Experts help top SAGDB players and coaches

The top players and coaches from the SA Golf Development Board (SAGDB) programmes across the country recently came together for a special training camp in Johannesburg. The purpose of the camp was for the SAGDB's technical PGA advisor, Grant Hepburn, to work with the leading talent in the country and equip the coaches with additional skills for nurturing this potential in their regions.

The players and coaches were also given additional instruction from top PGA professionals at the Gary Player Golf Experience, based at the Vodacom World of Golf. At this leading facility, the players were put through a range of skill and fitness assessments to help them better understand their own games and give the coaches a better perspective on what needs improving.

"The teachers here were very impressed with what they saw," said Operations Director at the Gary Player Golf Experience, Danny Baleson. "There's definite potential amongst the players. One could see when watching some of their short games that there is some marvellous skill in the group."

The physical tests were especially helpful in identifying basic areas that need improvement. They found that a number of the SAGDB youngsters need to work on their balance.

"What we discovered from the technical side is that a lot of the youngsters need more solid spine angles, "Baleson said. "A lot of them swing quite well, despite physical limitations. This shows that they're good with their hands, but if they can create better stability, that can make a big difference to their techniques."

Each of the SAGDB players was also given individual feedback on the technical and physical aspects of their games.

"I think that what we gave them a good understanding of what it takes to be fit for golf," Baleson said. "They have all now come away with a basic fitness programme that they can follow. We also provided a lot of feedback to the coaches too, so that they can put these things into practice in their areas."

The technical analysis also helped the team of SAGDB development coaches that accompanied the players, as it was able to pick up certain things that coaches would not be able to see with the eye.

"All the SAGDB coaches were very enthusiastic and they really enjoyed the interaction with our coaches, "Baleson added. "They took away a lot with them and I'm sure will be better coaches."

The overall feeling from the coaches at the Gary Player Golf Experience was that there is definite potential amongst the SAGDB group. The development board already has plans in place to select a smaller elite group of players who will receive future instruction at the facility.

"This mustn't be a one-off," Baleson said. "It has to be sustained in order to make a real difference. It's now up to the SAGDB coaches to continue developing this talent and then bring back the really top players in the future to do more tests and take them further."

SAGDB players receive instruction on the Explanar at the Vodacom World of Golf"