Robert Hannah
NAME : Robert Hannah
CPGA DESIGNATION : Teaching Professional
LOCATION : Rebel Creek Golf Academy – Kitchener, On – www.roberthannahgolf.com
EXPERIENCE : 20 years teaching / TPI Certified Golf Fitness Instructor Level 1
PHILOSOPHY : It is important to evaluate the current state of the student’s game, recognize the unique priorities that become apparent after the evaluation, and address those priorities using fundamentals targeted to make the student a better golfer.
BACKGROUND : BSc (Kinesiology)
Even though he doesn’t play the game I had the good fortune to be introduced to golf by my father at age 11. I played as much as I could at a very average public course throughout my teenage years. While taking Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo I became a CPGA member and soon realized I had a desire to teach the game full-time. My Kinesiology background gave me an interest in sports psychology and fitness and naturally their relation to golf.
FUTURE : I see myself on the same path as I now am on – teaching and coaching golf.
FAVOURITE ONTARIO GOLF COURSE : St. George’s Golf and Country Club
FAVOURITE GOLF TRAVEL DESTINATION : Muskoka, Ontario
ULTIMATE FOURSOME : Barack Obama, Neil Young, Sean Connery
MOST MEMORABLE ROUND OF GOLF : Playing St. Andrews
ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED : Provide an atmosphere which gives the student the best opportunity to improve and be prepared for each training session.
ADVICE YOU’D GIVE : It is easy to take for granted the time you spend on the course or practice range; if you are not playing your best then enjoy the company and the setting.
THE GOLF SWING IS … extremely complex but improvement can be achieved by building strong fundamentals at the appropriate pace.
OPEN CHAT : I have my students fill out an Information Form prior to the first session and one of the most important questions asks about their sport history. It helps to have played sports like baseball, tennis, or hockey if people are new to golf or have not played very much. If you have ‘swung a stick’ at something or thrown a ball your body has a sense of how to sequence your motions to create speed which is a skill fundamental to good golf. It helps to be in good physical shape as well but without a similar sport background the improvement process often takes longer. This doesn’t mean that these new golfers won’t be able to play the game at a reasonable level but extra patience and practice is often required. For these reasons I encourage people young and old to be involved in sports and activities which help develop essential skills shared by many sports and activities including golf.
