Mike started out as one of my private golf students and today I am honored to call him friend.  He is a good player but like most he allows the bad shot to take over too much mental space which leads to more poor shots.  What impresses me about Mike is his desire to keep practicing and playing even as he deals with debilitating pain which is probably why we get a long so well. 

When he asked about being a volunteer, I was not surprised.  People see that I have a lot of kids and they always ask but Mike was the first to follow through by completing all of the necessary background checks and training that First Tee requires.  He really enjoys watching the kids and is their biggest cheerleader.  When I was informed that he was awarded Volunteer of the Year for 2022 and that they wanted him to attend a special event, I laughed.  There was no way that Mike was going to a special event, if he was getting an award it would need to be in front of his players.  

It took two tries to present it since his back was not cooperating but we did it.  He was  completely unaware of what was happening at the time.  Congratulations Mike!!!

Q: ​How does it feel to receive this award?
​A:  It is an honor to receive an award for GIVING.

Q: How did you get started playing golf?  
A: Curiosity, my friend started to play and I went along with him. 

Q: What prompted you to start volunteering? 
A: I had been taking lessons with Glen for several weeks and he mentioned that he also taught kids as part of the First Tee program, so I asked if he needed any help.

Q: What do you enjoy the most about volunteering?  
A: Giving back is the greatest lesson, no matter how or when I have found it to be the greatest reward that I have experienced in my life. 

Q: When you are not playing golf what do you like to do?  
A: Watch and play sports, spend time with family. 

Q: Who is your favorite golfer and why?
A: Bernard Langer, his dedication to be the best. 

Q: Most people who are experiencing the kind of pain that you are, would just stop volunteering until they are well.  Why is it important for you to keep your commitment no matter what?
A: I was taught by my father a long time ago, if you make a commitment you keep it no matter what.  As the classes went on I observed that this was much more than teaching golf, Glen had a group of people who cared about teaching respect, family, and integrity etc. (Glen, Danni, Mayda, Mateo, Zack, Stan, Reva)  It has truly been a privilege to be involved with Glen and his crew, it is not often you get to spend time with such good people. 

If your junior is interested in golf, the first step is lessons but the real enjoyment for the game happens when they get on course to play and apply what they are learning. At this stage, your golfer should own a set of their own golf clubs and have a basic understanding of the game.  After playing on course, many of students have gone to play in competitive tournaments.   

Here are a few ways to get your golfer on the course that won't break the bank:
1. Join Youth on Course and your juniors can play at select golf courses for $5.  Each course has their own restrictions so additional fees could apply.  
2. Get the county junior golf card.  $50 a year will give your junior access to play the county golf courses for free during specific times.  
3. Consider taking an on course class with Coach Danni.  These classes are usually available in the summer months.  If you would like to be notified about the schedule send us an email.  

The more your junior plays, they will see that playing golf offers a great opportunity to grow as a person.  

One of the healthy habits that I teach to my junior golfers in community.  I often speak to them about looking out for each other and their neighbors but most of the time, I encourage them to take care of their physical community by becoming responsible for their trash.  I am constantly shocked by the amount of trash that is left behind on the driving range when trash cans are conveniently located for proper disposal.  It's not fun cleaning up after others but it is the right thing to do for the environment. 

When I was a kid, I know that was a long time ago, a popular public service announcement message was "Give a hoot, don't pollute" and it stuck.  It also makes sense.  When would littering be a good idea?  
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As it is we are producing so much trash that the biggest garbage dump on earth is actually in the ocean.   Sometimes, we humans just aren't very smart.  Maybe one of my junior golfers will develop a solution for it in the distant future.  In the meantime, creating awareness might cause us all to think differently about trash and its impact on our community at large.

My son, Gavin, is in the Navy so I thought I would share this video.​

I always encourage my adult students to arrive at least 10 minutes early for their lesson to warm-up but most arrive just on time or late leaving no time for this important activity.  While juniors typically adapt easier to physical activity, I believe it is important to develop the habit of warming-up early which is why we usually start each class with some kind of warm-up activity.  

I usually observe while another coach or even a junior golfer leads the activity.  It always impresses me when they youngest golfers are able to do the movements better than some of the older golfers.  While this could be due to disinterest, it could also mean that they are lacking coordination.  

Simple exercises practiced over time will help with coordination. The videos below offer exercise routines that can be incorporated into your day.   

First Tee Healthy Habit: Play
A variety of energizing play can help the body stay strong, lean and fit, and
be fun in the process. Sleep and other forms of “re-charging” allows one to
engage in play on a daily basis

Over the last week, I have had  increased conversations about exercise with my students.  Exercise and fitness are just as important in golf as in any other sport.  If you just gave me a raised eyebrow, I can understand why, but I would like to remind you that I am not referring to the casual golfer that you may encounter in your everyday lives. 

I have junior students that are playing tournaments and have aspirations of playing in college. I also have adult students that want to improve their handicap.  In order to be competitive, every aspect of the game must be explored and that includes physical fitness.  I am not expecting them to become a gym rat, but I do want to know how many push ups and pull ups they can do.  Then we may talk about setting goals to do more to increase strength among other things.  

Click here to see how Scott Stallings encourages his family to stay fit and then evaluate your own fitness with the PGA Golf Fitness Challenge or try the classic Presidential Fitness Challenge.  ​

You can do this challenge once a week or once a month.  The key is to track your success, set some goals and HAVE FUN!!!

I shared some other golf specific information in other posts, click the links below to access those: 

Workouts for Golf
Fitness in Golf