TOP CLASS INSTRUCTION IN INDIA!

CLUB NEWS

SSP Chawrasia’s magical victory at the Indian Open has once again illustrated the growing strength of Indian Golf and its growing dominance on the International stage.This success can also be attributed to the ever- evolving coaching methodologies and ecosystem being offered to the players. A noteworthy development on this front was the recent visit by top Instructor Stephen Deane, the man from Ireland teamed up with Ultimate Golf’s Sundeep Verma and Pritam Saikia to offer junior Golfers four days of top quality instruction and training at the Ultimate Golf Academy – at Golden Greens Golf & Country Club in Gurgaon.A memorable experience for Junior Golfers The four day camp was attended by over twenty fi ve Junior Golfers. It was an educational experience for the players as they were introduced to concepts such as Biomechanics, Fitness, Club Fitting, Psychology and Course Management. The camp saw an array of Golf technology that was utilized to get the best out of the juniors “It was my maiden visit to India and I was amazed to see the talent here, we used advanced technology such as K-Vest, V1 Swing Video analysis, Trackman Launch monitor for ball fl ight analysis. I was impressed with the student’s’ grasp of Golf technology, they were very quick to embrace the advanced teaching methods”, said Stephen.Using technology to set strong foundationsA keen thinker and a student of Golf Bio- Mechanics, Stephen’s teaches a methodology that is an ideal mix of the classical Ben Hogan swing coupled with the correct Bio Mechanics and movements that are required in the modern game. His teaching method is different, as it is based around the three dimensional movement of up, down and around, and emphasizes the principle of using the muscles to move the mass of the body rather than the other way around. “I think what is important to identify and teach the correct methodology, this becomes all the more important when teaching juniors. As my method helps eliminate the “found it/ lost it” mentality that most golfers struggle with and produces results even if the student isn’t as naturally talented as someone with phenomenal hand and eye coordination “.Learning from the Best!Having been around some of the top world players such as Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and the like, Stephen has gained tremendous insight into the routine and processes that make a champion. The key according to him is

all about producing swing mechanics that stand up under pressure and can be repeated each time. “This consistency is really what separates Pete’s players from the rest, and consistency is a result of our methodology”.His plans for India“Our Tie-Up with the Ultimate Golf Academy would entail both me and Pete making visits here to increase awareness and work together with Pritam and Sundeep to offer better teaching methods to both Junior as well as Professional golfers”. Also, the set-up here at the Ultimate Golf Academy is conducive for the betterment of golfers, with facilities such as Track Man, K-Vest , High Quality Video Imaging and a Fitness Centre, I think it is comparable to any that I have seen in the world and we are excited at this tie-up”!The founder of the academy Sundeep Verma also echoes similar views “The tie-up with Pete Cowen Golf Academy- Emirates Golf Club, is another milestone for us and would be one more step towards making our academy a truly world class facility for both juniors as well as Professionals alike”.Impressed with the calibre of PlayersThe coaching methods used within any Academy play a signifi cant role towards player development. A combination of good methods and Academy structure ensures positive results for everyone involved. In his visit to India, working with the juniors was something he liked the most.“Working with the juniors at the Ultimate Performance Center, I was impressed with their talent and the work that the coaching team has done here. Academies are always important, as they provide the platform for long term player development and help secure the future of the game. Most importantly, it is a good way to introduce new players to the game without having to be a golf club member. I think on those fronts I am satisfi ed with the set-up here and that together we can help to further improve the standard of Golf in India”.What are the necessary attributes for champions?“I would just like to mention that the player’s attitude is key if they want to reach their full potential as a golfer, and for junior golfers this would be the single most important attribute. From what I have seen during my brief visit, I believe that the Golfers here have the correct attitude for the game and show respect for their coaches, colleagues and more importantly themselves. This is vitally important and refreshing to see. I am sure that with such ingredients the future is indeed bright for Indian Golf”.

by Shaurya Singh