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At the PUREGOLF Academy we use simple methods to get results. Your PGA Professional will work

with you so that you reach your goals by understanding your swing. We don't have a methodical approach, we use plain English and video technology so you can see and feel how we will work with your swing to improve your golf. We offer first class coaching at affordable prices, so there really is no excuse for not improving your golf and your enjoyment of the game.

Your lesson will include the use of video analysis software. Your golf swing will be analysed during your lesson and you will be emailed your swings along with notes from your professional on what to work on before the next session. Your coach is always contactable between lessons if you have any questions or feed back on your game.

We offer coaching packages from complete beginners to professionals, with regular group lessons and a Junior Academy.

Video can quickly help you to understand the basic rules required to build a consistent golf swing. Your professional can explain your weaknesses so you can see for them for yourself and then see what a difference golf coaching can make to the quality of your swing. By comparing your previous swings and those of professional players we will give you with an immediate understanding of what you need to do to improve your golf.

The slightest alteration to the technique will always feel uncomfortable to begin with. so with all our lessons we email you the swing along with the notes from your lesson so you can refer back to them to ensure your are having good quality practice.

By this point in the season many of you will be playing in competitive rounds with a card in your pocket and will be dealing with the rollercoaster of emotions that go along with that. Do you feel that you produce better shots on the driving range, or when playing in non-competitive rounds? Most golfers certainly do experience this, but why? Ultimately the act of hitting a golf ball is exactly the same whether you’re in a competition or not. The answer is that mentally you are in a different place. Being on the range with no pressure and the knowledge that if you don’t execute the shot properly you can just have another go is a completely different challenge to having to get up and down for 50 yards to beat your handicap or win a match.

This problem doesn’t only apply to amateurs though. Remember Greg Norman in the 1996 Masters, shooting 78 to squander a 6 shot lead to Nick Faldo on the final day. This could only have been a mental breakdown, 3 days earlier he shot 63! Many of you may have seen the Players Championship this weekend. Lee Westwood, not for the first time, just didn’t have it on the final day. He’s a great golfer, but shooting a great score on the last 2 rounds seems to be a much tougher task than on the first 2. Again, this can only be psychological.

There are many reasons why mentally, golf is such a hard challenge. As I have mentioned, your practise will tend to be on the driving range. This is very different to other sports. A tennis player will practise on a tennis court for example, and so the practising environment is much more in keeping to their competitive environment. Psychologically this makes golf harder. What you need to do, especially mid season as we are now, is to practise better. Make your practise, physically and particularly mentally, as close to competition as possible.

Another issue is the short game. This is also, psychologically very important. If you struggle holing 3 foot putts, your chipping and long distance putting will suffer, if your chipping and bunker play is poor then your iron play will suffer. This is because you will have more pressure on these particular shots due to fear of impending failure. This feeds all the way back to the tee. A good short game makes you mentally calmer on the course, especially during competition.

With all this in mind I will this summer be offering a lesson package which will be aimed at improving your mental state on the course:

4 half hours lessons

1st lesson – one to one detailed look into changing your psychology on the course

2nd lesson – driving range, changing the way you practise

3rd lesson – short game, looking at improving technique

4th lesson – short game lesson, changing the way you practise

This package will cost £50 and lessons can be taken as and when is convenient for you. By the end of the course the aim is to make you calm, relaxed and confident on the course during competition, and to greatly improve your short game. If you would like to book in for this course then please pop into the shop, or call 01905 757525.

Tip of the month

As this month I have focused on the mental side of the game, try and take this thought to the course; in your pre shot routine, tell yourself that this shot doesn’t matter. Get a sense of perspective about what you’re doing. If you miss a 5 foot putt, what is the worst that is going to happen? If you do this properly you will get a sense of relaxation and freedom in your shots that will no doubt lead to better results. The snooker player, Steve Davis, was asked how he played so well under pressure in the biggest matches and his reply was, “when the shot means everything, I tell myself it means nothing”.

Bet of the month

The big tournament this month is the BMW Championship at Wentworth. There is a very strong field with 5 of the worlds top 10 playing. It will no doubt be very competitive and tough to call but my picks are the following:

Padraig Harrington

Rory Mcllroy

Ernie Els

Mcllroy is playing great, Ernie is a class act and designed the course, and Padriag is due a good tournament.

Kind regards,

Tommy Robinson

Head Teaching Professional

Ravenmeadow Golf Club