Shows
Golf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Why Processes, Buying Power and Expertise are Just Table Stakes in Golf ManagementPeople buy into franchises for 2 reasons: better processes/buying power and brand.
In golf management, there's really no brand element...everyone is trying to differentiate themselves as experts, with buying power and better processes. That's not why you buy into a franchise.
You buy into a franchise because you want more customers coming in the door. You buy in for Brand.
Processes and buying power are just table stakes, not differentiators. 2019-12-0404 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Add Some "Muscle Confusion" to your PracticeRead an article the other day about learning new skills and practice.
Turns out that repeating exactly the same move over and over is not nearly as effective as mixing things up...but just slightly. When we practice golf, I believe we need to work on technique, but we also need to simulate on-course experiences by hitting variations of each shot.
Do this and I feel it will help you improve fast. 2019-10-2303 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Which Social Platforms are Best for My Business?In this episode, we're talking about all the ways to win attention online. Every business is different, and you shouldn't feel like you have to win on EVERY platform...only the ones that suit your mission the best.
Not every platform is created equal, and your content needs to be applied contextually for the platform it's on. That means choosing which platforms to engage with carefully.
2019-10-2110 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Practice Blueprint: How to Blend Science and Art on the Driving RangeI promise this practice session will help your game.
Today we're talking about improving our technique, and nailing down our setup and alignment (science)...
Then taking it to real-golf simulations on the practice range (art and creativity).
I believe it's super important to work on both areas. One of my best practice sessions yet.2019-10-1810 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)College Golf - How to Win the Attention of CoachesI grew up playing golf in Maine...not exactly golf central. I had no idea about how the college recruitment process worked, and how college coaches selected their teams.
Of course, premium showcases like the AJGA are great, but for most kids looking to play team golf, it's not a reality. There are other ways to get on radar screens and win the attention of a college coach who's willing to bet on you.
Here are a few strategies I should have thought about years ago. 2019-10-1508 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Interview with a New York City Graffiti Artist: How he became a Head Golf Pro at Brown GolfJP Longeuil is the Head Pro at Orange Lake Resort in Orlando...but it hasn't always been white glove country clubs and pure 7-irons knocking down flagsticks for him. He began as an artist...with lofty ambitions of helping people "see things differently".
JP grew up in a really tough neighborhood outside New York City. That "gritty" beginning made him into the person he is today...one of Brown Golf's go-to guys.
Today, we're getting into some of his childhood adventures sneaking into the city, the Graffiti art culture, and connections to his viewpoints on go...2019-10-1412 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Practice Blueprint - If your struggling with your driverI've been struggling with my driver lately...hoping to use some old tricks to iron out the big dog this weekend.
Here are some quick ideas for a short practice session to get your long game back on track. 2019-10-1104 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Develop an Attitude of GratitudeA great friend and colleague called me out on social media the other day in a hugely complimentary way. I can tell you that it really hit home and I believe in paying positivity forward.
This episode is all about gratitude and how I believe it's super important in life (and with your golf game)2019-10-1010 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Building an Audience & Growing Influence - There are only 3 ways to do itWhether in real life or in the digital world, there are 3 things you absolutely have to do if you want to grow a trusting and appreciative audience.
Here's a 6-min episode on exactly how to do it...
In short, we need to be diverse in our topics/knowledge to be interesting (curation), we need to listen and engage ($1.80 strategy), and we need to bring our own empathetic voice (creation/documentation)...relating to the interests, questions, challenges that our audience faces.
This isn't a quick win...but it's a big win if you can ma...2019-10-0806 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)You Can Practice For Free - Why the Golf Industry Sucks at Welcoming BeginnersMost beginners feel too intimidated to go out to their local public golf course. They feel like they won't belong, or the course doesn't want them out there.
That couldn't be farther from the truth. The industry is struggling to bring people into the game right now...and golf clubs are still really lousy at letting newcomers know that they're welcome.
But there are some ways around it...and you can try golf for free at most public golf courses. Here's how. 2019-10-0804 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)If Your Golf Game Sucks Right Now - The Best Advice I've Got to Fix You FastForget about your swing. Don't even think about changing your hip rotation or your club face angle at the top of your swing.
That crap is NOT where you're going wrong. It's much more likely, and much easier to fix the stuff you're doing wrong before you even take the club back.
Focus on your pre-swing stuff forever...more or less...and I promise you'll improve like crazy. 2019-10-0206 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)1-Hour Practice Blueprint - Distance Control with your WedgesIf you've only got a small window of practice time this week (hopefully more), here's what I'm suggesting you can work on.
We're going to focus heavily on distance control with your wedges. Knowing your carry yardages for each of your wedges is hugely valuable on the golf course. By the way, there might be a significant difference between your carry yardages and your total yardages (where ball eventually ends up).
Let's try to get a solid ballpark of those carry yardages to arm you with info on the course. 2019-09-2703 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)What's My Pre-Shot Routine?Someone asked me about my pre-shot routine...the steps I take before hitting each shot.
Here's the answer...honestly the secret is all about self awareness. Hope it helps you with your own game. 2019-09-2707 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Marketing 101: Why Selling Golf Memberships is Not Like Selling Candy BarsBigger buying decisions follow principles known as a considered buying process. More risk means more consideration, more time, more stress in pulling the trigger.
Quick sells don't work in considered buying situations...here's part of a recent consulting session that outlines how it goes down and what you can do to bring more business in the door. 2019-09-2208 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)1-Hour Practice Blueprint - How to Take Your Game from the Bullpen to the Pitchers MoundFor those of us with limited practice time, it's really important to do our best to simulate real golf in practice. Here's my 1-hour blueprint for taking your game from the practice range to the first tee.
2019-09-2006 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)How Earning Trust and Attention in One Area Can Cross Pollinate into Other Areas of BizLot of value in this episode. The fact that some people choose to do business with others with common interests is fascinating to me.
It doesn't matter if you're talking about specific things your target audience is looking for, or simply covering subject matter that you're passionate about. Either way, people with shared interests often do business together.
If you're a Boston Red Sox fan...talk about it...and other Red Sox fans will gravitate to you.
2019-09-1906 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Answers to Questions About Building Consistency, Chipping Fixes, Slicing Cures and other stuffThe Facebook community has been really active lately with tons of Q&A. I've answered everyone's questions in the feed, but here's a quick recap of my findings after over 300 comments and conversations.
Hope it helps you break your personal best.
Cheers! 2019-09-1809 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Why Keeping Your "Secret Sauce" Secret is No Longer a Good StrategyIf you're not winning the battle for attention on the front end of the buying process, you're not even hearing from a huge chunk of potential followers and customers.
Here's a quick talk about why you need to be more open about sharing your good stuff....whether for your personal brand or for your business. 2019-09-1501 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Practice Blueprint - A Putting Challenge with a Driver RewardWhen you're feeling good about those 3-5 footers, the whole world is a better place.
Today's practice is all about confidence over the "shorties". Hope you can get through the challenge and win yourself a chance to pound some drivers.
2019-09-1304 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Sharing a Couple Takeaways from my Practice Session Today that Proved HelpfulI spent about an hour working on the game this morning.
There were a couple takeaways that I thought I'd share with you. One had to do with short game and chipping from short range. As for full swing, a focus on the "transition" of my golf swing produced some great results immediately.
Baby steps...just a little progress at a time guys! 2019-09-1206 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Biz Take-Away - Producing Content that Doesn't SuckBased on some recent consulting work, we're discussing some tips for writing better content around your business.
Good news is that there are definitely strategies that will help you out...bad news is that writing good stuff is HARD!
Hope this stuff helps you win some biz. 2019-09-0910 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)1-Hour Practice Blueprint - Some Range and Some Short GameWorking on a couple things today, based on the idea that I haven't been out to the course in a few days and want to get back in the swing of things.
1. Full Swing - Work on alignment, trajectory control, and set up a structure where I'm not hitting the same shots repeatedly.
2. Short Game - A little chipping and putting challenge to help with those up-and-downs we should be executing almost every time.
Nothing fancy today, just a little practice with intent.
Good Luck! 2019-09-0604 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Lesson from the PGA Tour - Finding the Vulnerabilities in your GameIt's such a fine line on the PGA Tour...just a 1/2 shot per round makes all the difference.
They're really good at dialing in their weaknesses and bringing up the rear so to speak. Same advice goes for the recreational player.
Let's find those quick wins in your game, remove your most fearful shots, and quick "playing around" your weaknesses. 2019-09-0408 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Inside a Marketing Consultation - How to Build a "Content Machine" for Your BrandThis is part of a consulting session I had with a prominent golf management company a few weeks back.
In the 5-hour session, this 8-minute segment brings value by outlining exactly how large companies deploy so much targeted content for building brand and staying top of mind over time. It's also about how smaller companies can leverage limited resources to compete with the big boys.
I share how we do it for our clients, and it begins some extremely fruitful conversation about where they'd like to take their company.
2019-09-0211 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Quick Life UpdateSuper sorry to have been out of action for past few months. Been in Germany, but playing a ton of golf.
Plan on a lot more podcast action from me moving forward. Excited about my golf game right now, and really want to continue bringing value to all you golfers out there.
Also, career stuff has also gotten really interesting, so I plan on documenting parts of my journey there as well - interviews, ideas, and other stuff around growing a business. I want to do a better job of showcasing our marketing agency clients, an...2019-09-0201 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Golf Kicks Your Ass Sometimes - Discussion on Handling Bad Rounds OptimallyI scored terribly (even embarrassingly) in my most recent golf tournament in Leipzig, Germany. Sure, it was a tough course, really windy...but my results were seriously disappointing.
If you play golf long enough (or even just a couple tournaments), it's going to happen to you. I believe that handling golf's disappointments optimally is a definitive sign of the kind of player you'll become.
Hope this one helps you after your next lousy round...2019-07-0408 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)For Kids with Tour Aspirations - Learn to BOMB Your DriverI played a Pro Golf Tour event this week in Leipzig, Germany. The course was designed to basically eliminate anyone who couldn't carry the ball 270...cross bunkers and fescue.
If you're looking to play at the highest level, add some focus to your physicality and carry yardage!
2019-07-0307 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Try Squeezing the Hell Out of Your PutterA conversation with a good buddy struggling with the yips led to some interesting insights that have helped me with all areas of my game. It started with putting stuff, but applies to chipping, pitching, and full swing too.
I feel super solid right now, ball striking is good and I'm making more than my share of putts. Hope this one gives you some food for thought.
Cheers! 2019-06-2406 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)How to Maximize Your Marketing Mailing ListsSo many businesses lack patience in their marketing...trashing their mailing lists with sales pitches.
Try proper nurturing where you're delivering more value than you're trying to extract. They'll come around when they're ready. 2019-05-0702 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Golf Instruction is the Ultimate Gateway Drug in a Considered Buying ProcessGolf courses need to make it cheaper and easier for newcomers to learn the game and meet people at their golf courses. Here's the best way I've found to do this. 2019-04-2405 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Get Your 1/2 Wedge Shot Yardages ASAPLearn how far your short shots fly - namely what I call a 9:00 swing for each of your wedges. 2019-04-1807 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Stable Putting - Backswing vs. Follow ThroughMost poor putters have short back swings and long follow throughs - try the opposite for more stability through the hitting area.2019-04-1804 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Balance - How to Get Better at Golf QuickerBalance is a wonderfully simple swing thought that does the following:
1. Forces you to swing within your control
2. Removes many of the other tips and swing thoughts that you're dealing with
3. Forces you to basically make a reasonably fundamentally sound motion
4. Holding a balanced finish offers a ton of valuable feelings and feedback for you to improve
Give it a try...I promise it'll be refreshingly simple and effective.
2019-04-0804 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Witnessing New Member Excitement and Referral Opportunity First HandI was invited to play The Golden Bear Club today here in Orlando. My friend has lived in the community for a couple years now, but only last week decided to join the club.
He was super excited to have us out there for the day...something we know is an incredible opportunity for a golf club to solicit membership referrals.
KPI Golf's 85/50 Program in action...2019-04-0511 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Your Chance to Talk Golf With Me Directly - Ask Anything You WantSuper simple...I want to talk with you about your golf game. Ask me whatever you want...
I've only got so much time in a day, but book a time slot as they're available at caseybourque.com/chat
I'll have you on the podcast and we'll talk about whatever you want - your questions, challenges, struggles or whatever. I'll do my best to point you in the right direction...and we'll share it with the world.
Looking forward to getting to know you. 2019-04-0400 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Paired Up In Amelia Island - A Fix for Those Short & Right Glancing BlowsGot paired up with a great group of people randomly out in Amelia Island. I keep telling myself to do that more often...so much fun to go out and jump in with groups of people you don't know. Almost always works our wonderfully.
In the process, I noticed a tendency that I see all too often. Those glancing golf shots that fade to the right and come up short of the target. So many people have that going on, and the fix is often a lot simpler than they think.
Hopefully helped out my pl...2019-04-0210 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Why Gary Vee's Killer Advice Doesn't Translate to Golf This TimeGary Vaynerchuk has the record in my personal book for the highest ratio of total words spoken to me - words I disagreed with. About a million to zero.
His 79-21 rule is spectacular for business, but turns out it's not such a good strategy for golf.
If you don't listen to Gary, go check out his stuff by the way.
2019-03-2909 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)The Challenges of Scaling and Hiring for my Small BusinessFinally found someone that I'm bringing on to begin helping us scale up our Web Design Phoenixmarketing agency.
Hiring as a small business owner is not without its set of challenges. How do you take time out of an already full day to train someone to know what you know? How do you get to the point of entrusting them with executing on things only you have done previously?
It'll always be a work in progress. I'm taking the mindset that I'm going to execute quickly and refine as I go...rather than delaying, thinking, ca...2019-03-2507 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Interview with a Golf Course GM: How Access to Real-Time Performance Data Brings Huge Impact to OperationsIn this episode, I'm interviewing David Mayo, the General Manager at Blue Sky Golf Club in Jacksonville, Florida. The club is managed by Hampton Golf, a company that KPI Golf is closely collaborating with on data-driven solutions.
Hampton Connect is a brand new proprietary software just entering the golf facility marketplace. It allows club managers to access real-time performance data at their facilities, and the effects are incredible. David shares how his team is leveraging data and collaboration with Hampton HQ to refine operations, contain costs, drive additional revenues, and streamline staffing levels like never before. He a...2019-03-2529 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)New Clubs, New Season...How to Get UP to SpeedWhether you're testing out new clubs (like I am) or coming out of winter hibernation, it's all about self awareness. You need to learn your own limitations and capabilities.
One approach I've always taken in both respects is to try to temper expectations. It's easy to assume that your new clubs are going to be the miracle pill that solves all your problems. Hint: they won't
If you've been hitting balls indoors all winter long, it's similarly easy to assume that you'll come out of the gates with guns blazing and playing your best golf. Hi...2019-03-2207 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)How do Your Stats Compare with the PGA Tour?Had a great time this weekend playing golf with some old college buddies. We had an intense competition called the Floyd Manny Invitational at the Publix Par 3 Course in Lakeland, Florida. 36 Holes of pure pressure.
It's actually the 16th event we've had dating back to 1997...great times.
In looking over the scorecards (by the way, we were victorious), I wanted to compare my scoring with the Tour. Turns out it wasn't too bad...although DEFINITELY not an apples to apples comparison. Nevertheless, I believe that an occasional statistical comparison is a good thing to do.
...2019-03-2013 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Distance Wedges - You Know, Those Shots You HATESo many players struggle with those 40, 50, 60-yards wedge shots because they don't have a real plan to pull them off. Usually it's a matter of guessing the yards, grabbing a lofted club, maybe opening the face a bit, and praying for some good luck. You can do a lot better.
This episode is about giving you something to work on in your practice. Practice with purpose right? Well, I know this methodology REALLY helped my game, and I know for a fact that most Tour players do something similar - including Nick Faldo.
Start simple an...2019-03-1724 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Scramble Advice for Beginners - How to Deliver Value to Your TeamCharity and company golf tournaments are a blast. They can also be pretty daunting experiences for novice golfers. Maybe you're playing with the boss, or some prospective clients and you don't want to embarrass yourself. You haven't played golf in years, and you're nervous.
This session is all about a strategy for contributing to your team, and which areas you can focus on before you tee it up. Don't worry, you don't need to learn how to hit 300 yard drives the morning of the event. 2019-03-1607 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)A Logical Chipping and Pitching Strategy I Bet You Never Thought of BeforeAll things remaining equal, try to land your chips and pitches in low areas rather than high areas. This strategy alone will improve your results. This episode explains why you should always avoid landing short shots on mounds and high areas.
2019-03-1504 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)How to Dial in Your Stock Greenside Bunker ShotI get a lot of questions about bunker play.
The pros make it look so easy. Well, of course they practice a lot, but there are other reasons they get such great results out of the sand.
They set up for huge margins of error. Even if they mishit shots by even a few inches, the outcomes are usually pretty good. They're really good at their stock, standard bunker shot. From there, based on the circumstance, they'll make adjustments. The key is to have your standard comfortable shot to fall back on under the heat. 2019-03-1513 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)How to Fix Yourself Without Relying on a Golf InstructorAs you play more and more golf, you begin to notice patterns. Maybe shots with certain clubs tend to go higher or lower, or probably curve left or right. Different conditions will affect these outcomes as well.
I want you to be able to "read" your shots and know exactly why the ball goes where it does. Over time, this helps you to diagnose yourself and gain the self awareness you need when you're out on the golf course.
Hope it proves helpful for you. 2019-03-1411 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)A Data-Backed Discussion on Golf Inclusion & Participation with Stuart LindsayStuart Lindsay has been in technology and data-driven marketing research since the early '80's. He's one of the golf industry's foremost thought leaders on data-driven golf operations and decision-making.
Today, we're digging deep into where the golf business has been and where it's heading...and most importantly, what club owners can do about it.
2019 Changes to the Rules of Golf
Stuart's of the opinion, just like Rory McIlroy, that the rules are the rules...deal with it. At first, I was surprised that this was his opinion. Stuart is a big proponent of...2019-03-1353 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)How to Consistently Work the Ball Left and Right on PurposeIt's all about club face ladies and gentlemen. The ball almost always goes in the direction that your club face is looking at impact.
If you miss to the right or slice the ball all the time, you're leaving the club face open. If you hook or miss left, the club is looking left at impact. It's that simple.
In terms of working the ball on purpose, you need to think about your swing path to get it started in the right direction. Basically, you need to take the direction you want the ball to st...2019-03-1208 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Where are the Best Golf "Guy Trip" Locations?We've got our annual Floyd Manny Invitational coming up in a few weeks - a college buddy trip. This year, we're heading back to Hilton Head, South Carolina.
I'm super interested to hear your suggestions on other great golf trip locations you know of that we should be considering for next year.
2019-03-1006 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Bad Boss = Toxic Culture = Get Out of ThereMoral of the story is:
Don't work for an asshole.
The end. 2019-03-0913 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Golf Course Owners Forum - How to Market and Sell GolfIn today's Golf Course Owner and Operator's Forum, we're discussing how to market your golf facility.
I'm leading a discussion on strategies that golf courses typically fail to consider. Golf is what we call a "Considered" buying process. The time it takes to usher someone along the customer lifecycle from stranger to loyal customer is often considerable - 2 to 6 months or more.
The two club owners taking part in the discussion today have two very different facilities, yet marketing principles remain fairly constant. Here are my presentation notes as you follow along - although I d...2019-03-0745 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Welcoming the Golf Industry into the Modern Age - Using Data on a Daily Basis to WinData in the golf industry is completely fragmented. There are more than 20 major point of sale systems (think cash registers with accounting software)...and they don't speak the same language. There's really no system of aggregating and using big customer data in the golf business...until now.
KPI Consult is leveraging tools called Hampton Connect to allow clubs to track, measure and leverage real-time performance data to improve club operations. Club operators have access via phone app anywhere, with the ability to make metrics-driven decisions every day all day.
All things equal, there's simply no wa...2019-03-0520 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Giving Without Expectation - Business Strategy with LegsAt the core, KPI Golf is built around the principle that golf courses serve as the epicenter of the communities in which they reside. The local living environment goes the way of your country club - jobs, recreation, real estate values, quality of life.
This is a story of how we have chosen to model our company - giving without expectation of anything in return.
I lost my wedding ring in the ocean this weekend.
We were on a family trip to Southwest Florida. We were staying at a beachside rental in Englewood, ju...2019-03-0413 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)How to Make the Hole Look ENORMOUS When You Start Playing Golf in the SpringHave you been doing your winter putting homework?
In this episode, I'm just checking in on your northerners to see if you've been putting in the work. A month back I talked about my indoor putting drills and how they really helped my technique and confidence back when I was in high school.
All you have to do is take a few minutes every night to hit 100 putts over a dime on your living room rug. Set up, rock your shoulder, listen for the "click" and you're good. Repeat.
Trust me...it's crazy how...2019-03-0202 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)A Case Study: Free Golf Lessons in OrlandoWorking with a couple different golf courses right now to deploy a test run of free golf lessons as a marketing instrument. The program is part of KPI Golf Management's push to get golf courses reconsidering the relationship golf instructors have at their facilities.
I'll be dedicating 4 - 6 weeks of my time for these free sessions. I'm marketing and taking registrations all on my own. Any business that comes of it is going to the golf facility instructors and to the club. I have no interest in benefitting personally other than to document the experience and the r...2019-03-0112 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)19th Hole Topic - My Biggest Golf DisappointmentAfter a challenging day like today, I was reminded of a round of golf I played out in Arizona at Pine Canyon Country Club in Flagstaff. Great club.
Following the round, our group grabbed a drink in the grille room. One of them brought up the topic: What's your biggest golf disappointment?
The stories were amazing. I couldn't believe how interesting the conversation became.
Give it a try next time you're hanging at the 19th hole. 2019-02-2820 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Get Your Equipment Dialed In for the Season - Club Fitting TipsOur company KPI golf management just signed a vendor partnership deal with Srixon and Cleveland. They're going to be one of our primary equipment providers at the facilities that we consult with and manage.
So, in return it's pretty typical for these companies to load us up with some personal use gear, clubs, bags, gloves clothing, etc. so that we're able to best represent their stuff.
Super excited to be heading over to Oceanview CC in Ormond Beach next week to get things dialed in. On this podcast, I share a few thoughts on how...2019-02-2718 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)What it's Like to Feel a "Connected" Golf SwingI spent a good 4 hours on the practice range yesterday. I hit a grand total of 0 drivers during that time.
I spent a lot of time on short game, some putting, pitching, wedge play that became super encouraging.
For the first time in a while, I was able to really feel that connectivity between body turn and club face. The results were killer - great contact, direction and trajectory control, and just a lot less effort to make things happen.
I'm on the right track, and hope this one helps you out too. 2019-02-2511 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Putting in the Work: An Interview with the Vermont Lumberjacks Hockey TeamGreat conversation with my old high school hockey coach Jack Lowry today. He's the head coach of the Vermont Lumberjacksin the Eastern Hockey League (EHL).
The EHL is part of the Junior A Hockey system where players develop their skills and showcase themselves to top-end college hockey programs. All of the players have aspirations to play college and even professional hockey.
Coach Lowry brought a couple of his most promising players into the discussion after practice. We talked all about their journey, and the work that it's taken for them...2019-02-2344 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Putting Speed Control Tips When You're Playing Off CampusHere are some thoughts and tips for traveling to other golf courses. It's super important to get the speed of the greens down before you hit the first tee.
This simple warmup plan should help. 2019-02-2206 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)John Brown Shares His 85/50 Golf Course Membership Sales StrategyThe private club model is changing. In the past, exclusivity and privacy was highly touted. Nowadays, younger generations don't look nearly as favorably on these kinds of policies and clubs in general - of course there are elite exceptions.
Most golf courses are working harder and harder to attract and retain membership.
KPI Golf's 85/50 Membership Program was developed by John Brown through his work with Troon Golf and as he build his prior golf course management company - Brown Golf Management.
In this podcast, John outlines the key components to deploying this proven successful rec...2019-02-2109 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Business Golf: Why You're One Fun Day Away from the Keys to the CastleIf you're 20 or 30-something and you don't know how to play golf, you're making a huge career mistake. All the old dudes running companies are retiring and play more golf than any other part of the population right now. It's not going to last forever though.
When you play golf with someone, you're got a captive audience for 5-6 hours. All these retiring business owners and execs still have all the networks and connections they've accumulated their entire life. You're one fun day away from the keys to the castle.
Learn to play golf for yo...2019-02-2007 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)3 Key Takeaways from a Day of Killer Beachside GolfMy good friend Brendon Elliott with Little Linksters Junior Golf invited my wife and I out to play Hammock Beach Resort today. The day was perfect and we learned a few very important things that I though worthy of sharing with you.
Hammock Beach is an unbelievably great resort for golf and otherwise. The golf was perfect...challenging, fair, well conditioned, beautiful, and everything you want in an experience.
3 Adults in the group, with 3 young kids riding along worked out wonderfully. I highly encourage you to try it.
Playing extreme forward tee markers is a great idea. My wif...2019-02-1908 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)What High School Golf is Like in Maine (and Most Everywhere)My old friend Jon Jacques is a longtime high school golf coach in Maine. He shares some thoughts on what he's seen out of his players over the years, and what it takes to have some fun at the high school level in most areas of the country.
The truth is that there is a ton of opportunity for young people to learn the game for free or cheap while they're young. Most programs are trying to get kids to come out for some free golf...and you don't have to be a superstar to crack most h...2019-02-1824 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Surrounding Yourself with Good People - It MattersChoose the people that you play golf with carefully. If you like hard core games, putting everything out, or gambling, go for it. If you'd rather never keep score or never have to hit out of a bunker, find some people who want to play that way.
At the end of the day, find people who share your beliefs and your interests and you'll enjoy your time on the golf course a lot more.
My last couple days here in Orlando is a testament to how much fun it can be to play golf with go...2019-02-1604 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Swing Thought for the Day: Why 2 Levers are Always Better Than 3So I had a great day playing some golf with some clients today at Shingle Creekhere in Orlando. Great golf course, they recently redesigned their greens and they're super challenging. They're built up with shaved areas all around, so it requires really good quality golf shots to get the ball into position.
I had some good things going on and some simple swing thoughts that I thought I would share with you. I'm always about minimizing tension in my swing because I think it brings more repeatability and better tempo. Whenever I get squeezed i...2019-02-1513 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Ever Seen a 90 Page Request for Proposal (RFP) in Business?KPI Golf sent out 2 proposals today for 2 different golf courses. One proposal was a response to a 90-page RFP (request for proposal)! Crazy right? 2019-02-1412 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)How to Aim Your Golf Shots Like Jack NicklausWhether you're precise with your shot making or not, it's good advice to at least aim precisely. It's the best chance you've got to produce the shot you're hoping for...and to evaluate your results.
Aiming vaguely or inconsistently is going to seriously limit your rate of improvement.
Jack always used an intermediate target for every type of shot. He'd pick out something 6-10 feet in front of the ball to aim at...including on the putting green.
Hope it's super helpful for you. 2019-02-1005 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Lots of DATA Making My Life Better TodaySo, I had a day full of DATA today...I mean in a good way.
First, I got myself a Flightscope MEVO to play around with. MEVO is a tiny golf launch monitor...about the size of a deck of cards. You can bring it with you anywhere and set it behind you when you're hitting shots.
It spits out all sorts of relevant shot data - carry distance, height, club speed, ball speed, smash factor, etc.
It's gonna make my practice a lot more fun for sure.
Secondly, lots of cool...2019-02-0910 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)The Stress is Real for Beginners - FOMU (Fear of Messing Up)Beginners always feel super intimidated at the golf course. Everyone seems to be experts. They all know how to dress, hit great shots, and have so much fun. Starting out can feel overwhelming.
I'm here to tell you that nobody feels as comfortable as they look. Everyone deals with the same anxiety, worries, and fear of embarrassment. Golf is hard for everyone...but that doesn't mean it's not a ton of fun.
I believe it's a matter of perspective. The sooner beginner's own the fact that they're not going to be the best out there fo...2019-02-0809 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Golf Course Owners: How to Get Vendors Competing for Your BusinessJohn Brown is talking with one particular golf course owner about operating expenses.
It’s common practice to stick with vendors for long periods of time, especially if you feel like they’re “taking care of you”.
Well, sometimes when you bid out the sale to other vendors, you’re going to be really surprised. Vendors are REALLY nice to clients that over pay for stuff.
The challenge is that your team won’t like moving toward a bidding buying process. It’s a lot more work, an...2019-02-0706 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Get Your Short Game Feel Down - The Leap Frog DrillI use this drill every time I warm up.
Super simple. Start with a short chip or pitch shot on the range. On your next shot, try to land the ball on top of the previous ball. It’ll roll out a little farther, then try to hit the 2nd ball with your 3rd shot, and so on.
Each shot gets progressively longer, so every swing is unique, with a defined target.
You’ll learn to control your distances and develop a great rhythm to your...2019-02-0610 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Need More Distance & Consistency? Grip it SoftlyIt’s human nature to squeeze the club and try to hit the ball harder when you need more distance.
The problem is that the complete opposite will give you much better results. Hold the club as loosely as you can throughout the entire golf swing.
You’ll feel the club swinging (rather than hitting) the ball. You’ll bring more clubhead speed.
Added side benefits are that your tempo will be greatly improved automatically if you can manage to maintain loose arms and hands thr...2019-02-0404 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Quit Chasing Your Tail and Give Long-Term Improvement a ChanceLately, I’ve been really simplifying my practice. In my career, whenever I’ve been struggling, I’ve always found that the solutions were far more simple than I would have ever imagined.
Take a step back and focus on the basics for a while. It’s human nature to chase the next quick fix, but you’re not ever going to be able to totally sidestep the work it takes to truly improve.
Athletic stance, alignment, grip. That’s it for pre-swing. Then, just think about soft arms and balance in the swing. Do that for a mon...2019-02-0306 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)John Brown’s PGA Show Recap - Hampton Connect, Motorcycles and Mini Launch MonitorsWe had a great 2019 PGA Show.
KPI Golf struck an incredible collaboration deal with MG Orender and Hampton Golf to deliver their new Hampton Connect club management software to the market.
John Brown and I go over some of the cool things we did and saw last week at the Show as well. We found some really fun devices making golf more fun. We also got to meet with a ton of equipment vendors and hit all the new stuff.
Give a listen and please share the podcast if we’re delivering any valu...2019-02-0125 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Playing the Canadian PGA Tour & The Infamous Over-Under RuleSaw an article about Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler sharing the lead (after the first round) and also sharing a house out in Phoenix this week.
Brought back some old memories of traveling around with the boys on the Canadian PGA Tour some years back.
I’m sure our “rentals”…car, hotels, we nothing like Justin and Rickie. In fact, we had an “Over/Under” room policy.
Regardless, I encourage anyone who is trying to give professional golf to give it a shot. When you’re in your 20’s, that’s the time to go chase the dr...2019-02-0111 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Exactly How Free Golf Lessons Are Helping Golf Courses Win vs. Slumping DemandGolf courses are hurting for demand. We’ve gone from 29 million golfers to 21 million since the last market downturn.
We’re losing between 100 and 200 golf courses per year, and data suggests there’s still another 9-15 years left of the same to reach market equilibrium.
I’ve run some numbers on how free golf lessons should be deployed at country clubs to bring in new business.
It’s a long term approach versus the “car salesman” quick win approach we’re used to.
We’re talking about the average annualized and lifetime value of...2019-01-3125 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Ball Position: Why It Matters and How to Be ConsistentI get a lot of questions about ball position.
Why is it important? Where do I put the ball for the different clubs in my bag? How do I know if I’m doing it right?
There’s some simple physics involved. Once you understand, you’re good to go.
Without good ball position, you’re going to develop some bad habits.
Lastly, there’s a really cool trick that I use to make sure the ball is positioned exactly where I want it.
Good Luck!2019-01-3009 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Improvement 101 - Own the Fact that You Can't Avoid Putting in the WorkI believe that casual golfers don’t need to spend money on golf lessons.
All the information is out there for free - how to stand, hold the club, basic swing techniques.
I also believe that golf courses should be giving away basic instruction for free. It’s the ideal gateway drug for bringing people into the game - it’s a great business decision for owners.
That said, golf isn’t free. You’ll avoid a ton of headaches and disappointment if you own up to the fact that good golf takes work. 2019-01-2803 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Why Beginners & Casual Golfers Should Never Have to Pay for Golf LessonsAfter 2 months of running this podcast, I've figured out the tie that binds all my messaging together:
Free Golf Lessons for All Beginners and Casual Golfers
In this session, I explain why it's great for facility owners (believe it or not), teachers and students.
The golf industry hasn't woken up to this concept yet, but it's coming if I have anything to say about it. 2019-01-2614 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Why Fearing the Opinions of Others is Sabotaging your Golf GameI’ve heard a few times from my audience that they feel that my stuff is too advanced for them or that they aren’t good enough to benefit.
The truth is that golf is actually quite simple at a recreational level. People don’t want to believe that because it’s so hard. There’s a difference.
The stuff you need to do is simple, however proper execution takes time.
Do what you know if right, without the added stress of worrying about other peoples’ opinions. You’ll have more fun, gain clarity, and play...2019-01-2613 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Testing Some New Equipment at the PGA ShowSpent that last couple days running around the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. I had the chance to test out all the new clubs and equipment on the market.
I found some nice surprises…a few club companies really impressed me. 2019-01-2506 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Hey Northerners, Are You Putting in the Work?If you're not practicing don't complain about not getting better.
When I was in high school, I used to hit balls in to a net every day, and head to the beach because that was the only place without snow.
I believe that winter can be a big-time refresher so that you come out with guns blazing in the spring. 2019-01-2302 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Golf Equipment Primer - My Two Cents on Choosing New SticksIt’s that time of year when lots of people start thinking about building their set for the spring. This episode is about my thoughts on some basics to go with if you’re a relative beginner grabbing some new clubs.
Be sure to subscribe and shoot me any questions or topics you’d like to talk about.
https://www.about-golf.org/podcast2019-01-2217 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Sports Injury Prevention & Recovery with Craig KotilinekPreventing Injuries and Recovering
Flashback to a chat I had with videographer Craig Kotilinek last week about his sports injuries and some remedies that have worked well.
I've been really luck in my career to avoid major injury, but I've weathered some setbacks of my own. Fun chat on recovering and getting back in the action as soon as possible.
https://www.about-golf.org/podcast2019-01-2112 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)The Shanks - A Cure for That Enjoyment-Sucking Death SpiralThe Shanks Suck - But We Can Fix 'Em!
The shanks can come out of nowhere. They’re super scary and often paralyze golfers and suck the enjoyment out of the game.
The big problem is when they get into your head and you feel things spiraling out of control.
Solutions can be super counter intuitive. The way that you logically and naturally react to your first shank is probably the exact opposite of what you really should be doing.
I explain why this is…and how to fix them once and...2019-01-1910 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Prep for the PGA Show in Orlando Next Week & Launching KPI GolfHeading to the PGA Show next week. So much to do in preparation for announcing KPI Golf to the world.
We’re going to be super busy next week meeting with vendors and solidifying contractual relationships.
Because we’re managing a bunch of golf courses, we represent a much more substantial book of business than stand alone golf courses. Vendors sharpen their pencils and compete for our business, which is super fun.
I also got out and played some really fun golf at the Ritz Carlton in Orlando today. Surprised myself with some decent...2019-01-1907 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Yup, The Yips Exist in Other Sports - Like TennisLots of Sports are Mental
Sidechannel conversation with my good friend and master videographer Craig Kotilinek. Craig's day job is running CSK Creative, a videography and design agency here in Orlando.
On the side, he's an aspiring tennis player (recreationally).
I learned that he's had troubles in the past with his serve - specifically the toss.
He had the YIPS.
With an inconsistent toss, basically flinching on important serves, his game was severely limited. With some mental fortitude and some hard work, he's been able to overcome.
Lots of paral...2019-01-1720 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Open International Jr. Golf Swing Contest - Judged by Jack Nicklaus, Francesco Molinari & OthersWorld Junior Golf Swing Contest
Brendon Elliott, PGA Member shares the details on his global junior golf swing contest. The panel of judges is incredible - Jack Nicklaus, Lauren Thompson, Francesco Molinari to name a few.
Registration is super easy here.
Record a 1-minute video of kids hitting golf balls, and send it in! The best of the bunch will be reviewed by this incredible panel personally! 2019-01-1713 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)KPI Golf on Underperforming Golf Courses & Options to Turn Things AroundExpert Opinions are Cheap
John Brown discusses the options that struggling and underperforming golf courses have. The first big misconception is that professional advice and exploratory conversations only come with hard sales pitches for club management contracts. This isn't the case at all.
The logic first step to take is to pick up the phone and call a consulting or golf management company. KPI Golf offers free phone consultations, investing hours in learning about the club's challenges and assessing best fit.
Of course, only so much information can be gathered over the phone...2019-01-1516 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)2 Simple Pre-Swing Tips to Get Out of a Golf Slump - or Winter HiatusPre-Swing is Better than In-Swing
The quickest wins are in your setup and stance - nothing to do with your swing. Most people focus on "in-swing" faults and ignore the "pre-swing". I do the opposite.
Without good setup and alignment, your swing is doomed. Don't get it mixed up.
If you Haven't Been Playing in a While
Two things to look at when you're a little rusty: posture and grip.
Posture: Use a golf club to allow you to feel what a straight spine feels like. Take your stance with...2019-01-1512 min
Golf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Tips For Shooting Great Video With What You've Got - CSK Creative's Craig KotilinekCSK Creative Founder Craig Kotilinek
I've known Craig for 8 or 9 years now here in Orlando. He's an extremely talented and accomplished videographer and business operator. CSK Creativeis a video production agency boasting clients like Golf Digest, Mercedes, The US Coast Guard, Total Wine and Wakeboarding Magazine.
Craig's shot famous figures like best selling author James Patterson, Jordan Spieth and Ms. Transworld Wake's Amanda Lewis.
Videography for Dummies
In this podcast, I do my best to squeeze as much knowledge out of Craig as I can. He shares a bunch of tips...2019-01-1424 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)The Good, Bad and the Ugly of Golf Course OwnershipKPI Golf Management owner and business partner John Brown Jr. shares some stories of over 45 years in the golf course ownership and management business.
It's not always sunshine and lollipops in the golf business! 2019-01-1216 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Taking Inventory - How Do I Deliver More Value?This episode is all about me asking you how I can be better. I'm loving doing the podcast thing, and I want it to be 100% about bringing value to the community.
Let me know what I'm doing right and what I could be doing better. You won't hurt my feelings...that's how improvement happens.
Cheers and thanks for listening! 2019-01-1202 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Guys Trips, A Car Accident & A Simple Swing Key That Worked for MeSo, some old friends of mine from Maine and from Texas come here to Orlando every winter for a week to play golf and enjoy some sunshine.
They've been doing it for 30 years.
Well, last night was the first car accident ever. Fortunately nobody was hurt, but a close call nevertheless. A REALLY close call...and a lesson for all of you on guy golf trips.
Swing Key:
During the round we played today, I found a little mid-round swing key that really helped.
It's all setup.
Basic...2019-01-1108 min
Golf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)With Golf Channel's Charlie Rymer Talking Golf, TV, Ribs, Life on Tour & Myrtle BeachHow Charlie Got into Television
Many don’t realize (myself included) how great a player that Charlie was in his early days. He’s still competing occasionally on PGA Tour Champions as well.
After Q-School one year, he ran into his good friend Gary McCord who told him he should get into television:
“You’re an idiot, you’re perfect for television”
Funny story, but sounds like it worked…
Moving Back to Myrtle Beach
So, Charlie’s ending his time at Golf Channel after more than 10 years. He’ll be moving his fami...2019-01-0928 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Fairway Wood Clinic - Basic Tips for Solid ContactThis clip is from a clinic I did back in Phoenix for some relative beginners about hitting fairways woods.
A lot of players struggle with this clubs - they're long, unforgiving, and you've got to be dead on to hit great shots. I hope these few tips help you out. 2018-12-2603 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)A Whole New World for Amputees Playing Golf - Sports Science Solutions & K-MotionBringing Golf Opportunities for Amputees that Never Existed
Sports Science Solutions and K-Motion are teaming up to develop some incredibly helpful solutions. Biomechanics technology and the resulting data is allow the group to develop specific processes adapted to particular amputees.
So, depending on the nature of a person's amputation, their systems will provide a course of action for that person to optimize their results in golf. This is ground breaking because it's going to allow many, many people to participate in golf who never had access to the game before.
Visit https://sportssciencesolutions.us for more information.
or email Casey C...2018-12-1412 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Simple Science of Optimal Athletic Performance - Casey Cox of Sports Science SolutionsData-Driven Decisions in Athletics
Today, I'm talking with Casey Cox at Sports Science Solutions about the absolute cutting edge of using biomechanics data in sports.
Now, I know what you're thinking - high-tech diodes, bones and muscles, it's all too technical for me.
But, that's the coolest part. While these guys are using data for elite golfers and hockey players, they're also doing incredible things to dummy it all down for the average guy.
This conversation really took me off guard in a good way, mostly because I admittedly don't know much at all about biomechanics. As you probably know by...2018-12-0736 minGolf Essentials (for Weekend Warriors)Golf Essentials - Daily Insights for Weekend WarriorsGolf Essentials is Casey Bourque's way of meeting you where you are with a "tell it like it is" methodology for feeling better about playing golf - answering all your questions, live Q&A sessions, practice planning, drills, tips, and insights to make the best use of the limited time you have at the course.
Casey explains the approach and principles that took him from a small town in Maine to playing in the US Open Championship2018-11-2103 min