How'd you start teaching?
 

This would be my dream job. I love golf and love helping others. Don't think I'd want to make $250/week for the next two years though.

I know there are a lot of instructors on this site so - How'd you get started teaching? Is the pay ridiculously low to begin with? What steps are involved?

Thanks
 

Very cool, How does one get started in the business? I'm looking long term, like maybe in another year or so

Ridiculously Low? I beg to differ...
 

Where did you ever get the idea that instructors are poor?

If you are consistently producing good results, there will not be enough hours in the day to teach. If you teach a modest 8 hours a day at $50 an hour, that is $400.

Assuming you teach 5 days a week , that is $2000 a week - a far cry from your $250 per week.

In a month, you are bagging $8000 doing something you love. What is wrong with that?

Like all the other instructors here will attest, you are judged even before you start teaching. Do you look the part? Once you look the part, its hard to look at you and say "crap teacher".
In psychology speak this is the science of impression formation / management.

Looking the part helps; looking the part and knowing your stuff is even better...Which brings us to the stark reality of teaching.

Can you produce results fast. Do you have the technical know-how to do that? If not, you should seek enlightenment from an enlightened one.

In today's "Instant Coffee" society, if you can't produce results fast, you will go out the door fast.

I would like to clarify that producing results fast does not mean turning them into Sergio Garcia in 2 hours.

Producing results fast means that you can give your students a idea of what they can achieve if you do what you say.

If you can get your students to hit the sweetspot in the first lesson and compress the ball, it is like feeding them a SPEEDBALL. They will be hooked.

Usually, this is what I do:

I start off beginners or hackers with an assisted chip, where I help them make a little chip shot. When they get the sweet spot, this gives them a G.O.L.F "orgasm".

If you do the assist correct, it should not take more than one attempt to help them get the sweet spot.

Of course when they start chipping on their own, they won't be able to get 10/10. They will at least be able to get 2/10. Your job is to encourage them to keep at it until they overlay old habits with new ones to the point they achieve 10/10.

You can see that this will not take 2 minutes to achieve. But it will not take 2 years either!

Per 1-G "The instructor can only inform and explain - the student must absorb and apply."

The instructor can only inform if he has the correct information to begin with.

The instructor can only explain if he has the requisite communication skills to get across to the student the necessary information.

How best to communicate in different styles except to know the different personality types and their varied learning styles?

How best to make the student absorb but to make your golf lesson interactive and interesting?

How best to make the student apply but to show him that your prescription will get him to the promised land the quickest?

Get Certified...
 

Most places would require you to hold some certification that will prove to them you can actually teach before they will let you teach.

Therefore, the first thing you need to work on is to find a program that provides correct information and then get certified.

Anything to do with The Golfing Machine is highly recommended.
To this end, only The Golfing Machine LLC certifies people to teach under their banner.

You can email Mr Joe Daniels the CEO of TGM LLC at joe@thegolfingmachine.com.

Chuck Evans and Medicus Golf Institute are also certifying instructors and training them in the science of the golf stroke, so no worries about incorrect information there.

For more information on Chuck's program, you can tap him up at chuck@chuckevansgolf.com. Or, you can email the CEO, Randy Sparks at info@seascaperesort.org.

Yoda is not certifying yet, but if you want to just learn the book from the very best, then I guess you need to arrange a trip to Atlanta to meet up with Yoda and Yodasluke.
The emails are lynn@lynnblakegolf.com and tufpgagolf@yahoo.com

Tell them that the Singapore Slinger sent you...:)

Comdpa your first reply is very insightful IMO. Good Post.

I think you might be on the very opticmistic side for a starting instructor and initial income. Of course this depends on who you are associated with and connected too.

Optimism...
 

Hi Martee!

Thank you for your gracious words.

Yes, I agree with you that it may be a bit optimistic even with my referencing a fairly established guy.

At least I know I did not start out with "not enough hours in the day to teach"! Haha. But I also did not remain there...and I think that is what I want to encourage budding instructors here with.

Further, once you get an "orgasmic" student, chances are high that he will introduce his friends to get a "fix". Well, at least referrals are one of the main ways that I get my business.

on teaching
 

As someone who has taught a variety of disciplines for a LONG time :D . I want to support what Compda has said. You need to get the student HOOKED. However, the issue, as he has said is not in knowing what to teach, but how to teach/REACH that particular student. There are all sorts of learning theories out there, but what it boils down to is developing the ability to look your student in the eye and SEE that they are getting it. One of the things that I always tell my students is this.

I am responsible for communication. If you do not understand what I am trying to teach, that is NOT YOUR FAULT. It is mine. TELL me you do not understand and I will explain it a different way. If that fails, I will explain it a different way. IF THAT FAILS, I will find someone who CAN explain it in a manner that makes sense to you.

YOU are responsible for your own education. If you don't understand it is YOUR job to say so. If you tell me you understand and you don't, THAT is YOUR fault. BUT, as long as you keep trying, and keep letting me know when you don't get it, I have infinite patience.

I have NO patience with someone who will not put forth the effort to be the student. That means not only letting me know when you don't get it (if necessary repeatedly :p ) but also being willing to put in the work necessary to learn what we are trying to accomplish. You as the student MUST be AGGRESSIVE about your learning experience.

BTW I never charge by the hour, be it golf, shooting, or agility training. I charge by the lesson. I feel this is more fair, and if you "get it" in 20 minutes, there is no point in continuing to pound on a live horse. If it takes you two hours to "get it", that isn't your problem, it's mine, so why should I charge you extra?. I don't teach as many lessons per day, but it does even out, because sometimes it's short and sweet, and sometimes it's a bit longer. But the student ALWAYS feels succesful at the end of the time together. Nothing else makes as big a difference.

BTW I teach less for the money than for the joy of seeing the light come on for someone. The "your lesson changed my life" is more to me than $$$$.... I teach to give something back...

Don't get me wrong ... the money is nice :cool: but, I have done the "fame and fortune" bit in my life, and I am over that.


Walk In Beauty,

Obi WunPutt

Super post Fred!...