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 Section Teacher of the Year Kip Puterbaugh, owner and PGA director of instruction at Carlsbad’s Aviara Golf Academy How long have you been teaching? 36 years. What inspired you to become a golf teacher? After not qualifying for the PGA Tour in 1970 and ’71, I went into the golf business and found my love of the game transferred into teaching and I enjoyed it better than other aspects of being a touring professional. What were the first things that attracted you to the game? Individual responsibility. And, it keeps you interested at all times, unlike baseball, where you could get bored to death waiting for a ball to come to you in the outfield. What’s the best golf tip you’ve ever received? Probably from Paul Runyan, who explained the game in relationship to ping pong and said golf is an offensive/top spin motion, not a defensive/cut shot game. What’s the most common problem you see in your students, and how do you fix it? Bad grips and posture with bad alignment. I show them what good posture and grip feel like and then practice with alignment clubs all the time. What’s your personal motto on the course? Play the game one shot at a time. As old as that statement is, it still is the basis for successful golf.  San Diego Chapter Bob Madsen, PGA director of instruction at El Cajon’s Sycuan Resort How long have you been teaching? I started as a PGA apprentice around 1985 and became a full-time PGA professional in 1991. What inspired you to become a teacher? Tag Merritt inspired me back when I was at San Diego State University. His lessons were different than any other I had taken. He had fun teaching and was a pioneer in the use of VHS and the commonalities that could be discovered with it. Tag always showed me what I was doing right! I don’t remember him ever telling me what I was doing wrong. I model much of what I do today after the lessons Tag gave me. How old were you when you started playing golf? I started in the backyard when I was 5 with Wiffle balls and a peanut can sunk into the ground. I started playing tournaments in 1971 at Long Beach’s Heartwell Golf Course and then played in the Southern California Junior Golf Association through 1977. What were the first things that attracted you to the game? The simple fact that it was a ball game, along with the fact that my dad and grandparents played. Also, going to Riviera Country Club and seeing Tom Weiskopf, Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and others at the 1973 Los Angeles Open. What’s your motto on the course? Take care of the course, play fast and be lots of fun to play with.  Northern Chapter Bob E. Smith, PGA Life Member, teaching professional at Ventura’s Olivas Links and Carpinteria’s Tee Time Practice Center How long have you been teaching? 10 years. What inspired you to become a teacher? I’ve been in golf all my life, and after I finished playing the tours I decided to teach. How old were you when you started playing golf? 12 years old. What was the first thing that attracted you to the game? I loved sports. I started winning golf tournaments, and the competition excited me. What’s your favorite part of the game? I love the challenge. What’s the best tip you’ve ever received? The hands do one thing: they hold on to the club. That came from Byron Nelson in 1967. What’s the most common problem you see in students, and how do you fix it? Alignment is huge, as 80 percent of my students are incorrect. I show them how to use their eyes like railroad tracks in the pre-shot routine. What’s your greatest achievement in golf? Being a top-60 money winner 10 out of 15 years on the PGA Tour and for five years on the Champions Tour. What’s your motto on the course? Have a solid routine before every shot.  Inland Empire Chapter Dale Abraham, PGA director of instruction at Beaumont’s East Valley Golf Club How long have you been teaching? 12 years. What inspired you to become a golf teacher? I was working with some of the instructors at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in La Quinta when a wrist injury ended my playing career. They asked me if I would like to help them with some of their schools. I wound up liking it and decided to pursue a career in teaching. What were the first things that attracted you to the game? Spending time with my dad on the golf course during summer breaks, and the constant challenge that the game poses. What’s the best golf tip you’ve ever received? Focus on the process of hitting each shot instead of focusing on results. To this day, I set process goals before each tournament round and see if I can achieve them. What’s the most satisfying thing about being a golf teacher? Receiving phone calls, e-mails and text messages from my students telling me how well they played. What’s your personal motto on the course? Have fun no matter what you shoot. You would be surprised how well you can play if you focus on having fun instead of your score.  Metro Chapter Brady Riggs, PGA director of instruction at Woodley Lakes Golf Course in Van Nuys What inspired you to become a teacher? My failure inspired me to be a teacher. I was a better player at 16 than I was at 20, thanks to a lack of understanding about my golf swing made worse by poor instruction. The quest to improve my own game brought me knowledge and the ability to help others, especially aspiring players. What was the first thing that attracted you to the game? I liked the individual nature of the game. I enjoyed the responsibility and ownership over the results, win or lose. What’s your favorite part of the game? Golf brings out the kid in people. The joys and disappointments are real, without serious consequences. What’s the best golf tip you’ve ever received? My great-uncle was a fabulous player and teacher. After playing poorly and pouting for several holes, he made me take my address position and promptly kicked me in my backside. The lesson learned was to cheer up, because you can’t play well ticked off. What’s your greatest achievement in golf? From a personal standpoint, it is being voted as one of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers in America. What’s your motto on the course? You won’t ever remember the par you laid up for. Don’t be afraid, go for the glory.  Desert Chapter Barry Clayton, PGA director of instruction at the Westin Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage How long have you been teaching? I have been teaching since 1990 and have been doing it full time since 1995. What inspired you to become a teacher? I love working with students and seeing them gain knowledge and skill. I knew that playing and teaching was what I wanted to do in this business and I’m lucky enough to do that now. How old were you when you started playing golf? I was about 10 or 11 and got into golf through my neighbors, as my family did not really play the game. What’s the best tip you ever received? Turn your left shoulder behind the ball and complete your backswing. Make the game come to you. What’s the most common problem you see in students and how do you fix it? Get your grip right and you will square the clubface. Once you square the clubface at impact, the light bulb will come on for your ballstriking. What’s the most satisfying thing about being a golf teacher? Having a struggling golfer come to you and leave the session corrected and understanding their faults and fixes. What’s your motto on the course? Knock down the pin, be in balance and smile! |
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