Year: 2013

TEACHING WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY

25/10/2013Comments Off on TEACHING WITH NEW TECHNOLOGYBlog, Latest News, Online Newsletter, Uncategorized

I have attended a fair number of CPD Courses in my 10 years as an EGTF Professional, and so travelled through to Forthview Golf Academy for Stewart and Bill’s latest offering on Teaching with New Technology.

There were four of us on the Course, Betty Sworowski, Bob Lamb, Philippe Pineau and myself.  Since the four of us hadn’t met before, introductions took around 20 minutes.  Anyone who knows Stewart will understand that his introduction took about an hour!!

STEWART CPD 1

As usual, the information provided on the Course was first class.  Topics ranged from the Force Plate, D Plane and new Ball Flight Laws.  We discussed all of the above and more in detail as well as having to look at some of the latest training aids.  The one we were all impressed with was Swingbyte.  Swingbyte attaches to the club shaft and provides all the feedback you would require when analysing the swing.  The figures are not as accurate as Flightscope or Trackman but are in the “buffer zone”, so the information you get is more than good enough to work with.

As I said, I have been on numerous CPD Courses over the years and have never been disappointed.  This time proved no different .  The way GAASP and Balance provides the building blocks of the golf Swing, CPD Courses provide building blocks in your knowledge and ability to analyse and teach golfers how to enjoy and play better golf.  I would encourage all of you to put one or more of these days into your diary.  Neither you or your pupils will be disappointed.

Thank you again to Stewart and Bill for a great day.

Ronnie Martin – EGTF Teaching Professional

Isles of Scilly Golf Club

25/10/2013Comments Off on Isles of Scilly Golf ClubLatest News, Online Newsletter, Uncategorized

Isles of Scilly Golf Club

Pitchcare’s attention was drawn to the Isles of Scilly Golf Club when our editor received an email about three volunteer greenkeepers who, with a collective age of 229, were keeping the course going for members and visitors.

This unusual arrangement required further investigation, so we asked the youngest of the triumvirate, Derek Metcalfe, to explain more about …

The Scilly Season!

A very interesting article below, from EGTF Professional Derek Metcalfe from the Isles of Scilly.

PDF file ScillyIslesGC

CLUB CROWN

20/09/20130 commentsNotice Board

Are you looking for something new to offer your clients? Club making and fitting business a little slow?

Take a look at this fabulous new product from Club Crown (http://www.clubcrown.com/)

A new innovation from the USA, enhance the look of your woods with a fantastic new
design.

   

This is very popular in the States creating a personal look for your driver and
fairways.  Many different designs, from flags, plain colours, and special designs.
Will fit on most designs of modern day drivers, fairways and hybrids.  If you would
like to know more about retailing this product please contact EGTF Professional
Peter Doyle for more information – doyleds@googlemail.com

EGTF CPD DAYS SCOTLAND 25 & 26 JULY 2013

06/08/2013Comments Off on EGTF CPD DAYS SCOTLAND 25 & 26 JULY 2013Blog, Latest News, Online Newsletter, Uncategorized

Two excellent days of learning were held in Scotland recently, allowing EGTF members the opportunity to increase their knowledge in some key areas in the golf game.

Both days were conducted by EGTF Master Professional Stewart Craig, one of the best coaches around in the golfing world.

DAY ONE

Teaching with technology centered on the new equipment on the market that can help golf teachers provide a better service and understand key areas of the golf game better.

Stewart looked at how important balance and stability in the golf swing are, using the SAM balance lab, which shows where your weight is at address and how it moves through the backswing and forwardswing, giving vital information on cause and effect problems.  The days are always very interactive with the information delivered in an informative but fun environment by Stewart.

STEWART CPD 1

We also looked at Flightscope launch monitors and Swingbyte teaching aids that give excellent information back on what the club and ball are doing through the swing. Flightscope is a high end product and gives a host of data on the ball and club, which can be invaluable when fitting and teaching.  The emergence of launch monitors has also allowed a better understanding of the new ball flight laws that the golfing world has adopted.  Stewart went through the new theories on D plane and ball flight which allowed everyone a better understanding of these new topics.

BETTY CPD 1STEWART CPD 2

Swingbyte is now an excellent tool with which to teach, clipping onto the shaft of any club and recording club path, face angle, club head speed, tempo and much more.  We looked at how to use it in teaching and everyone was very impressed by the accuracy of the data (comparing to the launch monitor) and obviously at a price that most people can afford (around a £100).

device

Lots of good information and very interactive for all attending, is always the hallmark of a good instructor and well presented training day.

DAY TWO

Putting was the discipline for day two, with the first part of the  morning devoted to putting technique, looking at the most important part of the game in depth from a technique point of view, using knowledge along with teaching aids to help improve people’s strokes.  In the afternoon we looked at how to read greens more effectively, with the thoughts and theories based on the new Aimpoint system.  Stewart covered the basics of green reading along with the scientific values of Aimpoint now being used by many of the golfing tours around the world.  Everyone found this session very useful and took away some great new knowledge to help improve their own green reading and their students as well.

PUTTING CPD 1PUTTING CPD 2PUTTING CPD 3PUTTING CPD 4PUTTING CPD 5

Putting days are always very good and highlight the importance of a sound technique and the ability to read greens effectively.  Again Stewart shared his vast knowledge built up over 16 years teaching at the highest level  with all attending on this day, helping to educate golf coaches to become better.

Thanks to Stewart and to Forthview Golf Academy and Falkirk Golf Club for their hospitality during our stay.

Bill Abbott – EGTF Director of Education

Garry Corkish

15/07/2013Comments Off on Garry CorkishBlog, EGTF Teacher Profile, Online Newsletter, Uncategorized

Amateur golf career was BB&O player, playing off 1.4, member of Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire.

Ex RAF military free fall instructor completed over 3,000 free fall descents mostly from c130 Hercules worked mostly with SBS, SAS, and pathfinders from 2 para plus delta force from USA. RAF in 1989.

I have been teaching on the Costa del Sol since 2001.  I’m married to wife Yvonne who plays off 12 hc, have son Stuart 15 hc aged 32, and daughter Jo who is also an EGTF qualified ex England player.

I am age 57 but feel like 77 as had back op in 1999 to fuse L4 And L5 and osteoarthritis of left knee, but still manage to skid it around at level or a couple under in the weekly local Pro event here in Marbella.

 Garry Corkish 1

Where do you work?

Atalaya Golf Academy Spain on the Costa del Sol, not far from Marbella.

Where do you play golf? 

Mostly Atalaya , El Higueral and the Marbella golf resort.

What is the best thing about being a Teaching Professional?

Seeing someone’s face when they discover success with their golf after being frustrated on the golf course !  And the fact that you can never be too old to teach golf.

What is the worst thing about being a Teaching Professional?

Never receiving any shots !!

How many lessons do you do in the Summer and the Winter?

Average number of lessons throughout the year per week is approximately 5 pw but playing lessons are now becoming more popular.

What do you consider is the most important lesson you could give someone and why?

9 hole playing lesson – as you see everything a golfer does and think while playing.  In theatre is the best place for someone to learn.  Mat or range lesson is still good for beginners or basic swing mechanics but on the course is without doubt the most effective and quickest way to take shots off a player’s score.

What is your favourite drill and why?

L to L drill with a short iron as this gives a variety of solutions; balance, control, removes the urge to hit the ball hard, wrist hinge, and active use of the hands.

Who is your favourite player and why?

Of all time, Ben Hogan for his pure determination to succeed.  Currently Justin Rose for his attitude on and off the golf course.  He handled his latest win, US Open with grace and balance, mentally and physically.

Who would be your favourite fourball and why? 

Ideal 4 ball would be Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus  and Seve Ballesteros.  Hogan for his pure swing, Jack for his ability to focus and concentrate, Seve for his imagination and short game ability.

Which is the best course your have played and why?

St. Andrews old course, for the history, but mostly because it is so well balanced as an 18 hole test.   The first time you play it you think what’s all the fuss about !  Then after a few rounds you then begin to see a strategy that needs to be applied to achieve success.  It starts with a pretty easy par 4 then depending on the tide, it’s a steady increase in difficulty until you turn after 9 with good birdie chances and a real tough finish from 15.  Great course. 

Garry Corkish 3

What is your best and worst experience you have had in golf?

Two best experiences in golf for me which are of equal pleasure:

1. Watching my daughter shoot 4 under in the South African Amateur Open and then get selected for the England elite under 18 squad.  In the field was the current GB and Ireland Curtis Cup squad 18 players and she blew most of them away in the stroke play comp.

2. Was shooting 7 under 66 at Penina off the white tees back in 2006 while playing in a friendly match. 

Worst moment was when my daughter Jo got hit in the right eye by a ball in the junior County foursomes while I was playing in the Burford foursomes Pro Am and she lost 90% vision in her right eye.  She got selected for England after this accident which made the best experience (above) more important !

Why did you become a Teaching Professional?

Passion was always in golf.  When I was an IFA in the UK, I only got involved in this job to fund my golf, so when the company folded I decided to join the golf professional ranks.

Note :- I did try to join the PGA back in 1991 and had a position lined up at Castle Coombe, but PGA Regional Director Nigel Blenkarne phoned me up and informed me I was three months too old to become a member !!! You had to be under 35 to be a PGA member, what a farce !! Since then a couple of guys took the PGA to court and European ruling found it was deemed to be age discrimination and now its all changed !

What is the best tip you could give a junior golfer?

Always have fun when you play or you will walk away from the game later on.  When you learn, start at the hole and work backwards so the last thing you learn is the tee shot or driver.  This worked very well with my daughter and the Swedish Golf  Foundation were pretty good at this strategy back in the 90’s.

What’s in the bag?

Ping i20 driver project x 5.5 graphite 
Taylor made rbz 15 deg fairway wood reg shaft graphite
Ping i20 hybrid rescue club project x 5.5 graphite
Calloway 1 iron steel reg shaft
Ping i20 irons CFS steel shaft 
Ping anser wedges 50, 54, 58
Odyssey two ball black ice centre shafted putter with 370g head weight plus 4 strips of lead behind face 
Ball is new Calloway tour I hex chrome great ball ! Only just changed from 15 years of prov1 golf

Garry Corkish 2

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