Golf Made Simple
Palm Coast, FL – What do wine tasting classes, holistic golf lessons, and public speaking boot camp all have in common? They are all stepping stones to increasing women’s corporate self-esteem these days. In New York City, female execs are taking spirited classes that teach them how to order from fancy wine menus with ease during high-pressure corporate dinners. Golf lessons are becoming increasingly popular for the same reason. Golf schools are literally, leveling out the golf playing field. Many career-minded women have realized that golf can be a shortcut to a corner office. A round of golf can provide 4-5 hours of one-on-one time to build relationships that just can’t be created in a boardroom or over lunch. According to the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, an estimated $28 billion in annual sales in the U.S. is directly attributed to the contacts, conversations and relationships initiated or conducted while on the golf course.
What’s the catch? Many women (and men) freeze on the course in front of important clients and colleagues. Taking a golf lesson can be just as intimidating, so many women are now opting for small class sizes with personal attention from an instructor who will help to enhance their game, and not change their grip or stance. No one has time to fight rush hour traffic to make it to the local golf course for an hour golf lesson, and then rush to pick up the kids and make dinner. It’s almost impossible to squeeze practice time in during the week. Many women are instead choosing 3, 5 and 7-day intense golf programs like the pro’s do to train for tournaments.
Founder of Golf Made Simple and PGA pro Marc Solomon explains, "There is a clear advantage of being away from the hectic world and in a relaxed, yet encouraging learning atmosphere. The problem with one-hour golf lessons is that golfers are still in their Monday through Friday fast forward mode, filled with mental to do lists. Weekly lessons waste time; they aren’t intense enough to improve the overall consistency of your game long term."
Golf Made Simple uses an organic approach to learning; instructors have small intimate classes with personal attention. There’s never any anxiety or embarrassment about performing in front of 20 students; Golf Made Simple classes max out at four golfers. "The number one barrier for women in golf is that they don’t want to slow everybody else down on the course because they aren’t as consistent as more experienced golfers," says Solomon.
Holistic teaching methods will focus on:
â?¢ Moving the whole body in one graceful motion
â?¢ De-cluttering mental fog and increasing clarity
â?¢ Enjoying the strategy of the game through various learning methods
"Golf is growing in popularity. Currently, around 25% of U.S. golfers are women," says Solomon. "Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie are making a great golf game seem attainable and glamorous. Beginners and amateurs shouldn’t feel reluctant to give golf a shot, just join a small class that makes you feel comfortable. Golfers need to enjoy the game, not get stressed out about the 132 points of swing mechanics."
Golf Made Simple recognizes that every golfer has a different learning style, so lessons are tailored for visual, auditory or kinetic learners. Solomon explains, "I pay attention to how golfers react to their first lesson on the practice range. After being given instructions and executing a great swing, a visual learner will say, ‘Oh, okay, I see what you mean,’ An auditory learner will say, ‘I hear what you saying,’ and a kinetic learner will say, ‘Oh yeah, I can feel that swing.’ It’s amazing!" (See sidebar)
Donna Gill, from Fort Worth, TX, visited Golf Made Simple and saw great improvements in her game. "My background is psychology, and my focus is very analytical as far as people are concerned. My Golf Made Simple instructor communicated each concept differently for all the golfers in my group. He approached lessons like a circle, he communicated from every possible angle and direction, reaching out to the visual learners, or the analytical learners like me. This really sets him apart from other instructors out there who have an exaggerated focus on mechanics – not fluid natural movements. Golf Made Simple brought together all the elements of the game without dissecting it or using video analysis. It was a much more holistic approach, and it worked," says Gill.
It’s Simple
The philosophy of Golf Made Simple is what you would expect – simple. Prior to Golf Made Simple, most golfers have 13 different swings for the 13 woods and irons in their bag, which is complicated to keep consistent. Golf Made Simple believes in one swing that is different for each individual, but works for all 13 clubs. A results-based approach to golf instruction measures a golfer’s success right away. Golfers are taught to move their whole body in one fluid motion. There is no focusing on one body part, so there is less compensation and more consistency. Pro golfers don’t take 60 minute golf lessons once a week that are crammed in between work and family with no time for practice. Pros fly to their coaches for 3-5 days of intense instruction and then keep in touch on their progress via email and phone calls. The nationally recognized PGA professional, Marc Solomon and his staff lead four person classes for a customized experience. Golfers can take 3, 5 and 7-day classes in San Diego, CA, St. Augustine, FL, Amelia Island, FL, and Tampa, FL. Their Instructor For Life program guarantees that each golfer can always contact their instructor for free customized advice, tips, drills and exercises – for life. "92% of golfers who come to Golf Made Simple looking to break 90 for the first time have been successful in reaching their goal!" It’s Golf Made Simple. For more information, or to read Golf Improvement Weekly (the world’s most read golf improvement newsletter), please visit www.GolfMadeSimple.com.
Sidebars
Learning Styles
Visual/ Spatial Intelligence
Visual learners rely on the sense of sight and the ability to visualize an object. Visual learners often create internal mental images/pictures to understand a concept. This type of golfer can recognize the relationships of objects and angles in a spatial way, and appreciate graphic representations. Visual learners may imagine the flight path of the golf ball, drawing an imaginary line from the tee to the green. They need visual hand-outs, charts, and graphics. Before a game, this type of golfer will visualize their success, picturing their winning holes. When the golf ball drops in the hole, visual learners will happily proclaim, ‘Did you see that?’
Auditory Intelligence
Auditory learners can usually remember information more accurately when it has been explained to them orally. Auditory learners are ‘talkers’ and can articulate their ideas clearly. They often find learning a foreign language to be relatively easy. Auditory learners need to talk about their golf game with their instructor and fellow classmates over ‘chalk talks’ at the end of the day to recap their lessons. They need to listen to the sound the golf ball makes as it is hit off the tee, and hear the whistle of the wind during a slice or a great swing. By speaking a rhythmic phrase like ‘Tick-Tock’ during their swing, an auditory learner can actually hear a mistake and correct it as they train. They may be inclined to give themselves pep talks before a game. Auditory learners often find great satisfaction when they hear the ball dropping into the hole.
Kinetic/Tactile Intelligence
Kinetic learners learn by doing. They often need to perform an action to learn, using the brain’s motor cortex which controls bodily motion. They have an expanded awareness of the body, can easily mimic, and have a strong mind body connection. Kinetic learners need to repeatedly practice their swings in order to feel the balance of their body’s movements. It is also helpful for this type of golfer to have an instructor who can stand behind them and physically dissect the swing into its parts, so they can feel each movement when they carry out the complete motion. They may want to swing with their eyes closed during practice, to heighten the feeling of the swing through impact. Kinetic learners know when they have played a great hole, long before the ball hits the green, because it just ‘felt like a good swing.’
Health Benefits for Female Golfers
Unlike many sports, golf is not discriminating when it comes to a player’s size, shape or age. Because golf is often considered a leisurely sport, many people don’t think of it as promoting health, but walking an 18-hole course while carrying a heavy golf bag is a great way to burn calories and promote heart health. According to an activity profile done by NutriStrategy Nutrition and Fitness, a 140-pound golfer walking a course and carrying clubs can burn 350 calories an hour. Solomon explains, "The average golf course is over three miles in length, that’s a great workout! Golf also improves your mental health. Putting the ball into the hole really improves focus, and that focus can be used in all aspects of a person’s life," say Solomon.
While golfers do not need to be in peak cardiovascular shape, they need strength, stamina, flexibility, coordination, concentration and skill in this challenging game. According to the Mayo Clinic, golf is a great sport for women with osteoporosis which causes weak brittle bones that are more prone to fractures. A great swing can help female golfers to avoid extra stress on the spine. Placing appropriate stress on the bones through a comfortable swing, and walking the course, are weight-bearing exercises that help build and maintain bone strength and density. "I can spot a Baby Boomer female golfer from across the room – she’ll have great posture, a lean frame, and long linear muscles that are characteristic of lifetime golfers. The sport is a ‘forever sport.’ It will carry you and your health into your twilight years," says Solomon.
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