Golden Age of Golf Instruction

If you missed the main article in last month’s Momentum Newsletter, here it is. The Golden Age of Golf Instruction is here and you’re living in it!

The Golden Age of Golf Instruction (You’re in it)

Since the first Scotsmen were taking target practice with each other in the 1300’s there have been plenty of people willing (if not always able) to provide a little friendly advice. As the game of golf evolved from a slightly barbaric game of long-distance “chicken” to the refined gentleman’s game we see in modern times, so has golf instruction.

Over the centuries, golf has seen several innovations in technology (who doesn’t remember the old days playing with gutties, right? ) both on and off the course. It wasn’t until the 1840s that a “show and tell” approach to golf instruction was first implemented. Until that point, all instruction was verbal direction. Today we know that players learn in a variety of ways and the lessons of the 1840s might have been the first to employ a kinesthetic approach to teaching golf.

The first golf book hit Ye Olde Amazon Shoppe in 1857, with H.B. Farnie’s book A Keen Hand. While a quick search on Amazon.com didn’t come up with any copies for sale, a plethora of written guides to golf instruction have certainly followed, giving more sage advice than even the most ardent range rat could digest. Add to that the competing golf publications that have been printed since the early 1900s and it’s easy to see how any golfer could suffer from information overload.

Other innovations in teaching followed, with touring professionals hosting clinics while barnstorming around the U.S. and Europe (why do you think the Vardon grip caught on so fast?). With the Great Depression came the rise of the club pro, as more tour players found the playing circuit to be less profitable than staying put. The 1950’s saw a huge advance on the driving range as well, as new technology removed the need for manual retrieval of balls.

We can probably thank a trio of well-known golfers for the growth of printed instruction guides. In the 50’s and 60’s, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer all dove into the publishing business with several instructional books designed bring golf instruction to the masses.

Needless to say, information has been plentiful for decades and yet people still struggle with their own improvement. Modern golf instruction provides more meaningful instructional guidance to a golfer than at any time in our great sport’s history. Players are able to hear sage advice from their Coach, view their actual swings on video with motion measurement and not only follow a “show and tell” lesson but actually feel the way their body positions throughout the swing with the guidance they need. Retention is at an all-time high as video WebLessons are available for access from anywhere at any time, 24/7.

At GolfTEC we’ve led the charge for this latest revolution in golf improvement. No other company can match the Proven Path we’ve developed over the years. Technology allows us to use a Fact-based Diagnosis to truly assess the swing progress of every client we teach, while innovative teaching techniques help players learn the full swing sequence over the course of their lessons. Video practice and online lesson review reinforce the progress being made.

Golf instruction has never been better than in today’s day and age. Even an avid high-handicapper can talk about swing planes, X-factors and ball flight. But with GolfTEC, players can count on a Proven Path to Proven Results. And, historically speaking, a Swing Evaluation from GolfTEC might just be the best golf lesson of all time.

Traditions at the Masters In Augusta

The Masters golf tournament, the first of the four Majors, starts this week. Below we’ve compiled a list of Masters traditions and fun facts. Did we miss something? Leave it in the comments!

Traditions

1. The Green Jacket is one of the famous traditions. The jacket must be returned to the clubhouse after a year.

2. The champion from the previous year picks the menu at the Champions dinner, held on the Tuesday before the tournament.

3. An honorary tee shot is hit from the first tee by a former champion. Fred McLeod, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus have all had this honor. 

4. A Par 3, where the golfer’s children as are the caddies, is played the day before the first round.

5. Crystal bowls are given to players with a double eagle or hole in one and a crystal vase is awarded to the player with the low score of the round.

Fun Facts

1. The course in Augusta is considered the most beautiful course in the world by many. To keep it that way on TV, drink napkins match the grass so if one is dropped, it won’t show up.

2. The first tournament was held March, 22 1934. Since 1940 however, the Masters was scheduled for the first full week in April each year.

3. Jack Nicklaus became the oldest player to win a Masters Tournament, at 46 years, 2 months and 23 days – in 1986 and Tiger Woods was the youngest player to win a Masters Tournament, at 21 years, 3 months and 14 days – in 1997

4. No amateur has ever won the Masters

5. No one has ever won the par three tournament and the Masters Tournament in the same year

6. Each hole is named after a tree or shrub such as Tea Olive, Flowering Peach and Juniper. Click here for a layout of all 18 holes.

7. Food and beverages don’t cost as much as you might think. A drink, sandwich and souvenir cup runs less than $10.

To get a good feel for the vibe of the first two days, check out this article by Golf.com.

April Foursome Photo Contest