I believe your state of mind is a matter of choice.  It is your own personal responsibility.  It is made up of how we feel the emotions we have, the things we say to ourselves at any point in time.  There are many components that make up our state and once you identify them you can establish a plan so those things can be reproduced. This way you will be able to experience great performances more often.  To be a successful golfer you must blend and balance the technique and your mental approach.  If you step onto the golf course with the intention of playing the game you will find it difficult to think about the mechanics.

When you are playing well your state of mind was almost completely free of mechanics, and you trusted your swing.  Getting out of your own way, relying on your plan and processes will enable you less technically aware.  Be a creative thinker, learn to problem solve, accept the outcome, allow yourself to move forward to make the shot anyway.  These are all high quality mental attributes to train and develop both on and off the course.

No matter what it remains a game and enjoy the journey and the results will be.

Being able to read the green, see the break and the line you want the ball to start on is a skill that you can learn.  The aim is to figure out what the ball is going to do after it leaves the putter, so you can make the ball leave on the right line to break to the hole.  The more information your brain has, the better it can calculate the outcome.

Points to remember:

1. When approaching the green keep your head up and your eyes open.  Have a look for any overall slope in the green, which influences the way most putts will break.
2. Examine your putt first from behind the ball, then from behind the hole and then if you still have not yet decided on the line then take a look from the low side of the break halfway between the ball and the hole.
3. Be conscious of aiming at your target (the apex of the break), and not aiming toward the hole.
4. Be aware that grain will impact your read most dramatically on fast downhill and side hill putts.

Source Stan Utley The Art of Putting

Lower back pain is extremely common in golfers. It has been reported to account for 52% all injuries in recreational golfers and 24% of all injuries in professional golfers.

Low back pain may be caused by many different factors.

The modern golf swing has been shown to produce multiple large forces on the lower back, which may change directions rapidly during the swing. These forces have also been shown to be up to 80% greater in amateurs when compared to professionals. It is most likely due to inferior swing mechanics in amateurs which place greater stress on the spine. However both groups were found to generate compression forces through the spine as high as 8 times body weight.

The rotational nature of the golf swing is also a major factor in the development of lower back pain in golfers. So there are multiple ways in which potentially injury causing forces are developed in the lower back in the golf swing. When this is coupled with the high number of repetitions which are performed while practising and playing, the potential for pain following golf is quite high.

Source High Performance Golf

Virginia is heavily involved with all levels of golfer from beginner through to elite and representative players.

Her desire to help people capitalise on their potential has seen her develop a holistic approach to golf instruction focusing on game playing rather than swinging.

Virginia will simplify golf for you with proven techniques that take into consideration your individual learning style. Her philosophy encompasses ‘the integration of technical, physical, tactical and mental aspects to accelerate the learning process.’

SAM PuttLab analyses the 28 most important parameters of your putting stroke and displays the results in easy to understand graphic reports. Discover your individual strengths and weaknesses, and reduce your putts per round.

No matter how much you know as a coach, the information is only effective if you can get the message across. Being able to tailor my coaching style to suit the individual athletes will create an effective coach athlete relationship. Engaging the athlete is my responsibility. Investing time in communicating and understanding the needs of the athletes will see them achieve their best results.

I am committed to setting a higher standard as a Golf Professional by:

• Training essential golf skills not by model or method.
• Measuring and challenging the short game.
• Train mental toughness.
• Tailor practice for improvement.
• Clear and effective communicator.

Learn the Lesson, Climb the Ladder and Take the Walk.

By choosing to learn a lesson after a disappointment instead of assigning a label such as unsuccessful to themselves they came to believe that something good had come from their adversity.  It is a neat twist that allowed them to see every single experience, positive or negative, as one that improved their game.  Continue Reading→

Trackman is the industry leader in Golf Swing and Ball Flight analysis. Virginia is qualified and ready to analyse your game with this state of the art technology – as used on the PGA TOUR and by the R&A.

Virginia has had extensive experience both as an Instructor and a Professional Golfer for over a decade. She developed her passion and skill for teaching under the watchful eye of Ian Triggs while working as Assistant Teaching Professional through Tri Golf Academy at Indooroopilly Golf Club.

Qualifications

• Full Member Australian PGA
• AAA Member Classification
• Full Member Australian Ladies Professional Golf Incorporated
• National Coaching Accreditation Scheme Level 3
• Diploma of Sport Coaching (SRS50206)
• Keynote Speaker 2012 Asia Pacific Coaching Summit
• Womensport Female Coach of the Year Finalist 2012
• Senior Professional Pacific Harbour Golf & Country Club 2012-current
• Senior Professional Indooroopilly Golf Club 2002-2012
• Golf Queensland Coaching Panel Member 2008-current
• Golf Queensland State Junior Team Coach 2009-current
• Golf Queensland Advanced Junior Clinic Coach 2009-current
• Kelvin Grove State College Excellence Golf Program 2001-current
• Former National and State Representative

Virginia previously coached at Indooroopilly Golf Club, located in the beautiful “Long Pocket” along the Brisbane River. Her time there was invaluable in developing as a teaching professional, but moving forward with Pacific Harbour is an exciting step forward for 2013.