Eddie Merrins visits 2-07-09

Affectionately known as the "Little Pro," Eddie Merrins has long been revered as a golf guru. For nearly 40 years Eddie has lived and breathed the game and the way of life of golf as Head Professional at the Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles. At the Bel-Air Country Club the locker nameplates read like an Oscar party guest list; Tom Cruise, Dennis Quaid, James Woods, Richard Crenna, Jack Wagner and James Garner, are just a few.

The Little Pro has instructed some of the biggest names in entertainment, as well as some of the highest-level professional golfers. Merrins has amassed almost 60 years of knowledge, from his years as a junior, amateur and college golfer to his career as a professional tour player, instructor, head professional and NCAA coach.

Teaching means more to me than any tournament because I've helped that person to help himself or herself," Merrins said. "Playing is for personal satisfaction, but teaching is a labor of love."

While beginning his teaching career, Merrins also had the insight that would lead him to develop his "swing the handle" philosophy that became his most lasting contribution to golf instruction.

Asked to explain how exactly "swing the handle" works, Merrins told a story about the 1978 British Open at St. Andrews. He was on the practice tee with Tom Kite, and Jack Nicklaus approached. They exchanged pleasantries and then Jack got right to the point. He looked at me and said, 'You believe in swing the handle, don't you? Explain it to me,'" Merrins remembered. "Out of the blue, a mental image came to me. I said, 'Jack, you're a tennis player. Swing the handle means the golf swing is just like a two-armed tennis stroke.'"

Merrins said Nicklaus took it all in with a completely neutral look and went back to his bucket of balls,"and then, don't you know, he won the tournament," Merrins said. "I'm not saying it had anything to do with me, but you never know ...

www.eddiemerrins.com

Paul Wilson 1-31-09

Paul Wilson -

Swing Machine Golf- Jan 31st - 09

Paul began his career as a golf teaching professional in 1991 and as a member of the Canadian PGA, he quickly rose to the top ranks of Canadian teachers, becoming the featured instructor for Score Golf TV and Score Golf Magazine (the Canadian equivalent to Golf Digest).

After a couple of guest appearances on the Golf Channel’s Academy Live program,he moved to the United States to set up his first Swing Machine Golf school in Overland Park, Kansas.

In 2007, Paul moved to Colorado Springs where he is now the Director of the Swing Machine Golf Academy. 

Swing Machine Golf is based on the theory and principles of the "Iron Byron Machine. The 205 plus page book outlines how a golfer can swing just like the mechanical Iron Bryon testing machine. The Iron Byron is the testing device built by True Temper in the 60's to test equipment and used by the U.S.G.A. to test golf balls and equipment. The book is packed with high quality color pictures and easy to read text providing specific instruction on how to mimic the most consistent swing in golf.

www.swing machinegolf.com

Contact Paul at his website and use code -radio- to receive an ESPN Golf Talk discount 

Tom Wishon- Golf and Technology 1-31-09

Tom Wishon has established himself as the leading authority on clubmaking and clubfitting technology in the golf equipment industry. He is the author of 7 books on different technical areas within clubmaking, and has written hundreds of equipment related articles for virtually every golf publication in the industry.In addition, Tom is also an 11-year member of the Golf Digest magazine Technical Advisory Panel, and has been the Technical Advisor to the PGA of America’s web site, PGA.com since 2004. He is considered the ‘go-to guy’ by the equipment editors for virtually all of the major consumer golf publications in their search for honest, marketing-free, technical explanations about the technical performance of golf clubs.

Tom is the only designer from the custom clubmaking segment of the golf industry whose clubhead designs have been used to win on the PGA Tour and in Ryder Cup competition. He has designed and custom built the golf clubs used in competition by Scott Verplank, Bruce Lietzke, Ben Crenshaw, as well as the last set of clubs played by Payne Stewart before his tragic departure from the game in 1999.

www.wishongolf.com

Join Tom as he discuss golf and technology on ESPN 1280 Golf Talk with Mike and Billy

Peter Croker visits 1-24-09

Peter Croker Golf

Peter Croker is an Austrailan Golf Professional and the 2008 Victorian Teaching Pro of the Year . The 59 year old professional was an Austrailan tour player for 10 years, who then shifted his interests to teaching in 1981 and has since written numerous articles, features and books on the subject of golf instruction. His unique instruction system features the PUSH - PUSH method called the Croker Golf System. This method has graced the cover of Golf Digest and been featured in numerous golfing publications worldwide.
The Croker Golf System that has been adapted as a method of choice by countless amateurs, professional players and teachers is now available to US golf enthusiasts via online and web discussions

In addition to founding and directing the CROKER GOLF SYSTEM - Path To Better Golf Program, Peter is the former Director of Education from Henry-Griffitts, Australia, and currently has his home bases in Australia at The Dunes Golf Links, Rye, Victoria and the Golf Science Center, Melbourne, Victoria and in Europe at Achensee Golf Club, Austria and Sotogrande, Spain.

www.crokergolfsystem.com

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David Leadbetter 

featured on Golf Talk ESPN 1280

 1-17-09

David Leadbetter is a leading golf instructor, originally from Worthing in England. He began his career on the European and Southern African tours, but  soon moved into instruction and came into prominence in the 1980s when he rebuilt the swing of Nick Faldo, who then went on to win six major championships.

Leadbetter now runs an international chain of golf academies headquartered at the ChampionsGate Golf Resort in Florida.There are also numerous academy branches elsewhere in America,Europe and Asia. David often concentrates on teaching tour professionals and on instructing other coaches in his methods and theories. Apart from Faldo,his students include : 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman, Iian Poutler, Darren Clark, Ernie Els,Nick Price, Charles Howell III, Michelle Wie and many other well known players on the American and International professional tours. He is currently ranked 2nd on the 2007-08 Golf Digest's list of the, "50 Greatest U.S.Teachers" 

Leadbetter has published several books and produced numerous best selling instructional videos and DVDs.   www.davidleadbetter.com

Tour Tempo- John Novosel

John Novosel- Tour Tempo- on air- 1-17-09

As an avid golfer and inventor, John Novosel studied films of the PGA greats, searching, along with countless others over the last century, for the key to what made certain golfers' swings so effortless, artful, and effective. Viewing the films, Novosel made a startling discovery. Nearly every champion demonstrated identical timing in their swings. An extensive review of archival footage of the greats throughout confirmed his findings. From Ben Hogan to Tiger Woods, whether the swings were fast or slow, the winning rhythm remained constant.

In this breakthrough book, Novosel and Sports Illustrated writer John Garrity lay out exactly how to achieve this tour tempo. Enhanced with photographs and illustrations, this clear, step-by-step method teaches golfers how to resynchronize their swings and play like a pro. An accompanying CD-ROM vividly illustrates the full swing sequence and features a calibrated soundtrack that readers can use while practicing at a driving range or in their backyards.

Novosel's teaching technique has resulted in tremendous and rapid improvement for players of all levels. In a world of gimmicky, quick-sell golf instructionals, TOUR TEMPO is the real thing. 

www.tourtempo.com

Peter Kessler- Golf Talk ESPN 1280 - 1-10-09

Peter was "The Voice of HBO Sports" from 1991-1995 and narrated Peabody, Ace and Emmy Award winning documentaries. His other voice over work includes IBM, Rolex, the NBA, John Deere and The PGA of America. He produced, wrote, hosted and voiced more than 1,500 hours of live television for The Golf Channel from 1995 through 2001, interviewing every great player, teacher, architect and author of the 20th century.

From 2002 through 2006 Peter wrote a highly acclaimed series of long form interviews for Golf Magazine. Kessler writes for a number of golf publications, he writes and produces infomercials and commercials and is a spokesman for Bobby Jones Golf Company. He is also the host of two live radio shows, "Making the Turn" and the "PGA Learning Center", five days a week on The PGA TOUR Network - XM Satellite Radio channel 146 and Sirius 209.

Join Peter as he explores Jack vs Tiger on Jan 10th 2009- 9:25 am Pacific Time- ESPN Golf Talk 1280