Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Training Program
Overview
Throughout his years of training juniors, Gary Gilchrist developed a training program that has changed the way that juniors approach their practice. The philosophy of the Gary Gilchrist Systematic Training Program has been highly effective over the years in developing golfers into world-class players. The program involves dividing training into segments with the ultimate goal of achieving peak performance at specific times of the year.
The systematic training program is the means of applying the ‘How’ and ‘Why’ of training on a yearly basis and is implemented in several cycles and mini cycles.
Training segments are as follows:
Technical Training
Pre-Competition
Tournament Competition
Active Rest
Game Assessment
The technical phase is critical because it is the foundation of training. It is used to identify any weakness in the technical areas of the swing and the short game taking full advantage of the very latest in 3-D and 2-D swing analysis technologies.
During the swing analysis in this phase, the primary objective is to build confidence in the student’s swing. Corrections in technique are made using proven drills and strategies that will help the athlete understand the specific areas that require improvement, and create the right feel for what they are trying to achieve. All training sessions are carried out at our world-class facilities, and each athlete’s level of progress and performance are closely monitored by our team of certified instructors. The particulars of this phase will vary depending on each student’s individual needs, and focuses on all areas of the game.
During the pre-competition segment, the player is preparing for competitive play and will work on preparation and feel. The focus here is on topics ranging from warm up routine and course management, to mastering different shots for tournament play. Mental training also plays a vital role in this phase. More time is spent on the course, and students’ scores and statistics are recorded and analyzed.
Competition is what we are training the players up for; peak performance. This phase is all about competition and it is where strength of character is tested. Students attending tournaments are accompanied by their coach who spends time on the course evaluating each student’s overall performance.
Evaluation and Active Rest is the final phase in the cycle. The focus is on allowing the players to slow down, let their bodies and minds rejuvenate, and prepare for the start of another cycle.
Peak Performance is achieved by understanding the relationship of the Technical, Mental and Physical elements of the game; all of which are vital parts of our comprehensive training program.
MENTAL TRAINING
The mental game separates good players from the great players. Mental training is a critical element in the development of a champion because the beliefs, attitudes and behaviors of an athlete impact performance. In this area, we provide the tools for the player to be able to set realistic goals and milestones which aid in the learning process. The goal of mental training is to be able to evaluate the strengths in one’s game and develop a plan of improvement for the weaker areas.
PHYSICAL FITNESS
Physical fitness is an important component to training a champion. Modern golf is a game of power and it demands stronger more athletic players. The Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy is committed to providing students with comprehensive golf-specific fitness training. The concept of ‘golf fitness’ revolves around understanding specific physical strengths and weaknesses for individual players, and the potential for improvement. As stability, strength, power and flexibility are developed, so are the overall strengths of each player. Physical fitness enables players to develop sounder swing mechanics and more efficient, powerful and consistent swings.