With three golf courses and a 12-acre golf academy, Wailea is among the preeminent golf facilities in Hawaii. The Wailea Golf Academy has an all-grass driving range and a stellar short game area that enables us to help golfers improve their skills and find more enjoyment in playing the game.
Among the golfers who trust my expertise, roughly half are local golfers who either live here year-round or return to Hawaii for several months at a time, while the other half are visitors, some of whom I work with multiple times as their travels bring them back to our resort in Wailea.
Private instruction encompasses roughly 75 percent of the business, with the other 25 percent being small groups, families and corporate outings. WGA offers workshops that cover many areas of the game to give the players a holistic curriculum that they can take to the golf course and see timely results. One interesting trend we’ve noticed in recent months is the demand for multiple-day golf schools.
The monthly calendar includes on-course coaching that goes beyond the technical aspects of the golf swing and teaches new and seasoned golfers how to play golf. After all, we’ve all had those golfers who can stripe it on the practice range but have difficulty transitioning that success to the golf course. The more coaching you can conduct with your golfers on the course, the more comfortable they’ll be in that environment. Whether it’s driving, chipping, pitching, course management, uneven lies or green reading and speed control, golfers will understand the importance of the many aspects of the game.
With a background in nursing, body and mind awareness are important to me and vital to true game improvement. I always address fitness and proper warm-up in every coaching session. A true warmup has a purpose, and that’s to prevent injuries. After all, they are human beings first and foremost, athletes second and golfers third. It’s important when you warm up to start slowly and understand that all golfers’ bodies are unique and are directly affected by their age, diet and sleep patterns.
We start with a club over their shoulders and small turns left and right, getting their rotational movement going slowly and steadily. The golfer needs to breathe and hold their position on the backswing rotation for 2-3 seconds. And then do the same in the finishing position for the same amount of time. This motion simulates the real golf swing.
We do squats to stretch the leg muscles and use rubber bands attached to the golf cart to encourage a full turn with resistance in their warm-up to ensure their muscles are properly prepared for play. Getting the pelvis to rotate helps them feel their body load and unload using the ground to mirror what they feel when they swing the club.
In the warm-up, the first few small, short swings with a sand wedge are important to find the bottom of the golf swing. The golfers should focus on the feel of the weight of the club and hit the same spot on the ground 3-4 times. With the next few swings, they should introduce the ball to the swing they just did. Then slowly expand the length of the swing without increasing the speed of the swing. Eventually, they go full swing, followed by full speed. Now the golfer is ready to play.
To help them mentally and have a clear intention of what they want to achieve, I tell them that golf is not about hitting the ball - it’s about hitting a target. They start to relax and are shocked at how solid their contact is with this frame of mind.
I remind the golfers that their body is their engine, and they must fuel it with water and drinks with electrolytes - 12-16 ounces every three holes. They need to eat some protein bars or fruits and nuts during the round.
Every golfer who comes to WGA is provided with golf-specific exercises to increase their flexibility, mobility and strength. This is not just for a better golf game, but a healthier lifestyle. I also highly encourage them to seek a personal trainer who will further educate them on the benefits of golf fitness.
Claude Brousseau, a multi-year Aloha PGA Section Special Awards winner and 2024 GFAA Industry Leaders Award winner, is a PGA Master Professional and the PGA of America Director of Player Development at Wailea Golf Academy at Wailea on Maui, Hawaii.