In our weekly coaches profile, we welcome Coach Bill McDonald from the University of South Carolina. Coach has worked several College Golf Camps events including Dallas ‘13, Dallas ‘14 and Orlando ‘14. He brings high energy and smiles to each camp, not to mention a great 40 yd dash time. We appreciate Coach McDonald working our CGC events and making a great experience for Junior Golfers.

Where did you play college golf?

Georgia Tech

What is your greatest achievement?

1983 Rolex Player of The Year

What is your proudest moment as a coach?

1 shot lead with 3 holes to go at 2013 SEC Championship

What trait do dislike the most?

laziness

What trait do admire the most?

honesty

What is your favorite place to eat on the road?

The best BBQ wherever that may be

Best advice you received as a junior golfer?

learn to hit a go to shot under pressure

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

in golf? probably not getting help sooner for my wrist issues

take a vacation every year

What is your greatest regret?

Not getting my wrist looked at earlier

Favorite colors?

old gold and white

What is your motto?

Dream big and follow through with attention to detail

Practice with Intention

I have always loved to practice and work on my game. I am not the tinkering type, however, I have always genuinely enjoyed hammering away on the Driving Range and hitting balls. I like the rhythm, watching the shot
pattern, and most of all, the constant solid contact in the center of the clubface…I still do. I just don’t hit it as consistently in the center of the clubface anymore. I get to bang balls a few times a year now. Nothing like the
daily grind that I used to do, but I still enjoy my time on the range. It’s my happy place at the Club.

My practice regiment when I was a Junior Golfer was to hit 500 balls a day, 250 chips a day and 500 putts. Then, go play 9 or 18. I think about that now and I was completely nuts!!! My practice regiment changed dramatically when I went to college.

The bottom line is this…you have to PRACTICE WITH INTENTION. Practice is pointless if you don’t have a goal and an objective each day.

College Golf is all about timing. Most college golfers have early morning workouts (hello 6am workouts), class from 8-12ish, then, practice from 2-5ish. This means you don’t have all day to hang out on the course or the
range to improve. You have to create a practice schedule that works with your training schedule, your class schedule, your team schedule and your personal life. That’s a lot to manage.

The key is creating a successful practice program that keeps all aspects of your game sharp. I would recommend hitting about 100-150 balls a day, do your diligence on the pitching and putting greens, but spend your time
on course. The course is less than ideal for working on technique, but it’s the only place you can really challenge yourself and see the results of what your are working on during practice. Let’s be honest, being a range and practice warrior means nothing. You have to be able to take it to the course and make it work.

1996. I was warming up at The Country Club in Brookline, MA, for the US Amateur Finals. It was the biggest stage of my career, and my first three shots of the day were Hosel Rockets. I took a lap around my bag, had a quick chat with myself and started over. It was the best 32 holes of my career. I won 4&3. My point is this, the range ultimately means very little. All of your focus should be on practicing with intention, then, when you get to the course, get out of your own way and play. It’s a tricky thing, but more than worthwhile.

So set some short game goals, set some ball striking goals, and maybe a no 3 putt goal for the day, then, get out of the way and play.

Fairways and Greens,

Kelli

What should you expect from College Golf Camps of America?

Come to a College Golf Camp for 3 days of golf skill development and competition. College Golf Camps of America is becoming widely recognized by college coaches as one of the best junior golf camps in the nation.
The camp offers a unique golf experience to junior golfers interested in playing college golf. At camp, junior golfers will develop individual skills, learn what its takes at the next level and experience first hand the college golf formula.

You should expect a extraordinary experience! Different than you have ever experienced. You should expect to learn from and interact with current college golf coaches. That is what every junior golfer and parent wants.
The opportunity to have face-to-face contact with the best coaches in the country and learn what it takes at the next level. Buckle up because College Golf Camps of America will give you what you desire in junior golf. #opportunity

Instruction – Our goal is to provide a new level of instruction from our college golf coaches. There is so much more to instruction in the game of golf then just swing mechanics. Find out directly from college golf coaches how they instruct their teams. Expect more from your instruction.

Development – Our focus is to teach the game and skills needed to play at a higher level. Our seminars is built around a “game time” environment, putting our junior golfers in real situations to help them reach their full potential, find out their limitations and give them an opportunity to think through “the game” on their own.

Competition – We want our junior golfers to have a “fairway” view so they can see what it takes to play the game at a higher level. The opportunity to “raise the bar” and play golf in front of college programs gives our junior golfers the chance to identify what it takes to play at the next level after junior golf.

Exposure – Not only do our players get the opportunity to showcase their “skill-set” in front of college golf coaches, they also get the chance to showcase their instincts, knowledge and feel for the game
while executing and adjusting to “competition” situations. Why do we do this? This gives our college golf coaches the best opportunity to teach in a learning environment. Teachable moments are best taught on the golf course and that is what we subscribe to.

Evaluation – Constant feedback is given to our junior golfers on what are there strengths, weaknesses and future projections. We want to help identify a what the junior golfer does good, what they need to get better at and how are they going to do it. Each junior golfer based on their skills and tools that will allow them the best opportunity to be successful and continue their careers after junior golf. Every junior golfer who attends our camps receive at least 3 written evaluations from our college coaching staff.

Did you have a fun experience at College Golf Camps?

98% say yes

How much has your knowledge of College Golf improved because of the information at the College Golf Camps?

81%say a great deal/a lot

Overall, were you satisfied with the event, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with it, or dissatisfied with it?

87% say Extremely/Moderately Satisfied

Was the event better than what you expected,worse than what you expected, or about what you expected?

79% say much/somewhat better

How useful to you and your Junior Golfer was the information presented at the event?

89% say Extremely/Very Useful

How much of the interaction with College Coaches was useful?

88% say All of it/Most of it

Would you attend College Golf Camps, if you had to do it all over again?

87% say Definitely/Very likely

How many of the objectives of the event were met?

88% say All of them/Most of them

What was the most valuable aspects of College Golf Camps?

College Coaches, Instruction, Interaction, Access, Information, Knowledge, Learning, Presentations

How organized was the event?

92% say Extremely/Very/Moderately Organized

Based on your experience at CGC would you recommend College Golf Camps of America to a friend?

97% say definitely/possibly

Based on your experience at CGC, are you planning on attending a future College Golf Camps of America event?

77% say Definitely/Possibly

Dear Golf Coaches,

As many of you know, College Golf Camps has grown significantly over the past two years.

In December of 2012, College Golf Camps was introduced to a gentleman named Joe Shuchat and his team from Winning Identity. Joe and his team was one of the first organizations to believe in our concepts, for that I
am extremely grateful. He and his team have worked tiredlessly to help us improve our processes and overall experience for junior golfers, parents and golf coaches. Without Winning Identity, we would not be
where we are today.

What is Winning Identity? Click here

I would personally like to encourage each of you to visit their website and learn about their extraordinary products. They have been paramount in our growth, I am confident they can help improve your team as well!
We all need help on team organization, time management for your players, improving team communication, goal setting, fitness tracking, drill database, swing analysis software, much more. With Winning Identity you
can manage your players from one spot and stay connected.

Joe and his team have the ability to create a custom package taylored to fit your team needs.

Contact Joe and his team at Winning Identity, his email is joe@winningidentity.com

Sincere thank you to Joe and his winning identity!!

In Golf,

Nick

College Golf Camps of America