By Leonard Finkel
San Diego’s own Kip Puterbaugh – one of the most influential and recognizable golf instructors in the country – is scheduled to appear as a guest instructor on Golf Channel’s Morning Drive, October 13-14.
The popular daily morning show airs from 7-9 a.m. Eastern.
Director of the Aviara Golf Academy in Carlsbad, Calif., Puterbaugh recently became one of the inaugural coaches in Golf Channel Academy (GCA), a dedicated network of teaching facilities operating with the active support of Golf Channel, the game’s leading global multimedia and golf entertainment source.
Select Golf Channel Academy teachers will be invited to appear on the network’s news and instruction shows, including The Golf Fix and School of Golf.
“I’m thrilled to be appearing on Morning Drive,” said Puterbaugh, whose most notable students include former Masters winner Larry Mize and U.S. Open champion Scott Simpson, as well as PGA Tour veteran Loren Roberts and LPGA star Natalie Gulbis. “Being part of Golf Channel Academy has tremendous benefits for my students. And it’s exciting that it provides me with an opportunity to appear on some of Golf Channel’s most popular programs.”
Joining Golf Channel Academy is only the latest honor for Puterbaugh, who has been a member of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers list since its inception in 1996. Puterbaugh launched his golf academy in 1991, making it one of the longest-running golf schools in the country, and recognized by GOLF Magazine as one of the Top 25 Golf Schools in America.
As a Golf Channel Academy coach, Puterbaugh continues to teach the way he knows best. The underlying philosophy of Golf Channel Academy is that the best golf “teaching” is done through “coaching” – that is, an on-going relationship between player and teacher devoted to long-lasting improvement. For information about the Aviara Golf Academy, visit aviaragolfacademy.com.
I’ve known Kip for a very long time and he is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet in the game of golf. A few years ago I had the opportunity to attend his golf Academy and below is a review that I wrote. I hope you enjoy it.
Golf School Review – Kip Puterbaugh’s Aviara Golf Academy
This is somewhat unusual, but I’m going to lead with my conclusion. In all my years in golf, attending the Aviara Golf Academy was clearly the greatest learning experience I’ve ever had. By the third and final day of the school, I was swinging the golf club as never before. I emphasize swinging, because until that afternoon, I had always hit at the ball, not swung the club. There is an immense difference. At the Academy, their combination of knowledge, people skills, and teaching methods, coupled with the most advanced technology, make it easy to progress.
World-renowned instructor Kip Puterbaugh heads the Academy. Kip is one of Golf Magazine’s “Top 100” instructors and the Academy is rated among the top golf schools in the nation. Tour players including Cory Pavin and Dennis Paulson work with instructors here. During our 3-day school, I got to work with Kip, Wayne Searle and Bruce Nakamura. All Academy instructors are great players as well as teachers, as they all carry plus handicaps. Bruce hit both the par-5’s in two during my playing lesson.
At the initial morning session, we are given a comprehensive Academy workbook and detailed information about what we’ll cover during the school. In a group setting, we discuss our individual goals and reasons for attending and are told what we should expect. The most compelling topic at this get-together is dispelling the “myths” of the golf swing, two of which were aimed directly at my swing. Myth #1, “Keep the head still.” I have always worked at keeping still and was utterly amazed when one video clip after another showed virtually every great player, from Hogan to Nicklaus to Tiger all shifting their heads backwards during the takeaway. Myth #2, “Keep the left arm straight.” In theory, this is correct, but there is a catch. Consciously straightening the arm inhibits a good turn, yet a relaxed turning motion automatically lets the arms extend, only without any tension. I learned to watch what the pro’s do, not listen to what they say. It isn’t always the same thing.
Although billed as group instruction, a significant amount of time is spent privately with each student. There were nine students in our class and there were always three or four instructors present. After briefly loosening up, each of us was individually videotaped to record our current swings. The ASTAR video system allowed for all sorts of technological wizardry including super slo-mo, blow-ups and side-by-side analysis with a multitude of tour players. It was also possible to compare your own swings over time. Taping was constantly done, including most of the private tutoring, allowing students to see their progress during the school. Your personal tape will later serve as a point reference for practicing what you learned.
What I found most effective about the Academy’s teaching methods was how instruction was always combined with a “feel”. With each movement taught or adjusted, the student is always asked what they feel. Each of us senses things differently and drills are constantly altered until we achieve the desired result. The staff tested all sorts of movements and feels, hopeful that I would feel the sensation that is proper sequence of the golf swing. What finally clicked for me was when Bruce had me make tennis swings. Watching it on video while experiencing that sensation lit my light bulb and I finally got it. Using that same motion with a club in hand felt totally different than any swing I had made before. What I was finally doing was making a “golf swing”, not “hitting at the ball.” It’s an indescribable feeling to make that quantum leap.
The curriculum at the Academy is clearly laid out and defined. The teaching process begins by laying out the fundamentals; grip, stance, alignment, and posture. I’m a single digit player yet my grip, stance, alignment and to a lesser extent, my posture, all were off. Applying the proper fundamentals makes it easier to succeed. Time is also spent developing a pre-shot routine. The first afternoon, in addition to working on the full swing, attention was paid to pitch shots, chip shots and the pitch-and-run. Every stage of the program is filmed to record and better assess the student’s development and progress.
Day two starts with instruction on relaxation and visualization techniques and then back to the range to work on the full swing. Later in the morning we worked on putting. The afternoon session includes work on trouble shots, review of the long game including identifying specifics that will bring consistency to your game, and a short game session focusing on the areas we each need to practice the most.
The final day begins with an optional stretching program. I was hurting by now, and strongly considered not hitting any more balls. The 16-minute program allowed me to continue and I would highly advise attending. Following the stretches, it was off the golf course for a 9-hole playing lesson. The afternoon concludes with sand play and a review of all the previous lessons.
The Academy offers two and three day schools, as well as private lessons and a “Playing School.” I would recommend taking the three as opposed to two-day school. There is a great deal of information to digest and for me; it really clicked that final afternoon. Everyone that attended my session was very happy with the school and some achieved, obvious to any observer, great progress. One novice golfer made her first eagle. Her new swing looked light-years ahead of her old one. Instructor Wayne Searle proudly asserts,” Our students don’t go from a 20 handicap to an 18; they go from a 20 to an 8! The golf swing is the same, no matter the club or distance. The motion is the same whether it is a full swing, chip, or even a bunker shot. Once you learn to swing the club with a body turn, consistency comes much more quickly.” Kip likes to say, “Good golfers are willing to give up control, in order to get control.” Giving up consciously trying to manipulate the club I discovered, allows centrifugal force to take over. All you need to do is turn.
In addition to the instruction, all students receive a take home manual and their own personal video recordings of their lessons. Lunch each day at the Park Hyatt Argyle Restaurant is included and the gourmet food is mouthwatering. After each day’s school sessions, students have the option (if they aren’t too tired from all the work) to play the Aviara Golf Course for free. This would normally cost $175-195 per round!
The Academy is located at the Park Hyatt-Aviara resort in Carlsbad, California. For further information or to receive a brochure on the Aviara Golf Academy aviaragolfacademy.com.
For more about Golf Channel Academy, including a full listing of all its current coaches around the country, go to golfchannel.com/instruction.
Leonard Finkel is the author of The Secrets to the Game of Golf & Life and former editor in chief of Golf Journeys Magazine. His work has been featured in almost 200 publications including Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Golf Illustrated, Golf Tips and Player Magazine. He has written more than a dozen cover stories for Golf Today Magazine. He has written extensively about golf and travel and has added poker to his writing repertoire. Finkel also works as a marketing and public relations consultant. His specialty niche is writing advertorial copy. Prior to his career in golf, Finkel owned a chain of retail stores and a consulting and import company based in Asia. He attended the University of Utah.