Teaching Wedge

Across Orange County, golfers are flocking to courses and driving ranges in search of the elusive golf tip that will improve their games.

Though it seems every 15-handicapper on the range has a sure-fire swing fix and the hacker in every group has a bona fide cure for the shanks, golfers have become increasingly aware that professional instructors are the best bet to cure their woes.

The increasing demand means many of the more reputable instructors are having a hard time squeezing in new customers.

When looking for an instructor, would-be students have a choice: instructors certified by the PGA of America or those who aren’t.

The PGA would like golfers to believe that instruction from non-PGA members is inferior to what they offer. Others are not so sure.

First, a clarification: A PGA member is someone who has undergone extensive training about the golf industry. PGA training includes classes on rules, course maintenance, running a pro shop, running tournaments and teaching the golf swing, among other things.

Most are pretty good players, but do not make a living by playing. They go through the training to have a career in golf, such as a head professional.

The PGA of America was established in 1916 and is constantly reviewing its teaching methods. In order to maintain a good standing with the PGA, members are required to meet minimum continuing education requirements.

“There has been a definite evolution of the knowledge of the golf swing,” said Jamie Mulligan, head professional at Coyote Hills in Fullerton and winner of the Southern California PGA Metro chapter teacher of the year. “The PGA has made itself the foremost experts in the game. PGA members are at the pinnacle of the teaching front.”

About 90% of golf courses in Southern California employ a PGA member. Those that don’t are generally regarded as second-class facilities.

Some, however, are not convinced that a PGA membership is required for credibility in teaching golf. Some of the top teachers in the nation, among them David Ledbetter and Hank Haney, are not PGA certified. And while PGA certified instructors are still the majority at golf courses, a few non-PGA instructors have emerged as among the top teachers in Orange County.

Mike Cotton is one of them. Cotton teaches Stanford freshman Ron Won of Irvine, who was among the top junior golfers in the nation in 1999 and qualified for the PGA Tour’s Buick Invitational in February.

Cotton said it’s too difficult to become a PGA member because of the apprenticeship required.

“They make you work 40 hours a week in a shop making $5 an hour and studying for their business school,” Cotton said. “That’s not conducive to setting up a good teaching schedule. How are you going to teach if you’re in a shop 40 hours a week?”

Cotton tried the PGA route for a while but gave up. He said PGA pros gave him the cold shoulder when he worked at two Orange County courses, threatened to try and have him fired and never sent new business his way.

Both times, Cotton left with a sour taste and has found refuge in practice-only facilities where non-PGA members are more common.

“When you aren’t PGA, you have to put up with the conflict,” said Cotton, who is not on staff anywhere but has part-time teaching jobs at Saddleback driving range and Super Sports in Orange.

“There’s really no reason for it. I don’t want to be a head professional, I just want to teach. They’re going down their road and I’m going down my road. I’m not going to bother them, so why do they want to bother me?”

Bobby Lasken teaches at Buena Park Golf Center and has a long list of high-profile students, including former U.S. Amateur champion Eric Meeks, Buy.com Tour winner Ahmad Bateman, former U.S. Junior champion James Oh and Angela Rho, who is ranked No. 5 in the nation among girls.

He considered joining the PGA at one time but was turned off when a PGA member accused him of wanting to join just for the playing privileges offered to members. The Southern California PGA has tournaments that have first-place prizes of $2,000 to $3,000.

“This guy saw it as me trying to get into the easy money,” said Lasken, whose father was a PGA member. “But that couldn’t have been any further from the truth. I was a little bitter about that.”

Greg Frederick, president of the Southern California PGA, acknowledged that a certain animosity toward non-PGA members among PGA members exists.

“There is some sort of parochial stance,” Frederick said. “But my view is that if there is someone out there who’s a good teacher, I want them in the PGA. It would be good for the PGA and good for the teacher.”

The problem, Lasken said, is that he isn’t interested in running tournaments or running a pro shop. He just wants to teach.

“Would being a member of the PGA enhance my business? No,” Lasken said. “And really, for people who just want to teach and are successful with it, there’s no real reason to join the PGA.”

Lasken teaches under the Mankinds Objective Research and Development system developed by Mac O’Grady. Anyone taking lessons under this regulated system, as well as other national golf schools such as Ledbetter’s, is taught the same principles and techniques from each instructor teaching it.

Lasken warns, however, that there are teachers out there who are not certified in any way.

Teaching systems such as O’Grady’s and Ledbetter’s are carefully monitored. Those used by PGA instructors are not. Many use their own. PGA members are taught the basic principles of the swing, but once certified, they’re free to teach any method.

The average beginner, most instructors acknowledge, has no concept of the difference between PGA-certified instructors and those who are not.

“Most just want a lesson,” said Bill Hulbert, head pro at Yorba Linda Country Club and former president of the Southern California PGA. “I don’t think anyone has ever asked if I was a PGA member.”

But because the PGA is fraternal and has a virtual monopoly on the head professional positions in Southern California, Hulbert said getting certified has distinct advantages.

“A PGA pro has more opportunities,” Hulbert said. “It lends credibility to the professional and therefore a lot of positions require a PGA professional.”