Is My Golf Pro Too Business Minded?

[Nave]

Hi all 

I would be grateful for your opinion, especially from those who are either teaching or taking lessons.

My golf coach recently started introducing more golf fitness during our one hour lessons.
It has gone to the extent that sometimes we only spend 10-15 minutes on my golf swing or technical aspects per lesson and 45 minutes on fitness.

Overall he is a great coach, best of state teaching pro award winner, former tour player etc.
However, I signed up to two dozen “golf” lessons, and initially we did not incorporate the fitness aspect.

I am already part of a gym and I work out with a group of friends (like off-brand CrossFit group) where we incorporate golf specific exercises.

It is worth noting that my golf coach is working on developing his own golf fitness app - maybe he got carried away?
I just feel like the actual core golf lessons are progressing slower because of the time spent on fitness.
I want to tell him that it is ok to do a 5-10 minute warmup, but not more.

What do you think?

Thank you!

[iacas]

Have you… told him this?

I leave stuff that I am not expert in to the people I consider experts.

[pganapathy]

I don't have an issue with your pro showing you golf specific exercises, but doing them every session is silly.  That is something you should be working on in the gym after being shown how to do them.  Talk to him about it and ensure you spend time on your golf game when being coached

[boogielicious]

I would just talk to him and tell him you want to focus on golf priorities during the lesson. If he wants feedback on the app, tell him you’ll be glad to work on that separately for free.

[iacas]

9 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

I would just talk to him and tell him you want to focus on golf priorities during the lesson. If he wants feedback on the app, tell him you’ll be glad to work on that separately for free.

Or not for free. 🙂

I'm not sure what the title of this topic should be, but I almost feel like he's NOT being business-minded. He's possibly costing himself business.

[mcanadiens]

8 hours ago, Nave said:

I want to tell him that it is ok to do a 5-10 minute warmup, but not more.

You are the customer. It is only natural that your golf pro should expect feedback. Tell him what you want to be getting out of your lessons. 

 

[Elmer]

12 hours ago, Nave said:

just feel like the actual core golf lessons are progressing slower because of the time spent on fitness.

You signed up and paid for golf lessons, not a trainer. 
I think a few minutes of fitness and how it relates to golf and your swing is reasonable.
However it sound like you are not getting to the golf part of your golf lesson.

I would tell him, while you appreciate the fitness advice you can address this on your own time. Then provide specific issues with your golf swing you are looking to address. Hopefully this will steer him back towards golf.

[TourSpoon]

14 hours ago, Nave said:

I want to tell him that it is ok to do a 5-10 minute warmup, but not more.

What do you think?

Thank you!

Yes. The simplest answer is also the correct answer. You are the customer. 

Now, if they start teaching you how to golf at Crossfit, nope - that will never happen! 🤣 

[Nave]

Update:

I warmed up at home, attended my lesson today, and proposed a specific area for improvement. We dedicated the entire hour to that aspect and achieved significant progress, the most we've made in any lesson so far.

At the end, when he reiterated his fitness suggestions, I emphasized my desire for future lessons to be as effective as today's golf session. I also mentioned that I can practice the golf fitness exercises he previously taught me at my gym. He agreed.

Thank you!

[Guest]

On 5/31/2023 at 11:03 PM, Nave said:

Update:

I warmed up at home, attended my lesson today, and proposed a specific area for improvement. We dedicated the entire hour to that aspect and achieved significant progress, the most we've made in any lesson so far.

At the end, when he reiterated his fitness suggestions, I emphasized my desire for future lessons to be as effective as today's golf session. I also mentioned that I can practice the golf fitness exercises he previously taught me at my gym. He agreed.

Thank you!

I think you handled it correctly. He probably personally got on a fitness kick, then developed an app, and he lost focus on the golf. As a teacher myself, I ask my student what they want to work on that day. You paid for golf lessons and it's great that he sounds like a reasonable person since he listened to what you have to say.