Training, preparation, and cross-disciplinary knowledge are all crucial for the successful golf academy student. Learning to condition the body in ways that cannot be achieved merely by practicing the form and technique of the game—such as strength training, endurance, and fitness cross-training—can significantly enhance a player's performance on the course. And unless that player is given the opportunity to enjoy this kind of enhancement, they may never fully realize their potential. The BTEC qualification, which follows after achieving (on average) four GCSEs—including Maths and English—provides training in core sports skills and knowledge, including: anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, fitness testing, analysis, nutrition, and coaching. An extended Diploma, which elevates the level of the golf academy qualification from BTEC to an A-Level equivalent, includes the study of current issues in sports, treating sporting injuries, and profiling sports performance. Of course, it helps—indeed, it’s a necessity if your intention is championship play—but if you don’t have the well-rounded knowledge that complements it, then you’ll be far less likely to progress along the path you wish to follow.
Changing your game, such as switching from a Titleist Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport Putter to a Nike Slingshot 4D Iron Set, involves more than just practicing your swing in a golf academy or spending hours on the putting green. How about learning how to tour—how to cope with the pressures of playing with jet lag, or playing a tiring game in a hot climate and returning to an empty hotel room? The knowledge that truly gives you an edge over others in the game is the knowledge you gain about how to act when you’re off the green.
Recognized national qualifications (such as a BTEC degree) in sports and golf are essential for the development of a well-rounded golfer—as are hours of physical training, practice, and the study of technique. All of these are available at a good golf academy. To elevate your game both on and off the course, you need to gain more knowledge than what you can acquire through mere practice. The golf academy provides the ideal environment: academic, visionary, and dedicated to promoting a broader understanding of the sport. A good golf academy will also give aspiring golfers an understanding of the game and the industry as a whole.
This is invaluable to the large percentage of trainee golfers who will never win the PGA Tour or end up on billboards advertising quality sporting goods. The majority of professional golf careers occur away from the limelight—and awareness of those opportunities is essential for anyone who wishes to be paid to stay involved with the game they love, whether as a coach or a course professional. A golf academy—a good one, like one offering Ping G20 fairway woods—offers more than just reducing your handicap. Because success in the world of golf requires more than just being good at playing the game.
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