Interview with Las Verdes golf safari instructor, Katherine Nino, Ph.D (c) Golf Pro

What started you in Golf?

My father got me started in the game when I was eleven. He played in his monthly company tournaments and brought me along to caddy. Because the pace of play was usually pretty slow during those Saturday events, we frequently had to wait between shots. During this time, my father would drop a few balls on the ground, hand me an iron, and let me hit them.

What was the progression to Stanford?

I was fortunate that I advanced fairly quickly as far as my skills were concerned. I played in a lot of junior golf tournaments from the age of twelve through seventeen and was delighted when I got a call from Stanford offering me a full golf scholarship. Being one of seven children, my folks were ecstatic that they wouldn't have to pay for my Stanford education.

Who were your influences?

As far as golf goes, there were two major influences, my father and my golf teacher (pro). My father was a source of support and encouragement to get out there and commit myself. There was never any sort of coercion, so that was really great for me. My golf pro taught me how play and devoted a lot of his time, at no cost I might add, toward the progress of my game.

I loved to practice. During the Summer (and on weekends during the school year), my dad dropped me off at the golf course at 9am and I practiced until about 6pm. Being one of seven kids meant my mom and dad had to tend to the others, but occasionally, my father would stay with me all day and make practice more fun.

When did you start teaching and why?

I started teaching in 1996. Prior to then, my career was in the field of psychology. After graduate school I went to work as a therapist, but I did find myself missing golf. I was quite fascinated with the mental aspects of the game, and when I returned to golf and started teaching, I made a proactive decision to incorporate mental training into my instruction.

How do you help someone who is struggling emotionally with her game?

With respect to someone who is struggling with her game, there are many ways one can struggle emotionally. For example, if you don’t trust your swing, or you have a lack of confidence, or experience difficulty managing stress, or maintaining focus and concentration, these can all have a negative impact on your golf game.

First, we identify what the problem is and how my student is managing or mis-managing the problem. For many people, emotional struggles are based on discouragement with their performance. I also help those who have extremely high performance expectations to establish some realistic goals and be a little easier on themselves. Some people think that working as a therapist is 180 degrees away from teaching golf. Yet, it's really not, there is actually a bridge between the two.

Teaching an individual new behaviors and how to trust new movements and positions is really not a far cry from working with someone in a counseling session. There are so many aspects of the golf game which are a metaphor for life. By this I mean that, playing good golf and feeling good about your golf game, regardless of how new you are to the game or how many years you have under your belt, depends a lot on your ability to manage your emotions, and trust your behavior. Feeling good about yourself off the golf course often requires those same abilities. Most golfers who realize this would be quick to admit that they have learned a lot about themselves through playing this wonderful game.

What is your favorite teaching experience?

I don’t believe I could pick only one as my favorite. What I certainly can describe are my two favorite types of experiences. One of my favorite experiences is when my student hits that first really fabulous shot and understands how the change(s) we made influenced the shot. That moment of insight, “I get it!” and appreciation for what they are capable of is very rewarding.

Also, teaching students to trust their swings and trust their new behavior(s) and let go of the what is not working for them. Teaching students to get out of their own way, mentally. Teaching them to create a positive mental framework and attitude. All these things are so important, and make teaching more worthwhile.

Any advice for the new golfer?

Take up this game the right way from the very beginning! For one, find an instructor who is right for you, who is a fit for you and your learning style.The only way we can determine this is to ask questions, ask fellow women golfers for their recommendations, and feel free to chat with your prospective pro before scheduling your first lesson. During your first lesson, know that you’re not obligated to continue if you don’t feel that things are being communicated in a way that is easy for you to understand. Remember, an excellent teaching pro will adapt to you and your learning style, not force you to adapt to his or her mantra.

Second, if you can, avoid buying clubs until your instructor can make some recommendations as many instructors offer their new students loaners for the first few lessons. Then, go to a golf store that has a reputation of treating women golfers with knowledge and respect, and that will fit you in the right clubs.

Aside from identifying the right instructor and equipment, I would recommend that you give consideration to how much time you have to invest in this game, set some realistic goals, and practice what you have learned. Make practice fun! You don’t have to be a child to incorporate some enjoyable games into your practice.

When you are ready to play out on the course, make sure you are familiar with the primary rules and etiquette of the game. Nothing gives a new golfer a bad rap like going out on the golf course without being attentive to the rules and courtesies of the game. I speak for myself and most likely many others when I say that I would rather play with a newer golfer who has clearly embraced the rules and etiquette, than someone who is a better ball striker, but has not taken the time to learn the rules. I strongly recommend that the new golfer go out with an experienced friend or family member who can show you the ropes and understands how new you are to the game, and how it can be a bit daunting the first few times out on the course.

Why do you think women have a difficult time staying in the game?

I believe that there are a number of reasons why many women have a difficult time staying in the game. For several years now, more women have taken up the game than men; however, each year more women quit the game than do men, and there has to be a reason behind that. Right now, women represent nearly 25% of all adult golfers. The percentage of women golfers is slowly growing and I definitely think that we need to continue our efforts not only to get women to take the game up, but to keep them playing the game. The question is, how can we influence this?

The first thing we have to address is the reason why women are quitting. We know that there are many reasons why women start playing. One reason we hear at our store quite often is that there was a male influence. A boyfriend or husband who is a golfer wants her to take up the game. What often happens is that the couple will head out to the driving range for her first experience. In these cases, the new woman golfer may observe her stronger, more experienced, male partner and see such a huge disparity in their performances, then become discouraged, which could lead to this woman going no further than a few trips to the driving range before she quits.

In this case, I think what needs to be taken into consideration is that, for one, the woman who is new to the game, is not going to immediately make solid contact with the ball every swing, and, secondly, that her husband is usually inherently much stronger than she is. The fact that he is making better contact with the ball, combined with their strength differences, will of course result in a short mis-hit for her and a long shot for him.

It’s at this time that, before throwing in the towel, if the woman really wants to determine whether golf is the game for her, she should first consider pursuing instruction with an instructor that is a good fit for her, be it a female or male instructor.

Just a note on male instructors, while there are lots of fabulous ones out there, and I learned from several wonderful male instructors. However, some male pros don’t factor in the strength differences between men and women as much as they should. Although most female instructors are fairly athletic, they are still women and can usually relate better to non-athletic women than can a male instructor. I’m speaking in generalities here, so you still have to interact with a prospective teaching pro to determine if there is a fit. But, the bottom line is that, if people have a bad experience with lessons, perhaps they are not progressing as much as they would like to, then they will usually quit.

Going back to the fact that about a quarter of all golfers are women, that leaves 75% of all golfers who are men. There is something to be said about there being safety in numbers, and since golf is still disproportionately male, it stands to reason that men are often much more confident in the golfing environment than women. This is another reason why women are apt to quit, they often feel a bit self-conscious being surrounded by men, who are all seemingly so much better than she. And, rather than quit, she might first want to look into golfing venues and groups that will surround her with more women.

A final, more insidious reason why many new women golfers struggle with the game and may decide to quit is because their equipment is ill-fit. As the co-owner of a golf store, From Tee to Green, here in Carmel, we specialize in women’s golf equipment, apparel and accessories so we obviously see a lot of women in our store who are looking for new clubs. We also see a lot of women who were first given hand me downs from their husbands. With respect to being a fit, given the differences in physical size and strength between men and women, it is not always the case, but often that the husband's clubs are ill-fit for the woman. And, having clubs that are entirely inappropriate for you regardless of your gender will hamper your progress more than you can imagine.

How do you visualize the future of women’s golf?

I think this is a very exciting time for the LPGA and women's golf in general and the future looks equally bright. I believe the LPGA is continuing to make headway and a real impression in women sports. Did you know that the Associated Press named Lorena Ochoa, who was the top professional woman golfer last year, as the Female Athlete of the Year? This is the fourth year in a row that an LPGA golfer has been named Athlete of the Year, the three prior years were awarded to Annika Sorenstam.

There is so much talent out on the women's tour right now and such a variety of personalities with so many great stories. I think this great blend of young and older talented players, combined with all of the fabulous golf fashion that has made such a splash of late, there is so much to promote.

Also, equipment manufacturers are spending more and more time addressing the specific needs of women golfers. Rather than simply making women’s clubs shorter than mens, there is now a lot of thoughtful consideration to find ways to improve equipment for women so that it makes this game easier for new golfers, and women of all skill levels. At our store, it is rewarding to be able to identify the right type and brand of equipment for each individual woman who comes through our door in need of clubs.

Describe the Las Verdes philosophy?

I believe that the philosophy behind the Las Verdes program is about learning how to play the game of golf in a positive, supportive environment, while having a lot of fun and enjoying the camaraderie of other women. In my instruction outside of Las Verdes, I offer both group and private lessons. While there are many merits to private instruction, and most new golfers will eventually take private lessons exclusively, there are so many ways that newer golfers can benefit from a group experience.

While participating in a Las Verdes golf program, women have that support and social interaction that makes the learning process fun. Also, in a group setting, women are able to compare their progress with other women -- not compete, but compare. Often times, it’s useful to observe the performance of others as one attempts to incorporate new swing principles into their own motion. Additionally, since there are so many facets to the game, if a woman is struggling in one particular component, she may identify another area where she is at the head of the class, so to speak. She feels more encouraged.

Another merit to group instruction is that many golfers benefit from the experience of being taught a particular fundamental, then being left alone for a bit to work on their own, while the instructor works with other students. Sometimes, not being micro-managed is a bit less stressful for new golfers.

Throughout the learning process at Las Verdes, we keep things light and relaxed, especially when we go out on the golf course for our play lessons, we want you to have fun while you learn. During our program, you will laugh!

A final note, while participating in a Las Verdes golf program, we offer women an opportunity to learn in an absolutely gorgeous setting at Quail Golf Club in Carmel Valley. This golf course is both scenic and serene, surrounded by hills and lakes it’s truly a treat!

What is a ‘women-friendly’ course to you?

Quail lodge has consistently been voted one of the top women-friendly courses in the nation. When we speak of women-friendly courses, we are talking about courses with staff members who treat women with as much respect as their male customers.

They are also golf courses that have holes which are set up with a variety of different yardages, so if a woman does not hit the ball extremely far, she can still find a set of tee boxes she can play from that will make her day enjoyable, rather than feeling beaten up by a course that is too lengthy. The aesthetics of Quail Lodge’s golf course are very appealing to women. Just the whole luster of the course, the lush surroundings, and the five-star clubhouse would make any woman feel very comfortable and not feel like she is at a men’s club.

Can the Las Verdes guest return home and step out on their local course?

Everything we do out on the golf course is all about learning while you’re having fun! At Las Verdes we address virtually every aspect of the golf game. From the full swing, to the shorter shots and putting, and we address the essential rules and etiquette on the course in a practical manner that’s easy to understand and remember. We also spend an ample amount of time on equipment and what the clubs are designed to do and what are the most suitable type of clubs for each woman. Our goal is for you to be able to go home and step out on the golf course. You will have a level of function and knowledge to go out there and enjoy playing golf.

Why is yoga included in the Las Verdes program?

I think that when we look at the mind and body connection, yoga helps us go into that centered place, allowing us to achieve levels of flexibility and air ourselves out, so to speak. I believe that is so helpful, physically, for the golf swing. There are several yoga programs that are specifically designed for golfers, and they are popping up with greater frequency. Again, that peacefulness of yoga lends itself to the state of mind that most of us require to experience success with golf.

Finally, do you need cute golf shoes?

In our golf store, we often hear women jokingly say, if I can’t play well, I want to look great! Not only with golf shoes, but with apparel, fashion and accessories, it’s a fun aspect of the game.

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