Moving on - new position in the golfing world

It has been an extremely busy start to 2011. Poor weather in November and December has lead to many people wanting to get out onto the golf course and to the range for practice and tuition. It has also been a busy time for me personally. 2011 will see my role changing within the golfing world and i thought i would publish a quick post to explain the changes that have taken place.

For the past 3 years I have been coaching full time for The James Andrews School of Golf. This role was great in many ways. The Golfschool would supply the coaches with clients on residential schools and they were taught over 2, 3 or 5 days respectively.
Spending this much time with a group meant that we could work hard at improving many aspects of a players game and really go into detail over what their current swing characteristics and habits were. The other benefit was that whilst you were with the clients you knew that they were carrying out proper, effective practice not just smacking balls aimlessly.
Obviously when you spend that much time with people then the hardest thing was often to not say too much. Not to over describe or confuse the pupil. Less was more, however we did have plenty of time to work on various thoughts and feelings than you would in your standard 30 - 60 minute golf lesson. Often at the end of the clients residential visit you would see some huge changes in performance and a very much enhanced understanding of their own swing and ball flight characteristics.
The only downside i can state however was then sending that person back to their own club. Busting a gut for 5 days but then maybe to never see them again was a little frustrating but equally accepted as part of the role we were carrying out. 

So for the new role. At the same facility I am set to take over the more traditional Club Professional position. Managing the Professional Shop and looking after my own client base. The times of the residential golfschool's and also the fact it was always packed out meant that my own client base took a bit of a hit, often having to pass lessons onto other professionals within the facility. I am looking to rebuild these links and push my own client base as far as i can whilst introducing as many new golfers as possible to the game with a vast beginners coaching set up.
The team of assistants i have working for me is extremely strong and as a team we will be looking at pushing the golf club forwards as much as possible in 2011 and beyond.
The position will just as importantly allow me to pursue my goals as a teaching professional. Having a more control over working hours etc will allow me to get back into participating in CPD courses and gaining further qualifications, as well as allowing me to try and push myself further up the professional ladder through county coaching etc etc.

I am very pleased with the role change. My time with The Golfschool was extremely useful and the people i met from all parts of the world undoubtedly improved me personally as well as professionally. It has allowed me to mix with extremely successful and worldly people and also allowed me to witnessed what seems every possible swing imaginable, so to all those i have taught in this time i am very greatful.

Anyway its onwards and upwards from here. More blogging to follow and time to work on my website as well.

Thanks for reading and happy golfing.

Dan Gale
PGA Professional/TPI Certified

Dan is a fully qualified member of the PGA and a Certified TPI Instructor

Check out his website at http://www.dangalegolf.com/