Golf Yeah showcases people who have built successful businesses and rewarding careers based on their love for the game of golf. Golf Yeah podcasts feature their life stories, lessons learned, sources of inspiration, future aspirations and advice for others.
On the golf-related side, Gia Watkins is a former member of the University of Florida Golf Team, who's played in two US Junior Girls Championships and won several prestigious tournaments, including the Connecticut State Senior Women's Championship; the Connecticut Women's Golf Association Senior Championship; the Connecticut State Women's Legends Championship in 2020; and the Westchester Fairfield County Women's Golf Association Championship in both 2023 and 2024.
On the business side, Gia has managed her own successful design and marketing firm for more than 30 years. Over the years, Gia has created a few other businesses, and most recently she started Archives@Work, which combines her deep appreciation for the history and culture of golf with her vast marketing experience. Archives@Work helps private golf clubs to define and showcase their history, differentiate their branded culture, and increase the prestige associated with membership, which in turn drives membership growth and retention.
2 Mar 2024
Christopher Howard — Worldwide Teaching Golf Professional
"When you can take a player from a 27 to an 11 handicap, it's something to be really proud of."
[caption id="attachment_3195" align="alignleft" width="300"] (https://golfyeah.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/hot-lesson.jpg) Chris claims there are advantages to teaching golf in Las Vegas, not including the weather.[/caption]
Christopher Howard
Worldwide Teaching Golf Professional
Las Vegas Golf Club
Contrary to the popular advertising slogan, what happens in Vegas does NOT stay in Vegas; at least in terms of world class golf instruction.
Christopher Howard is a golf professional based out of Las Vegas Golf Club. He works with every level of player, from beginner to consulting with tour players. In 20 years of teaching, he claims that there isn’t a swing he hasn’t seen.
When Chris isn't posting instructions or analyzing his students' swings online for his 25,000 Instagram followers (chowardgolf), you can find him touring all over the world, or teaching private lessons in his golf schools.
Over the last 7 years, he's hosted more than 650 golf schools in 5 different countries and 200 cities. That's a ton of frequent flier miles, and a lot of golfers who are willing to pay for the Teaching Pro from Las Vegas.
Show Highlights
Our conversation with Chris uncovered an interesting career path for a golf professional whose lifetime goal was simply to "be in sports." Mission accomplished. Chris talks about:
[caption id="attachment_3197" align="alignright" width="300"] (https://golfyeah.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/double-shot.jpg) Chris gives lesson every way and everywhere...in person on the course, or virtually on your patio.[/caption]
His short-lived career as a goalie in the American Junior Hockey League
How he shaped his own approach to teaching the golf swing by watching hundreds of instructional videos
Why he's found that golfers make greater progress in golf schools, compared with individual lessons
The reason why coaches for PGA Tour players are fearful to suggest significant swing changes
The teaching advantages of virtual FaceTime lessons
Why he will always include student lessons in his online videos
The #1 fault that he sees in the swings of average golfers around the world
Notable Quotes
On starting his own golf coaching business: “It's been great to not have to answer to anyone regarding my teaching philosophy...particularly involving people who have been teaching golf since the 1980s, who have very different concepts."
[caption id="attachment_3190" align="alignleft" width="300"] (https://golfyeah.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Howard-golf-calendar.jpeg) Chris's touring golf schools typically sell out very quickly.[/caption]
On his early years trying to establish a golf career: "Young golf professionals need to accept the fact that there can be a lot of struggles in this industry."
On what he learned early on from online golf instruction: “I didn't like most of the forms of online teaching, so I started doing FaceTime teaching, and I was one of the first instructors to do that for the regular player."
On why he starting posting videos of lessons with students: "I watched a lot of videos by instructors like George Gankas, and thought that was an effective way to demonstrate lessons."
On why he posts lessons on Instagram: "My major goal in posting...
28 Apr 2023
Bryan Jones — PGA Golf Professional and PGA Rules Official
"The average tour professional does not know the rules of golf very well."
(https://golfyeah.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Slide1-1.jpeg)
Bryan Jones
PGA Golf Professional and PGA Rules Official
Black Oak Golf Club, Flanders, New Jersey
Bryan Jones personifies the highest ideals of the PGA. In addition to his role as a head golf professional, he devotes a significant amount of time teaching the rules of the game to others, and volunteering his time and expertise as a rules official at professional and amateur tournaments around the world. He is recognized as one of the most knowledgeable and experienced rules officials in the game. Bryan's list of golf industry awards and recognitions is lengthy and impressive, and includes the PGA's National Horton Smith Award, and induction into the New Jersey PGA's Hall of Fame. He currently serves as the Honorary Chair of the PGA's Rules Committee. (A more complete overview of Bryan's career is posted below.)
Show Highlights
Our conversation covers a lot of territory involving all aspects of Bryan's long career as a PGA golf professional, including:
[caption id="attachment_3175" align="alignright" width="300"] (https://golfyeah.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/C2EFA282-C7AF-48A0-B407-96FC0BB5C891.jpeg) Bryan with Shane Lowry on the 17th hole during the second round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club in 2019.[/caption]
What happened to his career plan to become a veterinarian...which is unrelated to his owning two feral cats
Why he believes the abundance of online instruction actually increases "in person" golf instruction
How you become a golf rules official, and who gets the best tournament assignments
The most confusing rules in golf, and the new rules for 2023
How a twist of fate caused Dustin Johnson to lose the PGA Championship at Whistling Straights
The most exciting moments in officiating tour events
His near-death experience at the 2023 Masters Tournament
Notable Quotes
On watching professional golf from inside the ropes: “I love watching them play from up close. The shots they can hit and they things they can do are amazing. It's the highest level of the game."
On the life of a tour professional: "It's a nice life, particularly if you're in the top 50, have the best sponsorships, and get to fly private, rather than lugging your equipment around on commercial flights."
On his opinion of golf fans in America: “The Ryder Cup at Bethpage in 2025 should be an experience... I hope that it's a good one."
(https://golfyeah.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IMG_3988.jpg)
On the swing faults he sees most often in the average golfer: "The problem I see in many golfers is alignment. If they're right handed, they tend to aim too far right at setup, and unless the clubface is properly aligned, the ball is not going to land where they want it to go. Male golfers also tend to power through the ball with their upper body."
On the LIV Tour: “Golf is a business, and players should take the money if they believe it's a good thing for them. But once they've left the PGA Tour, they should not have an avenue to come back in if it doesn't work out."
On controversial rulings: "I'll call in another official for a second opinion, even if I know that I'm right."...
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
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