk.” There is a lot of knowledge sharing amongst members, and it’s a great way to learn through experiences both on the course and during the social events.

If you haven’t played in a regional event, challenge yourself to play in one this year. Take advantage of the networking opportunities and meet new people. It is also a great motivator to work on your game. For more information about regional events, go to www.usgtfmembers.com or call the home office at 1-888-346-3290. I hope to see you at a regional event soon!
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14 Apr 2018

Passing The Torch

By Thomas T Wartelle, WGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional

I never saw my Pop play a round of golf. I saw him hit a golf ball only once in my life. He hit a left-handed persimmon wood about 250 yards with a draw. Although he followed me while I played, or caddied for me many times, I never saw him hit another golf ball again. Pop still smiles when I tell him about my golf and loves to hear about my son’s (his grandson’s) golfing achievements.

When Pop was with me on the golf course, he was always supportive. He knew the difficulties of the game of golf. I think he saw golf as a parallel to life. When I wanted to turn pro, he immediately said, go do it. Never once did he question my decision to choose golf. He saw many of my ups and downs. He always encouraged me to continue. When I told him I was going to Europe to play professionally, he said to go chase the dream. I never saw Pop outwardly worry about anything. As a man of great faith, he always believed in try to do your best and things will work themselves out.

Pop had two sports figures that he always admired: Ted Williams and Arnold Palmer. Arnold Palmer was the same age, height, and weight as Pop. Pop liked Arnold’s strength and grit. Mr. Palmer always conducted himself with grace and class. He was a fierce competitor, but he treated people with respect and dignity that they deserved. He transformed and inspired generations of people.

Pop admired Ted Williams’ work ethic and skill. The “Splendid Splinter” went on to lifetime batting average of .344. He was the last Major League player to bat over .400 in a season. Like many men of his generation, Ted Williams was a veteran. He willingly served his country, twice sacrificing prime years of his baseball career.

Pop, Ted, and Arnold were similar men. They dealt with life’s ups and downs. Each paving their way to be true heroes in their own right. They were a generation of men that should not be forgotten.

One of my fondest memories with Pop was a U.S. Open qualifier a few years back. I was playing well. The final hole was a real tight par four that I had previously struggled with the tee shot. I glanced over to him, and he had a look of serenity on his face. I hit a perfect tee shot followed by a wedge to 15 feet. After the birdie putt dropped, Pop said, “I always knew you were going to make it.” I shot 67 that round. I felt like I really made him proud. Unfortunately, I missed out of going to the Big Show by one shot. On the ride home, I bought Pop a Budweiser. Sitting there, he looked at me said, “I know you will get them next time.” Later in life, I realized that I made him proud just by simply having the courage and grit to chase my dreams.

Thanks to the “Greatest Generation,” I will always be a fan of Ted’s Tribe, Arnie’s Army, and Pop’s Platoon. They taught us to fight and persevere. But it didn’t end there. They taught us to love, respect, and use your wits to continually move forward to the future.

Pop, I promise to teach my son to work hard and birdie the next hole!
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29 Mar 2018

Understanding The Motive

By David Vaught, USGTF Master Professional

Occasionally we are all confronted with a deep-meaning question from someone that requires quite a bit of reflection. It could be a colleague, peer, student, or family member. As I have progressed through the years in my golf career, I get asked the following question more and more often: “How did you get where you are today in the golf business?”

A few years ago, when confronted with this question by a young aspiring golf professional, I was caught completely off guard, but the answer popped into my head unexpectedly. Before I reveal that epiphany, I must say after that day I began to notice a similar motive for almost every successful golf instructor I have come across the last half of my career.

Thinking back to the very early years of my golf career, I could come up with some very easy answers. For example, I was starving when I got my first golf job. Therefore, eating was a good motivator. I needed a car that didn’t break down every week. I wanted to impress a potential girlfriend, and being homeless doesn’t lend itself to good first impressions. Besides what young guy doesn’t have someone of interest they want to impress?

Don’t be misled. Not all instructors are motivated the same. I have met several instructors that have had different motivations. Some thought it was an easy alternative to selling insurance or working in sales, etc., etc. Others were motivated by the money; $80 an hour sounds like a good gig. Others were looking for the next young superstar they could groom into a tour player and then parlay that into big-ticket success.

Does the enjoyment of doing what you love trump the enjoyment you can receive out of the money you make? I am not wise enough to answer that one, but many will say doing what you love day in and day out is very important to truly being happy in life. Now let’s bring this back to golf and my answer. I responded to the question like this: “All I can remember trying to do was help someone receive greater joy and have more fun playing this game. If I could to add joy to their life, I was happy, and the rest took care of itself”.

Honestly, that was always my motivation. I somehow figured out that by having that one simple objective, everything else fell into place. I do not claim to be consciously aware of that all the time, but looking back, that is exactly what was in my mind somewhere. It guided me.

I made some money. I won awards. I received accolades from my peers. I received admiration from those that cared about me. All from that single motivation: bringing people joy by helping them play better golf. For me, that was through lessons and equipment. I look back now on what I have accomplished, modest by some standards and significant by others, and I have a very hard time believing I did all of that! I do realize it somehow just came from that single heartfelt desire. I do also remember often feeling desperate as to how I was going to help them play better. It could have been lying in bed dreaming up a new drill to fix their swing or not giving up until I found the right shaft they needed to improve their ball flight. Whatever it took.

Again, I would say that the clear majority of successful golf professionals share that motivation. I know it works. That could mean going the extra mile, giving more effort, spending more time, or being more patient.

It is not exactly earth shattering or even that profound. It is simple. I guess much like the mantra Harvey Penick lived and taught by. That piece of advice is the best advice I can offer someone that is entertaining a career in golf, especially teaching or equipment. Love to see them get better, love to see them improve, love to see them have a great day enjoying this game. If you are trying to help them do that, it will all come to you. You may not make millions, but your heart will be full, people will notice and you will have the gratification that money does not always buy.
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27 Feb 2018

Teachers Need To Avoid The Perfection Syndrome

By Mark Harman USGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional

In our scientific age where we can measure to the tenth of a degree a golfer’s swing path and clubface angle, it can be addicting to try to reach perfection or near-perfection in results or technique. When you hear gurus on TV break down a top professional’s swing, they often point to most minute details to explain why said golfer is either succeeding or failing.

This attention to detail, while on the surface plausible, can actually be detrimental to a golfer, regardless of skill level. One of the truisms of a golf swing is that it is more important to have a repeating swing than a perfect swing. And some of the repeating swings that our students make can often be quite bewildering, but they indeed repeat.

Perhaps the most unconventional swing I’ve ever seen from a low-handicapper went like this: The golfer shoved the club dramatically away from him, perpendicular to the target line. He then somehow got to the top of his backswing, and coming down after impact, he chicken-winged the club so badly that the butt end of the grip hit him in the stomach. When I first saw this, I thought he was making a joke swing, but he was not.

It takes some skill and experience to recognize when a move is repeatable and when it’s not. When there is a question, always refer back to the five ball flight laws of clubhead path, clubface angle, angle of attack, squareness of the strike and clubhead speed. If a quirky move doesn’t affect the consistency of one of these factors, then it’s a repeatable move. As the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
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