The fastest way to good golf
28.07.2020

Covid-19 has led to massive changes in many professions, sometimes rapidly advancing digitisation. Even before the lockdown, teaching professionals experienced that technological advances have a significant influence on their own work and job description. Over the past two decades, technical tools have found their way onto the driving range. What began at the turn of the millennium with handy video cameras and a TV screen has developed rapidly in recent years. Nowadays, filming is done with a smartphone or tablet, and apps are available for a quick initial analysis. Launch monitors such as Trackman and FlightScope are now standard equipment in golf academies. "The golf swing has become 'measurable', we can record, measure and analyse every phase of the swing with the latest technical tools", says Swiss PGA President Keith Marriott. He is also thinking of the great possibilities BodiTrak offers.

"Our profession, and especially the way golf lessons are taught, has changed dramatically over the past two or two and a half decades," admits Marriott. But the technical tools used are only part of that change. "The Internet has also had a major impact," says Marriott. Whereas two or three decades ago it was still golf journals that published articles on golfing exercises for the pros and thus motivated amateur golfers to practice on the range, this task is now taken over by video films on Internet portals and social media. "One thing that should never be forgotten with these videos, however, is that every golfer has his or her individual swing, which is based on the respective physical conditions," says Marriott. A petite golfer will never be able to hit the ball as powerfully as Jon Rahm, and even the most ambitious senior is not (no longer) as agile as Rory McIlroy. Imitation or copying is only possible to a limited extent. And also only conditionally useful.

"The fastest and cheapest way to learn golf is to spend hours with the Pro," says Marriott. Because: "You can't learn to play golf with Google. The right tips for your own swing can only be given by a person - a Pro with a trained eye, who recognises the physical possibilities based on your physique". However, the president of the Swiss PGA admits that technological progress has also changed and developed the way golf instructors and students communicate with each other. "It has long since ceased to be just the tour professionals who send their swing videos home to their coaches and so fine-tune their swing. Amateurs are also taking advantage of the possibilities offered by modern technology," explains Marriott. This also applies to teaching professionals. Marriott himself posted videos with "at home" swing exercises during the lockdown; "the feedback on them was numerous and positive".

A lot has also happened in terms of fitness in recent years. "There is a trend in the entire sport of golf towards a general increase in fitness. In addition, especially in such difficult times as these, there is an increased focus on health issues," says Keith Marriott. For club professionals, this means providing members with expert advice on fitness exercises. In the UK, recent developments mean that the American-style country club model, which had been scorned for decades, is now suddenly becoming popular.

In general, Mariott believes that health professionals have a role to play that should not be underestimated: "The Covid 19 crisis has left its mark on people, including mental health. Golf is a sport played in the great outdoors that forces you to put aside your everyday worries for four hours," says Marriott. In this sense, club professionals would play an important role in getting people excited about golf, getting them on the course and integrating them into the clubs.

Marriott can only guess in which direction the profession of club professional will develop in the future. He believes that professionals will be increasingly integrated into club life again. This is not least due to the overall social development of giving more weight to health and exercise. "I could also imagine that more and more trained teaching pros will continue their training in the direction of golf management. Despite the many technologies used in the secretariats, the club manager's in-depth knowledge of golf is a great asset for a club". Marriott is convinced that teaching pros have the basic skills for such a job: "Many successful club professionals are usually charismatic, communicative personalities with organisational talent. And they would understand what a golf club is all about: the golfer!