GOLF IN THE LIFE OF – education for golf instructors

For many Head Golf Professionals, it’s all too easy to be stuck in the office. Their time is pulled in so many different directions that they don’t have time to teach and increase their revenue. Today we talk about how to balance the demands of a head professional and growing a thriving coaching business.

Besides time, a major objection that Head Professionals face are the expectations of a GM that thinks their job is to run the business. Playing golf and teaching are afterthoughts.

When Pete started blocking off a tee time a couple days a week for members to get out on the golf course with him, the results were staggering. Not only did he increase his teaching revenue, he was able to show his GM that members he played golf with spent on average, three times as much money at the club.

If you’re a Head Professional, members want to play golf with you. It gives them a chance to not only improve their game but, open up about their experience at the Club as well.

So how does Pete go about scheduling lessons? Aside from making weekly tee times, he gives members no more than two options that he can fit it in. He maintains that if they really want to work with you, they will. It’s important to guard your time.

The golf season at the Sonnenalp Club runs from mid-April through October. With such a short season, Pete had to get creative in how he keeps his junior golfers engaged year-around. After clearing out the furniture in the men’s locker room, he set up an indoor practice facility with a launch monitor and putting green. He now runs a series of six-week junior programs throughout the winter to keep his players engaged.

His Assistants love it too. They’ve been able to hone their coaching skills and add to their bottom line.

In just four short years, Pete has grown his teaching revenue more than ten-fold. It’s a win-win for everyone. He’s making more money, growing the game, members are spending more at the Club and he’s still able to strike a healthy work-life balance.

For more insight from Pete Roach, give this week’s edition of the Golf in the Life of podcast a listen above.
If you want to get in touch with Pete, you can reach him at [email protected]

The post How to Grow a Coaching Business as a Head Professional at a Private Club appeared first on GOLF IN THE LIFE OF - education for golf instructors.

You’re giving great golf lessons however students keep coming back with the same issues and not shooting lower scores. What do you do?

Sara had hit the burn out point and was tired of standing on the range for 50+ hours a week. She wanted to find the enjoyment in what she was doing again.

We learn from Sara how she’s transitioned her business at a private golf club in Naples, Florida. Sara describes how she’s built a thriving coaching community and created raving fans who refer clients and can’t wait for the next coaching session.

You give this great golf lesson and they leave excited however they come back the next week and nothing seems to have changed.

Sara has built a structured program for the ladies at the club so she could better control their practice and learning environment. They had more fun, got better faster, and was more budget friendly option compared with individual private lessons.

About Sara Dant

Coaching golf has definitely become my passion over the years. My teaching career started in 1993 as a freshman in high school. I decided the golf business was exactly where I wanted to be in life. My golf pros growing up gave me the opportunity to be involved in the golf operation and assist with the junior program. That was the beginning of my love affair with coaching golf.

I attended Mississippi State in 1997 in the PGA PGM program. After graduation I took an assistant professional position at Belle Meade C.C. in Nashville, TN where I worked for 5 years. There I gave a lot of lessons, built a successful junior program and started to develop my “teaching philosophy.” Or so I thought at the time.

In 2006 I was offered a teaching position at The Golf Club of Tennessee in Nashville. When Toby Wilt hired me this was a huge honor and a major boost to my teaching career. During the winter months I taught in Naples, Florida at Naples Grande Golf Club. I still teach at The Golf Club of TN during the summer but have expanded my business and moved on to a wonderful place in Naples, Royal Poinciana Golf Club. This will be my 7th season at Royal Poinciana Golf Club and I look forward to my winter season every year!

Thankfully, my coaching philosophy has progressed over the last 15 years due to a few individuals who have helped shape who I am today. In 2014, I attended three coaching workshops with performance consultant and sports psychologist, Dr. Rick Jensen and Top 100 Instructor, Henry Brunton. The experience was life changing to say the least. My teaching philosophy was introduced to a whole new world of skill acquisition and motor learning concepts. Dr. Rick was able to confirm my concerns with the tradition teaching styles. And has been instrumental in the changes I have made with my coaching program. I have also had the privilege of coaching with Vision54 coaches, Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott after attending their golf schools as a student and a coach.

Today I spend the majority of my week conducting small group coaching sessions and working with individuals on their personalized programs. My students are happier with my modern coaching techniques and the results we see on a daily basis are incredible. I love to learn and grow so I always look forward to expanding my knowledge and experience into this next chapter of my life.

The post How to create extremely dedicated students and a thriving coaching community appeared first on GOLF IN THE LIFE OF - education for golf instructors.

Today we tell the story of Dave DePula as he’s created a thriving coaching business getting real results for players transitioning from his previous career as a real estate broker with a 7 handicap.

Looking for a new facility? Dave tells the story of how he went from crowded driving range with 15 other instructors to a fantastic golf club. There are always ways to think outside the box and find new opportunities if you’re willing to get out there and ASK.

As a successful real estate broker Dave had a few key concepts he’s brought into this golf instruction. The power of the coach and the necessity of referrals.

He moved clubs and created a new program... 90 days of coaching for $3000 and has fully filled that up making $44,350 over 5 months this past season. Dave is all about getting players on the course, creating accountability for his players.

Dave has an emphasis on getting phenomenal results for his golfers so he creates raving fans and always keep referring students. He tells the story of one student who has sent 5 students Dave’s way because he’s gotten such good results.

Start listening to people and STOP trying to impress them. Be present, listen and ask questions. Always ask questions. “Tell me more about that. Tell me more about why do you want to be a five handicap? You’re 15 now. You tell me more.”

Really get to know the person first.

The post How a Golf Coach made $44,350 in 5 months appeared first on GOLF IN THE LIFE OF - education for golf instructors.

Will Robins has Top 50 Instructor, Tony Ruggiero, share the three main keys to his success. Tony shares the incredible obstacles he’s gone through, the greatest lessons he’s learned and what you really need to be focusing on with building a successful business.

He had so much great information to share we’ve made two episodes. So pull up a seat and enjoy part one of our very candid conversation.

If you’re looking to put these ideas into action, check out Monday Mastermind. It’s free training for growing your business and simple steps to better coaching results.

The post 3 Fundamentals of Success with Tony Ruggiero (Part One) appeared first on GOLF IN THE LIFE OF - education for golf instructors.

Dave Phillips is one of the most sought after golf instructors in the country, he’s rated one of the Top 100 Teachers in the country by Golf Magazine and Top 50 by Golf Digest. He’s a Class A and faculty member of the PGA of America, a Co-Founder of TPI, Titleist Performance Institute and works with elite players such as John Rahm, Jordan Spieth and many others.

TPI was developed with the goal of creating the world’s first true golf performance facility that looked at every aspect of a players game, from equipment fitting to biomechanics and the human body. In this episode, Dave shares an immense amount of personal experience and tangible instruction on how being curious and creative has built the success we see today.

Have questions or looking for more guidance? For a limited time, Coach Will Robins is holding Monday Mastermind calls that will move your business forward! Click here to join!

The post Dave Phillips: you NEED to be creative in building a business appeared first on GOLF IN THE LIFE OF - education for golf instructors.