With the increasingly
popularity of golf, the demand to fill related careers is also on the
rise. Many amateur golfers turn to a golf instructor to help them
develop their techniques, so teaching golf is a viable career choice
for many golf enthusiasts. Teaching golf isn’t for everyone,
though. See if you have what it takes to make your living as a
golf instructor.
Before you pursue a career as a
golf instructor, ask yourself honestly if you have enough expertise on
the sport to assume the role of an expert.
You’ve played golf, taught golf,
and/or worked in other areas of the industry. Part of knowing
golf is playing it regularly. If you don’t play golf regularly,
you probably don’t have what it takes to teach the sport. Also,
it is very helpful if you have previously taught golf or worked in the
industry. Remember, as a golf instructor you are sending the
message that you are an expert on the sport, so make sure you know your
golf before you take the job.
You know the techniques and
theories of teaching. In order to be an effective golf
instructor, you must understand basic teaching techniques. After
all, you will need to be able to communicate with students of every
skill level, from the most bumbling beginners to the most assured
intermediate and advanced students.
Your supply of patience runs
exceptionally deep. Patience ought to be a prerequisite for any
teaching job. You truly love the game of golf. A good golf
instructor needs to be able to eat, drink, and breathe golf without
getting sick of it.
Being a golf instructor may sound
like an easy, fun job, but it takes a special kind of person to fill
those shoes. Knowledge, experience, skill, patience, and passion
are all necessary ingredients in the formation of an expert.
Many of the top touring
professionals know that winning on the tour today takes much more than
a great game of golf. How you structure your golf fitness program is
essential to your overall performance on and off the course.
Specific to golf – Get rid of the
traditional gym machines which focus on isolating specific muscle
groups and require no stabilization work by additional muscle groups.
Integrate some old and new fitness tools which allow you to move your
body in a more functional setting.
Increase Core Stability – More
efficient movement creates more efficient power. Golfers maintain an
athletic posture over long periods of time and require both trunk and
core stabilization and endurance. By increasing your strength and
endurance in the core region of your body, you provide both a solid
base of support for rotation in addition to the proper transfer of
power throughout the body.
Vary your Planes of Motion - A golf
fitness program will have varying planes of motion as part of your
weekly strength routine. Some good examples include multi-directional
lunges and medicine ball wood chops.
Integrate Multiple Elements into
Each Exercise – Each weekly workout should address all of the important
elements for golf including flexibility, core development, balance,
strength and power. Each workout can be broken down into strength
development for several weeks, core stabilization for several weeks,
and power development as you move into peak season.
Progress from Simple to Complex -
Begin your exercise program by mastering the simplest forms of
exercises first. Progress your golf training design to increase in
complexity as your body grows and develops and as you learn proper
stabilization of your core region. An example of progression for the
legs may be to perform two leg ball squats prior to performing the one
leg version.
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