Becoming a Certified Golf Instructor – Stage One
A Personal Journey through The Gravity Golf Coach Certification Stage 1
My Name is Pete Dooley and I am a Golf Skills Coach, who has recently graduated as a certified Gravity Golf instructor. I have given thousands of lessons to all skill levels utilizing many different techniques. I have always tried to base my instruction on what best fits my student and never considered myself to be a method teacher. My teaching philosophy is simple; to teach, grow & promote the great game of golf utilizing mind, body, swing, and modern equipment through practical teaching best suited for that individual.
I was an avid golfer on my home course, Sankaty Head where I was a member for over 20 years. At 30 years old I started playing golf, and immediately loved the motion. I played as a low single digit handicapper most of my time and employed many methods in pursuit to master this crazy game. This quest for the answers led me to attend Keiser College of Golf in 2011 at the young age of 55 after my youngest child graduated college. I earned an Associate Degree in Golf Management, which was the first step in my journey to become a certified golf instructor. We studied all facets of the Golf Industry and received a great overview of the golf swing, equipment, and club repair.
The Gravity Golf System is a “paradigm shift in golf instruction.” David and Daniel Lee have based their instruction and golf schools on understanding the forces of gravity, centripetal and centrifugal force, use of ground reaction forces, behavioral science, and how the brain best learns. You will understand and learn how to develop a core sling vs a hit. The drills that they implement are based on proven methods that threaten the safety envelope. Utilizing behavioral science, they will test you, teach you to identify your faults. You will be able to take these drills to the course and become your own best coach.
You have to be open to some concepts and drills that are outside of the box used in the mainstream of golf instruction. Because the drills are practiced in a tighter envelope than common practice it may seem difficult at first, but like anything in life if you stay with it you will hit your mark. I think about The Fosbury Flop, until Dick Fosbury went over the high bar backwards and won a gold medal in the 1968 Olympics, everyone else was doing the Western Roll. Now, pretty much every competitive jumper uses his technique, “34 of the 36 Olympic high jump medalists from 1972 to 2000 earned their medals using Mr. Fosbury’s technique.”
Other methods of instruction are valid, but I believe a Gravity Golf swing will allow you to hit further, straighter and longer into your golden years. Golf handicaps and scores for the masses have really not improved in the last 20 years. Equipment is much better, the golf ball goes much further, we have more sophisticated means to measure motion and video the swing with no real change in the men and women’s handicap. Even with so many PGA certified golf instructors and new technologies, why is this?
Gravity Golf has changed my mindset on teaching and how to practice. We can get away from positions, minutia, and learn to free ourselves up. Our focus is on our target and where our mass is going. You really don’t need any video, training aids or prompts. A student who goes through the Stage 1 Certified Golf Instructor Program will have a clear understanding on their swing and how to train it best suited for them. They will understand dynamic alignment, how to develop a 2-1 timing with their pivot and the sequence of their swing. It’s a heave, a counter fall, the shoulders drop and a turn. It’s an effortless sling from the core. All age groups can benefit.
I’m excited to be a certified Stage 1 Gravity Golf Instructor, and feel I can help anyone with their game. We have a great website with clear and comprehensive drills to learn and efficient golf swing that will last you a lifetime. As a full time golf professional, I feel confident this will help me grow my client base regionally, as well as internationally. David and Daniel are a great resource to have on your team. The endorsements from Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriquez as well as other tour players give me great credibility.
No more rabbit holes to go down, and no gimmicks, just a progressive road map to follow. Take the Gravity Golf Challenge, and you will be on your way to enjoying this great game more than you ever thought possible.
You can own your swing. Isn’t that what we all want?
Fairways & Greens,
Coach Pete Dooley
www.petedooley.com
