On The Mark Golf Podcast

Keith Bennett is a recognized Golf Instructor and the #3 ranked Teacher in Washington State. His success is predicated on his understanding of technique and an emphasis on playing and scoring in all his lessons, whether to Beginner or Professional golfers. Keith joins On the Mark to share his take on the mindset shift between hitting balls and going out to play with a score in mind. He also shares 6 ideas that are easily applicable and guaranteed to lower your scoring average. He discusses the following six concepts: Playing one Shot-shape, Reducing the Emotional Attachment to the outcome of shots, A deeper understanding of Course Management, Playing away from Weaknesses, Playing the Correct shot when Out of Position, and  Loving an easy string or Pars or Bogeys. This one is easily digestable and more importantly does not require any changing of your golf swing.  

Teague Balen (Canada) is a bright young mind in golf instruction. Formerly a member of the “Course Kings” stable of golf instructors, Balen adopts a fresh and thought-leading approach to game improvement. He joins “On the Mark” to address Golf, Golf Instruction and Technique and an important, and unaddressed topic, that of Time Management. Specifically the time spent Pre-and-Post Round, in Practice and Preparation, and importantly Between Golf Shots. He delves into the subject by elaborating and sharing insights on Thought Management and Focus, Emotional and Mental Behavior and Control, Breathing for Relaxation and Focus, and Pre-and-Post Shot Routines and Consistent Timing. Remember, the lion’s share of a round of golf is spent between shots; so learning how to manage oneself and one’s thoughts is an important element to lowering scores and better performance.

Have you ever thought of Circuit Training in your Golf Practice?  Zach Parker joins On the Mark to illustrate how adopting that mindset will lead to greater and quicker gains. Zach Parker is a Golf Digest "Best Young Teacher in America" who trains golfers with drills allowing them to learn, feel and immediately apply changes to their golf-swings. His approach allows the golfer to learn through getting them "behind the wheel" to experience and internalize a mind-body connection of the most effective motion for them. He essentially empowers the golfer to drive the car, and not sit in the passenger seat as they learn. Zach discusses: How to Practice and the Skills Required, Planning and Reflection, Good Questions for Improvement, Timing/Spacing during Practice for Recall and Retention, Dealing with Adversity, PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular) Training, and Habits and Drills to Move Emotions from Negative to Positive. Zach also uses PGA TOUR examples to galvanize his arguments. Upgrade your Practice and Lower yo

Bryan Lebedevitch is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor and a Golf Digest "Best Teacher in California". He coaches and teaches a number of winners on the LPGA, PGA and Korn Ferry Tours. A long-time teacher to Major Champion, Christie Kerr, Bryan operates at PGA West in Palm Springs. He joins us to highlight lessons you can learn from watching players on the LPGA. Bryan talks about the following game improvement concepts: Knowing your Strengths and Weaknesses, Using Game-like Training, Understanding Shot Patterns, Managing Yourself and Your Game to Play Bad Better, and Maximizing What You Have and What You are able to do. In those information silos Bryan shares anecdotes from Tiger Woods and Christie Kerr. He talks about loving and hating certain clubs; Using the Mental Game for lower scores, and Resisting excessive technique changes.  

Scott Haskell is the Senior Golf Marketing Manager for Whoop. Whoop is a wearable Fitness Measurement Device that tracks Sleep patterns and Circadian Rhythms, Physical Rest and Recovery, Physical Strain, Cardiovascular Performance and Respiratory Rates. Scott works with number of golfers on The PGA TOUR. He joins us to talk about the Whoop and how leading players, such as Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Nelly Korda, use it for wellness tracking and game improvement. Mark Immelman believes that good golf is a function of good mental health, emotional and spiritual well-being, and physical wellness and performance. The Whoop is able to provide personal data that can be used to make better life-decisions which will inevitably lead to better performance on and off the golf course. Scott uses examples from data derived from McIlroy and other golfers on TOUR to show how to deal with pressure and stress, and how to schedule appropriate workouts and get proper rest and recovery for consistently improved performances.

David Young is a Master PGA Professional and the Head Golf Professional at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in New York. He is also Cameron Young's (PGA TOUR) father and instructor and he joins us to share anecdotes and lessons from Cameron's meteoric rise to the top of the global game. David shares lessons and stories from Cameron's childhood and years as a junior golfer. He levels advice to parents on how to shepherd young golfers through successes and failures. David talks about Cameron's College Years at Wake Forest and talks about game development from junior years into physical maturity. He then talks about Cameron's graduation from the Amateur game into the Professional ranks. He shares insights on the mental game. He talks about golf swing aesthetics vs. results, and how understanding of self and one's skill-sets are crucial to success and performing under pressure. He shares important lessons from "having faith and patience in the process of development" and how that helps golfers navigate the inevitable u

Doug Smith is a former professional golfer and a host of "Birdies Not BS" and NBC Golf Channel's "Down the Fairway" podcasts. Now, a sportscaster and announcer for PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+, Doug joins us to highlight and emphasize lessons you can learn from watching the PGA TOUR's best. "Dougie Fresh" spends time enlightening you on how there can be an information overload in the digital era, and how it is important to know how to sift through the abundance of info to find what is best for you.  He breaks that down into elements like: What shot do you have when you are nervous. How to select the appropriate teacher. Which instructors can you trust, and Club-fitting and its importance. He also addresses a number of lessons to look for when you watch golf. He illustrates tips for better scoring and shares advice for aspirant competitors and pro's, as he talks about work ethic, strategy and business plans.

Tyler Standifird had a PhD in Kinesiology and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise Science at Utah Valley University. He specializes in Biomechanics and has been doing research, and Data Collection for Superspeed Golf relating to Speed Training and Clubhead Speed Improvement Protocols. Tyler joins us to discuss and share some of his findings from his exhaustive studies. The topics he addresses include: Speed Training Protocols and Consistency of Training. Speed Training and its influence on Golf Swing Mechanics. Non-Dominant Side Training for improved speed gains. Ground Reaction Forces (GRF) and the transfer of speed to the clubhead and the golf ball.  He dives into Force Production and transfer in terms of Direction, Magnitude and Timing. He also illustrates real-world examples and talks about Rory McIlroy as the ultimate model of speed being a skill and a skill that can be learned. *Vodcast available on YouTube or at markimmelman.com

Peter Dawson is a former European Ryder Cup Team member and a winner on The European Tour (DP World Tour). Since retiring from competitive golf Peter took to teaching and is perennially recognized as one of the leading golf instructors in the United Kingdom. Peter joins us to share his knowledge and experience as a Tour Professional. He shares insights from golf at the highest level and provides lessons on preparation, mindset and handling pressure for competitive golfers and aspirant professionals. He also dives into his book, "Now for The Back Nine" and talks about his "Four Golfing Musketeers" - Grip, Posture, Stance and Alignment and Ball Position. Peter embellishes on each pillar to consistently good golf and talks about principles, tips, drills and mental approaches to ensure you apply each to your own ability to maximize your athleticism and lower your golf scores. As an added bonus, and having earned a Top 20 in The Open Championship, Peter talks about Bunker Play and strategy.  

Ian Mellor works with golfers of all skill levels, from PGA TOUR and LPGA players to club golfers. Vastly researched and educated, Ian is a specialist in 3D motion capture and movement in the golf swing. As an instructor his primary goal is to help players move more efficiently and in a healthy way that works with their body. He joins "On the Mark" to help you build physical awareness and move (in your golf swing) more efficiently. Ian explains how to understand your dominant movement pattern and develop a strategy for more productive work and practice. He elaborates on the importance of standing well at address, with an emphasis on Spine Angle and Hip Hinge. He explains how the Trail Arm moves in the backswing and dives into the appropriate sequencing and how that can improve your golf swing. He also talks about the importance of the Transition in the golf swing and highlights Sequencing, Timing and Creating Speed at the appropriate times.

Jon Sherman is the founder of practical-golf.com, a website dedicated to being an honest resource for the everyday golfer who is looking to improve and enjoy the game more. Already a best-selling author, Jon recently published his second book "The Four Foundations of Golf - How to Build a Game that Lasts for a Lifetime." Jon joins us to discuss the book and dive into the four pillars to better, more consistent play. He discusses: Expectation Management, Practice, Strategy and the Mental Game. Within Expectation he embellishes on his "PGA TOUR Fallacy" and how to avoid unreasonable, detrimental expectations. In Practice his explains how to practice "Outside the Box" to make it easier to take the game to the course. Strategy deals with appropriate plays off the tee and target-selection into the greens, and the Mental Game dives into Mindfulness, Gratitude, Building a Mental Toolkit and a good Pre-Shot Routine.

Greg Chalmers (Australia) is a 2x Australian Open Champion and a PGA TOUR Winner. A back injury has seen him curtail his PGA TOUR playing schedule and now Chalmers is using his extra time to give golf lessons. He has long been one of the best short-game players in the game and he joins "On the Mark" to share simple takes that will help you lower your handicap and your golf scores. Greg touches on the following subjects: Productive Practice including developing a "Second Serve" Off the Tee (to get the ball in play more often.) Dealing with Pressure and Anxiety. Decision-making Processes and Avoiding two or more errors in a row. Becoming Comfortable On-course as well as Learning to Thrive While Being Uncomfortable. Trusting Your Golf Swing and Shot Shape. Recognizing Tendencies and Asking the Right Questions, and Playing Automatic Golf.  

Darren May is the Director of Golf at The Grove XXIII and a sought after PGA TOUR Instructor. He joins us to dive into how professionals practice and prepare to get the most out of their play under pressure. Darren breaks practice and training into three areas - Motor Pattern Training (MPT), Open Space Practice (Distance Control) and Full Process Practice (Proximity Training) - and explains how you should approach each element to best improve Technique, Skill, Trajectory and Distance Control. In his explanation and lessons Darren refers to PGA TOUR examples in Justin Thomas and Keegan Bradley.  He also shares practice beliefs and mindsets from the legendary basketballer, Michael Jordan. Darren also talks about important factors such as Wind, Mental Focus, Practice Frequency and Proximity Tolerances that influence productivity in practice.

Henry Stetina is a PGA Professional, the Program Coordinator at New Mexico State Univ. PGA Golf Management, responsible for Player, and Instructor Development Director of Instruction at Red Hawk GC. Henry joins "On the Mark" to discuss his teaching philosophy and share insights from his study and research in the field of "Focus of Attention." He talks about productive mental processes and singular focus on the intent to swinging a golf club. He describes how the human mind works and how adopting the mindset of using the golf club as a tool will improve ball-striking, control and trajectory control. Henry also shares how golfers of all skill levels can make practice more purpose-driven and productive. He shares tips and drills to that end as he also dives into the action of swinging a golf club by simplifying thought and focus.

Bob Toski is a legend of golf instruction, a member of The PGA Hall of Fame, a former PGA TOUR winner, and still teaching golf at age 95. Arguably the "Father of Modern Instruction" Toski joins Mark Immelman to talk about golf, the golf swing and how you can understand the nature of the swing to build a swing that can stand the test of time. Mr Toski elaborates on: Feeling Your Golf Swing, Controlling the Clubface, Developing Good Contact and Ball-striking, The Function of and Correct Use of the Arms and Hands in the Swing, How the Body Supports the Swing, and  Aiming and Alignment. Learn a little "Old-school" yet timeless wisdom guaranteed to improve your golf-swing.

Erik Barzeski brings both an extensive scientific understanding as well as a history of teaching to his golf instruction. Recognized as a Golf Digest “Best Young Teacher in America” in 2017 and a Golf Digest “Best in State” instructor in 2017-2020, Erik is the Director of Instructor Development for 5SK® and co-authored the golf instruction book "Lowest Score Wins." He joins On the Mark to help you to improve your golf by becoming a better student and lesson-taker. Erik shares 6 (of 13) ideas that, if applied, will certainly help you to make you lessons, and practice, more fruitful. Among various concepts he discusses: Making changes and dealing with the different "feels", Understanding concepts and Question-asking, Managing speeds - emotionally and physically, Being patient with expectation and results, Lesson frequency and Working on one element at time.

Ted Scott is a Golf Professional, Golf Instructor and a long-time PGA TOUR Caddy. Having spent many years at the highest level of the game working for Grant Waite, Bubba Watson and now Scottie Scheffler, Scott is hugely experienced and has a wealth of knowledge about: Playing and Getting the Most out of the Game, Course Management, Attitude and Mental Acumen, Productive Practice and Positive Habits for Success. He joins "On the Mark" to share lessons from his journey and experiences whilst working for Bubba and Scottie.  He also relives The 2022 Masters Tournament and shares insights and anecdotes from the week inside the ropes - Lessons that will help you to play under pressure and get the most out of your game.  Ted also shares a funny story from the final green while Scottie was trying to hole out to win The Masters.

Dr. Robert Winters is a sought after and internationally renowned Sports Psychologist who works with golfers and athletes of all skill levels. Based in Orlando, FL. at The David Leadbetter Golf Academy, Dr. Winters is the founder of theconfidencedoctor.com. The author of multiple books, Bob joins the podcast to talk about his ideas and mental concepts for consistently great putting. He shares ten insights/tips that are easy to comprehend, simple to apply and guaranteed to help you hole more putts. Some of the concepts discussed are: Dealing with Pressure, Performance Anxiety and Tension, Maintaining Perspective, Positive Thinking and Self-talk, and Making the Big Putt When it Matters. In his discussion Dr. Bob uses players examples like Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and Mark McNulty. *This podcast is also available as a vodcast on YouTube.

Craig Foster is a long-time golf club-maker and fitter and the founder of Dynalign Golf LLC - a dynamic putting pre-shot alignment technique.  Craig used his knowledge of golf club manufacture and design and an exhaustive research of human biomechanics to beat the "Yips", and that experience led to the development of Dynalign. He joins us to share his story, his research and his insights to help you develop a more stable and reliable putting stroke. Craig walks you through the concepts of his Dynalign system and illustrates how simple it is to stabilize the "13 joints" at address. This promotes dynamic stability and leads to a more reliable and stable putting stroke - both in terms of Swing Path and Face Alignment. Craig also talks about his concept of "soft" End of Range Motion and contrasts it to the "hard" version as used by Bryson DeChambeau. He talks about tension vs fluidity in the putting stroke and how Dynalign promotes the latter for a pure roll of the ball. He also illustrates how to train your star

Chris Mayson is a GOLF Magazine-Top 100 Teacher, and a Golf Digest-Best Young Teacher in America. He works with a number of elite level golfers including PGA TOUR and LPGA players and is uniquely qualified to advise on things the pro's do that you should too. Chris illustrates lessons and approaches you can emulate in Practice, On the Course and After the Round: Practice: Create a "bandwidth" - functional shot dispersion, Understand your numbers/yardages applicable to the day and the conditions. On Course: Develop great Mental Processes, and Play Conservatively and according to the "Bandwidth" of the day, and recognize when you are out of position. After the Round: Develop a Growth Mentality, and Gain Confidence from what was done well, and recognize what needs work and Implement a Plan to Improve in Ppractice.