A golfer’s journey requires dedicated and consistent practice. It also demands a long-term development model and programming that makes sense for beginners.
It’s easy for new golfers to get overwhelmed by all the information. That can make the game intimidating and discourage people from trying it. This is why golf professionals must be patient with beginners and give them a clear roadmap.
The Beginner’s Phase
Golf is a fantastic game, but it can be challenging and frustrating at the same time. Spending time outdoors with loved ones can be an enriching experience that fosters self-discovery. It can frustrate you to the point of wanting to quit, but teaches you how to overcome failure.
One of the best things you can do as a beginner is to find a qualified professional and get lessons. This will help you avoid bad habits from being ingrained in your swing, and it is the fastest way to improve.
You can buy the right equipment. Investing in pro-level clubs will allow you to hit the ball further and more consistently than beginner-level equipment. This will save you money in the long run and can be the difference between hitting tremendous and foul shots.
The Intermediate Phase
Golfers in the intermediate phase are caught right in the middle of beginner and advanced levels. They have been taking lessons for a while and feel like they know the basics of the game but need to focus on consistent execution of the course.
Now, you can break 100 regularly but still struggle with consistency with the irons and need help with putting. You’ve been working hard on your short game and getting a lot of birdie opportunities, but don’t convert them to eagles because your putting is inconsistent.
During an intermediate golf lesson, you’ll work on swing plane and clubhead path to get more distance with your irons and better control of the ball in the fairway. Your instructor will also work with you on golf strategy so that you can prepare for competitive play down the road.
The Advanced Phase
Bird Golf is an excellent game for anyone looking to improve their health and spend time with friends. However, new players often feel overwhelmed by all there is to know about the game, including club selection, etiquette, and rules.
Students understand how to perform the golf swing and putting stroke in the cognitive or early stage. Often, this is easier with newer students who have not previously played, as they don’t have ingrained old muscle movements to override.
As students progress through this phase, they will reach an intermediate or associative stage where the desired movements become more natural and can be repeated with little thought. This is also where the student’s self-image grows as they see positive results with their golf skills. Those who don’t practice regularly will begin to see their skills depreciate to the level of beginner players again. This is why finding a coach who can provide frequent feedback to support this progression is essential.
The Professional Phase
Becoming a professional golfer requires a lot of time and dedication. You will need to practice and play often and consistently and participate in amateur tournaments to build your resume. Then, once you’ve mastered all the basic skills, you can begin to compete on the pro developmental mini-tours.
This is where many beginners get stuck, needing help switching to this new environment. Traditionally, golf professionals have offered clinics and camps to beginner players, but they rarely include playing on the course. They think beginners will learn how to play golf outside of the program. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work. Golfers need a long-term program with explicit programming to be successful. This benefits Golf Professionals who can now have predictable class numbers and consistent revenue and beginners who will enjoy the affordable process of becoming skilled lifelong golfers. Using sports images can help beginners understand this process better: when you’re standing at the address, imagine yourself like a basketball defender ready to defend a charge; in the backswing, picture yourself as a quarterback extending for a pass; and during the downswing, be a hockey player ready to shoot a goal.
