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The reason PGA professional Hank Schiller became a teacher is simple: “I love the game and I enjoy working with people who are striving to become better,” he said. Schiller has been teaching for 26 years and is the general manager at Oak Quarry Golf Club in Riverside. What's the most common problem you see in your students? Posture, without a doubt. The poor-to-average player is not positioned properly in their setup, thus they have trouble swinging the club around their body. I start by getting the student to have proper spine angle, meaning the back should be straight but tilted forward allowing the arms to hang freely while addressing the ball. A proper spine angle enables golfers to pivot backward and forward in a more balanced and consistent manner. What's the best golf tip you've ever received? When I was a junior golfer, I received a tip about my grip from a professional named Nick Panasiuk. My right hand on the club was a little turned under, or what we call strong. He showed me how my right hand should fit in the life-line crease of the hand. This set my right hand in more of a neutral position, which helped keep the clubface square through impact. What's the most challenging thing about being a golf teacher? Trying to convince the student to be patient and that good results will come from their hard work over time. Another challenge is being a student of the game myself. As a teacher, I am continually learning so that I may pass on the best information possible to the player. How old were you when you started playing golf? Seven. I was fortunate to have a dad who was a pretty good player who took an interest in all of my five brothers and taught us how to play the game. Growing up in Canada we had a large back yard where my dad built a nine-hole chipping course, and all the kids in our neighborhood would gather and play for hours. What was the first thing that attracted you to the game? I can remember being hooked on the game when I was 10 years old because of the individual competition. It was at this time that I realized the mental aspect of the game, staying positive and focused, and that in the end I had complete control of my own destiny for playing well or poorly. What's your best round ever and where? I once shot a 63 at a course called Lakeside Golf Club in Simcoe, Ontario. Who is your mentor or role model and why? My father has been my role model my whole life. He is a great man and a family man with strong faith and work ethic. He also makes time to enjoy what life has to offer. As a doctor, he devoted his life to helping people in need. He continually is educating himself and develops interest in all aspects of life, not only in his profession. He is a well-rounded and grounded individual. What's the most satisfying thing about being a golf teacher? Knowing that I can make a positive impact in someone’s life while they’re on the golf course. Golf is a game of character, an individual game that can breed confidence in any individual, and that confidence can lead into other areas of one’s life, especially with junior golf students. What is your favorite part of the game? Putting and chipping. I don’t hit too many greens in regulation nowadays, so my short game has to have some creativity. I believe that the level of a player’s short game will determine how good a player they’ll become. If a player wants to improve their overall score, the fastest way is to improve their short game. What's your greatest achievement in golf? Being selected Golf Professional of the Year by the Inland Empire Chapter of the PGA in 2005. What's your personal motto on the course? I focus my attention on the target more than anything else. So my motto is target. While playing the game, the target changes from shot to shot. I try to manage my game by making realistic decisions based on the shot that needs to be played. A player shouldn’t get caught up in the mechanics of their swing during a round. SG |
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