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STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME

This is the mantra in which EGTF Master Teaching Professional Martin Park believes in, as he continues to develop his successful teaching business from the most unlikely corner of the globe.........a tiny Danish island called Bornholm.

Martin Park & Matthew Stewart

From this Baltic Sea paradise, just adrift of the southern Swedish coastline, the 37 year old director of the Park Golf Academy has gained a reputation as one of Denmark's finest golf teachers and regularly has students travelling the length and breadth of Scandinavia, or across the sea from Finland, Germany and Poland to visit him for instruction throughout the year.

Park took over as Head Professional at Nexo Golf Club in 2006 and while two local PGA Professionals thought his venture would have limited ambitions and a short lifespan, Park turned his teaching business into a successful enterprise which he plans to expand internationally.

Sadly for his two main detractors - both of whom have sought jobs elsewhere - those confident predictions could not have been further from reality as Park took his business to the next step with the assistance of fellow EGTF Master Teaching Professional and Class A Clubmaker, Matthew Stewart, who is now Head Professional at Bornholm's Golf Club near the island's capital, Ronne.

Not only are Park and Stewart proud owners of crammed lesson diaries, between them, they have made history in Bornholm golf by becoming the first two teaching professionals to coach, inspire and lead their respective 7-man Elite teams to a level where they qualified for Division Two series, one stop short of the very cream of Danish golf....their next mission.

Their list of success is not only at Elite level, Park Golf Academy taught over 130 beginners in the spring class of 2007, an increase of over 50% on 2006 and they have over 70 juniors, all with recognised Danish Golf Union handicaps, some as low as 3.  It's a great sign for the future of golf in this cut off little corner of Denmark, thanks to the EGTF Junior Golf Program which both Park and Stewart believes rivals anything on the market today.

Park, a former golf journalist and broadcaster who still works as Press Officer for The Open Championship each year, is a proud member of the EGTF and has flown the banner high as he developed his business from a one golf club venture to three clubs in the short space of eighteen months.

But he is not stopping there.  Plans are afoot to take the teaching side of his business internationally and also, with both of them highly qualified in the equipment and club building side of the game, there are plans to take their knowledge, skills and ability to Scandinavian Tour events to offer a service not yet seen by the many playing professionals in this part of the Northern Hemisphere.

Diversifying is something that Park feels is necessary to keep his business moving on and despite there being stiff competition, he firmly believe in the methods and ethics promoted and taught by the European Golf Teachers Federation.

"There is no way I could have developed my business without the tools which have been taught to me by both the staff instructors at the EGTF and some of the finest brains in golf today, such as Dr Paul Hurrion", said Park.

"It's clear to me and even clearer to my students that what we teach, how we teach it and how we embrace modern teaching methods which are proven by science and not just opinions, clearly have the desired effect.  If you're teaching up to 80 lessons per week, then you must be doing something right".

"Both Matthew and I are huge believers in what we do and we've seen first hand the results we achieve and nothing gives more pleasure than to see our students improve so rapidly.....and then come back for more!"

Staying ahead of the game in both teaching methods and modern technology is something Park firmly believes is the reason why his business has developed rapidly and with one of Denmark's finest indoor teaching academies at his own club, he can now reap the benefit of the initial investment he made.

"You don't need eyes to see, you need a vision", added Park.  "I knew what was needed to bring things up to modern standards at Bornholm and we're now in a position where other professionals in Denmark are copying what we do in order to succeed."

"We use the very latest in technology in all areas of business, simply because it works and helps our students learn faster and have more fun during the process."

"To have such luxuries such as an indoor teaching centre with simulators, a chipping green, putting mats, Vector Launch Monitors, SAM Putting labs, Quintic high speed video analysis among many other teaching aids, we can now extend our teaching through the winter months, where traditionally, the golfers of Denmark hibernate until April."

"Matthew and I don't like to leave any stone unturned and we are constantly trying to develop our own knowledge bank so we can give the very best instruction and the latest information to our customers.  The EGTF has given us the tools to succeed, the rest is down to hard work, dedication and customer service, something which some professionals really do need to improve on in my opinion."

"If Padraig Harrington can win a major using this kind of technology, then why should I not use it for my own students?"

There is a lesson to be learned here for those in the teaching business who believe in badge snobbery and/or rest on their laurels.  If you do that, you'll get found out somewhere along the line as your lesson books dry up in the face of tough competition.  Those who stay ahead of the game are the ones who usually reap the rewards.

One shot at a time.....but stay ahead of the game.