Kristin Ciappina, Event Manager for JBC Golf Inc., knows how to put on a good golf event. She's managed and trained hundreds of volunteers for Legends Tour tournaments. She coordinates LPGA Golf Clinics for Women registrations and helps our LPGA Teachers promote themselves online through our website. Ciappina works with event staff, golf professionals and golf courses on a daily basis, but until recently, she's hardly ever picked up a club. With that in mind, we sent her out to California with two missions: do your normal job and oh, and actually participate in the Calabasas Clinic. We wanted a fresh perspective on the Clinic experience, and that's exactly what we got!

If you're new to the game and wondering whether or not our Clinics are right for you, take it from Kristin...you can do it!

GCFW: How many times have you played golf?
Kristin: 3 or 4.

GCFW: What do you like about the game?
Kristin: That it is a challenging outdoor sport. The feeling that I get when I hit a good drive.

GCFW: Who do you admire who plays golf - who inspires you to be a better player?
Kristin: Judy Carls (Top 50 Teacher) and Betsy Smith. They are both very educational and motivational instructors who believe in me.

GCFW: What do you think the hardest thing to do in golf is - hit it far, hit it straight, hit a wood, hit an iron, chip shot or putting?
Kristin: The whole game is hard. I have played competitive sports, but they are all team sports. The fact that golf is an individual sport is difficult. Hitting it far is definitely difficult, but once you make contact with a great hit and the ball goes sailing, it is a great feeling.

GCFW: What do you think you are best at right now?
Kristin: Nothing. I am at the beginning stages of learning the game. I am trying to transition and program my body to a golf swing from a softball swing. Having two golf lessons with Betsy and Judy, I have already seen improvement in my swing. There is a small amount of consistency and I am aware when my swing does not feel smooth. These are two components that I have drastically lacked in the past.

GCFW: What is your weakest part of the game?
Kristin: My swing. I do not have one and that is the whole game. Once I have mastered the swing, I will be ready to learn and improve my pitching and chipping.

GCFW: When you were at the Clinic, which part of the day taught you the most?
Kristin: The instructional stations were definitely the most beneficial to me. I learned the basics of putting, chipping, and pitching which gave me confidence and a boost to want to learn how to play. Previously I would go out on the course and just swing my club hoping to make contact and the ball would land somewhere on the fairway. I was really embarrassed to play. The opportunity to have been able to participate in the clinic and learn the basics of the game, gave me the inspiration and confidence to want to learn more and be able to go on the course and play. I learned immediately what I was doing wrong and saw a rapid improvement in my game from when I started and when I was finished.

GCFW: Describe your teacher - how did she break down the game for you? What examples did she give to help you learn?
Kristin: My LPGA Teaching Professional Eva Scott was great. She evaluated me and caught any mistakes I was making. She had techniques and the knowledge to show me immediate changes in my game, which is very uplifting. I walked on the putting green to try and put and the ball was all over the place. She put down two clubs and showed me how far my swing should be. After that, I sunk every single ball in the hole. Eva had instilled the knowledge of the game and course rules in each of us. It made us feel confident that we could go out on the course and know the basics to play a round of golf.

GCFW: Were the other players in your group about the same, worse or better than you?
Kristin: We were all first time golfers. Meaning that we have tried to play on our own, but had no knowledge at all. Eva helped all of us improve. There was a noticeable change from when we started in the morning and when we ended in the afternoon.

GCFW: What do you personally want to improve at the most?
Kristin: I have been exposed to golf for the past four years working for JBC Golf. I have worked numerous Clinics and never really understood how empowering of an experience this was. I was hooked on basketball and softball and didn’t really have the interest to learn the game. I have been wanting to learn the game since I started in the industry, but never actually took it serious. Golf is a very prominent part in the business industry and as a recent college graduate, I feel it is in my best interest to learn the game. I have the best instructors around me as well as Legends Tour players, so the potential for me to learn the game well is at my fingertips.  When I was given the opportunity to participate in the Calabasas Clinic, I immediately took advantage. I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to experience the Clinic. It really has inspired me to want to learn how to play the game. I have had two lessons since the Clinic and can’t wait until my next one. I cannot wait to be able to utilize my skills on the course. The Clinic has definitely given me the motivation and inspiration to play the game. I have always wanted to play 9 or 18 holes and now I finally have the skills and knowledge to do so.

GCFW: Do you think the Clinic is a good program for someone of your ability? Why?
Kristin: Absolutely. If you have never picked up a club or have just played a few times, I would definitely recommend our Clinic. It will give you the confidence and inspiration to learn and want to play the game. You will not understand unless you experience it. You are exposed to highly skilled individuals who can bestow their knowledge. The best part of the Clinic is that it works. You are guaranteed to see noticeable improvements from the time you arrived at the course in the morning to the time you are putting your clubs in your vehicle at the end of the day.  You also are with individuals who have the same skill level as you, so you don’t have to feel nervous that you can’t play. Being in groups with the same skill level, lets you focus on improving your game and it doesn’t make you think the whole time that you have to impress those around you.  

GCFW: What do you want to work on at your next Clinic?
Kristin: The whole game. I learned so much at this clinic, that my next clinic will just enhance the skills from the first time, making me a better golfer.