Golf Pro’s Pointers

BY ROBERT SIMPSON, PGA | DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION

Putting in the work during the off-season is critical to becoming the best golfer you can be. We’ve had tremendous success this year running lessons using the golf simulator. In addition to providing an instructional space when the weather is less than ideal, the simulator also gives our members the opportunity to practice on their own in a controlled environment and get immediate feedback on what they may be working on at any given time. I know I have most enjoyed being able to conduct our club fittings in the simulator where members can try everything we have and see whether it’s a great fit and worth the move to new equipment.

Whether you’ve been practicing your game or taking it easy over the winter, the start of the golf season can be a mixed bag. The most important thing you can do when you get back on the course is temper expectations. Get used to reading the greens again, making good course management decisions, and re-learning your yardages with your clubs. Don’t get caught up in score—there is plenty of time to get your handicap down. The golf season isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon, and starting fast and losing steam is not a good strategy.

If you’re approaching the season with specific goals in mind, make sure you have reasonable expectations and a reasonable timeline. If your goal is to break 80, build a road map to get there with micro goals. It might look something like this: In order to break 80, you need to improve your putts per round to fewer than 32 or hit 8-12 greens per round. Micro goals make the work you need to put in more tangible and as you achieve your micro goals, your main goal becomes more of a reality.

Junior golf is a great asset and one of the most important aspects of what we do as golf professionals. Without junior golfers the game doesn’t grow. SGCC’s junior golf program begins at age three and has a place for every junior based on where they are in their golf journey. PGA Junior League teaches team mentality in a largely individual sport and boosts juniors’ self-confidence and respect for the game as well as for their competitors. The path to becoming a competitive player teaches important life skills that they will transfer as children grow into adulthood.

If your child hopes to go to pursue collegiate athletics, it is important to understand what being a dedicated student athlete means. A dedicated student athlete understands that their studies come first. College coaches notice if a student athlete has an impressive work ethic in the classroom; dedication in schoolwork determines an athlete’s sport and life success. Developing a good work ethic starts young, and SGCC’s youth sports programs are the perfect place to cultivate these critical skills. 