Requirements of an Instructional Facility

[JRJ]

To MGA and/or any other teachers and/or club members that have a nice set-up - what do you consider to be the requirements for an outdoor teaching facility? It would be great to get a realistic answer and maybe more of a "in a perfect world" scenario. Any idea on what it would cost?

For example

Realistic - Camera, swing software, certain training aids, clubs, etc. ??

Ultimate - Covered hitting bays, Trackman, latest and greateset camera, etc. ??

In tough times, what's reasonable to build and still give the teacher and student something they would both benefit from. Thanks in advance.

 

[cmartingolf]

JRJ,

You can certainly spend a lot of dough on a teaching set up. I've never had a roll up bay situation.

I also haven't had to depent solely on teaching for my income. I almost went down that road about 12 years ago and while I was preparing to leave a job for the teaching gig, I got offered a club job I couldn't turn down.

While a permanant structure with suitable area is ideal. You can get started a lot of ways. At my old club in Reno, I had a small structure at the range where I housed all of my gear. At Tetherow in Bend, I have a small trailer that has all my gear. My outside service staff rolls it out in the am and rolls it in at the end of the day or if there is threatening weather.

Fortunately I was able to get power to a couple locations on the range for video equipment. I have used battery packs in the past, but I just get anxious as I always feel like I'm against the clock.

Pricing gear:

1. JC Video Bullet System- $4000+/-. I like there gear because you can add or customize easily. They will generally work with you. I added a SONY DVDirect so I just burn the whole lesson. Sometimes I won't even show a student their swing, but they can look at the DVD post lesson if they choose.
2. Misc writable DVD's/CD's $100
3. Small plane board (made at a cushion shop) $85
4. Carbon paper (customized is cool). That way you jot down notes for your student to take home, but the key is you keep the carbon. So the next time you see them, you know where you left off. THIS IS "UGE." $50
5. Miscelaneous teaching aids, use what helps you pass the message along quicker $500
6. If you are really into it, a website to store student info for retrieval and review. Golffusion has a good option for $50-$60 per month.

Oh, and last but not least, you need a place to hang your shingle. That is the hardest part.

I'm sure I've missed a ton of things, but that's a start.

Oh, and a picture of Hogan at Merion hanging on the wall.

Priceless.

 

[Brian Manzella]

The List.

First of all, let me say this:

"There are more good teaching facilities in the country (or World) than good teachers."

It is really a shame.

A Video camera, a "line drawing" program, a Building with a "garage door<" and you call it a "Golf Academy.

What a joke.

You need to learn to TEACH FIRST!

But I digress, the question was...

What do you need to teach golf?

and what would be nice to have.

Here it is:

You need:

1. A lot of really good turf.

Good range mats aren't ideal, but not bad either.​

2. Enough room for Jason Zuback to hit Driver.

A long as you have 250 yards of carry space, it'll do.​

3. Good balls.

A must.​

That's it.

Period.

Next in importance:

4. A good modern HD camera with a bright screen, like my Panasonic SD5 (about $500)

You can teach without a camera, but the best use is PROOF for the student.​

5. The Phones. In other words an "inside" staff who likes you, promotes you, and talks you up to the customers.

Having cashier-types who dislike you, are jealous of the money you make relative to them, having Assistant pros who are trying to sabotage you, Head men who want you to sell Allstate, etc. can make making a living from scratch tough, but not impossible.​

6. A good Putting Green

An high-quality artificial surface will do, especially if it is of decent size.​

7. A decent Bunker with good sand.

If the sand is good, it could be 5-by-5 and dead flat.​

8. Room, and away from others. The more the better.

I have taught a packed-in ranges and ultra busy PGA Tour practice tees, so it can be done in a phone booth if need be, but trust me, privacy and space are WAY underrated.​

9. Cover. The larger the better.

Little Garage-style buildings violate #7 somewhat. Folks get claustrophobic.
The sun is brutal though, and a way out of the direct elements will save you lots of lost lessons—and wrinkles.​

10. A line-drawing program. I recommend JC Video.
You really don't need it, but everyone has it, so you better be world-class to convince your students that THEY don't need it.

11. Ultra High Speed Camera. Casio F1 ($900) or FH20 ($550) are it right now.

Of course you don't need this, but you will learn to teach better quicker with it. Give me six-months with mine and I may put it ahead of regular video.​

12. TrackMan. ($28,000 plus $300 a month for support)

You can dream a little right?​

13. A six degree of movement 3D machine. (at least $20,000)

Not as important as what the club is doing, ala TrackMan, but one day everyone will have one.​

14. A workout area, and a good personal trainer.

It will be standard one day at higher-end places.​

15. Me.

If you can afford me.​

 

[mjstrong]

Importance of physical training

I'm a little surprised that physical training is that far down the list. But I'd be more surprised if it stays down there for too long.

In teaching the golf swing, we are often trying to get people's bodies to do things that they may or may not find do-able. Usually, a student's range of motion can be improved quite safely, quickly, and effectively with the help of a proper golf fitness trainer (a lot of trainers call themselves "golf-specific," but do not have great information).

I think that better information coordinating physical training and its benefits to the golf swing will become more apparent before too long. The ability to effectively profile golfers based on their physical make-ups and abilities and then match up swing pattern components to those individuals is not that far off.

 

[flopshot59]

Cmartin

Just noticed your signature. Is that you in the tour striker video?

 

[ggsjpc]

one more thing

I believe I would add only one thing to Brian's list and that would be a couple practice holes. There's a facility in Lexington, KY called Man-o-War Golf. They have a set up that's nice.

 

[Steve Khatib]

First of all, let me say this:

"There are more good teaching facilities in the country (or World) than good teachers."

It is really a shame.

A Video camera, a "line drawing" program, a Building with a "garage door<" and you call it a "Golf Academy.

What a joke.

You need to learn to TEACH FIRST!

But I digress, the question was...

What do you need to teach golf?

and what would be nice to have.

Here it is:

You need:

1. A lot of really good turf.

Good range mats aren't ideal, but not bad either.​

2. Enough room for Jason Zuback to hit Driver.

A long as you have 250 yards of carry space, it'll do.​

3. Good balls.

A must.​

That's it.

Period.

Next in importance:

4. A good modern HD camera with a bright screen, like my Panasonic SD5 (about $500)

You can teach without a camera, but the best use is PROOF for the student.​

5. The Phones. In other words an "inside" staff who likes you, promotes you, and talks you up to the customers.

Having cashier-types who dislike you, are jealous of the money you make relative to them, having Assistant pros who are trying to sabotage you, Head men who want you to sell Allstate, etc. can make making a living from scratch tough, but not impossible.​

6. A good Putting Green

An high-quality artificial surface will do, especially if it is of decent size.​

7. A decent Bunker with good sand.

If the sand is good, it could be 5-by-5 and dead flat.​

8. Room, and away from others. The more the better.

I have taught a packed-in ranges and ultra busy PGA Tour practice tees, so it can be done in a phone booth if need be, but trust me, privacy and space are WAY underrated.​

9. Cover. The larger the better.

Little Garage-style buildings violate #7 somewhat. Folks get claustrophobic.
The sun is brutal though, and a way out of the direct elements will save you lots of lost lessons—and wrinkles.​

10. A line-drawing program. I recommend JC Video.
You really don't need it, but everyone has it, so you better be world-class to convince your students that THEY don't need it.

11. Ultra High Speed Camera. Casio F1 ($900) or FH20 ($550) are it right now.

Of course you don't need this, but you will learn to teach better quicker with it. Give me six-months with mine and I may put it ahead of regular video.​

12. TrackMan. ($28,000 plus $300 a month for support)

You can dream a little right?​

13. A six degree of movement 3D machine. (at least $20,000)

Not as important as what the club is doing, ala TrackMan, but one day everyone will have one.​

14. A workout area, and a good personal trainer.

It will be standard one day at higher-end places.​

15. Me.

If you can afford me.​

Great post Brian!

I like the use of of video as 'proof' and the 'inside staff' are major factors that effect teachers more than most people can understand.

 

[jenhaoyen]

i wonder if you can rent trackman.

 

[tongzilla]

15. Me.

If you can afford me.​

i damn well can if i can afford 1-14

 

[jenhaoyen]

i damn well can if i can afford 1-14

are you sure.

 

[cmartingolf]

i wonder if you can rent trackman.

I'm sure you could lease one. The $300 per month "support" fee is a little horse choking after the $28K.

I'll bet some new technology will cut that price to pieces within 24 months.

 

[jenhaoyen]

I'm sure you could lease one. The $300 per month "support" fee is a little horse choking after the $28K.

I'll bet some new technology will cut that price to pieces within 24 months.

yeah..they will probably come up with similar stuff, Trackguy?
haha

 

[mb6606]

The Kudu Flightscope uses doppler radar and costs $8k. The 3D graphic software is not as neat as the Trackman - then again the 3D software from Trackman is intepreted based on the spin and Launch angle of the ball.

 

[ggsjpc]

only launch

The Kudu Flightscope uses doppler radar and costs $8k. The 3D graphic software is not as neat as the Trackman - then again the 3D software from Trackman is intepreted based on the spin and Launch angle of the ball.

I think you've got the info a little off kilter. The flightscope and trackman launch both extrapolate total flight from launch and spin pictures, but the trackman pro tracks the entire flight of the ball while it's flying. The other thing the trackman pro does better is club impact data. Trackman pro is currently blowing everything else out of the water, but at that price competition will soon dictate a much lower price.