I gave my first golf lesson in 1973 at Belton Park Golf Club, Grantham, Lincolnshire UK.
I can even remember my first pupil’s name, Mr. Toogood. I had played golf with him over several rounds and I had a good idea in my head what his problems were so the lesson was very successful. This is great I thought and I still do 60 years on.
Do I have a ‘secret’?
Well, I do not but when I was the head professional at The Army Golf Club, Aldershot, Surrey UK. I was teaching many European Tour Professionals, one of them, Robert Lee won the Portuguese Championship and Wayne Riley won The Australian Open.
I had three assistants at the time to run my shop as I was teaching all day long.
They were all called Simon and one day they asked me how do I teach the top professionals.
My answer was that as far as I am concerned they are all golfers albeit very good golfers but essentially golfers.
If I do have a ‘ secret ‘ it is that I teach all of my pupils as golfers and my goal is to improve every one of them from the starting point they present me with.
One pupil reduced his scores from a high of 135 to a low of 81 – a brilliant result.
Another pupil had a gross 59 – also a brilliant result.
My sole aim is to make all of my pupils improve from their starting point.
To do this, as I am sure you are aware, the stance needs to be as correct as possible and with personal physical restraints taken into account, it is quite possible for all golfers to stand to the ball as well as the best golfers.
Standing is just standing after all.
HAPPY NEW YEAR. Peter.
