Cold Open
A golden haze clings to the rolling fairways, the morning sun slicing through the mist that curls like woodsmoke over the dew-kissed grass. The air is sharp with the scent of pine and freshly mown turf, a New England summer dawn in full bloom. A lone maintenance cart hums softly, its tires whispering against the path, as a player steps out, breath visible in the crisp July morning. The distant clink of a club against a ball echoes, sharp and clean, like a church bell calling across the quiet. Shadows stretch long across the green, painting the landscape in hues of amber and emerald, while a red-tailed hawk circles lazily above, its cry piercing the stillness. The first swing arcs, a fluid dance of muscle and precision, sending the ball soaring into the endless blue, a fleeting comet against the vast, waking world.
Main Essay - How to Find the Right Coach
Good morning,
I realized a good chunk of our readership is just starting to get into the game and are looking to get better, so I wanted to dip the pen to illustrate how exactly to find someone that knows what they are doing. This is also applicable to anyone who has played for a long time but has not seen any real improvement despite playing/practicing a ton.
Finding a good coach can make or break your introduction to the game of golf. Find a great one? You’ll love the process of improving and your scores will go down. A bad one? And you could be stuck as a 25+ index for years.
I started taking golf seriously at 14, and by that point I had a few pros who had taught me the fundamentals of the game. I had the grip, posture, and ball position down, but needed to improve my technique to become a competitive player. Word-of-mouth directed me to a few different guys; some were technical, some more casual and feel-based. I didn’t find the right guy until I was 18, and after 30 minutes of hitting balls and talking I realized he was in a class of his own.
Here’s what to solve for (in no particular order) when looking for a swing coach:
Style of Teaching How do they analyze the golf swing? Are they obsessed with technical positions (arms, club face, hips etc)? Or are they more laid-back and feel-based? I would strongly suggest finding a swing coach that analyzes the game the same way you do.
Would you get a beer with them? Self explanatory and will give you insight into their communication skills. Liking your coach as a human is incredibly underrated.
Are they a great player? Have they ever competed at a high level? Do they have the ability to teach golf course strategy? If you’re trying to play competitively this is important.
Have they taught other great players? A tell tale sign of a great coach is their track record with elite golfers. Have good players from your area worked with them? Dig in here as it’s a solid indicator of their teaching prowess.
Use of Technology Do they have access to a trackman? Can you go home with videos of your swing and some data to corroborate swing changes?
Fit of the Week
Ben Griffin for H&B, pure class
Logo of the Week
Any South Florida ball knowers?
Gearheads Anonymous - Next Week
I was recently introduced to a seasoned mini-tour pro with autist/encyclopedic knowledge of golf equipment. I asked him to dip the pen to explain to our readers what the difference is between “Tour Issued” equipment and the stuff you buy at Golf Galaxy.
His knowledge and expertise run deep, and I’m excited to put his equipment knowledge on display in one of next weeks editions. The first article will be about Tour Issue vs off the rack equipment, but he will have more articles about how to find “good” off the rack clubs and how to not get scammed at a club fitting. Stay tuned!
So You’ve Been Invited to a Private Club…
Don’t be the guy taking 30 tees at the starters box. Take 5-8 tees, a ball marker, and a scorecard. The members will notice if you fill your pockets to the brim.
Weekend Playing Tip
I got a few emails over the past few days from guys who are just getting into the game so they can teach their kids from a young age. Nothing makes me happier. I have a few pieces of advice here:
My dad always did a good job keeping things short and fun. He always associated going to the golf course with riding in a cart + great snacks afterword. We always jumped at the chance to go back.
When we said we wanted to stop playing, he would take us home
He treated each hill in the cart like a roller coaster
He drove around in a golf cart until he found a hole where we wouldn’t bother anyone. It allowed us plenty of time to hit a lot of shots without feeling pressured
If you can replicate any of those things you’re off to a great start.
Tomorrow: The Saturday Edition
Each Saturday, we go deep — with a satirical essay covering behind the scenes nonsense at elite private clubs.
Start your weekend with a laugh - just 1 referral gets you access
Talk soon,
BTG