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John Bertges: Class A PGA Pro - PGTCA Master Member I would like to introduce myself, my name is John Bertges. I spent ten years traveling around the country learning from some of the best instructors in the industry -- Tom Wargo (Senior PGA Champion) and Bill Davis (one of Golf Digest's Top 100 Teachers), to name a few. What you gain from spending time with great instructors is an understanding of how disciplined and positive one must be at all times. I feel very lucky to have found an organization that embodies those two values, a place where I can help other players, teachers, and coaches to put them into practice in their own life. At USSOG we focus on drills and techniques and we spend a lot of time practicing on the course, but we motivate our students, too. Because that -- more than anything -- is the key to being a great teacher or coach. I won't sell the mechanics short, but if you can't get fired up everyday to get out on the course, then you're missing the real secret to winning at this game. After a few years, the mechanics of a golf swing become relatively simple to teach. Many good teachers can watch a player and spot immediately where they are losing power or how they are misconnecting with the ball. The real challenge becomes translating a problem area into a practical practice plan that enables the student long lasting success. What attracted me to teaching wasn't the mechanics of the swing, but the process and psychology that makes one finally able to do it. A new golf swing is a developmental learning process, so structuring a personal practice program provides the student the necessary tools for their improvement. It is also a mental game, so helping players to find that mental aspect is a big thrill for me. I try to understand how my students think and what they are visualizing when they swing. Often it helps just to let them view their swing on video, so they can begin to create mental pictures of what they are doing. Once you can reach a player on that level, they often become fantastic teachers themselves. |
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