Brendon Elliott Golf

Ken Green to Speak at the Historic Winter Park Country Club

2009-10-17T11:26:00.008-04:00

The Winter Park Country Club is very honored to have Mr. Ken Green as our guest for the November edition of our Golf Lecture Series, presented by the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

Green was born in Danbury, Connecticut. He started playing golf at age 12 in Honduras, where his father, Martin "Marty" Green, was principal of the American school and his only choices were golf or soccer. He quit school at 16 but returned later to finish. He attended and graduated from Palm Beach Junior College and attended the University of Florida for one year. After school he worked to pursue his dream of becoming a professional tour player. He turned pro in 1979 and joined the PGA Tour in 1980.

Green had 5 wins on the PGA Tour; all his wins came in the mid to late 1980s. His first win came in 1985 at the Buick Open, and his last was at the Kmart Greater Greensboro Open in 1989. His best year in professional golf was 1988, when he won two events on the PGA Tour and the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan. His best finish in a major was a T-7 at the 1996 U.S. Open. He played on the 1989 Ryder Cup Team.

Green lives in West Palm Beach, Florida. He has two sons, Ken Jr. and Hunter. He is an avid bowler who has rolled three 300 games.

In June 2009, Green was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident when his motor home left the road. Green was in the back of his recreational vehicle traveling on Interstate 20 near Meridian, Mississippi, when the right front tire blew, causing the RV to veer off the road and go down a deep embankment before hitting a tree. The accident killed Green's brother, William, who Green said was driving; Green's girlfriend, Jeanne Hodgin; and Nip, Green's German Shepherd. Even though his lower right leg was amputated as a result of injuries suffered in the accident, Green has vowed to return to competitive golf.

The "Voice of Golf" Mr. Peter Kessler is scheduled to emcee the event once again.

ABOUT THE WINTER PARK COUNTRY CLUB LECTURE SERIES:

The Winter Park Country Club Lecture Series presented by Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children will take place once a month throughout the year at the Winter Park Country Club at 761 Old England Ave. in Winter Park. Scheduled speakers will include some of golf’s greatest PGA and LPGA TOUR players, experts in areas such as golf fitness, golf mental coaching, golf history, golf media and more. Space will be limited and tickets will be available for purchase to the general public at the Winter Park Country Club. Contact Winter Park Country Club PGA Golf Professional Brendon Elliott at 407-599-3339 for more information.

ABOUT THE WINTER PARK COUNTRY CLUB:

With a history that dates back to 1914 and a place on the National Register of Historic Places, the Winter Park Country Club is the second oldest golf club in the Central Florida area. The clubs history includes play by the likes of Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen. The course makes its way through the downtown Winter Park area and provides a challenge to even the most experienced golfer. Course conditions are always superb. With its narrow, tree-lined fairways and postage stamp, bunker guarded greens; this course will provide a test for every shot in a golfer’s arsenal. For further information call Head Golf Professional Brendon Elliott at 407-599-3339.The WPCC can also be reached by email at: winterparkgolf@cityofwinterpark.org.

ABOUT ARNOLD PALMER HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN:

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. Located in Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital provides expertise in pediatric specialties such as cardiac care, craniomaxillofacial surgery, emergency and trauma care, gastroenterology, nephrology, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology and sports medicine. Visit arnoldpalmerhospital.com to learn more about all of our specialties.

Backyard Golf Lessons "Putting 4 Kids"

2009-09-26T15:59:00.001-04:00

NEW BLOG/NEWSLETTER FROM BRENDON ELLIOTT GOLF LLC...

2009-07-27T09:30:00.006-04:00

The "Little Linksters" Junior Golf program from Brendon Elliott Golf LLC is proud to bring you our NEW Newsletter/Blog!!

What is the "Little Linksters" Junior Golf Program by Brendon Elliott Golf LLC?

Established in August of 2008, the "Little Linksters" Junior Golf Program is a GREAT introduction to the game of golf for children from 3-12 years of age. The program is taught in a fun and interactive way using a combination of both traditional and very non-traditional ways. The bottom line with the "Little Linksters" program is fun!

For more....check out the NEW Blog/Newsletter: http://littlelinkstersgolf.blogspot.com/

For more info on the "Little Linksters" check out the official website: http://www.brendonelliottgolf.com/pages/viewPage.php?id=32

"Driving 4 Life" Give 4 A Great Cause...

2009-07-22T17:32:00.003-04:00

"Driving 4 Life" Give 4 A Great Cause...

I created a great new fundraising page today through firstgiving.com to bring awareness to and help raise funds for the wonderful work being done by the folks up in Cambridge, MA in helping battle ALS better known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.As the folks at the Driving 4 Life offices told me, "Every little bit helps" and this is so true. Take the next steps to do "Your Small Part" to help battle this horrible disease.Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!

CLINK THE LINK BELOW TO DONATE!!

ALSO....

Check out my "Driving 4 Life" FaceBook Page!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=100068836696&ref=ts

GREAT ALS RAFFLE @ THE WINTER PARK COUNTRY CLUB!!

HELP SUPPORT ALS RESEARCH!!

All Proceeds Go Directly to ALS Research

WIN

~Odyssey 2-Ball Putter!!
~2-Night Stay in a Deluxe 1 Bedroom Villa at Reunion Resort!!
~New Pair of New Balance Shoes
~10 Play Pass @ WPCC
(See Raffle Ticket Prices Below)

DRAWING TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 16TH!!

BUY

DRIVING 4 LIFE HATS- $10.00
DRIVING 4 LIFE BRACELETS- $1.00*
*Free with raffle ticket purchase

DONATE

DONATE ANY AMOUNT YOU WISH TO ALS RESEARCH
CASH CHECK OR CREDIT CARD

Call the Winter Park Country Club Golfshop @ 407-599-3339

For more info and
To buy your chance or make a donation

Raffle Ticket Prices

1- $5.00
2- $10.00
5- $15.00
10- $25.00
40- $40.00

DRAWING TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 16TH!!

IMG DAVID LEADBETTER GOLF ACADEMY

2009-04-08T18:04:00.011-04:00

IMG DAVID LEADBETTER ACADEMY

I'm very pleased to announce that I recently became an official recruiter for the IMG David Leadbetter Academy in Bradenton, FL. I will cover the greater Orlando and Daytona Beach areas. If you are interested in discussing more about sending your child to the worlds best junior golf academy, contact me at info@BrendonElliottGolf.com or BrendonElliott@pga.com or by phone at 386-532-9639 and we will set up an appointment.

MORE ABOUT THE ACADEMY:

The David Leadbetter Golf Academy has impacted junior golf more than any other academy in the country. In the past 13 years the academy has produced 112 AJGA All-Americans, 8 AJGA Players of the Year, 2 AJGA Sportsmanship award winners, 2 United States Amateur Champions, 2 United States Girls Junior Champions. We are very proud of all our students, but when we think of all 112 of our All-Americans, we truly realize the impact our students have made over the years. This accomplishment alone represents golfers at their best. Selection to the All-American teams is based on performance in AJGA tournaments, as well as the non-AJGA national tournaments throughout the country. David Gossett, Aree Song, Casey Wittenberg, Seung Su Han, Paula Creamer, Julieta Granada and Peter Uihlein round out the group of DLGA graduates who have achieved the highest honor in junior golf by earning AJGA Player of the Year honors.

In the past year alone, DLGA students won over 50 national junior titles. DLGA had 12AJGA All-Americans in 2007 as well as three members of the 2007 Junior Solheim Cup Team. Also, in 2007 we had 34 FCWT wins (in the older division), 10 independent national tournament wins and 7 AJGA wins.

Their male alumni have also had great success on the PGA tour, collecting three over all titles. The women have had 5 winners on tour collecting a total of 12 wins. We have produced 13 LPGA tour members, 4 PGA Tour members as well as numerous professionals playing on the Asian Tour, the Futures Tour, and the European Tour as well as numerous other smaller tours around the world. Their alumni include such pros as Paula Creamer, Sean O’Hair, Julieta Granada, Aree and Naree Song, Candy Hanneman, Miriam Nagl, Virada Nirapathpongporn, Taylor Leon, Oh Ji Young, Jeanne Cho, Yani Tseng, Carolina Llano, David Gossett and Ty Tryon. Casey Wittenberg who just secured his 2009 PGA tour card finished in a tie for 13th at the masters at age 19. Just recently we had a current student, Jessica Korda finish tied for 19th in the Women’s US Open.

DLGA Bradenton offers some of the finest facilities in golf training. Facilities include: par 72, 7,000 yard golf course at the IMG Academies Golf & Country Club, a 30-acre double-ended driving range, which includes 3740 sq. ft. of Cover shots covered hitting space. Beneath the Cover shots is EZ Tee Synthetic Range Turf for optimum performance. Recently installed was a 2673 sq. ft. nylon synthetic putting green with a zoysia fringe to compliment the already massive short game area. Opening this summer is a brand new 7,300 sq. ft Golf Admin Building (an indoor hitting bay with state-of-the-art biomechanics, club fitting/testing facility, pro shop and numerous video rooms).

Again, if you are interested in discussing more about sending your child to the worlds best junior golf academy, contact me at info@BrendonElliottGolf.com or BrendonElliott@pga.com or by phone at 386-532-9639 and we will set up an appointment.

The Winter Park Country Club Golf Lecture Series Has Successful Debut...

2009-03-19T08:45:00.004-04:00

The debut of the new Winter Park Country Club Lecture Series Presented by Arnold Palmer Hospital For Children took place this past Monday, March 16th and proved to be a great success. The evenings guest speaker was PGA Tour golfer Cliff Kresge. The guest emcee was "The Voice of Golf" Mr. Peter Kessler. Being the great golf story teller he is, Peter started out the presentation with some great tales of Gene Sarazen and Arnold Palmer. He then introduced Mr. Cliff Kresge and the two chatted about a variety of topics including life on the PGA Tour, Golf Coaches and tales of great players of the past. Cliff also shared his goals for the 2009 season. After the discussion between Peter and Cliff, the floor was open up to questions from the nights attendees.

As the evening concluded, a representative from the Arnold Palmer Invitational raffled off two VIP passes to the 2009 version of the API. Mr. Allen Darty of Oviedo, FL was the lucky winner.

MORE ABOUT THE WINTER PARK COUNTRY CLUB LECTURE SERIES:

The Winter Park Country Club Lecture Series presented by Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children will take place once a month throughout the year at the Winter Park Country Club at 761 Old England Ave. in Winter Park. Scheduled speakers will include some of golf’s greatest PGA and LPGA TOUR players, experts in areas such as golf fitness, golf mental coaching, golf history, golf media and more. Space will be limited and tickets will be available for purchase to the general public at Winter Park Country Club. Contact Winter Park Country Club Head Golf Professional Brendon Elliott at 407-599-3339 for more information.

MORE ABOUT THE WINTER PARK COUNTRY CLUB:

With a history that dates back to 1914 and a place on the National Register of Historic Places, the Winter Park Country Club is the second oldest golf club in the Central Florida area. The clubs history includes play by the likes of Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen. The course makes its way through the downtown Winter Park area and provides a challenge to even the most experienced golfer. Course conditions are always superb. With its narrow, tree-lined fairways and postage stamp, bunker guarded greens; this course will provide a test for every shot in a golfer’s arsenal.For further information call Head Golf Professional Brendon Elliott at 407-599-3339. The WPCC can be reached by email at the following: winterparkgolf@cityofwinterpark.org.

MORE ABOUT ARNOLD PALMER HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN:

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. Located in Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital provides expertise in pediatric specialties such as cardiac care, craniomaxillofacial surgery, emergency and trauma care, gastroenterology, nephrology, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology and sports medicine. Visit arnoldpalmerhospital.com to learn more about all of our specialties.

The NEW Brendon Elliott Golf ShopIt Store is Here!

2009-03-01T11:12:00.001-05:00

Tiger Woods is Still Da-Man...

2009-02-28T17:58:00.000-05:00

So what if Tiger was ousted in the second round of the match play....He is still the Da-Man!

Welcome Back Mr. Woods....Welcome back...

Little Linksters - Weeks Three and Four

2009-02-27T22:55:00.001-05:00

Little Linksters - Weeks Three And Four

Posted using ShareThis

Brendon Elliott Golf Proud to Endorse The "Thumb Caddy"

2009-02-26T20:44:00.000-05:00

Hello All,

I wanted to take a moment to tell about a great training aid product called the "Thumb Caddy." It is a very simple yet powerful tool to aid in correcting any grip flaws one may have. I'm pleased to be offering the "Thumb Caddy" for purchase on my website in the online store. Check it out at http://www.BrendonElliottGolf.com

Check out the video below for more on this great product:

Lots of Cool Thing to Come in 2009 From Brendon Elliott Golf!

2009-02-14T16:28:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone!

Allow me to re-introduce myself....My Name is Brendon Elliott and I am the Head Golf Professional at the historic Winter Park Country Club in Winter Park Florida as well as the Owner of my own Golf Instruction Business and website, Brendon Elliott Golf LLC and http://www.brendonelliottgolf.com/.

My instructional expertise lie in the development of Junior Golfers as well as all aspects of the short game and putting for all golfers of all ages. I also focus on helping golfers become better by using what they have but being a “Smarter Golfer” as they play. You can shave several strokes off your game just by being more in tune with the way you play and the decisions you make out on the course.

As far as Junior Golf goes, I have spent a great deal of time developing my “Little Linksters” Junior Program. This program is for kids 3-4, 5-8 and 9-12. I use a combination of what I feel are the best philosophies and programs out there and mix in good old fashion FUN to get the kids interested in the game and to learn the basics. My program was recently featured in Florida Golf Central magazine as well as the “Where to Play Golf” Radio show. Below is a link to my interview on “Where to Play Golf” http://brendonelliottgolf.podomatic.com/player/web/2009-01-13T16_47_15-08_00

Check out all the links below to learn more about me and everything I’m involved with:

http://www.brendonelliottgolf.com/ (My website)
http://brendonelliottgolf.blogspot.com/ (My Blog)
http://www.shopit.com/BrendonElliottGolf (My NEW Online Store) http://www.cafepress.com/Golf4Kids (My NEW Golf 4 Kids Online Store) http://golfpronetwork.ning.com/ (My NEW Golf Social Network for Golf Industry Professionals)
http://www.winterparkcountryclub.com/ (My Golf Course)
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=55142212063&ref=nf (My NEW FaceBook Group)

I’m VERY pleased to announce that I'll also be a part of the online instructional staff on the NEW 10thGreen.com website! You can check out my instructor profile by going to the Online Coaches section of the site. There you can get an online lesson from me for only$27.00! Check it out at http://www.10thgreen.com/

For almost 16 years, my life has been dedicated to serving the great game of golf and all that enjoy it. I hope that I can someday help each and every one of you with or inform you about this wonderful game! All the best to you all!

Brendon Elliott

Lots of cool things to come in 2009! Stay tuned!

Orlando Golf Blogger- Lesson Week 2

2009-02-14T16:23:00.001-05:00

Orlando Golf Blogger- Lesson Week 2

Posted using ShareThis

Junior Golf AllStar!!

2009-02-05T08:02:00.000-05:00

Watch CBS Videos Online

This is a very cool story! With Junior Golf being a big part of my life, I love seeing stories of exceptional "Little" golfers. Keep it up Brett!

My Recent National Radio Interview on "Where To Play Golf"

2009-01-13T20:21:00.001-05:00

The NEW Golf Pro Network

2008-12-19T11:48:00.001-05:00

Open to all Golf Industry Professionals!

My NEW Golf 4 Kids Line is Here!

2008-11-20T20:41:00.000-05:00

My new GOLF 4 KIDS store is a great collection of items for those out there like me that love their kids and love golf. It's also a great place to shop for those who know a kid (or their parents) that love the game of golf. I'll be adding new designs periodically so check it out often!

MY TAKE ON GOLF FITNESS...

2008-11-02T16:47:00.000-05:00

HELLO EVERYONE!

Brendon Elliott here again. I would like to talk about Golf & Fitness with you for a few moments. I recently started a multi phase health & fitness program which I believe should be an important consideration for all of us. Whether it be for improvement with your golf game or just for your health in general, you should consider a healthy lifestyle for yourself too. Remember…ALWAYS consult with your doctor before starting any health or fitness program.

PHASE ONE

In the first phase I worked on weight loss. In May of this year I reached my heaviest weight ever. I was tipping the scales at 240 pounds. Since then, I am proud to say that I have lost 51 pounds and got down to 189 pounds. Check out my before & after pictures below:

February 2008

240 Pounds
44" Waist
XXL Shirt

October 2008

189 Pounds

39” Waist

L Shirt

How did I do it? From May through mid August I was on the Nutisystem plan. From mid August on I have just been very careful about what I eat. I highly recommend Nutrisystem. Click on the banner below for more info on Nutrisystem:

PHASE TWO

I’m in the process now of starting phase two which is a fitness and training program. There is allot to choose from out there in terms of getting help with and putting together a fitness or golf specific fitness program and I’ll never make claims that one is any better than another. I am by far not an expert. I just started working with a TPI (Titlist Performance Institute) Certified Fitness Instructor by the name of Scott Shepard based out of Lake Mary/Heathrow Florida. Scott’s owns and operates Plane Performance Golf Fitness & Wellness. You can check out his company by clicking the banner below:

You can also check out the TPI website by clicking on the banner below…It is a fantastic resource!

As I said, I am no expert but below are some links to some other golf fitness resources that I can recommend to you:

Not enough time in your schedule for lots of exercise? Check out the folks at SuperSlow Zone!

Check out the Better Golf Fitness Products website which is a very well put together site by Anthony Renna. Also check out Anthony’s Blog & Podcast.

The best Golf Fitness Publication out there is Golf Fitness Magazine!
Subscribe Today!

Also check out the Golf Fitness Magazine website!

Another great resource on the web is GolfersMD. Click to link below to explore the site!

Check out my website and go to the Golf Fitness Page for more info….

PHASE THREE

The third and final phase is more golf specific. This phase is taking place hand and hand with phase two. In phase three, I’m working on my own golf swing. Yes….even Club Professionals need help with their games! I’m no different than all of you out there, I struggle with my game. A lot of it has to do with a lack of play and practice but I have attributed a great deal of my bad swing habits to my poor fitness level. I’m confident that by going through this journey, I will see a dramatic improvement in my golf game. I think it is very important for everyone, no matter what the state of their golf game is, to work with a certified golf instructor. Even the world’s best, Tiger Woods goes to see his coach, Hank Haney constantly! Click the link below to find a PGA Instructor near you:

GOOD LUCK!!

DON’T FORGET….
GOLF LESSONS AVALIBLE!!

http://www.brendonelliottgolf.com/

CALL
386-532-9639
OR E-MAIL
info@BrendonElliottGolf.com

SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG!!
Subscribe in a reader

Tee Off With Social Networking

2008-09-19T20:31:00.000-04:00

Social Networking has taken the Internet by storm. Anyone that is Internet savoy has certainly heard of MySpace and FaceBook and more likely then not you have a profile on one or both of these sites. I personally can say that social networking sites are not only great for connecting with old friends and finding new ones, but are an incredible source for business networking. Below are a selection of some of the best social & business marketing sites on the web...both golf related and non-golf. Click on each picture for a view of my profile and to preview the site. If you join a site, dont forget to add me as a friend!

The 61st Annual International Pee Wee Golf Tournament!

2008-06-20T10:59:00.000-04:00

The 61st Annual International Pee Wee Golf Tournament!
July 26 & 27, 2008 Orange County National Orlando, Florida

Since it's inception in 1946, The Orlando Jaycee PeeWee Golf Tournament has continued to provide junior golfers the opportunity to balance the fun of playing with with friendly competition. Started at Dubsdread Country Club by Orlando Jaycee Fred Crews, It is now the Longest Continuous Children's Golf Tournament in the United States. Many Current and former PGA and LPGA pros have played and won their respective divisions of this tournament.

Check out the official website for registration and more information!
http://www.orlandojaycees.org/peewee

A New Found Spirit

2008-06-17T15:48:00.000-04:00

Thank you Tiger. Thank you Torrey. Thank you Rock. Thank you USGA. You have given me a new spirit and given me a renewed sense of how lucky I am to do what I do day in and day out.

It has become so easy for me over the past few years to curse out my alarm clock that goes off a little before 4:00 a.m. on work days. It has been the norm to despise the 35-40 minute drive I take each day as I commute to work at my little muni course in central Florida. It has been common place for me to come home after a long day and complain to my wife about this problem or that one at work.

It has not been so easy for me to consider myself lucky to do what I do. I’m a club professional at a wonderful and unique municipal golf course. I’m making a decent living where a game is the bases of what I do. At 15 years old, my first job was in a Proshop at the Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich, NY. Here I am 18 years later, at 33 years old and I’m still at a Proshop earning a dollar. All I ever wanted to do, from as far back as I can remember was to be a golf professional and that’s indeed what I am. Yet it has become so easy for me to lose sight of how lucky I am. That all changed just a bit this past weekend.

I woke up Monday morning, June 16, 2008 and felt like a kid on Christmas. After watching every minute of the 108th edition of the U.S. Open over the weekend, I got to watch 18 more holes. Playing those 18 holes was the best player of all time, Tiger Woods and one of the games most charismatic personalities on tour, Rocco Mediate and they were playing at a muni course, which is something I can personally relate to. As I grabbed my morning cup of coffee and went out on my back patio I glanced out at my synthetic putting green in my backyard and began to think of how lucky I have it. After a few minutes of sipping coffee, I grabbed a spare putter and went out to my green and began to recreate Tiger’s putt on 18 on Sunday. Like a 13 year old kid would, I whispered, “This putt is to force a Monday playoff with Tiger Wood’s” three mulligan attempts later, I made the putt to force that playoff. I went back to my coffee and thought, “I’ve got it good.” I have always considered myself lucky to have a wonderful wife, daughter, and family but for the first time in ages, I considered myself lucky to be working in a business where the greatest game of all time was at its core. I talk golf all day long, I help people enjoy golf, and I make a pay check for doing that. That’s a good thing. I’m sure a lot of club professionals around the country have been there, feeling burned out. It may not be an easy business but it is a great one. After this weekend, I’m beginning to realize that again.

Thank you Tiger. Thank you Torrey. Thank you Rock. Thank you USGA. You have given me a new spirit and given me a renewed sense of how lucky I am to do what I do day in and day out. I’m a golf professional and that’s a good thing.

BRENDON R. ELLIOTT

HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL
Winter Park Country Club

OWNER/INSTRUCTOR
BrendonElliottGolf.com

Find a Golf Job on BrendonElliottGolf.com!!

2008-06-07T16:20:00.000-04:00

I'm proud to announce that BrendonElliottGolf.com will soon partner with GolfingCareers.com to offer a Golf Job employement page on my site. GolfingCareers.com is the leader on the net for finding a job in the golf business. check out thier widget below.

GolfingCareers Widget

My PGA.com Article: "Raising a Golfer"

2008-05-11T15:19:00.000-04:00

Recently, I was lucky enough to have an article I wrote published on PGA.com. The article, "Raising a Golfer: A Parents Guide" is for parents, grandparents, or anyone wanting to help bring a child up in the wonderful world of golf. I have included the article below for your review or you can check it out on PGA.com by clicking on this link: http://www.pga.com/2008/instruction/other/04/22/raisingagolfer_elliott/index.html

If anyone has any question or comments on this article feel free to contact me at brendonelliott@pga.com or info@brendonelliottgolf.com

Enjoy!

Brendon Elliott

Raising a Golfer: A Parent's Guide
By Brendon Elliott, PGA

Over the past decade the Junior Golf Industry has become big business. Numerous Junior-only equipment, training aid, and apparel companies have sprung up, not to mention the countless number of junior tours and college recruiting/resume services that have come along. Undoubtedly, there is amble opportunity for junior golfers, starting even as early as a few years old, to develop their game and have numerous opportunities for playing both recreationally and competitively. With so much out there to choose from, where should a parent start in planning the roadmap for their junior golfers development? No need to worry, I'm here to help.

First Things First

My first bit of advice is simple; no matter what age your child is when they get started, make sure that having fun is #1. Whatever your aspirations may be for your child with golf, you need to remember (and remind your child) that it's just a game. In my mind golf is the greatest game known to man, and perhaps you feel the same, but if your child does not see things that way that's fine. Even if your child does grow to love the game and winds up devoting a great deal of time with it, make sure they grow up to be a well rounded individual. Encourage them to play other sports or develop other talents in areas such as art and music.

What Next?

Before They Pick Up a Club

I highly recommend that you start your child out by teaching them some of the most important principles of the game. These initial teachings do not even require a club or a ball. The most wonderful thing about the game of golf lies in these principals. What are these principals? I'm speaking about the Etiquette and Rules of the game. Golf is historically an honorable game, the idea of a game where a participant is more or less self policing themselves can not be found in many (if any) other games. The aspects of etiquette within the game mirror that of the way people should act in everyday life, with respect and concern for others. The moral core of golf which will resonate throughout your child's entire life are unquestionably what makes golf, in my opinion, the greatest game in the world. For more information on the Rules of Golf log onto the USGA's website and there page on The Rules. For more information on Golf Etiquette log onto Mr. Golf Etiquette and the USGA's website and there page on Etiquette.

Finding an Instructor

Now that your child has been primed on the core values of the game, its time to look for an instructor. One great resource for starting your search is right where you're at right now, PGA.com. Look at the top of the page at the site page options, go to PGA of America and in the drop down box and go to Juniors at the bottom OR go to the Instruction page. Both areas have a search area to find a PGA Professional in your local area. Another great resource is the Junior Links website. Junior Links is the ultimate junior golf website.

Finding the Right Equipment

When it comes to looking for the right equipment, you have a lot to choose from. Most of the major golf club companies make junior sets. I would suggest however to initially look at a junior specific golf equipment manufacturers such as Accu-Length or US Kids Golf My personal recommendation is purchasing a set of clubs from Accu-Length. Accu-Length is the only custom fit junior clubs that grow with your child. According to the Accu-Length website and most Golf Professionals, a large number of juniors develop their swings using faulty equipment that leads to life long swing flaws. Historically, kids learned the game with adult clubs that were cut down to junior size, but were still way too heavy and unbalanced which made learning the game difficult for even the most athletic kids. That's why equipment from companies like Accu-Length make the most sense for junior golfers.

Where to Play

Most golf courses are very accommodating to junior golfers. Some set aside specific times when juniors are allowed to play so be aware of that. I suggest looking for a course that offers junior or "family tees." Recently, the PGA of America and U.S. Kids Golf announced the establishment of The PGA of America Family Course Program. This program is a nationwide initiative that is intended to provide PGA Golf Professionals a means to make golf enjoyable for all members of a family, regardless of age and ability. Log on to the Play Golf America website or the US Kids Golf website for more information. We recently installed these tees at my facility in Winter Park, FL and the initial response has been extremely positive. Keep in mind that this is a new program so more and more golf facilities will be adding these tees as time goes by.

What to Wear

Now that your child has a grasp on the essence and rules of the game, has a quality instructor, good, well fitting equipment, and a place to play, they need to "dress the part" of a golfer. As with most of the major golf equipment companies, most of the major golf clothing manufacturers have junior apparel lines. I however suggest checking out a newer junior golf apparel company called Total Kids Wear, makers of PGA Tour & LPGA Tour licensed apparel (www.tkwgolf.com). TKW has an excellent selection of shirts, hats, outerwear, and accessories for boys and girls of all ages.

Be Realistic

If your junior golfer turns out to become a good golfer you need to remember to be realistic in your potential expectations for them. The quantity of quality junior golfers today is great, and in reality there are only a handful of college scholarships available for the vast number of juniors out there. If your son or daughter can make the cut on the course, make sure what they do off the course is equally as impressive. Make sure that they are true student-athletes and that their grades are up to par. Also make sure that they are well rounded and are active in extracurricular activities away from the course. This will make all the difference. From a competitive playing stand point, make sure your child plays in as many quality and high profile events as possible. Log onto the American Junior Golf Association website and the National Junior Golf Scoreboard site for more information on playing opportunities. If your son or daughter indeed has what it takes to play at the college level then you should consider using one of the several golf scholarship and resume writing services out there. I personally recommend checking out The Golf Bridge Company.

Professional Golfer vs. Golf Professional

A Professional Golfer is an individual who makes a living by playing golf (i.e. Tiger Woods) and a Golf Professional (notice the order of words) is an individual who makes a living in the business of golf. For more information on the classifications of Golf Professionals as designated by The PGA of America, click here.

If your son or daughter is not quite a tour quality golfer (Don't worry, very few are) there is still tremendous opportunities out there for a career in golf. The PGA of America offers an in-depth training program for those interested in a career in the golf business. The PGA Professional Golf Management Program is the vehicle needed to have your child navigate their way toward a rewarding career in the golf business. Log on to the PGA CareerNet website and go to the PGA and You section for more information. There are two ways to earn your Class A classification in the PGA of America. The first is going through the PGA PGM Program at one of the 20 universities throughout the country that offer this degree program. The second is by going through the program in a self study manor while being employed at a PGA recognized golf facility.

The 18th Hole

As you can see there are endless opportunities out there for your son or daughter within the wonderful game of golf. What I gave you is just a small sampling of the resources available to you if your child shows an interest in the game. If you have any questions on Junior Golf please feel free to contact me at brendonelliott@pga.com or log onto my website http://www.brendonelliottgolf.com/ and go to the Junior Golf Central page for more information.

Inspiration in a Green Jacket

2008-04-16T11:50:00.000-04:00

Inspiration in a Green Jacket

What Trevor Immelman accomplished last Sunday was truly an inspirational feat on so many levels. To come through the pressure of leading and eventually wining the Masters wire to wire was truly inspirational. Hanging on with a potential "Tiger Charge" coming on Sunday was inspirational. To me and many others however, the most inspirational thing about Immelman's victory was his determination to come back from the very serious medical situations that he has battled throughout the past year.

What Can We Learn about Life from Trevor?

We all have dreams and goals in our own personal life and most likely, we all face obstacles that try to trip us up on our way to obtaining these goals and dreams. Whatever your "Green Jacket" may be, you can see through Trever Immelman's victory last Sunday, that it is definatly possible to obtain what you want out of life.

What Can We Learn about Golf from Trevor?

Trevor Immelman definatly has a beautiful and classic golf swing. Gary Player said it was the closest swing to Ben Hogan's that he had ever seen. I do indeed agree with this, but what impressed me most about Trevor was how consistent he was throughout the week in the execution of his plan of attack for Augusta National and how consistent he stayed emotionally as well. There must be something in the water in South Africa because Player, Goosen, Els, and even Sabbatini all have this going for them most of the time as well. We all can take a page out of Trevor Immelman's book by tightening up our pre-round planning, our pre-shot routine, and working on controlling our emotions on the golf course.

Congratulation's Trevor and thanks for the inspiration you gave to us all! By the way, you look good in green!

The NEW Brendon Elliott Golf Blog Spot

2008-03-16T18:12:00.000-04:00

The NEW Brendon Elliott Golf Blog Spot

Hello Everyone & Welcome!

My name is Brendon Elliott. I am a Golf Professional in Central Florida and between work & schooling, I have been involved in the business for almost 18 years. My blog articles will cover many aspects of the wonderful world of golf. Instruction, my take on the latest in golf news, the business of golf and reviews of great courses, equipment, appareal, training aids and more will be a few of the topics covered. Please stop by often to see what's up on the Offical Brendon Elliott Golf Blog Spot!

Also, next time you are surfing the web, check out my new website: http://www.brendonelliottgolf.com/ This redesigned version of my site will have many exciting new features. "The Golf-Shop" will be my new on-line store where you can buy apparel, hats, golf prints, and great golf accessories. Check out my Golf Lessons page for information on taking private lessons with me at my NEW training studio here in beautiful Central Florida. The Golf Lessons shop (Coming April 2008) will offer mp3 and video lessons that you can download as well as an area where you can send a video of your swing for analysis.

The NEW BrendonElliottGolf.com will also have monthly contest's for great prizes, fantasy golf, the latest in golf news from the tour's and many other great features! After checking out the site, please leave your feedback on my Contact Us page or here on my Blog. I look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Brendon Elliott

What You Can Learn from Tiger...

2008-03-16T17:15:00.000-04:00

It's safe to say that most of us can only dream of having a swing like Tiger Woods. However, some of the things that make Tiger Woods the best player in the world, the finite details of his game, are absolutely practices you can incorporate into your own game today. Recently, in the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the 16th and 18th holes, Tiger gave of us a glimpse of what makes him the games best and its something that has nothing to do with swing mechanics. With the help of his faithful caddie, Steve Williams, Tiger backed away from his approach shots after the slightest gust of wind came up and reassessed the situation at hand. This was not a unique situation for Tiger or most professionals for that matter, but it was a bit more magnified in this instant.

What Can We Learn From This?

Too many times I see armatures (and club professionals like myself too) not paying enough attention to their surroundings on the golf course. Wind speed, wind direction, pin locations, firmness of the green, firmness of the fairway and other various direct and indirect influences that can effect the outcome of your shots seemingly become "Non-Factors" to most. Just pulling out a club based on your distance to the pin and swinging away may be costing you numerous strokes every time you tee it up.

Save Some Strokes Next Time You Play...

Start to take notice of your surroundings on the golf course next time you tee it up. Concentrate of factors such as wind speed, wind direction, pin locations, hazards locations, the firmness of the greens and fairways, the humidity that day, and anything else that you can conceive of. You don't need to let these factors take control of your mind, just be more aware of them and adjust your club selections and shot shapes accordingly. Combine this with a good pre-shot routine and you should eventually start to see your scores fall.

Eyeline Golf

2008-03-15T15:02:00.001-04:00

Eyeline Golf training aids are some of the best you can buy. I highly endorse these products and personaly use them when I work on my game and with my students.

If you want some of these great training aids to use for yourself click on the banner above. Want to save some money on your purchase? Of course you do! Enter Golfer75 under the promo code section upon checkout and get a great discount brought to you by BrendonElliottGolf.com!!

Great NEW Golf Apparel!

2008-03-15T13:50:00.000-04:00

Great NEW Golf Apparel!

Check out some great golf apparel from some of the following new and up and coming golf apparel companies:

Check out all of our gear, from sweet tees to polos, we've got you covered. And don't forget the newest addition, the Urban Swingers belt.

Our ultimate mission is to make a difference in the game of golf and life by appealing to REAL people and issues that interest them. For golfers, no other issue is more aggravating than SLOW PLAY and BALL MARKS. That being so, our players know what to do and are actively helping us bring awareness to these vital issues. Along with traditional products, we will always offer fresh and unique items/apparel to appeal to everyone. Our DOG TAGS for kids is a perfect example of what separates us from the rest!

For years now, there has been a lack of high quality, in style apparel available at reasonable prices. In the past, if you wanted to take advantage of moisture wicking fabrics and cutting edge styles, you had to pay $60, $70...even $80 and up for shirts from the biggest golf companies. The other option was to pay a lot less, but get an inferior material and uninteresting colors you didn't really care to wear. Not anymore! Here you'll find a unique product line that you can't find anywhere else. The newest shirts, hats and accessories made with top quality materials like Cooldry fabric. What you won't find are the high prices!
We offer high quality golf apparel that is cutting edge cool, but won't cost you a fortune. Try us out and let us know what you think! We're working on offering even more products all the time, so check back often!

Back 9 USA designs, manufactures, and sells over 25 Back 9 USA branded headwear and apparel products through their website and several retail locations throughout New England.

WANT TO HOLE MORE PUTTS? SURE WE ALL DO…

2008-03-14T22:37:00.000-04:00

WANT TO HOLE MORE PUTTS? SURE WE ALL DO…

The quickest and easiest way to drop strokes off your game is to work on your short game and more specifically, your putting. The following 7 tips may help you become a better putter.

WORK ON YOUR ALIGNMENT
As in all phases of the game, bad alignment can be the cause of many bad swing problems. Always make sure that your feet, hips and shoulders are aligned square to your target line.

KEEP YOUR HEAD STEADY
Keeping your head steady is curtail to good putting. Think of your head as the center point or anchor of your putting stroke. Watch the guys on tour this weekend; those that are having a good putting week are probably keeping their head very still.

KEEP YOUR WEIGHT FORWARD
You should have your weight distributed a bit forward. Think of keeping your weight distribution at 60% forward and 40% back.

ROCK THE TRIANGLE
Stand in front of a full body mirror and get into your normal putting set-up. Take note of the “triangle” that is created by your arms and your shoulders. Maintain that triangle throughout your stroke or “Rock the Triangle.”

TRY A HEAVY PUTTER
I advise that everyone experiment with different types of putters, you may be amazed how differently one putter over another may feel (or make you feel)! I advise that you try a heavy putter; the weight will help you keep the putter blade low through the hitting area.

THINK POSITIVE
Golf is a very mental game (we all know that) and I believe that the mental side of the game is emphasized around the greens. To battle the “mental demons” that haunt all of us (especially around the greens) we simply must think positive. It really is that simple! Every time you walk up to a putt you must think you are going to make it. You will be amazed by how this will really work!

PRACTICE... PRACTICE... PRACTICE...
The real trick, if there is one, to becoming good at any aspect of the game is to practice. The beauty with putting is that you can practice it at the course, at home, or practically anywhere that has a level surface. If you are at home, just throw a cup or mug down on the ground and start putting. Wherever you practice, the most important thing is to develop a repetitive and proper putting stroke. This can be achieved by following the 7 steps laid out for you in this article.!

GOOD LUCK!!

QUICK TIP...“IT’S HIP TO BE SQUARE”

2008-03-14T22:35:00.000-04:00

Golf Tip

"IT'S HIP TO BE SQUARE"

"A lot of things that effect where your ball goes happens before you even start your backswing."
Wherever your target line may be (i.e. left fairway, center fairway, left of cup, right of cup) make sure your shoulders, hips, and feet are square to your target line. This will help you from your full swing through your putting. By doing so, you will put your body in a better position to make a better swing, and more times than not you will put your ball closer to where you want it to go.