Your kids and what to expect....

What should you expect from your kids when they are taking golf lessons?

1) You should expect them to have fun!

2) You should expect them to be in a group that is small enough for them to feel they are getting the attention they deserve.

3) You should expect them to walk away with some knowledge of the vocabulary of golf and rules and etiquette.

4) You should expect them to have a chance to develop relationships and oppourtunities that keep them playing.

These are my initial goals for introducing kids to golf. I also encourage social skills during my sessions, in a way they understand.

I love it when parents are eager to see their children play golf! It's great to see kids start the game at an early age, but we must remember, their kids!

It's so important that they enjoy what their doing, more so than shooting par. (that comes later)
Make it fun and keep their interest!!!

The future of the game.

Summer is coming to an end and I am amazed how fast it went, and how much my students accomplished this season.
As many of you know, the majority of students that I have in the summer time are juniors.
One of my focuses this year was to introduce younger kids to the game. How do I do that and keep them interested? That was the challenge!
The age group I'm referring to is 5-6, I even had some 4 year olds. I was amazed how well they did and how much fun it was for me.
I mixed the 5 and 6 year olds with ages of 7-9. I used the older kids to be role models and let them know that as well. I really think they enjoyed being the "older kids".
I used agility drills and exercises to work on eye/hand coordination.
With kids of this age, I found you always have to be moving, there can never be a dull moment!
That keeps me on my toes!!
The one thing I said so often is, "this is the future of this game", juniors. The earlier they start and have fun with it, the better they will be, and the more time they will have to spend playing this wonderful game!!
So thanks to all your parents for choosing me to be the one to introduce them to the game, a game of a lifetime!

greetings from 'tucket!

Kim, Was thinking of you and just wanted to say hi, I haven't been out to play since getting here - weather has not been great- but am planning to start next week - really! I think a golfapallooza sounds like a great addition to everything at Windstar! It sounds like you're busy and having a ball! Don't forget the roadtrip back to FL next fall! Miss you!! love, gayle


Gayle,
I just saw this post. No one was writing or viewing it, so I gave up checking it. Thanks for checking in....sorry to be late in responding!

A recent e-mail I received....from a reliable source...

I get asked the question all the time, is a heavier putter better on faster greens?... I usually say, "It depends on the individual, but most people say "Yes"

Here is a recent e-mail I received from my friend Karen and she is a source I trust!

I found out something interesting concerning putters. I was asking about the best putter for fast greens - should it be heavy or light weight. The recommendation was that the putter weight is less important than the putter face material. Stats show that for the non professional golfer playing on country club greens, the putters like the Odessy are more reliable because of the softer face. Because the ball off the face will not not roll as fast, more than likely the putt will be short of the hole. On fast greens, being short of the hole actually decreases the number of 3 putts. Interesting....

Dayton Dragons Game Night

Below is myself with my nephew Cameron at the Dayton Dragons game. I grew up watching the Reds and enjoying baseball. This night brought me back to those days. We had about 25 family members together, including my dad and mom.
Great night.....Thanks Pat for organizing it!

Back in Ohio

Hi to all,
This is an update.
I am back in Ohio. Travels back home took me to Brooksville,Florida,Pinehurst,NC, Northern Ky and Cincinnati to see family, Dayton, Ohio for a Dragon game and home to Columbus. It was a relaxing trip home. I have to say Pinehurst was great. No golf...yes I said no golf. Good food and nice walks and shopping.
Mrs. Richardson, Sherman and Stephens, I did stop at Pine Needles. They were doing one of their Golfari's. I did not get to speak to anyone.
Carol Thompson was speaking in the evening and Donna Andrews was helping with the school.

Hey, I'm thinking of doing a 3-4 day golf school here. Anyone interested??
Sometime this summer.
Let me know your thoughts!

Miss everyone at Windstar..hope this finds everyone well!

"Girls-Sunset Happy Hour"

Pictures

Hi Kim
Thanks for the invite to join the blog. Great to see what everyone has been doing. Love all the pics. The Spring Fling sounds like it was a great success. Going to start my golf lessons soon with the gal who is the golf pro at Hamilton Golf and Country. Between your lessons and hers I hope to be ready for some fun golf games when we get back to Windstar. Doug and I have found the club to be so very friendly, lots of great people. We are back in May for a bit, will look for you and anyone else who is still around. All the best during the summer months. P. Phillips

Hi Kim, Hope we can keep in touch over the summer and that you're "road to Naples, fall '09" trip will come true! We'd love to see you. g.

I want to hear from you!

I would love to have some interaction on my blog. Blog about your winter at Windstar, your visit to Florida, if you took the clinics, what did you like, dis-like. This blog is a way for me to keep in touch, share ideas and keep connected.
I invite any and all to blog your thoughts. I'm headed back to Ohio soon and will continue my blogging.
If your a present student, past student, friend, family member....share whats going on in your life.

Thanks and as my dad loves to hear....."HAVE A NICE DAY"

ps...Colleen...what about this picture? better than the other?

The Women of Windstar....what a great group!

Mrs. Schumaker, we are going to miss you!!!


Thanks to all the committee members for all the hard work, what a great success this tournament was!
Mrs. LaMore....see you at Home!

By the looks of this photo, you would have thought the event was played in December. But it was April. The weather in Naples has been great. This just happened to be one of the chilly mornings. It warmed up nicely throughout the day. Great smiles!!!

"Girls Just Want to Have Fun!"

Jacqui and Katrinia, thanks for the opportunity to work with you both! I had a blast watching you both play as well. Keep in touch...let us all know how your progress is going. Hope your finding some time to play this summer.
I love this photo! Thanks Mrs. Luksha for the sharing your great photography skills!

Mrs. Potts at it again!

Mrs. Potts was known for her misbehaving during the clinics. We now have the photo to prove it!

SPRING FLING AT WINDSTAR 2009

"Spring Fling" 2009 at Windstar

Here are some of the photo's I took during the ending event for the 9 holers. I can not express just how amazing this group is, and how much fun I had working with you all. It not only was a pleasure, but a great learning experience for me. Thanks for welcoming me and making feel so at home. I can't wait to see you all next year!!

I was truly fortunate to be a part of a great staff at Windstar. Above is Kevin, assistant pro and Dan our fearless leader!! I go away this summer gaining great knowledge from both of you. Dan's great sense of humor and calming approach made it a comfortable atmosphere to be in all season. Both, like the rest of the staff, take great pride in caring for the members.

I really appreciate the time you both took in helping me along the way!

THE FINAL CLINIC

On the day of the Spring Fling, the below story was read at the luncheon. On each table was a golf ball. While the story was being read by Mrs. Potts, when she mentioned the word LEFT, the person with the ball would pass it to the left. When she said the word RIGHT, it was passed to the right. When the word across was mentioned, the ball was passed across the table. The purpose of this is explained at the end of the story.
I was laughing the whole time, how clever....how very clever. This group of ladies, are so talented and creative. Mrs. Potts and Mrs. Merryman wrote the story. Thank you both for taking the time to put together such a entertaining story. It was well scripted!!! I wanted Drew to be able to read it, I know he'll get a kick out of it. In the picture below you can see the centerpieces which were put together by a very talented women. Mrs. Mundth not only paints but creates such pieces as the one you see below. Great job Mrs. Mundth!

It was a sunny Thursday morning in Naples, and Kim LEFT her house on the way to Windstar for her 9-holer clinic. She turned LEFT at a stoplite and then remembered that she had LEFT her nephew Drew at the house!! (Drew was visiting during Spring Break, and Kim planned to take him along to the Club that day) Anyway, Kim made a RIGHT turn, then another RIGHT to get back to the house. Drew was RIGHT in front of the garage waiting for her, and he walked STRAIGHT ACROSS the street and got into the RIGHT side of the car. Kim reminded him to fasten his seat belt from RIGHT to LEFT, and off they went. She turned LEFT at the corner and then LEFT again to get on the RIGHT road. When she turned RIGHT off of Bayshore into Windstar Kim had to use the LEFT gate because the RIGHT gate was not working. She hurried to the Clubhouse to pick up her training aids since she only had 10 minutes LEFT before the clinic would begin. She needed to check her notes so got RIGHT to it and finished with 3 minutes LEFT.

Kim LEFT Drew at the putting green and headed to the driving range for the clinic. Today's clinic would be the final one of the season, and Kim planned to review information from several previous clinics.First Kim reviewed how to grip the club, reminding the ladies to place the club in the LEFT hand, then gently wrap the RIGHT hand around it. However, for the LEFT handers like Mrs. Leverte she had to reverese the instructions for LEFT and RIGHT.Kim then disscussed alignment, telling the ladies to stand behind the ball as if they were taking a picture, find something STRAIGHT ACROSS about 3 feet out, then line up to that target when addressing the ball. She had to correct Mrs. Mead several times, who kept hitting her shots to the RIGHT and the RIGHT and the RIGHT time after time.The final drill was on improving distance. Kim handed Mrs. Harris a broom and instructed her to sweep the broom from RIGHT to Left and listen for the swoosh. She told Mrs. Harris to repeat this several times...swoosh RIGHT to LEFT, RIGHT to LEFT, RIGHT to LEFT. Of course, with Mrs. Gadkowski being LEFT-handed everything was the opposite for her, so Mrs. Gadkowski did the broom from LEFT to RIGHT, LEFT to RIGHT, LEFT to RIGHT.At the end of the clinic the ladies asked Kim "How did we do?" Her response was "I am very proud of you". You did everything RIGHT and LEFT nothing to chance.

At that moment Drew came running up from the putting green with a confused look on his face. He grabbed Kim's arm and said, "Aunt Kim, the ladies here at Windstar talk really funny". Kim asked him what he meant and he said there was a group of ladies over by the putting green waiting to attend the 12:00 clinic. Drew said "I overheard them talking and they don't make any sense. A lady named Mrs. Schumaker was telling the others that "if the tick tock doesn’t work she'll try the swoosh swoosh, and if all else fails she'll carry the bird's nest with her". Alas, Kim realized that she had more work LEFT to do.Well, that's the end of the story, and there is only on thing LEFT to say....if you are holding the yellow golf ball at this point you'll take the centerpiece home today.
The End

Ok....it's been a while, but I'm back blogging!

I recently had a very special visitor to Naples. My nephew, Drew came to visit for a few days. Above is Drew playing a few holes at Windstar. Drew was visiting from Northern Kentucky and here during his spring break.