I was reading the January 31st edition of Golf Week and came across an article about Stan Utley and how a putting lesson, on a gravel driveway, in the dark of the night, with a six iron (no putter was available), helped launch a sequence of events that has turned him into a teaching success story.
For those of you that teach the game, what has allowed you to continue to pursue such a worthy endeavor for a living? I know that it helps to be a good player, to be an A.I. and/or PGA Member, have a "name player" in your stable, and a location that allows you to teach. But, what have you found to provide you with the greatest return on your investment? What media outlets have you found most successful: word of mouth, brochures, teaching aids, handouts, package deals, newspaper ads, radio, television, the internet, etc.?
If you take or have taken lessons, what was it that got you in the door?
Thanks for the Input.
Drew,
For a Sox fan you sure do ask some great questions, and this one may be one of the best. I would love to hear everyones response to this.
In regards to Stan, I read the same story and to be honest I do not buy all of it. Stan was a great player and had tremendous success around the greens. Because he played both the Nationwide and PGA Tours he had access to all of these great players. Trust me, I can watch a guy hit it 350 yards and be in awe, knowing no matter what I can't do that. However, if I see someone like Stan or Brian Gay or someone else who is good with the wedge and putter, I will learn as much as I can from them. This is why Stan has succeeded, he started working with guys he knew and then built a business around that. I am sure he is very good with the average guy but is it worth $10,000 a day more than myself or Ted or Lynn? Working with tour pros is really not that hard because they have so much talent that given the right info they will have to try not to succeed. The real talent comes from working with the average guy.
If I had my choice of winning a tournament or helping someone else win a tournament, I would definately choose the later. I sometimes think I get more excited to get a phone call from someone else who has done well than if I do well myself. I would agree that word of mouth is important and nothing can be better. However, self promotion is a tremendous asset that I, and many other PGA Professionals, are not very good at. I am not big on "trumpet blowers" but if you do not blow your own horn, who else will. Word of mouth will keep you in business, but getting your message out to the masses opens more doors.
A friend of mine in Panama City Beach at the Hombre Golf Club, Adam Brack, is one of the best at this. He is conected with advertising people, newspapers, television, civic leaders, etc. He never has a problem getting the word out, and many times it does not cost him anything other than a little bit of his time. The amazing thing is that he is only about 30 years old! Once he gets them he keeps them.
Steve Wresh is another amazing teacher in Florida I have been fortunate to know. He gives "free clinics" with a "free" follow-up lesson to people in the Villages. These clinics only cost him his time and the returns are phenominal, his book is always full and he sells alot of equipment as well. In an area where other professionals feel their clientel is "cheap", he does quite well. Once again he brings them in on the cheap then keeps him with his talent.
I know I have rambled on about this but I loved the question. Whenever I have gone to work with someone I always felt they had to:
1. Tell me why as well as how.
2. Be flexible
3. Have a great personality
4. Be brutally honest ( I hate sugar coating anything)
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