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Teachers who actively golf in competition
while carrying a full-time schedule on the lesson tee bring
a powerful perspective to their students, in particular their
advanced players. Meet
Cindy Miller, a very popular LPGA Teaching Professional
who made headlines nationwide in her recent appearance on
The Golf Channel's "The Big Break: Ladies Only," when she
made it to the final three. Miller played the LPGA Tour for
three years and is currently active on
The Legends Tour,
Official Senior Tour of the LPGA. She also tees it up
regularly in LPGA T&CP Section events. We asked
Cindy to share with us how routinely competing in
professional golf adds insight to her lessons.
Q:
Why do you play competitive golf as a
teaching professional?
Because I don’t think I have
reached my potential in golf and I love the challenge of
continually trying to improve and test my abilities.
Q:
What are your objectives when teeing it up in
an event?
To play the best I can.
Q: How does your
experience as a teacher affect your approach to competing in
events?
I would never personally take a
golf lesson from someone who has never had substantial
success playing. The more I play competitive golf and put
myself in situations that my students may be in, the better
I will be at helping them. Experience is never at the
mercy of theory.
Q:
Do you feel that you are better equipped to
help your students because you are an active competitive
golfer?
Absolutely. When I wanted to
personally compete at the highest level of competitive golf,
I looked for the best possible player who was also know as a
good teacher. I want to know from firsthand experience what
it is like to tee your golf ball up on the first tee of the
US Open, or what it is like to have to make a putt to keep
your card.
Q: Would it make a difference
in the way you teach if you stopped playing competitive
golf?
No, it would not. The only way I would stop competing
is if my body wouldn’t allow it.
Q:
Do you reference specific moments in your own
play that will help your students understand what you are
trying to teach them?
I use specific moments in my
own play all the time. I tell then what it feels like to
have to make a putt to be tied for the lead in the
tournament. I am very honest with my students about the
mental side of the game. Sometimes there are voices in your
head, contradicting everything you have worked on. You have
to discern which voice to listen to. Once you make the
choice, you have to have the guts to stick with your
decision and pull off the shot.
Q:
What do you think playing in events regularly
does for your teaching skills?
Playing in events keeps me in shape both mentally and
physically. My students can know that I am right there with
them, working on a goal and a mission to become the best
player I can possibly be.
Q:
When is your next event?
The Connecticut Open May
25-27, 2009 |
