Blake Isakson

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional, Other (Indicate specific awards below in 3-a)

Other awards won:
US Kids Top 50 Coach – 2020 & 2021; US Kids Top 50 Master Coach – 2022; PGA Game Changer Award – Player Development – 2022

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 200
Female: 75
Junior: 200

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
Little Chippers (4-6 yrs old): 54; Junior – 108; Summer Camp – 28; Women – 84; Men – 3

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
We have grown the game this year by introducing programs at a new facility: Jacoby Golf Course in Laramie, WY.

PGA Family Golf – This year we hosted the first PGA Family Golf Tournament in Wyoming at Jacoby Golf Course in Laramie, WY. Teams of 2-6 players competed in a modified alternate shot format. We styled the format in a way that was welcoming to players of all skills levels so that the event provided the opportunity for all family members to play together without feeling intimidated.

Summer PGA Jr League – This year we hosted the first PGA Jr League in Wyoming at Jacoby Golf Course in Laramie, WY. The 2-player team scramble match play format is a great way for kids to learn how to play on course without the pressure of playing their own ball. We had both beginners and experienced players join the league, and it was great to see the beginners continuing their golf paths post-league with activities like joining their school golf teams.

Junior Golf – Foundations / Go Play – At our location in Phoenix, we made an adjustment to our 6-week junior group classes. We split the program into two classes: Foundations and Go Play! The Foundations class is intended for students who are new to our program, new to golf, or want to focus on fundamental skills through game-based instruction. The Go Play! class serves as a “next step” in the growth of the kids’ games by focusing on improving scores through on course play.

These are only the programs that launched in the last year; they are in addition to our other programs that have been in place for several years.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
I am particularly focused on group instruction because it allows for the best combination of information and experimentation for the students. Students receive the initial information, then they practice using the associated drill/game. During that practice, not only is specific guidance provided on an individual basis, but students are able to experiment with the shots to find what works best for them and also learn by observing the shots their classmates are hitting. I believe the latter is an underutilized teaching tool and have found it to be very beneficial for students.

One of the things we do in our junior programming is try to create a “next” for the kids. We have a series of classes that progress as the kids move up in age and skill. We also use tournament golf as a goal, including PGA Jr League, US Kids tournaments, PING Junior Interclub, and the tournaments we run at the club. Tournaments help create a “next” for many kids and also help them understand the “why” behind the different skills we are learning in class. We start the kids in our Foundations classes, then once they have a good understanding of the fundamental golf skills, we move them to our Go Play! classes for more on course time. For the kids who want additional practice, we offer supervised practice sessions with specific drills that change each week. Each group represents a different stage in the players’ growth and commitment level to the game, so this progression meets their different needs and also allows the kids who are more committed to spend more time together working on their games. We also use this path to help parents understand where their child is at and when it would be appropriate to join PGA Jr League on the par 3 course or the full course.

To keep individual students engaged between lessons, I use private YouTube links and Google Sheets to deliver personalized practice plans. The drills help the student create their own feedback loop, allowing them to improve not just when I am present but also when they are practicing on their own. The goal is always that of improving understanding, movement, shot dispersion, and scoring. My philosophy is that not all information is good and not all good information is helpful. By providing specific feedback through drills and activities, I can help my students to improve in a reliable, measurable, consistent manner while helping them to become their own best coach.