Latest News
Czech Golf --- new squads & new dates for training
The CGF are currently finalising a training week for their Performance squad at Costa Ballena Golf near to Jerez from December 1st.
The Performance squad has now been selected and will include four young newcomers - all 16 years old .... Ales Prochazka and Daniel Suchan with handicaps of 0 and +1 both played in the European Boys Team Championships in Holland earlier this year. Kate Krasova and Adela Cellenova have yet to gain international team selection but with handicaps of 0 and 1 should do so in 2010. These players have now moved from the Development squad so that Keith can focus more on their international development and experience. They join other young players on the squad such as Klara Spilkova who won two international events and finished in the top 5 in four others - the highlight of her year was playing in the Junior Solheim Cup in the USA the week prior to the main event. She ended the year off a handicap of +4 - not bad for a 14 year old!
From October 13-15th, 20 x younger players will be assessed in Prague at the Cechie Golf Centre and the top 12 will be selected to the Development squad for training with Keith and two local coaches Rene Pink and Kino Navarro.
Czech golf made historic progress in 2009 and if progess continues to be so successful it won't be long before a few of these youngsters names are being heard of in the UK and even around the World.
Really great training aid - theGolfRing.com
Keith has used the GolfRings for some time now and is currently setting up an agreement to help distribute this great training aid that allows players and coaches to optimise their short game and putting.
Patrick Wheat of the GolfRing.com has come up with the coaches dream - a foldable practice ring that works as a target for landing in or rolling out the ball - by designing and manufacturing this slim multi sized ring that sits neatly on the ground and acts as the target for measuring accuracy and ball control.
The ball rolls freely over the circumference of the Ring and is great for all short game and putting shots and drills. Great for perfecting your skills or for a competitive shoot out with others!
Visit www.thegolfring.com and see how it all wotrks in more detail.
SHOULD YOU WANT TO PURCHASE ANY OF THE PRODUCTS SEND KEITH A MESSAGE ON THE SITE AND HE'LL SET THE WHEELS IN MOTION FOR YOU. Curently products will be set directly from the USA.
Derby College golf training 2009/10
Derby College squads begin their training programmes on September 10th and 11th with assessment days at Morley Hayes Golf Club.
The 10 players who commenced last year have had some excellent successes this year to date and will I'm sure be looking forward to a committed training schedule to keep enhancing and developing their golfing skills.
10 new recruits have enrolled and begin their first year at Derby College. I look forward to meeting them and seeing their swings next month.
Hot off the Press ....... TV series
From January 2010 through to the end of March I will be involved with the production of a new TV golf reality programme which is to be filmed at Desert Springs in Spain and will be screened from the early summer of 2010. The Australian production company have already secured screening agreements with many countries around the world including Sky TV here in the UK.
The concept is that 12 men and 12 women will receive training for 3 months covering all aspects of the game - technical, tactical, physiological, psychological and technological etc . Thereafter they could if they wished turn professional and try out their talents on a world tour.
To get more info visit - www.tourplayer-international.com
I have to visit Phoenix Arizona before then to get some updated motion analysis and launch monitor training as the training and analysis processes will integrate the latest technological equipment.... it's going to be exciting but a busy time too!
Cambridgeshire Junior Coaching 2009/10
Walter McLellean and KW have agreed dates for the off season training of the Cambs Junior Development squad commencing with an assessment day on September 12th when players not already selected for the squad will be invited to attend a training and assessment day (swing, short game and on course assessment) with myself and a final 10 players will commence working as a squad soon after.
Czech Golf Teams have great success
It's been quite a summer for the Czech national teams and players.
Klara Spilkova who is 14 years old is now playing off and handicap of Plus 4.3, yes that's +4.3 ......... incredible. This season she began her international competitions with a runner's up position in the French Girls Championship, loosing at the 18th hole one down. The she won the German Girls Championship but 9 shots, then she won the European Young Masters in France by 11 shots with rounds of 68, 65 & 69 - 14 under par. She then followed this up by coming runner up in the Austrian Women's Championship just prior to winning her own Czech International Women's Championship by 13 shots at Karlovy Vary. Now she is off to the USA to play in the junior Solheim Cup in Chicago and back to the USA again in October to Sea Island to play in the Spirit International .......... quite a year and she has more events to compete in yet!
David Prochazka has also had a fine year and won the Czech International Men's Championship beating a strong international field including players from England.
David and Jiri Korda have played in several European international Open tournaments and finished inside the top 15 which is very commendable.
The Czech teams have had a record year with the Boys team qualifying for the first flight (division) in the European Boys Team Championships in Holland, eventually finishing 7th. At the European Girls Team Championships in Finland the girls qualified in joint 5th place and were so unlucky to loose their first match play result to Spain leading in all five matches after the 15 holes but eventually loosing 3-2 after two matches went into extra holes with the final one finishing on the 21st hole. The finished 7th for the second year running but I can assure you they could have won the event - I was there with them and felt confident in their ability to out play any other team on their day!
A combined team of boys and girls won the Nations Cup at the European Young Masters tournament and teams also won the Nations Cups in Germany and Austia and again in the Czech International Championship.
So great strides forwards for Czech golf this year and more to come I'm sure -- watch this space as they say!!
Performance Golf Academy - Derby
The year rapidly comes closer to a close on the first of a two year golf and education programme initiated at Derby College in cooperation with Performance Golf. See Golf Coaching for more details.
For details of the 2009-10 programme visit www.performance-golf.co.uk
Derbyshire County squad coaching - May 2009
On May 4th, Keith assessed the putting skills of selected players form the Derbyshire County golf teams using the Sam PuttLab analyser, the most accurate and detailed putting analysis equipment in the World and the one used on all the professional Tours by players and coaches.
The very successful day included the players enjoying training on the Centrecup putting frame with Ian Melville which promotes and trains a pure pendulem stroke - see www.centrecup.com
Players were also assessed both physiologically and psychologically and in the planning for the coming season in what turned out to be a very busy and informative day for them. See Golf Coaching for the full story.
Cambridgeshire County Boys Development squad training
April saw the completion of a successful first ever Cambridgeshire County Boys Development coaching. Previously training has encompassed players who make up the teams but in Spring 2008 the County Junior Organiser, Walter McLellen and Keith discussed ways to move the overall playing standard and acceleration of the progress of those players most likely to develop within the county structure.
An assessment day was held in September 2008 and 10 players were selected with ages from 10 to 17 years old. Following that traimning was held every 3 weeks for continuity and after 9 successful sessions the players will hopefully move forward progressively this season. See Golf Coaching for full details.
Coaching the Czech squads
At the end of April Keith joined the two Czech Golf federation training squads at the first event of the 2009 Czech National Golf Tour. Two days of training and course management were followed by a match with the Development squad tieing 3-3 with the Performace squad. the players then played in the 36 hole two day event at Silherovice golf club. See Golf Coaching for the full story.