In any training establishment or organisation, the standard of the members’ competence will have a direct bearing on how they are viewed by the authorities and the general public.  By ensuring that you are up to date with all of the latest technologies and ideas from within the golf industry, you will have demonstrated your willingness to repair, maintain and develop your qualification.

As teaching professionals it is our responsibility to make sure we are competent in all areas of our chosen field, and if we identify any potential areas of weakness, we should act immediately to rectify the problem.

We know that the new coaching certificate in the UK will be pushing the CPD (Continual Professional Development) aspect of teaching, but I think every EGTF member should review their own coaching techniques to ensure that standards are upheld.

The following is a list of core competencies that you should look at and ask yourself if you are up to the required level for a teaching professional.  If not, an action plan will be needed for your future development.

EGTF CPD should fall into three areas:

Repair – where a skill or knowledge has become deficient or faulty.

Maintain – ensuring that your existing skills are kept to a satisfactory level.

Develop – creating a new skill or knowledge to improve your performance.

EGTF Core Competence:

Playing Standard – Can you return at least 4 scorecards per year to the required Diploma Course standard (11 over or better)?

How is your ability to demonstrate shots? – Can you show how to hit a fade, draw, high, low, hook, slice?  What about the short game, your wedge play, chipping and sand shots?

Are you armed with the latest putting techniques?

Teaching Skills:

Have you had a look at yourself teaching on video lately?

How has your teaching style grown since you passed your Diploma?

Is your use of the communication channels benefitting your students?

How is your mirror imaging?

Are your lessons properly structured?

Do you use video analysis in your lessons?

Have you got the latest teaching aids for your lessons?

Do you self analyse your performance – daily, weekly or monthly?

Golf Knowledge:

Is your golf knowledge up to date?

What are the latest ideas on the golf swing by other top teaching professionals?

Have you thought of any of these areas in which to specialise in – teaching juniors, teaching ladies, teaching seniors, fitness and nutrition, the mental side, course management, short game, putting?

Do you have an emergency first aid certificate?

Are you fully CRB checked to work with children?

Do you do any club fitting or repair?

What about golf club technology?

Business Management:

What are your marketing strategies and can they be improved?

Are you doing enough to sell yourself?

Do you need to upgrade your computer skills?

You should review your ability against the above points, but you must be honest in your appraisal of your performance.  Only then can you move up to a higher level.

Identify any areas you feel you are weak in and prepare a CPD plan to repair or maintain these aspects.

These tasks should be done on a regular basis to ensure your students are getting the very best lessons they can, and you are pushing yourself on to be “the best that you can be”.