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By definition, a
“coach” takes you from one place to another. A good golf
coach understands the mechanics of the golf swing but that
is only a small part of his or her success. He or she also
provides guidance and assistance on all facets of the game
and develops, with the player, a plan for continuous
improvement.
There is a difference between a golf teacher, and a coach.
Typically, a teacher works on `the swing’. I have already
exposed the myth of the Golf Swing as the Only Thing, so
that would seem to leave the teacher very little to do. On
the contrary, there is lots to teach and learn on this area.
But it has to be put into perspective; a good coach will do
this naturally.
The first thing the student needs to understand, is the
notion of evolution. Golf is like an onion, and there are
many levels to reach. The first is an understanding of the
whole game, and the rules. The object is to play in the
fewest number of strokes, or if not a competitive person, to
constantly improve. This is a basic systems trait; the
golfer needs to understand the levels approach, and to know
which level their game is playing at any given time.
That gives the golfer a path, and limits the dangerous `but
she can hit it further than me’, and the other forms of
comparison. For example, I had a student at the Indian
Embassy in Thimpu, a brand new golfer, who was actually
doing quite well in my eyes. But she was not satisfied. `If
I can hit one up in the air, I should be able to do it more
often’.
I had a talk with Chandni, about the levels; 1) hit the
ball, 2) get it in the air, 3) go straight, 4) go far
enough, and 5) Learn to score
The good news was that she managed to make contact nearly
every time. I asked her if she would be happy if 50% of her
shots went up in the air. She said that would make her quite
happy, so we counted out 10 balls. This exercise put less
pressure on her to be perfect; she was allowed some
mistakes. After flubbing the first, she hit 9 of the
prettiest 5 wood shots any new golfer could execute. She
turned to me with a big beautiful smile, and said, `thanks,
Coach. I think I’m going to like this game’.
The thing about systems theory that can get you playing
great golf much quicker than the traditional A,B,C approach,
is that it is self-correcting. The big ME doesn’t have to
work so hard to make something happen. If i am in fact, a
verb, and take my place as part of a bigger pattern, the
whole thing tends to find its way in the most efficient way
possible.
Back to coaching; If one has practiced, and is able to
empathize with the student without `what’s in it for me’,
then the teacher/coach can actually become part of the
field, the pattern of the student’s progress. I sincerely
hope some golf instructors read this, and incorporate some
of these principles in their everyday programs. The horror
stories of `I went for a lesson, but he changed so many
things that it ruined my game’ come from the ME fixing YOU
approach, endemic in so many so-called golf professional
instructors. If you cannot help, at least DO NO HARM. The
word iatrogenic means `physician induced illness, and it can
apply to golf as well.
Understand, that just in every other system, there are many,
many factors involved in the ongoing health of the organism,
company, game, or whatever the case may be. In golf there is
mind, past history, desire, body type and past experience,
body that day, amount of ME involved that day, the course,
conditions, playing partners, good or bad day at work
recently, family issues, and a million others. All of those
have to be part of the situation.
Does the system get stuck because of arising negativity from
past sports, or life history in general? Is a past attitude
of `I’m unworthy’, or `please help me’ arise? The reason I
am going on with this is that, a golf organism probably
doesn’t need the keep your head down approach. They need to
grow some self-learning from feedback, both positive and
negative.
The negative feedback can be the most important kind for
learning, but it has to be seen as such, a trigger for
growth. Most people are stopped in their tracks by negative
feedback. If we as a species have that attitude, there would
have been no evolution, no change. When I do feel a student
needs golf swing information, I try to factor into the
golfers system that there will be a period of growth through
the negative feedback.
What we as the learning system do is to pick a number of
poor shots that can be realistically expected. Let’s say the
number is 500. Then, when a poor result occurs, the golfer
can say `good, only 499 to go. Great, only 367 to go’, etc.
Out of clutter, find simplicity,
From discord, find harmony,
In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity
Albert Einstein
If you are teaching as a verb, rather than the great all
knowing big deal pro, you will be there to create an
environment for the whole system to grow in, a culture.
This applies to dad teaching son or daughter, and husband
teaching wife. Remember to do no harm. If you really want to
be helpful, find a good teacher locally, and provide the
environment for learning. |
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