Year: 2011

Feedback from our Members – CPD Days, Spain, 14-16 November 2011

I had the chance to take part in the November 2011 EGTF CPD Courses at Oliva Nova Resort, Spain.  The Courses were delivered in such a great, professional and structured way from start to finish.

All three instructors (Bill, Martin and Paul) have a great personality and shared their immense knowledge in such a refreshing and professional way.

The three CPD Courses I attended showed me another side to golf and renewed my enthusiasm for the game and teaching it.  The Courses were just amazing.

Thomas Cathomen

Therefore I would like to thank once again Bill, Martin and Paul for three unforgetable days that delivered to me far more than expected and made me proud to be an EGTF Member.  I can only highly recommend the EGTF CPD Courses to others.

Thomas Cathomen
EGTF Professional
December 2011

 

An Appreciation – Bob Barnes, Proprietor, Cambridge Lakes Golf Course

Having completed the Diploma course at Oliva Nova in February, 2001 and attended other EGTF courses at Forthview and Darenth Valley, I was delighted to have the opportunity of returning to Spain for yet another EGTF learning experience.

Paul Tolley, Martin Park and Bill Abbott put together 3 incredible days, skilfully combining in-depth classroom work with invaluable sessions on Oliva Nova’s excellent practice facilities.

Paul Tolley’s “Vision Training for Golf” day explained how differently our eyes interpret information leading to errors in aiming and judging distances.

Paul has obviously studied this subject in great depth and we were fortunate to benefit from his knowledge and experience.

Practical exercises and tests revealed our own tendencies and numerous drills gave us ways to improve our ability to aim and judge distances especially on the putting green.

Martin Park’s “Studio 54 Performance Coaching” day was also a massive eye opener and covered literally dozens of practical, logical ways in which we can maximise our performance and that of our pupils with a much-reduced emphasis on making technical changes.

Using just a few of Martin’s ideas I have radically improved my own approach to practising and playing and have no doubt that our pupils will benefit from Studio 54’s extremely clear blueprint for improvement.

Incidentally, Martin made the long trip from his club in Denmark so many thanks for that too!

Bill Abbott’s Putting Improvement day was similarly revealing with the latest bio-mechanic analysis, challenging putting tests, before and after videos of our putting strokes and, as ever, high quality, state-of-the art information, all presented very clearly and professionally.

Bob Barnes

Throughout the day, Bill displayed his usual patience and enthusiasm for his subject as he took us through the various changes required to our putting strokes all of which showed great improvement in a remarkably short time.

All in all, 3 tremendous days made even better by a great group of guys, Daniel from Seville, Thomas from Switzerland (via Venezuela and Dubai!), Walter from Austria and Willem from Holland.

As on all the other EGTF courses I have attended, we worked very hard but with plenty of banter and good fun to keep the adrenaline flowing and the cortisol at bay.

As EGTF members we are uniquely fortunate to have senior coaches who are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and professional communicators and who, perhaps most importantly, have a keen desire to share all the information that they have gleaned over the years.

I would like to thank all those who made these 3 days possible and urge fellow EGTF members to sign up as soon as these courses are next available.

I guarantee you will learn more than you could ever imagine.

Bob Barnes
Cambridge Lakes Golf Course
December 2011

EGTF Diploma Course and CPD Seminars – Spain, November 2011

EGTF Diploma Course 6 – 12 November 2011, Spain

Another fantastic week of learning was completed recently over in sunny Spain.  A group of 6 eager students had a great week of informative information that helped mould them into golf teaching professionals.

These weeks help to get more dedicated people out into the golf teaching world who have a passion and desire to help the public and hopefully improve the standards of coaching.

It is fantastic to see the look on students’ faces when they give lessons to the general public after only having learned these teaching skills earlier in the week, and giving very high standards of lessons.  It really does go to prove that you can definitely learn the basic coaching skills needed to teach others in the space of 7 days, as it happens on every EGTF course that we do.

Congratulations to all the group at Oliva Nova Resort for their excellent standards throughout the week.

November 2011 Group, Oliva Nova, Spain

November 2011 Group, Oliva Nova, Spain

 

EGTF Social Golf Day – 13 November 2011

On the Sunday after the Diploma Course we had a Social Golf Day for EGTF members and guests, held at the lovely Oliva Nova Golf Resort.

For anyone who has played at Oliva Nova, you will know that it is a tough track playing very long, so your ball striking skills are always tested to their limits.

It was great to see some old and new EGTF members who turned up and made the day very enjoyable.  A couple of drinks and some food afterwards helped to complete a very pleasant day.

1st Bill Abbott – 75 (on count back)

2nd Martin Park – 75

The Winner - Bill Abbott

 

Warming up before the round

 

On the Range

Putting Practice
On Course pressure play!!!

 

Continual Professional Development (CPD) Seminars

The EGTF CPD days were another excellent learning experience for students involved, taking on board high levels of golfing information to push their golf teaching onto higher standards.

The three days were conducted by EGTF Master Professional Paul Tolley for Vision Training in Golf, EGTF Master Professional Martin Park for Performance Golf using the Vision 54 Model, and myself concentrating on the Biomechanics of the Putter Stroke.

All the days combined excellent theory work in the classroom, followed by fantastic practical work on the range and putting green.  The quality of the information was there for all the students to take in, with the subjects covered being very popular on the tours these days.

If you have never been to any of these extra learning seminars, then try to take some on board for 2012.  It really will help you keep your knowledge up to a fantastic level in the golf teaching world to take you above your competitors.  It’s also a great social, networking week, where you can meet other coaches and talk golf and teaching, so you get the best of all worlds.  Future EGTF Masters Courses and CPD days will be published soon to give people enough time to clear their diaries for the upcoming season.

My thanks go to Paul Tolley and Martin Park for their supreme knowledge and professionalism conducting these seminars during the week.

Vision Training for Golf

Performance Coaching Vision 54

Putting Skills Test

Putting Biomechanics

EGTF Golf Society Week – Thailand 2011

The EGTF Golf Society week held in the beautiful seaside resort of Hua Hin, Thailand was a great success.  It brought together EGTF members and their friends for 8 days of golf.  We were fortunate that despite the problems that the people of Bangkok were suffering with the floods, we never had any rain when playing and temperatures ranged between hot and really hot!

Group 1 Palm Hills

We played a friendly roll up competition each day, with everyone (pro’s and amateurs) playing in the same tournament, where you could play as much or as little as you wanted.

This year we played 3 golf courses, Black Mountain (rated the best new course in Asia), Palm Hills (only Augusta National has quicker or slopier greens!) and Royal Hua Hin (the oldest golf course in Thailand).  All courses were doing some good rates and the cost was around £40 each day for golf, caddie and buggy, which was excellent value.

Black Mountain GC

The days were played in good spirit, with plenty of banter going around as this trip was designed as a fun, social event.  But as we were all very competitive when it comes to golf, people were going to bed early some nights to prepare for the next day’s golf activities (as can be seen by the results table!)

EGTF teaching professional Pete Stopford - Black Mountain

Hua Hin is a beautiful place for a golf trip with some excellent golf courses around, and beautiful town and beach areas for those looking to relax as well.  The weather is always hot and for some that is a bit of a problem, but if you are looking at the grey skies outside and wishing you were somewhere else, then have a think about the EGTF Golf Society trip to Thailand next year.  It really is very good.

Results for the Week

Winner

Points

Gross

Day 1 – Palm Hills – Bill Abbott
36
72
Day 2 – Black Mountain – Bill Abbott 34 74
Day 3 – Royal Hua Hin – Mick Edwards (amateur) 31  
Day 4 – Palm Hills – Bill Abbott 34 74
Day 5 – Black Mountain – Mick Edwards (amateur) 31  
Day 6 – Royal Hua Hin – Bill Abbott 35 73
Day 7 – Black Mountain – Bill Abbott 32 76
Day 8 – Palm Hills – Steve Lynch (amateur) 33  

EGTF Golf Teaching Professional Allan Renz

EGTF Professional Allan Renz recently emailed to say that he has been promoted to Lead Instructor, Director of Golf Schools at Chelsea Piers Golf Academy in New York, USA.  He has also been chosen as one of the top 50 Golf Instructors in America by Golf Range Magazine.    This is an amazing achievement and we would like to congratulate him on the great year he has had.

EGTF Golf Teaching Professional Allan Renz

Coaching Children

Thanks to the EGTF for reinforcing my coaching career.  A few months ago after the Diploma Course, I came on board as the Golf Professional (Coach/Teacher) at Polkemmet Golf Club, West Lothian, Scotland, on top of my attachments to Binny Golf Club as Junior Development Coach; and Harburn Academy, working with children in tandem with the Harburn Golf Club Pro.

I love coaching both adults and children.  I have coached children for 7 years and believe that there is a need for more effort in this area as Golf Clubs/Coaches seem to be less interested in children who are under 9 years of age.  Young talent should always be encouraged.  One exasperated dad approached me for lessons for his son who had been refused by Golf Clubs/Coaches because of his youth.  I took on and coached Owen who was only 5 years old at that time and now at age 6 he is a member at Binny Golf Club and one of my Junior Development Programme participants.  He plays in the Blue medal competitions regularly and won the trophy this year – Blue Junior Champion 2011!  This is a prime example of a very young child with the potential of a future champion.

NEVER TURN DOWN RAW TALENT…..CHILDREN ARE GOLF’S FUTURE; AND WITH GOOD COACHING AND ENCOURAGEMENT, THAT FUTURE CAN BE GREAT.

Macrina Crawford (EGTF Golf Professional at Polkemmet Golf Club, Scotland/Binny Golf Club, Junior Development Coach, Scotland)

Golfing Girl Guides

EGTF Professional, Deborah Smith

Deborah Joh-Lyn Smith

It has been over a year since I was learning to become an EGTF Professional and what a year it has been.  I am happy to say I am earning money teaching at schools/Golf Club at Sudbury and recently (after 9 months knocking on doors) I was invited to join 1400 Girl Guides for their Sporting Activity gathering in Black Land Farm, East Grinstead, over the May bank holiday.

Over the 3 days, at 30 minute sessions each, I introduced 578 Girl Guides to games and activities, to introduce them to the game of golf.  What a wonderful experience for the girls from the ages of 7 – 12 years, some with learning difficulties and from all walks of life.  I was able to bring to them a sport which they would never have imagined they would ever try.  It was a great success and I have been asked to teach certain regions in the South East and in smaller numbers, more techniques and also to set up a mini 3 par course so that they get the feel of a real golf course.

I cannot thank Bill and Pauline enough for all their help and support.

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