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What distinguishes Extraordinary Golf from other programs?
How is its instructional approach different?
Extraordinary Golf intends that students learn to coach
themselves through the development of their awareness.
Also, whereas traditional instruction models the
teacher as the knowledge giver and the student as the
receiver of the knowledge, Extraordinary Golf trains
the student to be the source of their development. The
coach is a partner who enables the student to uncover
their extraordinary ability to generate their development.
What is covered at an Extraordinary Golf regular
golf school (basic 3-day)? What can I expect?
The 3-day program is rich! While we explore the
short game to the full swing and examine all aspects
of the game (curving the ball, power, solid contact,
the time in between shots, the pre-shot routine, debriefing
the round, etc.), great attention is paid to that
which is of critical interest to each student.
Another way of saying it is that each program is personalized
to include the wishes of the student. You can expect
to learn to coach yourself in those critical areas.
You can also expect to renew your love of and perspective
on the game.
Other aspects of the program include examining how we
learn and undermine our learning, joy and performance;
what is concentration and how do we access it; how do
we handle breakdowns, change, fear, self doubt; how
do we learn to trust ourself.
Are you a mental school?
Extraordinary Golf is often mislabeled a mental
school.
In truth, we consider ourselves to be a "complete"
school in that we cover the physical and mental sides.
We aim to lessen our students' mental baggage (which
is often what undermines their learning, joy and performance)
and get them back to a physical game. After all, golf
is a physical game: it involves the interplay of a target,
a body, club and ball. The degree to which golfer is
aware of those is usually the degree to which they develop
in the game. The mental seems to mostly get in the way.
If we do our job right, students leave our program freer
than when they arrived. And, it's in that sense that
we mean a "complete" school, inclusive of
the physical and mental sides.
Do you have a method or swing you ask each student
to adopt? Do you work on mechanics?
We don't ask students to adopt a particular swing
style because the swing is as personal as their fingerprints.
Rather, we want them to discover their own swing.
We do work on mechanics but not in the way you might
imagine. Mechanics emerge naturally without students
having to remember a long list of physical moves. Golfers
who have a lot to remember feel the stress of mental
clutter, end up learning slowly and performing poorly.
We intend that students leave with less mental stuff,
more physical resources and a renewed appreciation for
their natural instincts.
Do golf pros really attend? Do you put people in
different categories? If not, how does that work for
the beginner and the pro?
Many teaching pros participate in the 3-day school.
They come to develop their game and expand their teaching/coaching
skills. In fact, both the LPGA and PGA provide continuing
education accreditation to their members for taking
the programs.
Having beginners and pros in the same group is not a
detriment to either. It adds richness to the group and
to each other. But when it comes to the coaching, students
are coached individually so each student receives coaching
appropriate to their level of development, not to that
of the person next to them.
Won't I be tired of hitting all day? I don't think
I can sustain it for 3 days!
We don't expect you to. We realize that people are
not trained to hit for 3 consecutive days so we've created
a program with enough pace and variety to make it manageable
to students of all levels and ages. And yet, there will
be plenty of time to hit balls. In addition, we will
be reminding to monitor your body and see to your wellbeing.
In the end, students are surprised at how much energy
they have at the end of each day and how much was accomplished.
How much time will be spent indoors?
Your indoor time will be approximately 20% of your
program, just enough time to set up the foundation of
the 3 days, to view videos and have a daily chat about
how things are going.
Will we play golf in the basic 3-day program?
Yes, students play with a coach to bring their learning
to the course and to learn how to handle breakdowns.
We know that breakdowns are part of the learning process
(breakdowns and breakthrough) so we intend to have you
look at new ways to be handled them so that you don't
get stuck there for very long.
How do I learn more about the program? I'm still
not sure it's for me.
We suggest you read Extraordinary Golf: The
Art of the Possible (Perigee) by Fred Shoemaker
(available online, through your local bookstore or library).
The book is a good read and reveals a great deal about
how we approach golf and the learning process. From
reading it, we think you'll get a feel for whether the
program is for you or not.
Alternatively, call us at 800 541 2444 or email us at
email@extraordinarygolf.com.
We'd be happy to chat with you about what you're looking
to develop and whether we're a fit.
What about your corporate and coaching programs?
Many of those programs are tailored for a specific
company though not all. Please contact us for more information
at 800 541 2444 or email@Extraorodinarygolf.com.
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