Patrick McHugh

I have been teaching golf for many years but it is only in the last three years that I decided to adopt a more remarkable method for coaching.

There are two main reasons for my change to this method and the first was because of the very disappointing improvement levels that I was achieving with my students.

I am of course referring to a golfer who has reached a steady playing ability level and then decides to hire a professional coach to bring him to an improved level.

It was not just myself that was disappointed in this field but almost all of my colleagues, or those who were being totally honest in any case, reported the same.

So where were we failing?

I don't think any other sport coach can claim to know more about their game's biomechanics, playing tactics (course management), psychology, physiology, equipment, fitness regimes etc.

As Timothy Gallwey famously states,

"Golf coaches certainly know a lot about the swing but unfortunately not very much about how to teach it!"

This statement has inspired me to ask myself how I could perhaps learn more about how to 'teach it'.

But the foremost reason for my change to this remarkable new method is because of my daughter, Juliana, who I refer to on the website as Leela.

She is quite simply a coach and a father's dream student/daughter. She has managed to help change my entire outlook on how this game should be taught and learned.

The situation that brought this to light was in our second season together when she was just nine and preparing to start playing 18 holes on a standard course and eventually tournaments as well.

It was a rather cruel but enlightening experience for us both because our coach/student relationship was becoming very strained and sometimes I would chastise her to the extent that she would break down in tears.

This was a brand new experience for me as I can quite honestly and positively state that I had never managed to upset my little sweetheart like this before.

What is it in a parent's quest to do the best for their offspring that events can turn quite nasty and sour. I had tasted this a few times with Juliana and noticed that my nastiness was worsening although I was trying to avoid it.

As a loving father this phase in our relationship was hurting me more than I can explain. Quite frankly I had had enough and decided there and then to re-assess my coaching skills.

I soon started to realise that the practical studies for my job title were very much involved with spotting mistakes and prescribing remedies in the golf swing. I had also become very proficient in this area.

But did I ever learn proficient teaching skills?

Or put another way...

Do my students proficiently learn from my skills?

Read on this link how the developement of my new coaching technique evolved.

Thanks for listening,

Patrick McHugh

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