The Golf Doctor
Whakatane Golf Centre
GolfLinks Rd
Whakatane
BOP, New Zealand
7-3087921
golfdr@wave.co.nz
Lessons
Anyone can play the game of golf. Golf requires practice and some basic
instruction on technique, equipment, rules and etiquette. In the New Zealand
golfers can take lessons from NZPGA Golf Professional. The history of golf
instruction is a fascinating story of technical improvement and personalities,
just like the game itself.A game hard to master.

Golf students have different learning styles. There are Show-Me Golfers and
I-Am-What-I-Am Golfers. Show-me golfers are eager to try new ideas, new
equipment, new teachers, and new locations. They are the golfers most
willing to contemplate a complete rebuilding of the golf swing. Greg Norman
is an example of a Show-Me golfer. I-Am-What-I-Am golfers tend to more
conservative in their approach to new ideas and techniques, tend to favor
their old clubs and tested instruction techniques, and prefer tinkering with
their swing rather than rebuilding from scratch.

Golf instructors work at private clubs, public courses, resorts, driving
ranges, high schools and colleges, specialized golf schools, or in a private
practice.

The most important things a golfer learns are correct posture, grip, alignment
and the golf swing itself. These are essential to every shot played in golf.
Qualified instructors teach either the Vardon (overlapping) grip, the
interlocking grip, or the baseball grip, depending on the student's hand size
and athletic abilities. Great ball-striking golfers all have great club position at
impact and tremendous swing velocity, generated by correct application of
the fundamentals.

Golf instructors teach multiple types of standard shots, including driving,
fairway shots, approaches, chipping, putting, and sand-shots. Advanced
instruction can teach techniques such as controlling the "shape" of the shot,
controlling loft, ball-stopping and spinning, playing off uneven ground or
sidehill lies, and trouble shots such as hitting out of the woods.

Consistent practice sessions are essential to the improvement of the
beginner golfer. BUT, players need to have a full understanding of WHAT they
are trying to do and HOW to practice. Beating golf balls aimslessly does NO
good and ONLY ingrains poor habits.

Instructors use a combination of physical conditioning, mental visualization,
classroom sessions, club fitting, driving range instruction, on-course play
under real conditions, and review of videotaped swings in slow motion to
teach golf.