2013 Coaches Profiles
Coaches Week
September 9, 2013
September 14-22, 2013 is officially “British Columbia Coaches Week”, an initiative by Coaches British Columbia that focusses on the recruitment, development and celebration of coaches across our province.
British Columbia Golf has long been a supporter of coach development for golf. Investing both financial and human resources to assist in coach development is something we feel benefits the game of golf not only today but for years to come. It is through the dedication of our coaches that many of our initiatives and programs are able to prosper and achieve sustainability.
We would like to highlight our coaches this week.
Matt Palsenbarg
Matt Palsenbarg, a dedicated coach out of the Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey, has been involved with British Columbia Golf extensively for a number of years. Learn more about Matt…
How long have you been coaching?
I have been a PGA of Canada member for over 10 years now. I have been full-time teaching and coaching for 8 years.
What prompted you to get into coaching golf?
I got into coaching due to wanting to give back to the game. I didn’t have any coaching or program to be a part of growing up. When in college, Sean Richardson who was the British Columbia coach, really helped me stay in golf by getting out to practice at the RCGA center. I worked hard and took advantage of the opportunity. About 6 years ago I knew I wanted to get into a role such as that. Working with British Columbia Golf (formerly BCGA) as Provincial Junior coach for 2 years was great for my knowledge. I got into coaching due to the great relationships you can forge with players and other coaches. I wasn’t satisfied teaching 3-5 lesson packages and knew I want to work with players really wanting to improve
What coaching qualifications do you own?
I have spent a lot of time and resources on my coaching. I am a TPI Level 3 Golf Professional and Level 2 Junior coach. I have done 2 VISION54 coaches courses. I have done the CNC course offered by the PGA and I am an evaluator of the CDC coaching program. I have attended many coaching summits as well
What qualifications are you hoping to achieve in the future?
I want to get my CDC done as soon as possible as I want to be possibly prepared for the 2017 Canada Games. I also want to do the TPI Coaching stream by PGA of Canada Coach Henry Brunton
What is your home teaching facility?
My home course (Northview G&CC) is huge reason I am where I am. They offer me so much support to run my coaching business the best I can. With 36 Holes of Arnold Palmer designed golf and a grass range with huge short-game practice facilities, it’s second to none in the area
Do you run a Junior Program? Speak to that if you could.
The Tour Performance LAB at Northview is the Junior program I run with Jason Glass, the Golf Canada National strength Coach. It’s a 12-month coaching program and right now we have over 50 kids in the program. The course gives us such space to run it. Having a 1st class gym on the range to work with the kids we truly run the program like a TPI golf academy. We have a team of 5 coaches who work for the LAB program
What coaching assignments have you completed for British Columbia Golf?
I have now done 3 Canadian Juniors with the BC team and over 9 performance camps for BC Golf. I have attended over 15 junior provincial championships
What are you goals for coaching with BC Golf?
My goal when coaching for BC Golf is to give the player as much support as I can. We are not there #1 coach as most players have that at there home club. We are just there to offer day of help on course strategy and help with the logistics of the event. Trying to take the stress away and let them play. I want them to feel at home at the event and comfortable
What would you define a coaching success? A failure?
A coaching success is blending into the background without being a presence. The players are doing all the work and a coach will never hit a shot or a putt for the player. Helping a player play their best without them knowing you had anything to do with it. I don’t think a coach should ever take the credit for the players’ hard work. Humbleness and no-ego is the key to being a great coach.
A coaching failure is not being present while coaching. Give 100% attention to the task and player. We all have busy lives and when we are away at an event we still have other things going on. Turning off the phone and watching a player. A huge failure would be not keeping your emotions and mood in check. Being happy and in a great mood and you can do nothing wrong
Where do you see the future of golf coaching moving towards?
The future of golf in my mind is getting more educated and becoming well-rounded. I have yet to go to a seminar or workshop about swing plane or grip. Lots of pros can handle the technical aspects of the swing. To work with top players, a coach has to know the mental, nutrition, fitness, sleep patterns, course strategies, and so many other aspects off the course. It’s not enough to read a book on the mental or refer to your experiences. I have spent a lot of time on education and walk out learning so much and don’t understand how a coach can do it without the education. I have read that same book but listening to the author for 3 days is so much more. You get their passion and grey areas they can write in the book. The future coach has a team of experts and has become an expert in more than just the golf swing
How have you remained ‘ahead of the curve’ in respect to coaching?
In my personal coaching, the TPI and VISION54 have been huge. All players must get screened so I know more about their body. Then I work with what they are thinking. Most players I get have great technical swings or they have been working on something for 1-3 years that wont happen do to a physical limitation. We find the white elephant and attack
How has BC Golf supporting your coach development?
BC Golf has given me so much to help my coaching. Everyone there loves what they do and love the game of golf. Working with people like that just motivate you to do more. They opened the door to some education that I may not have gone through. They helped shape the direction I went as a coach and helped me learn the role of a coach
Robert Ratcliffe
Robert, a PGA of Canada CDC Certified coach, has coached golf across the world in high level coaching capacities including his most recent posting as the Canadian Men’s National Assistant Coach. British Columbia Golf caught up with Robert to talk about coaching and BC Coaches Week.
What are your coaching certifications?
- PGA of Canada CDC Certified
- PGA of Great Britain
- Northern Ireland Coach Level 3
What certifications are you hoping to attain in the near future?
Advanced coaching diploma through the CAC
Why did you originally get into coaching?
Originally I was playing professional golf on the mini-tours in Europe, however I realized my game wasn’t where it needed to be. I got into coaching because I had a fascination with how children learn and develop their skills. I wanted to help develop kids down their own pathways to success
Robert clearly enjoying himself with Charlie Hughes and another player
And why did you choose golf as your coaching mechanism?
I am a career golfer… have always been in golf, always will be
How long has your golf coaching career spanned?
Actively coaching for around 15 years with the first 3 years in the United Kingdom before coming to Canada
What is your home coaching facility and position?
Crown Isle Resort and Golfing Community & the Duncan Meadows Country Club are my two courses. I am the Elite Junior Academy Coach at each location
What coaching assignments have you completed for British Columbia Golf and what have your goals been while performing as a coach?
Regional training camps and the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. My goal is to deliver the best possible programming within the structure laid out by BC Golf
Robert at the 2013 Canada Summer Games with Team BC Girls Naomi Ko, Alix Kong and Taylor Kim (also pictured is Team Manager Michaela Staller)
British Columbia made it a clean sweep at this years Canada Summer Games, winning the individual gold medals in boys’ and girls’ as well as team golds in both genders. Can you describe your experience in Quebec?
The actual golf side of things was fairly straight forward. Just like any other event where you’re trying to get the most out of your athletes. The real challenges lie in managing all the surrounding distractions of the village, other sports, spectators and family. All in all, it was a great experience that I know will serve me well for future endeavours as a coach
How important was it for the success of Team BC for you to be an accredited coach at the Summer Games?
Coaching golf is not like the traditional method of many professionals who “instruct” golf. I think accreditation was extremely important as it gives coaches the tools, the experience and the education to be effective in a tournament environment. As accreditation is competency based, coaches at the Games have proven that they are capable of working with athletes in these circumstances
Switching gears, what would you define as your coaching philosophies?
As a golf coach, I coach people, who happen to be golfers. I will always view my athletes as people first, and then as golfers. I believe this is a key in developing great golfers
Robert standing with Canada Summer Games Gold Medalist Kevin Kwon
What do you define as a coaching success? a failure?
A success is defined as a coach assisting his/her athletes in accomplishing their goals whereas a failure is when a coach hasn’t done everything in his/her power to help an athlete achieve their goals
What do you foresee as the future of golf coaching?
The profile of coaching in golf is rising rapidly. I believe it will keep growing and become a legitimate profession for many
What are some of the tactics you use to stay ‘ahead of the coaching curve’?
Education is key and so is staying up to date with the latest techniques and best practices. I also believe golf coaches can learn a lot and borrow from other sports
What has British Columbia Golf done to help your coaching career?
BC Golf has provided me the opportunity to showcase my skills as a coach on a Provincial and National level. The Team BC Canada Games program was my first opportunity at running a program from start to finish. I was very appreciative of that
Who is imitating who?
To close things off, what affect do you think coaching has on youth development (both in golf and in life)?
I believe being involved in a sport, under the supervision of a good coach is a wonderful experience for young people. The lessons learned and the relationships developed can last a lifetime
Todd Spring
Todd, a PGA of BC Professional who coaches out of the University Golf Club in Vancouver, has been coaching golf for 23 years and over 17,000 teaching hours. Todd is one of three acting coaches at the UGC and dedicates his time to improving his students golf game while helping them excel in their daily lives.
British Columbia Golf caught up with Todd to talk about coaching.
What are your coaching certifications?
- Degree in Business & Golf Complex Operations From the San Diego Golf Academy
- TPI Level I
- NCCP Coach Certified
- CNC Coach New Competitors
- Titleist, TaylorMade, Ping and Wilson club certifications
Why did you originally get involved with coaching?
I originally got into coaching as golf gave me so much in terms of development as an individual. With being a PGA professional golfer as my goal, golf promoted a healthy lifestyle, when as a young impressionable teen, the friends and pressures from society did not. Golf instilled and nurtured self-confidence, patience, discipline, perseverance, honesty, as well as the ability to celebrate small successes, self analyze and persevere to overcome obstacles. Being able to share the game with others and give them the same rewards golf gave me was something I knew I had to do.
Todd providing detailed instruction to a student
Describe your Coaching Philosophies…
Development of the player means development of the whole person. The mind, the body, the swing, and the equipment all need equal amounts of attention to develop a great competitive player. Each of the areas need to be balanced in order to compliment one another and achieve optimal performance. Traditional golf instruction covers much about the swing mechanics and club fitting but tends to overlook the two other areas, which are really doing a disservice to each student that trusts us to work with them
What coaching assignments have you performed for BC Golf? Others?
- Regional Player Camps (2003- Boys and Girls, 2012- Girls)
- 2012 BC Summer Games Head Coach Vancouver Zone (Girls individual gold medal, Bronze team medal)
- 2013 Eddie Hogan Cup Team Coach (Individual and Team gold medals)
- Orange County, California golf coach (1991, 1992)
- City of Calgary golf coach (1994)
Todd Spring posing with the victorious 2013 Eddie Hogan Cup team from British Columbia
How are you going to get more involved with BC Golf through coaching?
I am hoping to do as much as I can for them as Head Coach for any competitions and/or events they may have, while still giving my students the time they need with me
What has BC Golf done to help you further your coaching career?
BC Golf recognized my passion, experience and drive to be a great coach by giving me a chance to prove myself and offering me Head Coaching positions in past events. They have also given me many tools to be the best coach I can be. I am hoping to continue our relationship and one day be the coach for the Canadian National Golf Team.
Both BC Golf and Golf Canada have taken an active role to develop the game and its players into some of the top players in the world. Through the development of the Long Term Player Development Program, the National Player Development Team, and new High Performance training centres, both organizations have taken steps to put Canada on the map in terms of developing high performance players
What would you say are your overall coaching goals?
Being recognized as a great coach or golf instructor has always compelled me to keep pushing myself and thinking outside the box in terms of traditional teaching and coaching methods. Being awarded with the PGA of BC ‘Coach or Instructor of the Year’ is something that tells me I have made a difference to my students, contributed to the game and the developments that I made and coaching I have done, have changed coaching and golf instruction forever. Another coaching goal to me would be to see one of my students play in a PGA or LPGA event
Todd Spring and his team at the 2012 BC Summer Games in Surrey
What do you define as a coaching success? a failure?
A coaching success is helping each of the individuals that I work with define a set of goals or objectives at the beginning of each season and to see the gratification and fulfillment they get when they achieve and surpass each of their goals throughout the year. A coaching success is the ability to bring out the best of each of the students I work with and seeing the self confidence build when we overcome each little roadblock and obstacle we are faced with.
A coaching failure to me is not being able to reach the student and align their perceptions to the realities of what makes a great player. Having a student who has been with you for sometime leave to another facility or another instructor makes you feel somehow that you have failed to connect with them as a person to help them understand the importance of all aspects necessary to play the game at the highest level
What affect do you think coaching has on youth development, both in golf and in life?
Coaching and parenting in my mind are the most important roles towards youth development. BC Golf and Golf Canada have helped parents, coaches and facilities understand their roles when it comes to child and youth development thought the LTPD Guide. I have been able to use sections of this guide as an integral part of my Training Manual, which makes parents more aware of the positive or negative impact they may have in terms of youth development
Todd Spring and his students
What do you feel is the future of golf coaching?
The future of golf coaching is very promising as the access to great golf coaching tools is more available and portable. The development of tools the last 10 years have been profound, however anytime a new coaching or training method is introduced, there is always some skepticism at first. Typically new training methods have to become more mainstream before they become accepted by the masses and actually make a changing impact on the way coaching and training is done.
Take for example the fitness aspects of the game that have been part of the training with the PGA players since the Tiger Woods era had begun 20+ years ago. Fitness for golf however for the masses has only been in the mainstream consciousness for the last 5 or so years. Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) took the fitness aspect of the game and have now become big players and leaders in this area, helping many great PGA players to better fitness and more tournament wins. The amusing part as a coach is that I had been stressing the importance of the fitness aspects for the past 13 years of coaching. I had a hard time getting students to buy in but now after being certified with TPI, I have a better vocabulary and a credible company that helps back it up.
New tools such as Flighscope and Trackman are also great teaching technologies that have come out over the past 7 years, which give a coach or instructor scientific data to back up their philosophies
Todd and a student following an event
Lastly, what are your most and least favourite parts about coaching?
My favorite part is making a difference in the lives of the individuals that I am lucky to work as well as seeing the feeling of accomplishment when those committed players achieve all their golfing and personal goals we set out at the beginning of each year.
My least favorite part of coaching is getting students to align their expectations with the level and amount of work that they require to reach their goals as well as getting the 100% commitment and trust of the student to the training plan that we develop at the beginning of the year