TuksGolf swinging towards athlete development

Mpho Mabelesa

TuksGolf has been offering its training programs since 2006, and one of its main focuses is to use the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) strategy to train its players. This strategy incorporates the philosophy that an athlete should train for 10 000 hours or 10 years to reach an elite level of competitiveness. PDBY was interested in how TuksGolf implemented this strategy, so we spoke to Neil van Vliet, the head of the program for TuksGolf. He says that golf is one of the hardest sports to learn, especially when it comes to movement. Therefore, enough time and patience should be put into learning all the necessary skills to be able to develop into a professional golfer, hence the LTAD. He was then asked how he was able to implement this strategy in teaching young kids, especially considering that they have a short attention span. He says he varies the training for young kids, and the focus is less on technical skills, but on enjoyment, short games, and “hitting the ball as hard as you can with speed”.

The LTAD, however, is not only limited to young kids, says Neil. Adults can also learn golf basics with this program, or they can take their already existing golf skills to the next level. With golf having so much participation throughout the country, it is encouraging to see the LTAD program also incorporating adults who are just looking to play for fun in their plan. TuksGolf also has a driving range on the Hillcrest Campus that is open to the public. It also has state-of-the-art equipment to ensure maximum performance for golfers. Adults and children alike can go to the course to hit some balls after a long day. If you’re interested in their coaching or just want to hit some flop shots or birdies, contact Neil van Vliet via e-mail at neil.vanvliet@hpc.co.za or mobile at 076 873 3937.