To help PGA Magazine readers learn more about the ways they can bring golf together with health and wellness, we’ve added this recurring department that will include best practices information from the Golf Fitness Association of America (GFAA).
The GFAA was started by the publishers of PGA Magazine in 2020 and is led by an advisory board of PGA of America Golf Coaches and highly regarded golf fitness experts, including GFAA President Dr. Steven Lorick. We hope you find this department beneficial and encourage you to learn more about the GFAA at golf.fitness.com.
Will Reilly, PGA,Head Professional,Sailfish Sands Golf Course,Stuart, Florida
As many of you can attest, as we get older we all need to stretch as much as we can. I use the Randy Myers Golf Stretching Pole in all of our player development programs, from helping beginners realize the benefits of flexibility to our high-level programs, like our Power Principal Program geared toward experienced golfers who want to hit the ball farther and prevent injury.
Most beginners don’t want to stretch – they just want to hit the golf ball and have fun. But they find the more they can stretch and relax their small muscles, the easier it is to keep their balance as they turn, and that helps to enhance their golf development. By having them stretch out their big muscles, they get an extended range of motion and have more time to transition their energy from the top of the backswing to impact. This typically leads to better balance, additional clubhead speed and more centeredness of contact.
Perhaps the greatest impact of stretching can be seen in our PGA HOPE programming. About half of the Veterans who we serve have never played golf before, and they struggle with turning their bodies in balance. The Stretching Pole creates stability, like having another leg in the ground, so golfers can make a larger turn, elongating their muscles and creating more elasticity to transition through impact into a balanced finish. Our students enjoy utilizing the Stetching Pole because it takes very little effort to make golf-specific stretches – and if I ever forget it, students ask me to retrieve it so they can get loose before the lesson. I feel using tools like the Stretching Pole with my students adds credibility and has helped me gain their confidence.
Robert Dickman, PGA,Director of Instruction,North Shore Elite Golf Academy,Northbrook, Illinois
I attained my TPI certification in 2007, but was studying the physical aspect of the golf swing long before that. I learned early on that collaborating with experts in other areas would provide my students with maximum opportunity to improve their bodies and have a better golf swing as a result. Since that time, I’ve received seven TPI certifications and have gained a wealth of knowledge that I continue to apply to almost every lesson I conduct. In fact, I met professionals back then who I still network with and refer my students to today.
When initiating a new relationship, I send a physical assessment form to students before seeing them, from which I can learn about their history in golf, their physical health history and their goals for the future. During my initial lesson with students, I conduct a full physical screen to determine what their body is capable of doing. I have them hit balls and use launch monitor technology to get some baseline numbers. We dive right into any deficiencies in their swing so they can leave that first encounter noticeably better and motivated to become lifelong golfers. From there we build a relationship that will help them get healthier and more fit for the game.
Be fitness-minded and help your clients understand that the body is the most important piece of golf equipment we have. I work with a number of specialists – from chiropractors and nutrition coaches to personal trainers and post-rehab experts – to add layers of health and wellness to the coaching and mentorship of our students. Having this network of professionals is invaluable for me as a coach and, of course, for my students, who strive to play this game longer and with less pain and hindrance.
