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 Stan Gonzales preaches the value of a pre-shot routine. Photo by Eddie Meeks That’s because Gonzales has been busy with day-to-day operations at the Links at Summerly, which has become one of the most popular venues in the Inland Empire since opening in March. But he still makes some time to teach and work on his own game, too. What was the first thing that attracted you to the game? My father introduced me to golf at 8 years old, and what attracted me to the game was the quality time I was able to spend with him. What inspired you to become a golf teacher? Growing up at Eaton Country Club in Northern Colorado, I took lessons from PGA pro Rick Cole. He told me what really improved his game was teaching, because you start applying the techniques you’re teaching. After we had a lesson, Rick would have me teach him what we just went over. That’s what got me into teaching early in my career. What’s the most common problem you see in your students, and how do you fix it? The inability to transfer weight properly. I see this especially in beginners. An effective way to cure this problem is to relate the golf swing to a sport with similar actions students may be familiar with — like baseball. What’s the most challenging thing about being a golf teacher? As instructors, we’ve all come across that student who we can’t get through to. In these cases, you may need to take two steps back to go one step forward. What’s the most satisfying thing about being a golf teacher? Accomplishing what you and your student set out to conquer. What’s the best golf tip you’ve ever received? Two have been important for me. First, have the right mental outlook. My father taught me that golf is just a game, and a bad day of golf is better than a good day of school or work. From a mechanics standpoint, you’ve got to remember your pre-shot routine. I don’t care what ability you are, you need to have one to be comfortable. Whose swing do you admire most? You’ve got to love Freddie [Couples]. It’s just so fluent. It looks effortless. What’s your greatest achievement in golf? Starting from scratch and opening the Links at Summerly. It’s been great getting a team together to operate what we think is a very special facility. SG |
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