Building your Team

Attached is an article that one of my longtime students Deb Mielke wrote the other day.  It describes how important building a team for the success of your golf game is. 

http://www.suite101.com/content/it-takes-a-team-a291632

AMF Teacher's Conference

The Four Seasons Resort and Club/Dallas played host to the AMF Teacher's Conference over the last two days.  150 Teaching Professionals, 25-30 being Top 100 instructors, from around the country attended.  The seminar focused on educating the attendees in areas of fullswing instruction, putting, green reading, sports psychology, injury prevention and understanding your market value to your club.  Chuck Cook, Stan Utley, Gio Valiente, Rick Jensen and Dr. Troy Van Biezen were some of the featured speakers. 
Maybe the most interesting, to me, of all the presentations was on green reading by a company called Aim Point.  Mark Sweeney is the inventor.  He gave a ground breaking talk on a very proven way to read greens accurately every time.  His software is what's being used currently during golf telecasts where a line is drawn to indicate the break of the putt. 
AMF is a association founded about 4 years ago to provide its members with top tier education, increased marketing capabilities and an opportunity to network for some of the most coveted jobs in the country.  They have a Teaching, Club Professional and Assistant Golf division.

Talent's Overrated

I read a very good book recently called Talent's Overrated by Geoff Colvin.  The book researches what really separates the truly great performers.  From their research with some of the best performers in sports, chess, music and business experts suggest that these greats are not necessarily born to be great.  They have been trained over many years to hone their craft.
A key component in the training is how you practice or prepare for your craft.  It's called deliberate practice.  It involves repetition to the highest degree over the course of thousands of hours.  In sports, chess, music and business the results were amazingly similar.
It's a very good read and a great manual for those really wanting to improve their craft or hobby.

European Tour Finale

Today I wrapped up my European Tour of Teach the Teacher Seminars in Copenhagen, Denmark.  Royal Copenhagen GC is over 100 years old and in the early 20's had a castle for a clubhouse.  Weather was certainly fall like with the temperatures in the high 50's and some rain on and off throughout the day.  Half way through the morning session 27deer came galloping across the the driving range floor.  A beautiful sight and a reminder of what it's like on the Monterrey Peninsula.  We had 4 professionals for training and then three top amateurs in the afternoon for 'live' lessons. 
A special thanks to Gregor Tilch in Berlin, Christian Kirchner in Hamburg and Klas Olsson in Copenhagen for being such welcome hosts in setting up the seminars.  It's one of my favorite things to do in golf.  But it will be good to get back home to Dallas, Texas and see the family after a weeks' time away.

Travels through Europe

Arrived in Berlin, Germany safely Friday afternoon.  Did some sight seeing and had a chance to straddle the ground where wall stood only 20 years ago.  It's now decorated with a line of bricks in the ground.
Saturday was spent doing a teaching seminar for some of the Berlin PGA Professionals.  I focused on improving golfing and teaching techniques.  We had three live lessons that I demonstrated how I would conduct the lesson.  Afterwards I traveled by train to Hamburg, Germany.
Today was spent at Gut Kaden GC in Hamburg.  The course of my friend Christian Kirchner.  We had two separate clinics designed for 4 instructors to bring one amateur for training.  Lots of great results from all the students.
Doing seminars like these is one of my favorite things to do in golf.  It's a great feeling to help other instructors with what they love to do, teach golf.

Europe here I come

Heading to Germany and Denmark for a series of teaching seminars. The seminars are designed to train instructors to improve their games and teaching skills.
Unfortunately the trip is going a little slow as a passenger on my outbound flight got sick all over the place. Hopefully the chap is ok and it's not a sign of things to come.

September Article - Avid Golfer

Check out my instruction article in Avid Golfer.

September Article - AG

Day on the Links

Did some looping for one of my students Deb Mielke today at Brookhaven CC.  She was attempting to qualify for the USGA Women's Mid Amateur.  She didn't have her best game today but was able to get one of the 6 spots available by shooting 81.  At 55 years old Deb has qualified for 5 of the last 6 Mid Am's.  A pretty impressive feat.  This years event is at Wichita Country Club.
Next week Deb will attempt to qualify for the USGA Women's Senior Amateur at Oak Tree CC in Edmond, Ok.  All this is very impressive for someone that I started helping 10 years who couldn't break 100.  She's one of the most dedicated students an instructor could have.