The power of social media and online forums
We all have heard about Social Media and how powerful it is supposed to be. How many of us really get it? Why is it do powerful?
Ive been fortunate to be heavily involved with iseekgolf.com and its online member forums over the past six months as a moderator. I’m interacting with the readers on a daily basis through a wide variety of topics. Some topics get a lot of attention others don’t and eventually die off into the massive database archives. It is such a fascinating world of like-minded people, they all love golf, sport in general, and love to chat about it in this very popular online community.
Since readers are behind the computer screen the participants tend to be extremely honest in their opinions. You ask a question and you will get some seriously honest answers. Social Media is powerful, because you get the truth spoken on a regular basis and in real time from readers who value and respect the opinions of fellow readers (well most of the time!). We occasionally get requests from suppliers and other businesses wanting us to take some “not so favourable” discussions down, but we usually have to turn the request down. Once you start “censoring” these types of mediums, you will lose credibility very quickly.
The value in social media and online forums is that they are real feedback, that if managed correctly, can be turned into a positive resource for your particular business. In the past an unhappy guest would tell 9-10 others; today’s unhappy guest can easily notify 90, 900, or even 9,000 about their perception of bad service while they are still experiencing it! Turn that bad experience into a positive by utilising the same social mediums to your advantage. Create positive PR online by other readers seeing that you “did the right thing”.
“90% of consumers trust peer recommendations.”
— Neilson Global Online Consumer Survey
Weve now taken the power of online forums and created a great learning platform for golfers of all skill levels.
iseekgolf.com Ask-a-Pro teaching forum launched
Leading Australian golf website, iseekgolf.com, has launched ‘Ask-a-Pro’, a teaching forum that is available for all iseekgolf.com members and guests to ask questions via a newly formed panel of national and international PGA golf instructors. Golfers will receive free online instruction, tips and swing analysis from leading PGA experts.
The group is made up of numerous experts from all areas of the game such as coaching, full swing, short game, mental game and biomechanics.
Each of the pros will have their own designated discussion (thread) as well as several group panel discussions.
“The tour pros don’t depend on one instructor anymore, they rely on a team of experts to help in a much more holistic way and iseekgolf.com members now have easy access to the same expertise,” said Mike Orloff, PGA Member and co-owner of Golf Marketing Group, which manages content and advertising for iseekgolf.com. “We invite you to join in, “Ask-a-Pro” some questions, submit your swing via video for all to evaluate (if you’re brave!), hear the pros offer their particular insight into teaching at the high performance level, and do it all in the comfort of your own home or office.”
The iseekgolf.com official “Ask-a-Pro” team of golf professionals will be headed up by PGA “HeadPro” Grant Garrison. Grant and the team will be on hand to answer all of your questions about instruction, equipment, club repair and all things golf. The team’s pros also will regularly contribute to the site’s “Golf School” vault of articles, videos and interviews.
As an added bonus, several “guest” contributors from all facets of the game will pop in from time to time, so stay tuned.
For more information, visit http://forums.iseekgolf.com/forums/18-ask-a-pro-golf-instruction
The iseekgolf.com official Ask-a-Pro teaching panel is as follows:
ISG Name HeadPro
Name Grant Garrison
Website www.golfindustrycentral.com.au
Email grant@golfindustrycentral.com
Phone 04 2128 7826
Expertise Grow the Game Specialist
Grant is the iseekgolf.com ‘Head Pro’ leading the team of world class professions. A 28-year member of the PGA of America, he has an extensive background in golf instruction and program development. He was the creator of the Nike Golf Junior Program in the United States involving the mentoring of several hundred teaching pro’s in programs designed to significantly grow the game. His passion and expertise has taken him to several continents and he has become an international leader in developing the game of golf. Grant currently resides in Australia and represents Golf Industry Central as a Grow the Game Specialist. He is available for consultation and can be reached at grant@golfindustrycentral.com.au
ISG Name Coach1
Name Peter Knight
Website www.golfpossibilities.com.au
Email peter@golfpossibilities.com.au
Phone 0416 142 658
Expertise Coaching golf, mental & life skills
Peter is one of the world’s leading golf coaches and PGA Professionals. He is one of only three Master Professionals with the PGA of Australia and is a current State and National Coach. He has a Grad Cert in NLP and has the respect and admiration of his colleagues around the globe.Peter works in concert with other sports science service providers to create and execute a thorough development plan for each athlete.
ISG Name Peter Croker
Name Peter Croker
Website www.crokergolfsystem.com
Email crokergolfsystem@gmail.com / crokerpga@aol.com
Phone 0415292549
Expertise Building the golf swing from Chip to Pitch to Full Swing and specializing in “How to Learn Golf.”
A member of the PGA of Australia since 1973, Peter Croker is recognized world-wide as a knowledgeable and innovate teacher and founder of the Croker Golf System – a teaching program with Certified Instructors in Australia, USA, Europe, S-E Asia, and South Africa. Peter has toured extensively in the US, Europe, South Africa, and Asia. His students have included Arnold Palmer, Peggy Kirk Bell, Debbie Austin, Sandra McCaw, Vijay Singh, David Graham, Wayne Grady, Curtis Strange, Roco Mediate, Bob Charles, and Olin Brown.
ISG Name ozpro
Name David Nable
Website www.lakelandsgolfclub.com.au
Email dnable@bigpond.net.au
Phone 07 5579 8700
Expertise Coaching
David has been a PGA Professional since 1990 and is one of Australia’s top performing golf coaches. He has earned a Level 5 AAA accreditation, the highest coaching accreditation possible with the Australian PGA. His student achievements include Men’s Queensland Amateur Champion, Ladies Queensland Amateur Champion, Girls Queensland Amateur Champion, Junior International Girls Champion, Runner Up Men’s
Australian Open, US Nationwide Event Winner, Ladies European Tour events Winner, Men’s Queensland Open Winner, and Men’s Queensland PGA Winner.
ISG Name golf_confidence_pro
Name Lawrie Montague
Websites www.protourgolfcollege.com, www.golfconfidence.org
Email protourgolfcollege@mail.com
Phone 08 9301 2599
Expertise Peak Performance Coach
Lawrie is a PGA member since 1985; a professional speaker and the Director of Instruction at Pro Tour Golf College located at Joondalup Resort in Perth. Lawrie’s a successful professional golf instructor with more than twenty five thousand hours of experience on the lesson tee. When he’s not preparing elite golfers for life on the pro tour at his college he’s an in demand professional conference speaker presenting his thought provoking keynotes and workshops on the psychology of peak performance to a diverse range of Australian and International businesses for the past twelve years.
ISG Name Zenstb
Name Scott Beaumont
Website www.zenolink.com
Email scott@zenolink.com
Phone 04 2742 2486Expertise Biomechanics
Scott is a partner managing the Australasia division for Zenolink the leader in the field of functional biomechanics, which is the analysis of motion and the effects of the forces produced by the human body and its movement. He also coaches biomechanics and writes articles for Inside Golf magazine educating golfers and coaches about the science and its application to the golf swing.
ISG Name Loren
Name Loren Wilson
Website N/A
Email lorendwilson@earthlink.net
Phone N/A
Expertise The Golfing Machine
Experience Loren studied with and assisted The Golf Guru, the former administrator of iseekgolf and the author of many of the Golf School articles. Loren is our resident expert on the principles of The Golfing Machine, knowledge gained through 7 years of study. He became a regular forum contributor in 2007 helping golfers navigate their way through TGM and applying its principles. His understanding of TGM has earned him an honorary doctorate level degree in golf swing engineering for contribution to this site and golfers’ awareness of TGM.
ISG Name TheDart
Name Paul Hart
Website N/A
Email paulhart.golf@yahoo.com.au
Phone 0412 070 820
Expertise Playing the Game
Experience Paul is one of the most respected members of the PGA in Australia and played for over 10 years on tour locally and internationally at all levels. Paul worked his way up to be one of a small handful of Doctorate Level coaches of The Golfing Machine around the world has given him a great understanding of the mechanics of the swing. His years of Tour play have given him a way to express both the realities of the game and his own take of “how to do it and how get there”. He has been a regular contributor on iseekgolf for many years.
ISG Name hpractitioner
Name Henry Boulton
Website www.swinglab.com.au
Email henry@swinglab.com.au
Phone 0401 146 135
Expertise High Tech Analysis & Bio-feedback training
Experience: Henry has been co-developing the FocusBand Mind training system and involved in 3D Technology for the last 6 years specializing with K-VEST 3D Wireless System. He has combined his electronics engineering background with his passion for the game of golf to help people accelerate and improve their golf performance through innovative products and learning systems.
ISG Name Derek_PGA
Name Derek Hooper
Website www.derekhoopergolf.com – new site up August 22
Email derekhoopergolf@gmail.com
Phone 0011 1 860 312 2148 (USA)
Expertise Coaching
Experience Derek is currently the Director of Instruction at the Hank Haney Golf Academy at Lake of Isles, CT. An Australian PGA Member since 1994, Derek has taught in several countries including time as the Director of Instruction at the David Duval Golf Academy in Japan. He is currently a Level III Instructor within the Hank Haney PRO Certification Program and has delivered training seminars at the annual Hank Haney Teach the Teacher seminar. Derek holds a degree in sports science and teaching methodology from the University of Queensland. His specialty is in long term player development for players of all ages and skill levels.
ISG Name RickSessinghaus
Name Rick Sessinghaus
Website www.RickSessinghaus.com
Email rick@ricksessinghaus.com
Phone USA – 818-843-1004
Expertise Mental Game
Rick is known as “Golf’s Mental Coach”. He is the expert on the mindset principles that make or break performance on and off the course. His coaching has helped top junior, collegiate, and professional golfers reach new levels of performance. Rick has a Doctorate in Applied Sports Psychology and is a certified master trainer of NLP. He is an Instructional Editor for Golf Tips magazine and can be seen on Fox Sports Network as a mental game contributor. Rick’s book Golf: The Ultimate Mind Game has been featured in American golf magazines and used by leading golf instructors across the America as the “best resource to improve your mental game.”
ISG Name TBD
Name Lee Harrington
Website www.thegolfschool.com.au
Email lee@golfqueensland.org.au
Phone 61 413 163 312
Expertise Junior Golf / Women’s Golf / Executive golf
Lee Harrington is one of the most accredited female professional in Australia and is a Participation Development Officer for Golf Queensland. She owns and manages one of the most successful executive golf schools on the Gold Coast of Australia, specializing in one week programs for corporate clients. Lee’s passion began from a degree in biomechanics and the challenge and love of developing the golfer from a beginner level to their highest standard. Lee also actively consults to education providers in also delivering the community coaching course, to enable golf to reach more and more children in schools and clubs. Lee is a leader in women’s golf and junior golf promotion.
ISG Name golfsavvy
Name Bob Duncan
Website www.golfecoach.com
Email golfsavvy@msn.com
Phone 541 388-2582
Expertise On-Course Instruction / Master Club Fitting
Bob is one of the most highly trained golf instructors in America. Bob developed the Golfer Positioning System (GPS), a revolutionary new Playing Method focusing on actual on-course play. He is also a club fitting specialist with over 9,000 hours and $1.6 Million in custom club sales. He has authored 2 on-course coaching books, The GolfeCoach and Techniques and Mindset for High Performance Golf. Bob has a strong affiliation with Australia, teaching and coaching with the Absolute Golf Academies in Sydney. He is a writer for Golf Today Magazine, participated in the PGA’s Advanced Specialty Teaching Certification program, and has contributed to the Step by Step teaching method and Advanced Coaching Experience training program. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism.
ISG Name glennwhittle
Name Glenn Whittle
Website www.whittlegolf.com
Email Glenn@whittlegolf.com
Phone 0439 165 750 / Lesson bookings-(02) 9541 4960
Expertise shortgame
Glenn is regarded as one of Australia’s leading golf coaches who specialize in teaching the short game. Over the past fifteen years Glenn has held a number of reputable positions within the golf industry including, Head Coach of the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation, Manager – National Coaching Programs-PGA of Australia and is formerly the Head Coach of the New South Wales Institute of Sport Golf Program.
Over ten PGA Professionals, Tour players, PGA Trainees and many Club golfers have chosen Glenn as their coach and enjoy his vast knowledge and enthusiasm for helping golfers reach their full potential
ISG Name SG_GolfCoaching
Name: Steven Giuliano
Website: www.sggc.com.au
Email: steven@sggc.com.au
Phone: 0413 007 699
Expertise Player Development
Steven been a member of the Australian PGA since 1999 and since then has been establishing himself as a renowned golf coach throughout Australasia. Steven’s hands-on approach and life skills have fast earned him the reputation of being one of the best young golf coaches for young elite golfer’s in Australasia. Steven works closely with a range of talented young amateurs and professionals and delivered programs in Korea, Malaysia and Australia. He has worked with players on the Australasian Tour, Ladies European Tour, ALPG Tour, ASEAN Tour, Korean PGA and KLPGA Tour. Steven has presented for the Australian PGA, PGA of Asia, writes for multiple leading golf publications throughout Australasia and is a regular co-host on the Golf Show on SEN which is Australia’s leading sports radio station. Steven is certified in NLP and TPI and is also the only golf coach in Australia certified to deliver the AimPoint Green Reading system.
ISG Name thegolfdoctor
Name Grant James
Website www.golfdoctor.biz
Email golfdr@dodo.com.au
Phone (02) 9091 1804 / 04 3597 0177
Expertise Equipment Technology / Club-Fitting / Club-Making
Grant (The GolfDoctor) has been a member of the NZ PGA since 1994 and has the reputation as a leading Club-Makers/Fitter. Since 1998 when Grant worked for The GolfWorks NZ, and assembling for Titleist NZ, his enthusiasm for equipment technology has grown into a his passion. He has travelled globally to work with some of the leading international Club-Makers and to enhance his knowledge by working with companies like Flightscope, Wishon Golf Technologies, Mitsubishi Rayon and Matrix Shafts to name a few. Grant’s clients have won numerous National and International titles making him recognized through out the world for his ability to create the perfect set of clubs for the individual golfer. His understanding of swing, fit, and club building is unprecedented.
About:
iseekgolf.com is Australia’s leading website for everything golf. As well as being the number one site for booking public tee times, it contains the latest tournament news, course reviews and golfing forums. With over 1 million page views per month, iseekgolf.com is the website of choice for golfing enthusiasts.
iseekgolf.com is managed by Golf Marketing Group a jointly owned company of Outdoor Sports Publishing Pty Ltd, publishers of Inside Golf, the PGA Magazine and golfandstay.com.au, and Morlo Pty Ltd, publishers of Golf Industry Central.
