The best golf teaching professionals in the world have spent years developing their skills. They’ll state their goals at the start of each lesson, explain what they are teaching, and why they are introducing certain drills. They tend not to belabor their points and not to run out of material. They can link all parts of the lesson together, get their students to laugh and enjoy themselves, and know when and how to wrap things up. In fact, good teachers can redefine the sport by their personality, innovation, and passion.

In my opinion, it used to take at least five years of teaching to acquire many of these skills and to be considered a great teacher. This time frame, however, is changing somewhat, due to the advent of the USGTF and some of the inroads we’ve created over the years in the training and certification of golf teaching professionals. As hard to believe as it may seem, prior to our existence, there were no videotapes or DVD’s for teaching professionals on how to teach golf. Now, however, teaching pros can help learn their craft by observing specialized tapes on every aspect of the game, from some of the finest teaching professionals in the industry.

In fact, the USGTF has now gone one step further. Not only can teaching professionals sit in the comfort of their own living rooms and view how good lessons can be taught, but now, for the first time ever, we have just completed several audio CD’s on teaching golf as well. Mark Harman, USGTF course director and five time United States Golf Teachers Cup champion, is featured on and has helped produce three separate CD’s for the USGTF, titled “Teaching the Full Swing,” “Teaching the Short Game,” and “The Art of Teaching Golf.” These instructional audio CD’s are available to all USGTF members by contacting the national office at 1-888-346-3290. Similar to all of our golf teaching DVD’s, they are the very first audio CD’s on teaching golf in the history of the game.

All of these new and innovative educational materials that the USGTF continues to produce help teaching professionals from around the world progress as teachers, refine their skills, and add new techniques to their repertoires. In addition to Golf Teaching Pro magazine and web-based content, members are privy to even more great educational resources through the USGTF accessories catalogue.

Of course, the real benefactors of the industry’s progressively better teaching are golf students themselves. Unlike the old days, teaching pros no longer have to teach by trial and error with little or no training. Today’s professionals are much more knowledgeable about students’ perceived needs, and to what research has taught us about learning theory, motivation, and teaching styles.

As USGTF members continue to develop personally and professionally, we are having a tremendously beneficial impact on golf’s overall health, and, true to our mission statement, we continue to share our passion and encourage lifelong participation in the game.