Re: group or instruction for wannabee instructors for seniors

Hannu,

I reckon google your country's golf association or institute of sport .

In Australia we have quite a few, women's, state's and then there is the country's one, ie, Golf Australia and also there is the AIS and State institute's of sport.

In answer to your question - I don't know.

I know all of these sites have contacts for instruction and one can ask them questions directly about specific needs. That's what one pays subs and taxes for.

VP

Re: group or instruction for wannabee instructors for seniors

I'm thinking of arranging an introduction to golf course for 50+ this winter. We'll meet 10 times in an inside golf hall. I'll use an approached called "core based motor learning", which also could be translated to "learning by doing" - with help of well selected simple exercises.

Just that over 50 years might have some issues that I should be aware of - and just remember to check during or before the course.

(Everyone pays for the fee of the inside range, but otherwise it will be free. I'll borrow clubs for the trainees from somewhere:-)

Re: group or instruction for wannabee instructors for seniors

Are you a golf instructor?

Re: group or instruction for wannabee instructors for seniors

hannu maybe you can take the onus off your shounders by making sure the over 50s have a doctors certificate to say they are fit and able to participate in the activity.

Re: group or instruction for wannabee instructors for seniors

I'm not a golf instructor. I started golf 3 -4 years ago and have been studying it hard - and I've had an opportunity to have some discussions with great scholars. (Like Veikko Eloranta, who developed the approach for core based motor learning at Jyväskylä University.)

I have a M.Sc in Physical Education, but I have not worked as a P.E. teacher for 20 years - or is it more:-)

About health for 50+ - doctors certificate or at least suggestion that anyone who has not been physically active should consider a health examination.

I have not been able to contact the golf hall yet (Season opens next month). It's possible that they won't allow me to arrange an introductory course - if they made deals with some golf pro. I don't think that they have, as three clubs are using the same inside hall and all clubs have their own pro teaching. Inside hall has a public training time on Sundays - and that could be my "spot" for the introduction to golf. I'm not favoring any of the three clubs ( or I'm not a member of any of them, but play actively in each course.)

In future I might become a golf instructor for senior golfers - hence the testing of "core based approach" which I'll call XO golf. XO comes from cognac XO - it gets better as it gets older...

Well, it's more of a retiring plan - won't be my full time job. (Got some 15 years until I retire so I have enough time to learn some golf - and XO is more about health and wellness than technique anyway.)

Re: group or instruction for wannabee instructors for seniors

Should I get some kind of certificate or go by self made guru and inventor of XO golf - secret for health and wellbeing ...

I'm not sure if I'm teaching anyone to play golf - it's more about helping us to know our self a little better and at the same time make some friends and get a feeling of success. Yes, golf score will get better, but that's not the point. Point is to feel better. Players are not going to make their living in playing "skins" or anything like that.

But should I still get a certificate for instructing golf? Why and from where?

(Our National federation is more concerned about "real teachers" who focus on competitors or future players). It's very important that instructor can play well HCP has to be less than 4 to even get in. And next course start 2010 - and it takes 2 years. (Well, I'm not in any hurry, but playing under 4 hcp is not very likely to happen... getting a hcp to single digit is hard enough - 13 at the moment.)

Re: group or instruction for wannabee instructors for seniors

The issue to consider is that if you coach golf for payment, even though you have no PGA qualification, you may loose your amateur status and be prohibited from playing in any club or amateur competitions.

Re: group or instruction for wannabee instructors for seniors

Thanks Brian, Very good point!


At the moment I'm not thinking of charging anything for the introductory course, but frankly I did for get about the amateur rule.

I need to check if I can pull XO golf as not really teaching, but more like a mental growth thing - and so that it would be considered as mental training. (I think that there is a ruling that mental trainer does not loose amateur status?) So I should only give advice on golf's mental issues. One does not loose amateur status for mental coaching - even one gets paid for it.

Re: group or instruction for wannabee instructors for seniors

I'm reading the inner game of golf once again.

I think I will try it on my introduction course to golf. I'll try to get through the 10 hours of golf with out giving any technical instruction - just small natural games starting with a putter and maybe working up to half swing with a 7 Iron.

Every one is over 50 years so they are experienced. I just need to get their previous skills in use in golf:-)

Re: group or instruction for wannabee instructors for seniors

Hannu,

The short game prac. I do it with my boys. Perhaps a different version for the older folk.

Everyone throw in a couple of dollars and winner take all. I don't do this with my boys - both get the macca's or packet of chips as a treat after.

Have a point system. Set up the green with either talc powder or tees around the hole and see how many up and downs or nearest the pins they can get with their chips or putts. Highest amount gets the prize.

Just a thought.

VP

Re: group or instruction for wannabee instructors for seniors

Jep,

I had some competitions on my mind - kind of "looser pays for the coffee"-type. Ideal would be to start with easy putting games and continue there to chip-puts, chips and 1/4 swing.

Also on the breaks give some info on rules and the game - but mostly just get people to sign for a green card course. (Or take the examination/ test, if they feel like it.)

Re: group or instruction for wannabee instructors for seniors

Hannu,

What is this green course application?

Re: group or instruction for wannabee instructors for seniors

Green card course is a test of skill to evaluate, that player has the skills needed to play on a course - and many take a course of ten hours and a lot of practice to make the examination.

Did I understand your question?

Or where you asking how do I apply inside hall exercises to a real golf course?

Re: group or instruction for wannabee instructors for seniors

Hi Nicole. I assume Hannu's referring to the European Golf Association scheme to ensure that beginners know the basics of golf technique, etiquette and golf rules before they are allowed on a golf course.

It includes a written (rules, etiquette) test and a playing test (tee shot, chip, putt plus a few holes); if you google "EGA Green Card" it should give you the details if you are interested.

Luckily for me in my early days UK courses don't use the scheme