What Makes a Good Instructor?

[Yoda]

I couldn't but help think about my former instructor, Wayne DeFrancesco, of whom I had gotten pretty close to and hold him in the highest regard. Attached is an exerpt from this months Philadelphia Golfer about Wayne on taking lessons in playing the guitar when he was younger:

"It wasn't until much later that I realized that the only way to learn is to enjoy the practice, put in as much time as you can and give yourself credit for a good session of work. In other words, if I had let myself enjoy the process and had not been so impatient to be immediately great, I would probably still be playing today and would be enjoying whatever level I was on. Its never going to happen all at once"

Patrick

Patrick,

Thanks for posting Wayne's great quote. It's the key to sustained progress toward realistic and attainable goals.

[Yoda]

While everyone is whacking away, I am looking, checking alignments, picking out leaves, dead patches of grass, 5-10-15 yards in front of me to chip to. Then pitches, aiming for the 50 yd flag and 100 yd markers in various directions with my PW, 8I and 6I.. This will take me about 150 balls and 60 to 90 minutes.All the while feeling like a dork!!! But then I remember your story about Venturi rebuilding his swing with back and through. Now this anecdote about Mr Nelson will help me a lot with self-conscious feelings.

Of course with my remaining 100-150 balls, I go straight to 12-2-0 and mishit like crazy, and then swear like a longshoreman or Tiger on a bad day. Then I will go back to 12-5-2 and the feeling is a good one. If Venturi and Nelson do it, how can this be a step backwards?

You're 'doin' it right,' DD! I admire your discipline and willingness to stick to 'The Plan' in spite of the near-term assault on your ego and pocketbook. There are not many golfers who will ante up today's prices for a super-sized bucket of balls, and then 'waste' half of them with little chips and pitches. Particularly when everybody else is 'Out to Launch.'

Stay with it. Remember:

Computer programs are slowly and painstakingly written. That process is often accompanied by considerable frustration on the part of the programmers and no doubt, more than an occasional outburst of 'longshoreman's lingo.' But finally comes the day when the many lines of code deliver their promised result at lightning speed and without error.

Trust in the science behind your procedures. Continue to carefully and precisely lay one brick against another. Enjoy and be proud of your work:

You are laying the foundation for a lifetime of better golf.