ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews and summarizes research completed on golf instruction and coaching. The terms ‘coach’, ‘instructor’ and ‘teacher’ will be used interchangeably. The authors acknowledge that there are differences between the role of coach and the role of teacher or instructor. In many places throughout the world, however, those who teach golf also serve as coaches to elite players and golf teams. Mike Bender, for example, is the coach for Masters and Open Champion Zach Johnson, yet he teaches golf to hundreds of amateur golfers of all abilities and skill at his academy in Lake Mary, Florida. While there are professionals whose sole responsibilities are coaching (e.g., university and national team coaches), their work functions for the same primary purpose as teachers – improving player performance. Consequently, for the purposes of this chapter, research was reviewed that specifically addressed development and actions of those whose professional work is intended to improve the playing performance of golfers.
