TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
CATEGORY I - Beginners
Beginning golfers must be taught using repetitive, structured mechanical sequences that are essential for building muscle memory. By teaching beginners using drills that are easy to repeat and not time consuming, the student can develop a quality practice regimen that transfers muscle memory into “feel”. By concentrating on the quality of practice rather than the quantity, the student is able to develop his/her golfing skills without becoming bored.
CATEGORY II - Intermediate
When working with the intermediate student, the instructor must first analyze the student’s swing mechanics to ascertain his/her ability and whether change will be beneficial. Caution must be used when advocating change as most students get worse before they improve, which can be discouraging. The student must desire to change and be willing to put in the time required into attaining the desired results.
Once the instructor pinpoints the area where students need to change, the instructor must be careful not to bombard the student with a barrage of information. One of the major problems with most golf schools is that too much information is given to the student in a short time. It is better to provide intensive instruction and gain improvements in one area than to try to correct an array of problems all at once. The Dave Pelz School is a perfect example of successful employment of this philosophy.
CATEGORY III - The Low Handicap Player
The low handicap golfer is the most difficult to teach. These students have a good game and usually seek instruction only for an isolated problem. The instructor must analyze the student’s game and render improvement with as few adjustments as possible. If a player is capable of shooting a 75, the instructor should not try to reinvent his/her swing. “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”
By recognizing the differences in players and problems adjusting the teaching patterns accordingly, a golf instructor will establish credibility with the students. That credibility combined with a demonstrated enthusiasm for golf and teaching will do much for establishing a successful teaching program. |
