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Instruction

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Published: February, 2009

Todd Yoshitake

Riviera's PGA director of golf works at one of golf’s gems, and he got started in the game hitting balls on an empty diamond.
Todd Yoshitake works at one of golf’s most famous clubs (Photo: Eddie Meeks).
As the director of golf at Riviera Country Club, Todd Yoshitake has one of the coolest office spaces in the world. After playing sports mostly on courts early in his youth, Yoshitake eagerly took to the course and has turned his love for golf into a 28-year teaching career.

What inspired you to become a golf teacher?
I started playing golf seriously after playing other sports in high school. I was primarily a basketball player. I started to study the swing with some of the best instructors in California and got my game better where I even won a college golf tournament. I was hooked.

What’s the best golf tip you’ve ever received?
That golf is 95 percent mental. I have spent the last 30 years trying to figure that one out — I know that’s the secret to success.

How old were you when you started playing golf?
I started at 9. There was an old pro in Montebello named George Koyama, who gave free lessons to all the kids. I took a lesson a week for six years.

What was the first thing that attracted you to the game?
I used to go out with my dad early in the morning and hit balls at the East Los Angeles College baseball fields. They would leave the lights on from the football game the night before and we could get out there before sunrise. It was so serene and quiet.

What’s your greatest achievement in golf?
I’ve qualified and played in three Northern Trust Opens at Riviera. The first two times my wife was pregnant and we had our two children. I will always remember those days.

What’s your best round ever?
I shot a 62 at Western Hills in Chino Hills. I broke my driver on the first swing and used a 3-wood all day. I was leaving for tour school the next day and was more concerned with how I would get that thing fixed than my score.

Including yourself, who would make up your ultimate foursome?
Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods at Riviera. To see Jack and Tiger picking Hogan’s brain on how to play the course would be unbelievable.

Readers Feedback:

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