News
Commitment to Tee-to-Green Teaching Keeps “Zach on Course”
by David Gould, Staff Editor His website URL is zachoncourse.com, so you know right away that Proponent Group member Zach Theut is heavy into teaching along the fairways and greens, not just on the practice range. Theut (pronounced “toyt”) has been coaching on his own...
“When the Opportunity Came I Was Finally Ready”: A Mini Q&A with David Ogrin
If you weren’t able to attend our recent Proponent Group Summit you missed hearing the intriguing dialogue that came out of our Entrepreneurs Panel, featuring Karen Nicoletti and David Ogrin. Both Karen and David have built businesses beyond just coaching. Below are...
To Polish Your Personal Brand, Write a Better Bio
By David Gould, Staff Editor Someone interested in playing better golf hears about a teaching professional and goes to that pro’s website. A question forms in the golfer’s mind: Should I seek you out for help with my game? Before that can be answered,...
The Season for Gift Cards Approaches—Some Reminders about Best Practices
By David Gould, Staff Editor Gift cards will soon be an in-season activity for small and large businesses of all sorts. Golf coaches seem generally bullish: A member-only questionnaire circulated by Proponent Group revealed a notably positive attitude...
Managing Your Time by Setting Boundaries
By David Gould, Staff Editor According to the bestselling author Elizabeth G. Saunders, “People who violate your boundaries are thieves—they steal time that doesn’t belong to them.” That quote from a Saunders book on “time investment” (she prefers the phrase...
From Golf Coach to Dryvebox Franchisee? Might Be Worth Considering
By David Gould, Staff Editor Watching “alternative golf” venues and technology become so integral to people’s ideas about learning, practice and virtual play, it only makes sense that a skilled coach might be well suited for business entrepreneurship with a strong...
Chris Foley’s Teaching Trailer Mixes Practical and Promotional Value
When you build your personal brand as a golf coach the ingredients can include special gear and gadgets you’ve developed and customized. That’s absolutely the case with a two-wheeled, towable “teaching cart” emblazoned with the words “Chris Foley Golf Schools.” It’s a...
How Golfers View Your Service Quality: A ‘Secret Shopper’s’ Perspective
By David Gould, Staff Editor A noted expert on golf marketing and media, Jackie Beck has successfully operated her own media-relations firm since 2002. She began her golf career as an assistant professional, serving four years on the staff at Florida’s...
How to Shadow a Coach
By David Gould, Staff Editor When asked to describe the craft of coaching, golf instructors use phrases like “tools in the toolbox” or “arrows in the quiver.” Veteran coaches want as many ways as they can get to make good decisions and communicate effectively to...
Survey Says: Opting for a Coaching Career is a Sign of Ambition, High Expectations
By David Gould, Staff Editor It’s surely correct to say that the world of golf coaching and training is dominated now by professionals 40 and over, but it’s also common sense to say that the future of the field belongs to coaches who are now in their 30s and 20s. To...