Erika Larkin, the 2012 Middle Atlantic PGA Section Teacher of the Year, is the PGA Director of Instruction at The Club at Creighton Farms in Aldie, Virginia.Erika Larkin on the importance of using technology to track statistics and tendencies:
Monitoring individual progress is not always an easy task. As coaches, we can’t be on the course with them during every round, and the feedback they share sometimes lacks important information or data. Technology allows us to get a truer picture of their rounds, taking the guesswork out of the equation. Technology such as Arccos Caddie can be a powerful tool in our efforts to gain reliable data regarding a golfer’s on-course performance. With rangefinder capabilities, golfers can easily learn their smart distances on the golf course. The system even eliminates the outliers from calculation, rendering much more accurate numbers. At the same time, the software is storing the golfer’s actual distances so they know exactly how far they’re hitting each club, eliminating any estimation or misjudgment on their part. It even knows if the golfer is missing shots left, right, long or short, vital feedback that can alter the way the game is played and helping us focus on the right issues to cover during the session. After all, players aren’t only coming to us for swing fixes and mechanical corrections; they want our guidance and expertise on how to score better. This technology helps us work on the right things, so the days of focusing on the driver when the player recently had 40 putts in his or her round, are over. It’s also very insightful for my higher-skilled tournament players, really narrowing down any issues they’re having in their game. Fine-tuning those deficiencies can make a huge difference in competition. Arccos does some data analysis and prioritizes information, so if a golfer is not working with a coach, he or she can understand the data provided. It’s a great tool for the independent golfer.
Erika Larkin on the business impact of using technology to track statistics and tendencies:
Technology, with all its bells and whistles, is also effective in driving communication and engagement. It opens the door to new social media content that keeps our followers inquisitive and coming back to our feed for more. For instance, I’ll post videos detailing the features of a tool like Arccos so viewers can see for themselves and gauge the value of the product for their game. This technology is also valuable because it is utilized in real-life situations, on the course with the golfer’s preferred golf ball, rather than on the range with practice balls. As PGA Professionals, we are the experts in all aspects of the game. Having used such technology, I understand its capabilities and value to the golfer, allowing me to confidently promote its merits. As a coach, I can log in to players’ Arccos accounts to monitor their activity and prepare our next session based on their statistics and shot tendencies. We’re able to determine what yardages give them the most trouble and isolate our coaching to improve those metrics.
If you would like to email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email larkingolf@gmail.com.
