The Holiday Season is often a time for thanksgiving, reflection and celebration. For me, 2022 had its ups and downs, but in the end was a strong year. I am grateful for the trust my clients place in me, and invite readers to join me in celebrating their successes.
- 4 of my 5 PGA Tour clients qualified for the FedEx Cup Playoffs, by finishing in the top 125 on the FedEx Cup Points List:
- J.J. Spaun – 1st Tour win ’22; qualified for FedEx Cup 4/5 yrs
- Sam Ryder- 5th year in a row qualified for FedEx Cup playoffs
- PGA Tour Rookie David Lipsky (previously a 2-time winner on the European PGA Tour, and winner on the Korn Ferry Tour)
- Kelly Kraft – a Major-Medical Status (i.e., returning from injury) former US Amateur Champion
- Two amateur clients qualified for the USGA Amateur Four Ball Championship, including finishing first in their Regional Qualifier.
- For the second time, I was asked by University of Texas Director of Golf John Fields, 2022 National Coach of the Year to work with a talented but inconsistent member of the the team. The player responded well and earned his first 3 starts for the team that eventually won the 2022 NCAA Division 1 National Championship, with my student also earning a place on the All-Big 12 Conference Academic Team. [The first Univ. of Texas player I coached was Kramer Hickok, now on the PGA Tour.]
I was honored by my Instructor peers with nomination as a finalist for Michigan PGA Teacher of the Year-2022, an award I received previously for 2018. Here are some excerpts from my response to the nomination which is grounded in a spirit of collaborative and continuous learning from and with my peers.
INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES & TECHNOLOGIES/CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
My approach to instruction is grounded in establishing in each student a sound understanding of the biomechanical fitness necessary for superior results in golf, and tailoring instruction techniques as the student improves his/her own biomechanical fitness. Much of the background can be viewed at my Instructional website, Tour Prep Golf which includes over 200 videos.
I continue to dedicate my continuous professional improvement to deepening my knowledge of biomechanics, patterns of movement and athletic performance, and sharing it with/collaborating with/learning from other Top Instructors. In 2022 this included the following:
- on-going consultation on ground forces in the golf swing, and 3 D motion capture technology, with GASP force plate system certifications with Prof. Mike Duffey of Penn State University and the U.S Olympic Committee.
- The Practical Application of Biomechanics
- Four (4) explanatory videos can be viewed at Penn State The Biomechanics of Golf , Mike Duffey, PHD – Golf Mechanist , and GASP Systems.
- on -going collaboration with fellow Top 100 Instructor Chris Como (Golf Channel- Swing Expedition series) including GASP force plates and other technology at his “Living Room Lab” studio with Bryson DeChambeau. I take several of my students to this facility a number of times/year to teach collaboratively with Chris. [Check out the youtube videos with my PGA Tour students/clients Sam Ryder and David Lipsky at ]
- “Understanding Player Patterns”, a podcast with Tony Ruggiero [Golf Digest Top 50 Teachers, Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructors] which is available on The Tour Coach Podcast, on ITunes, Soundcloud, etc
- Sportsbox.ai—This innovative technology emerged in 2022, and I was in the launch group of Golf Instructors field testing it with students and providing feedback to Sportsbox. The technology is styled “ 3D Motion Capture in the Palm of your Hands”, because it uses cell phone technology to capture 3D video of player swings, to be used for training and instruction. Many coaches are familiar with GEARS, which delivers 3 D images through a network of multiple cameras—indoors— at a cost of $50,000 and more. Sportsbox provides the same approach through I-phones at a fraction of the cost, both indoor and outdoor. I provided the Sportsboxtechnology to my Tour players and a number of amateurs, we used it in training and instruction. I provided feedback to Sportsbox leadership, and participated in several webinars.
This collaborative approach has been a longstanding, consistent theme in my Instruction Journey—learning better practices from peers and sharing my knowledge with all interested coaches/instructors. This is helping me to develop an Instruction Academy for the new High Pointe GC, to be known as the “The Lab”, with state-of-the-art technology and methods. We are developing a special world class facility, culture and environment. Focus will be on fitness/golf training/performance/recovery, where nothing will hold back a player from achieving their goals, and where coaches/instructors and other industry leaders can collaborate and innovate. Top 100 Instructor Chris Como is assisting me in the effort.
I am grateful for the trust Rod Trump, Tom Doak and the other developers of High Pointe have placed in me for this special project.