Golf instruction
Encyclopedia
Golf instruction involves the teaching and learning of the game of golf
.
Proficiency in teaching golf instruction requires not only technical and physical ability, but also knowledge of the rules and etiquette of the game
. Golf instruction is best performed by recognised teachers certified by the relevant bodies; in the United States, the recommended teachers are those who are PGA Class A Professionals although many of the greatest teachers are not affiliated to the PGA . Instructors use a combination of physical conditioning, mental visualization, classroom sessions, club fitting, driving range instruction, on-course play under real conditions, and review of videotaped swings in slow motion to teach golf.
Beginning players typically receive a series of lessons, in either a group or individual setting, covering the fundamentals of the golf swing and aspects of pitching, chipping, and putting. Experienced recreational players often return for instruction, either to fix a specific problem they are encountering or to improve their game. Reconstruction of a golf swing to reach a high level of play often involves series of lessons over an extended period of time. Junior golfers often begin receiving instruction by age 10 or younger, and often retain private teachers even when coached on a high school golf team.
Some top instructors who work with professional golfers have become quite well known in their own right over the years, including Harvey Penick
, Jack Grout
, Dick Harmon
, Jim McLean, David Leadbetter
, Butch Harmon
, Hank Haney
, Richard Trammel, Ben Doyle, Mike Bender Sean Foley
, Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer
. Some of the teachers maintain teaching facilities or schools, such as the Jim McLean Golf Schools or the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, where they or their disciples use their methods or systems. A few instructors focus solely on a particular aspect of the sport, such as Dave Pelz
with the short game and Bob Rotella with the mental game. Some famous golfers have been tightly bound with their instructor, such as Jack Nicklaus
with Jack Grout, while in other cases golfers have made high-profile switches from one instructor to another, such as Tiger Woods
moving from Butch Harmon to various other instructors.
Recreational golfers are constantly seeking tips on how to improve, and the major golf publications such as Golf Magazine
and Golf Digest
devote substantial portions of their pages to instructional material of various kinds, often written by top-level instructors. Even television broadcasts of professional golf tournaments often contain short instructional segments, delivered by commentators who are also instructors such as Peter Kostis
.
Golf instruction may be augmented by training aids such as specially weighting or jointed clubs, putting cups for practice on the den room carpet, mini practice tees with feedback for use in garages, and so forth. Some training aids are sold via television infomercials and the more peculiar varieties were satirized in the 1996 film Tin Cup
.
Golf instruction is no guarantee of success or improved play in the game. Bad mechanics can be deeply ingrained in a subject's swing, and psychological factors can also hinder progress. The 2009 Golf Channel program The Haney Project: Charles Barkley showcased some of these issues, as Hank Haney attempted to fix former NBA great Charles Barkley
's infamously bad swing.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
.
Proficiency in teaching golf instruction requires not only technical and physical ability, but also knowledge of the rules and etiquette of the game
Rules of golf
The rules of golf are a standard set of regulations and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and administered by the R&A the governing body of golf worldwide except in the United States and Mexico, which are the responsibility of the United States Golf...
. Golf instruction is best performed by recognised teachers certified by the relevant bodies; in the United States, the recommended teachers are those who are PGA Class A Professionals although many of the greatest teachers are not affiliated to the PGA . Instructors use a combination of physical conditioning, mental visualization, classroom sessions, club fitting, driving range instruction, on-course play under real conditions, and review of videotaped swings in slow motion to teach golf.
Beginning players typically receive a series of lessons, in either a group or individual setting, covering the fundamentals of the golf swing and aspects of pitching, chipping, and putting. Experienced recreational players often return for instruction, either to fix a specific problem they are encountering or to improve their game. Reconstruction of a golf swing to reach a high level of play often involves series of lessons over an extended period of time. Junior golfers often begin receiving instruction by age 10 or younger, and often retain private teachers even when coached on a high school golf team.
Some top instructors who work with professional golfers have become quite well known in their own right over the years, including Harvey Penick
Harvey Penick
Harvey Morrison Penick was an American golf professional and coach, who coached many Hall of Fame players. Late in life, he became a best-selling writer. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002, seven years after his death.-Golf career:Penick was born in Austin, Texas...
, Jack Grout
Jack Grout
John Frederick "Jack" Grout was an American professional golfer who competed on the PGA Tour from 1931 to 1953. He is best-known as the ‘first and only’ golf teacher of Jack Nicklaus.-Early career:...
, Dick Harmon
Dick Harmon
Dick Harmon was one of America's top golf instructors with clients including Fred Couples, Jay Haas, Craig Stadler, Lanny Wadkins, Steve Elkington and 2009 U.S. Open winner Lucas Glover....
, Jim McLean, David Leadbetter
David Leadbetter (golf instructor)
David Leadbetter is a leading golf instructor, originally from Worthing in England. He began his career on the European and Southern African tours, but had little success as a player...
, Butch Harmon
Butch Harmon
Claude "Butch" Harmon, Jr. is an American golf instructor and former professional player. He is the son of 1948 Masters Tournament champion Claude Harmon, Sr. and has been in the golf industry since 1965.-Early life:...
, Hank Haney
Hank Haney
Hank Haney is an American professional golf instructor best known for coaching Tiger Woods and two-time major championship winner Mark O'Meara...
, Richard Trammel, Ben Doyle, Mike Bender Sean Foley
Sean Foley (golf instructor)
Sean Foley is a Canadian golf instructor, who has coached Sean O'Hair, Hunter Mahan, Stephen Ames and Parker McLachlin, and other PGA Tour professionals. He has coached Justin Rose since the end of 2009. Foley also coaches Canadian PGA Tour player Chris Baryla, and LPGA Tour player Julieta Granada...
, Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer
Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer
Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer are a duo of golf instructors who have coached PGA Tour players Charlie Wi, Steve Elkington, Tom Scherrer, Grant Waite, Troy Matteson, Bill Lunde, Mike Weir and Aaron Baddeley, among others...
. Some of the teachers maintain teaching facilities or schools, such as the Jim McLean Golf Schools or the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, where they or their disciples use their methods or systems. A few instructors focus solely on a particular aspect of the sport, such as Dave Pelz
Dave Pelz
Dave Pelz is a United States golf coach, known for his expertise and published writing on the art of the short game, particularly putting.Pelz's Short Game Bible was a New York Times “national best-seller” in 1999. Pelz was named by Golf Digest magazine as one of the 25 most influential instructors...
with the short game and Bob Rotella with the mental game. Some famous golfers have been tightly bound with their instructor, such as Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
with Jack Grout, while in other cases golfers have made high-profile switches from one instructor to another, such as Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
moving from Butch Harmon to various other instructors.
Recreational golfers are constantly seeking tips on how to improve, and the major golf publications such as Golf Magazine
Golf Magazine
Golf Magazine is a monthly golf magazine owned by Time Inc.. It was started in 1960 by Universal Publishing and Distributing, who sold it to Times Mirror in 1972. Time Inc. acquired it in 2000. It was the world's most widely read golf publication from August 2006 to January 2007. The magazine is...
and Golf Digest
Golf Digest
Golf Digest is a monthly golf magazine published by Condé Nast Publications in the United States. It is a generalist golf publication covering recreational golf and men's and women's competitive golf. Condé Nast Publications also publishes the more specialized , and Golf World Business. The...
devote substantial portions of their pages to instructional material of various kinds, often written by top-level instructors. Even television broadcasts of professional golf tournaments often contain short instructional segments, delivered by commentators who are also instructors such as Peter Kostis
Peter Kostis
Peter Kostis is an American golf analyst and instructor.Kostis is a world-renowned golf instructor and has been a member of the Golf Digest teaching staff for over 20 years. Among his many students are Paul Casey, Chez Reavie, Bernhard Langer, Steve Elkington, Dan Marino, Maury Povich, and Mike...
.
Golf instruction may be augmented by training aids such as specially weighting or jointed clubs, putting cups for practice on the den room carpet, mini practice tees with feedback for use in garages, and so forth. Some training aids are sold via television infomercials and the more peculiar varieties were satirized in the 1996 film Tin Cup
Tin Cup
Tin Cup is a 1996 romantic comedy film co-written and directed by Ron Shelton, and starring Kevin Costner and Rene Russo with Cheech Marin and Don Johnson in major supporting roles.-Synopsis:...
.
Golf instruction is no guarantee of success or improved play in the game. Bad mechanics can be deeply ingrained in a subject's swing, and psychological factors can also hinder progress. The 2009 Golf Channel program The Haney Project: Charles Barkley showcased some of these issues, as Hank Haney attempted to fix former NBA great Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley
Charles Wade Barkley is a former American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Sir Charles" and "The Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's most dominating power forwards...
's infamously bad swing.