Steve Sieracki, the 2016 PGA Philadelphia Section Youth Player Development Award recipient, is the PGA Director of Instruction at Indian Spring Country Club, in Marlton, New Jersey.
Steve Sieracki on the importance of using technology to reinforce points on the practice range:
Technology has changed the way we coach golf in the 21st century. With launch monitors, body wear that monitors movement, and teaching software that allows you to compare multiple golf swings, omitting some of these advancements from your lessons is often a disservice to your students. In addition to taking advantage of some of today’s best teaching technology, I continue the decade-old practice of taking pictures and video during lessons and emailing them to my students with any comments that I deem warranted to support the content. I will often insert photos into a collage so that students can compare a series of swings and see the progress we are making. I perform these useful functions with a simple iPhone or iPad, but the service is greatly appreciated by my students. With this extra step and the additional time I take to perform these functions, they see that I am committed to their continued progress. A student doesn’t often realize the changes that can be made in a single session. The before and after photos are evidence of that, and with my logo pasted between the pics, my dedication to my students is reinforced. Students store the photos and videos and save the emails for reference in future practice range sessions. This ensures they have a stake in the game and are an integral part of their own education.
Steve Sieracki on the business impact of using technology to reinforce points expressed on the practice range:
The simple process of documenting lessons and communicating information to students goes a long way to providing great service. My students are more than a name in my lesson book. Their continued progress and the increased enjoyment they get out of the game are what drive me to work with them, rather than simply talk at them. It truly becomes a collaborative effort and I do this for adults and youth golfers alike. Over past ten years I have experienced consistent lesson revenue growth of 3-5% annually. Over that time I have also been able to increase my lesson rates at a steady pace. These efforts have resulted in section awards as well as recognition by Golf Digest. I point this out not to toot my own horn, but to demonstrate the benefits and results that can come from dedication to your students and implementing some aspect of technology into your lesson plans. Finally, increased improvement and more fun in the game mean my students are playing more golf.
If you would like to email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email stephen.sieracki@gmail.com
