Teaching Golf

[Rob2197]

I know that many on here teach golf for a living and I was wondering how one goes about this process. I looked on the PGA website and I'm not sure I understand the process.

Is there anyway to become an instructor without having to work underpaid as an assistant for a couple of years?

I love golf and love helping others but I don't want to make $250/wk for the next two years either.

 

[Steve Khatib]

Rob, I admire your passion but I suggest you ask a few teachers about 'the real world of teaching' before you commit yourself to anything.

 

[vandal]

I'm not a pro.

You don't have to be a PGA member to teach golf, but it brings "credibility" to some. It also seems to be a very apprentice/craftsman type of profession where you must work your way up.

That shouldn't stop you from checking it out, though. You can hang out a shingle and try and drum up business if you'd like. But to do it right, you should learn from someone. Maybe you can hook up with a good AI somewhere.

 

[Steve Khatib]

Untrue, totally untrue! Poor attitudes not poor players!

Read the posts properly and dont create false ideas

 

[Loubert]

quote:Originally posted by FOUR BARRELS AUSTRALIAN

Untrue, totally untrue! Poor attitudes not poor players!

Read the posts properly and dont create false ideas

I've deleted my post.

Lou

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

I started teaching on my own...i have no credentials, i just get results!

I let the results speak for themselves and am slowly letting the word of mouth spread. I plan on teaching part time next year and seeing how much business i can drum up. There are not too many good instructors in my area so that's good for me.

 

[Steve Khatib]

Lou I wasnt being nasty, but I post only on poor learners, I would much rather teach begginers than tour pros to be honest as they make better students in the main, as they have little excess baggage despite their throwaway.

 

[billmckinneygolf]

Why not become an Authorized Instructor if you want to teach?
The one good thing about the PGA is that you get to hear some of the
nation's best-known teachers tell you how they do whatever they do.
Some are good while with others, it's good to know that they don't know.
I had a post earlier about how good a player a teacher should be. My opinion
is that a teacher should have reached a very high standard and have played some
competitive golf to have any credibility.

 

[billmckinneygolf]

Furthermore, most driving ranges are guarded by PGA pros who have the right to
run you off if they see you teaching on their turf.

 

[hue]

quote:Originally posted by billmckinneygolf

I had a post earlier about how good a player a teacher should be. My opinion
is that a teacher should have reached a very high standard and have played some
competitive golf to have any credibility.

In an ideal world I agree with you PROVIDED the good player WANTS to be a good coach. I have seen a former European Tour player give lessons and he is a dreadful teacher. He does it for money and really wants to be on tour not teaching hackers. Some really good players end up teaching at driving ranges looking at teaching as a last resort to earn money. Teaching is not the main focus of their life force.

 

[Steve Khatib]

But, John good players eg. tour pros have more creditibility even if they teach steering as students know little about the illusions, yet that's all tour pros know is feels and false ones at that. The students dont interview their coaches logicaally instead they just believe any old BS junk science that they sell.

When tour pros give lessons they have a a chip on their shoulder about having to teach and view all students as hackers with not empathy for their plight, simply a goal to get themselves out of debt and back on tour. Most tour pros are sellfish self centred individuals with no interpersonal skills except the ability to latch on to a potential sponsor.

Brian and others will remember Jerry Moulds presentation at PGA Summit1994 acting out 'Billy Bob' the sleazy struggling golf pro: it was titled 'What not to do'

 

[shootin4par]

quote:Originally posted by billmckinneygolf

Why not become an Authorized Instructor if you want to teach?
The one good thing about the PGA is that you get to hear some of the
nation's best-known teachers tell you how they do whatever they do.
Some are good while with others, it's good to know that they don't know.
I had a post earlier about how good a player a teacher should be. My opinion
is that a teacher should have reached a very high standard and have played some
competitive golf to have any credibility.

The best I have gotten was a 5.3 index (I will be better then that in 4 months though) and I have only been talking with a TGM guy for three months, but as John could tell you we talk most every single day and sometimes for hours. Give me a hacker a camera, and one hour and I can run CIRCLES around 80% of the instructors already. Why do I believe that? My proffesion is teaching, I have taken classes on teaching, and I have taught. Once you learn how to teach you just need to learn something and teaching becomees the easy part. Most instructors would be better if they took more classes on Teaching, and most instructors would also be better if they learned some TGM.

Now as to the level an instructor should reach? that depends on who they are teaching. Give me a scratch player and let me tape them. If something they do is obvious, no problem, If nothing major pops out I would suggest they go elsewhere because I am not completely there yet. But give me a hacker and I can give them a pretty good swing.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

i agree with 99% of what you said shootin....except you have 1 thing backwards:

Teaching the ultimate hack is harder than the touring pro.

 

[Loubert]

quote:Originally posted by FOUR BARRELS AUSTRALIAN

Lou I wasnt being nasty, but I post only on poor learners, I would much rather teach begginers than tour pros to be honest as they make better students in the main, as they have little excess baggage despite their throwaway.

No worries. I let me frustration at my own lack of improvement get the better of me. I re-read your posts and decided that my words were ill-chosen. Sorry for that.

Lou

 

[Steve Khatib]

No worries Loubert, just go and see Ben he is near you. Trust me he will help. Or take a trip and see Brian. Come on mate you can do it trust yourself and you will improve with instruction.

Forum only junkies that I see think they are saving money, but in the long term their frugal approach shows that they dont get better, you need an instructor that is good!

 

[shootin4par]

quote:Originally posted by jim_0068

i agree with 99% of what you said shootin....except you have 1 thing backwards:

Teaching the ultimate hack is harder than the touring pro.

I realize teaching a pro would be easier as far as getting them to do what you say, but I realize I do not have enough knowledge yet

 

[Tom Bartlett]

No, easiest person to teach is the person who is a quick learner and wants to do what you say. The pro doesn't always want to listen. Trust me I was one.[:0]

 

[Biffer]

TB, I agree that people who learn quickly and have a keen desire to learn are easiest to teach. Many pros aren't as receptive as they should be, but in a way, I don't blame them. They need to have full confidence in the teacher, that he knows how to teach, as well as what to teach, which is a rare combination to find.