APRIL BLOG

Golf Yourself to Life” - Andrew Cullen PGA

My inspiration to write “Golf Yourself to Life”, the ecosystem of coaching services and products built around it and the underlying mission.

Common misconception

“Golf: it’s too hard to learn, boring, too expensive, takes too much time, is only for old people, it’s elitist, has too many rules and is not a sport for modern times.”

I have a simple one word answer to this statement but I wasn’t allowed to print it. So instead, as a lifelong golfer, qualified PGA Professional (PGA - Professional Golfers Association), coach and tournament player for the past 30 years, author, medical golf consultant and social media influencer, I’ll give you my considered answer. It may just convince you to take up this greatest of sports long before you retire…..or if you’re already there, start playing for the joy it can bring in your new found free-time.

The positive arguments for playing golf

Most people who can walk, see and throw a ball can potentially play golf. There are thousands of golf facilities worldwide – courses and driving ranges – open to all, where you can start to play at minimal expense. The flexibility to hit a few balls on a driving range or play on pitch-and-putt, 9-hole or 18-hole courses means you can spend as little or as much time as you like playing the sport. I teach kids from six years old to adults over eighty years old, from all ethnicities and walks of life – no barriers there. 

Every sport, and every society, has rules. As long as they are simple, logical, fair, and are designed and applied to give equal opportunity to everyone involved, rules are a positive creation. In golf, the complexity and variability (and beauty!) of the field of play - the golf course - is such that it requires many rules to cover all situations that the golf ball finds.

And as a sport for modern times, golf has never been so relevant – it takes you outdoors in nature, away from polluted areas, is a switch-off from the stresses of working life, offers physical and mental exercise at a level attainable for everyone, and provides social contact with like-minded people in a challenging, sporting and varied natural environment. If this sport were just invented today, it would be the new boom activity!

But what about the “too hard to learn” and “boring” bit?

In my opinion, these two pain points have not been well addressed by my industry. And that’s what I’m endeavouring to change. Most social media golf videos are 5 minute plus, long winded, over technical monologues. Not attractive to someone who may be considering taking up the sport. 

A fresh approach is needed in how the sport presents itself to newbies of all ages. There are many professional bodies and coaches who are doing a great job at introducing juniors to the game. But what about the middle aged and retired who have more to profit from the physical and mental benefits that the sport can offer than juniors do? How does golf get past the pain points of “too hard to learn” and “boring” to this massive audience of GenX and Baby Boomers?

Golf Yourself to Life 

The inspiration to write my book (with accompanying video series) - “Golf Yourself to Life”: why and how to get started in the greatest game on the planet - and to publish videos on my YouTube channel (acgolf18) was born out of this need for a fresh approach and to attract these generations to the game. Personally, I don’t think golf is too difficult to learn if it’s presented and taught in a simple, logical and fun way. I’ve proved it 1000’s of times working with complete beginners in the UK, Switzerland and Germany since 1992. And it’s definitely not boring once your involved - every day on the golf course presents new challenges in a beautiful, natural environment. But people need to be enthused and encouraged to start, and learn in a fun and engaging way. 

Golf Yourself to Life presents both a convincing argument to start playing and details my methodology to enable the reader to start on a Do It Yourself (DIY) basis or Do It With You (DIWY) basis with online coaching. This has blossomed from just being a book, to being a whole ecosystem of complimentary coaching services and products:

The aim is that the new audience of 40+ somethings become curious about my book, media and social media coverage. They “have a go” at their local driving range with a few DIY basics from the methodology. Their intrigue and enjoyment is fired, they can foresee the physical and mental benefits that golf can bring and how it can fit into their modern work or retired lifestyle. And when they want to get to a level of proficiency quickly, they have a variety of coaching services and products at different levels of intensity to choose from under the brand “Golf Yourself to Life”.

A higher cause than just business

In addition to the business of golf coaching being created, there is also a deeper drive. The contribution that golf can bring to the health of the adult population and the environment. 

I started my career at an all male Golf Club in Edinburgh. The archetypal, and thankfully increasingly rare, “Elitist, old boys Club”. Politics aside though, I noticed very quickly that walking 18 holes 2-3 times a week in the fresh air and beautiful surroundings of suburban Edinburgh, was keeping these old boys alive! And despite the abundant consumption of Pink Gins and Single Malts, they were also mentally alert, due to the nature of the sport and its camaraderie, well into their 70’s and 80’s. It’s a theme I still marvel at today as a coach to many male and female Septua- and Octo-genarians. The effect is twofold. A greater quality of life in later years and a massive saving for the Health Service. I’m not sure if there are any statistics out there, but the potential savings for getting the adult population into golf must run into the billions of dollars.

Drive two is to do whatever I can to assist the health of our planet. Without it we are nothing. Every business worldwide can play its part however small. As a geography graduate and frequent hiker I have a good understanding  of and great appreciation for nature. In the golfing landscape, nature is part and parcel of the joy that that this sport can bring. My small part is to financially assist biodiversity projects within the golf environment. Small steps first, but hopefully leading to important bigger projects later as the business grows. We are losing flora and fauna species at an alarming rate and I want “Golf Yourself to Life” to actively reverse this trend and inspire other businesses to do the same.

In conclusion and anticipation

Vibrancy, regardless of age, is the key to living life to the fullest, both at work and at play. To maintain our physical, mental and spiritual well-being, we need to find something that stimulates our vibrancy and curiosity, engages us in its fun and challenge, and puts us in touch with nature. For me, and 60 million others on the planet – young, old and all in between – that something is golf.

The aims of “Golf Yourself to Life”, the book and coaching business, are to:

1.   Get the adult population curious enough to have a go

2.   Explain in a simple, logical, enjoyable and modern way the technical and mental skills required to play this great game

3. To contribute to the health of the population and the environment

       I’d love to see 1000’s of golfing newbies experience some of the joy, places, people and events that golf has given me and the millions of others who play and relish this game. It has been my life – and a very good one.

Further info at: www.golfyourselftolife.com

Find out how you could build your business with your very own book – Comment below or Register for our next Bookbuilder Programme starting Monday 9th May!

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