Getting back to basics after a break from coaching makes sense and is hugely beneficial for all the students as can be seen in the results over the past few months. The KeNako students have been hugely competitive in all the events they have played in 2013, with Garen Niemand winning two events, Cameron Moralee and James Pennington with a win a piece and many of the other students recording their best results in competition.

Disciplining oneself to focus on the basics, particularly for youngsters, is a tough assignment.  It has been rewarding to watch the students applying themselves during this first term and now they are enjoying the fun part – learning new skills and enjoying the rewards of their efforts.  The question is often asked ‘Why learn new skills if I am playing well?’  The answer can be complex but one of the simple reasons is that it provides the athlete with a new challenge – I have never met an athlete who does not enjoy a challenge, especially one that will lead to further improvement and more/bigger/better wins and rewards.  It helps to keep him/her motivated, adds another string to his/her bow, makes him/her realise there are different ways to play the game and such new skills will in most cases make him/her more effective and more efficient from a scoring point of view.

Tiger Woods has gone through four swing changes in his professional career and it was interesting to hear him say the other day that he has gone through this process because he just wants to be a better player and that he enjoys the challenge of becoming one.  Does acquiring new skills make one effective and efficient?  Not always, but you will never find out if you do not try.

Mastering a new shot takes time and a tremendous amount of focus, energy and discipline, but the effort is worthwhile because it impacts decision making, improves swing sensations and gives a player choices when faced with different conditions on the golf course.  A player who knows how to draw and fade a ball has many more options available than a one dimensional player.  KeNako Golf Academy is about holistic education -it gives the students the tools to enable them to meet the challenges presented on the golf course.

Well done to all the students this term!  Enjoy the holidays and remember to keep on practicing the skills learnt this term.

Roger Wessels
Head Coach