PGA of Canada Podcasts

Part I - Value for Golf Professionals

In this eight part series, Strong Coffee Marketing discusses the value of a PGA professional in the golf industry. Tune into this first episode for an introduction to the invigorating and inspiring series.

Communication is a Bridge

In this episode, PGA Professional Kate Weir talks with the dynamic, funny, and energetic Shawnee Harle. Shawnee expands on a previous piece she wrote for the PGA of Canada on communication practices, relevant both in sport and business. They discuss four major communication styles with the pros and cons of both, self awareness in coaching and CEOs, the pitfalls that destroys team chemistry and morale, and much more.

Shawnee holds a Masters Degree in Coaching Studies and is a two-time Olympian as the former Assistant Coach for the Canadian Women’s Basketball Team. She has over 25 years of elite coaching and leadership experience including the Rio Olympics in 2016, the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, World Championships in Australia and Turkey, Pan Am Games in Toronto, FIBA Americas in Brazil and Argentina, and the World University Games in China. Team Canada is currently ranked #5 in the world, their highest ranking ever.

Shawnee was the Head Coach at the University of Calgary for 18 years. She joined UC after coaching at Brandon University for two seasons. Prior to that, she served as an Assistant Coach for the University of Victoria for three years as a full time student at the National Coaching Institute.

Back in the day:) Shawnee was a basketball student-athlete at the University of Victoria and a member of two CIS National Championship teams led by coaching legend Kathy Shields. Recently, she worked for Basketball Alberta as the Director of Coaching Development and the Technical Director. Today she is a Master Coach Developer and Master Learning Facilitator for the National Coaching Certification Program where she trains and mentors both advanced and novice coaches from all sports.

Since winning matters not only in sport but also in business, Shawnee has become a sought after corporate coach, life coach, mental toughness coach and motivational speaker. Her vast experience in the elite world of sport transfers directly to the boardroom where success is talent oriented and people driven. She is currently training corporate managers to become wise and insightful while leading their team to winning results.

What Millenials Want in Golf

In this podcast, PGA of Canada member Kate Weir sits down with Kris Hart and NextGenGolf team to discuss initiatives and drivers for millennial in golf. How do we attract more millennial? What do they look for in social engagements? And so much more.

Leadership off the Court with Geno Auriemma

Geno Auriemma is an 11 time NCAA Champion, won eight national Naismith College Coach of the Year awards and was head coach of the United States women's national basketball team from 2009 through 2016, during which time his teams won the 2010 and 2014 World Championships. In this podcast, Geno sits down with PGA of Canada member Kate Weir to discuss millennial, trends in young athletes, getting the best out of our youth, and challenges over his tenure as one of the most successful coaches in college sport. 

The Mindset Behind Developing Highly Effective Junior Programs

If you feel like your members or students aren’t responding to your offers anymore, in this episode you’re going to learn an amazing set up for a workshop that anyone can implement and create a lot of buzz around your course.

 

It’s all about exposing your students to unique viewpoints or specialists outside of your own whether that’s fitness, mental game, short game, or just an instructor that works a little differently than yourself.

 

Instructor Tony Ruggiero shares his structure for a half day workshop, the pricing, and how it’s going for his students so far.

 

ABOUT TONY RUGGIERO

 

Tony is the Director of Instruction at the Country Club of Mobile as well as the Lead Instructor for The Dewsweepers Performance Academy at Sheraton Bay Point Resort in Panama City Beach Florida. Tony’s notable students include PGA Tour Players Smylie Kaufman, Lucas Glover, and Zack Sucher; Web.com Tour Players Sam Love, Tom Lovelady, Robby Shelton and Wilson McDonald. Tony has had students appear on the 2014 and 2016 US Walker Cup Teams, and he currently has 7 players playing in the Southeastern conference. Tony has been the host of the Dewsweepers Golf Show on XM/Sirius PGA tour radio as well as terrestrial radio stations throughout the South for over decade!

 

In 2017 Tony was named Golf Magazines “Top 100 Instructors in America” as well as Callaway’s Top 50 Elite Junior Coach in 2016 and 2015. In 2016 Tony was ranked the #2 teaching instructor in the state of Alabama by Golf Digest. In 2013 Edwin Watts recognized Tony as a Top Instructor.

Doing Marketing Right - Best Practices with Strong Coffee Marketing

Practical social media and marketing advice

We sit down to talk with Todd Halpen about his business, how he’s marketing, and what programs are working best for him in Calgary. 

Todd uses a lot of Eduffi with his clients to build stronger relationships and help guide their learning process a bit more as a coach.  He talks about how he’s creating more of a coaching atmosphere by using this piece of tech and it improve referrals from students.

Asking yourself why students aren’t talking about you on social media?  Maybe you haven’t given them the content and stories to make posting and sharing easy.  Todd talks about what kind of posts on Instagram have helped him best reach students and grow his business.

 

ABOUT TODD HALPEN

Todd has spent 27 years dedicated to the game of golf. With an extensive competitive, instruction and business career in the game, Todd’s experience is second to none. Having competed on the PGA Tour Canada, PGA Tour, international amateur events, his playing experience gives him an advantage over other teaching professionals that either don’t compete anymore, or never really did.

 

His work building the Swinkey (now Golfers Toolbox) from 2009-2013 has him more connected and researched than instructors twice his age. The Swinkey is the only training tool to receive a perfect score. He continues to train every day for competitive golf, and competes across Alberta and the rest of Canada every year. Not many other instructors can do this.

Getting Real About Launching Your Own Indoor Facility

Learn from 2013 teacher of the year, Rob Houlding as we walk through his evolution of indoor golf facilities and dive into all the details you need to know if you’re thinking of launching your own.  We talk about everything from a set up to just get you started through Rob’s current facility and what his set up looks like today.

First Step: Know your audience!  What do they want and will they be interested in training year round?  Rob's market was (and still is) high performing juniors and elite performers and they were already practicing and playing year round, so adding the indoor facility was a no brainer.

Space and Environment: You control your environment and every aspect of the students experience, make sure to engage and inspire students with your space.  In his first space Rob didn’t pay much attention to the environment and quickly realized it was pretty boring. After that he’s always place an emphasis on making things more “golf like” even though student are indoors. 

Rob shares the exact dimensions and layouts he’s tried over the years and walks through his best suggestions for getting started (plus ideas on budgets as well).

Technology:  We look at what the minimum amount tech Rob recommends and potential budget in place for just getting started with your first facility.  

Business: There’s more revenue that can be generated besides just instruction with an indoor facility.  Rob shares the top ideas that have worked at his different facilities over the years. 

Finance: We run through the numbers and talk about how to make this all work in the real world. 

On the Practice Green with Paul Horton

Welcome to the third episode of "Hit your Second Shot First" with 2017 PGA Teacher of the Year Paul Horton and his close friend, Bruce Dowbiggen. In this episode, Paul and Bruce head to the practice green at Heritoage Pointe Golf Academy for a crash course on Aim Point Putting, Paul's latest news of being affiliated with Golf Channel Academy, a segment of Paul's Pointers, and so much more.

Onto the Teaching Tee with Paul Horton

In this episode, Paul Horton and Bruce Dowbiggin head to the teaching tee - they talk about how to prepare for a season of teaching. Paul provides his insights as PGA professionals prepare for the peak season of providing the best lessons possible to your students. Knowing your student, their background, and who they are to mold your lessons over the summer months. Paul also lists the teachers and books who have influenced his teaching and what he recommends to fellow PGA professionals.