I arrived in Iceland on a lovely summers day around +16 degrees, nice blue sky and a cool wind.

My first stop was Hellisholar for the first of my 2 three day schools. It was great to be back and to see all the improvements they have made since last year. There is a large extension to the club house and patio area, the par 3 is great and taking good shape and Vidia has made a start on the other 9 holes!! All great progress especially as the grass growing season is shorter than ours so it takes much longer to achieve results.

Then the school came in. 14 of them - 13 ladies and one man... he was looked after by the girls!

We split the group into 2 and I started with the new players and worked on the basics as without getting those things right it is impossible to really improve. Then we did a video session in order to help their understanding of what is happening with their swing, as I think its nice for them to see what is going on.

Coffee came and went, and we did a little more long game tuition before  concentrating on some short game stuff. After lunch the morning group hit the golf course, and the other group came with me.  Again we worked on the basics and the importance of lining up, something everyone struggles with I think and again we ended the day with some short game. Before dinner I was able to show them their video and talk through the areas they each needed to concentrate on.  It takes a long time with a big group, but I feel it’s worth the effort even though a long day for me - ending around 10.30!

Day 2 we worked on woods with both groups then pitching and bunkers, it was great for me to see all the positive changes in everyone. Day 3 we started putting with both groups.  I think a lot of the players had never had a putting lesson, so it was great. I talked to them about how important it is to have the right length putter and how you have to like the look of it so you feel confident before moving on to teach some drills which improve the technical aspects of holing more putts. After that we went off to the practice ground to warm up  before their par 3 challenge began.

It was a fab 3 days with great people, and good luck to them all as they put the things they learn into practice ack at their own courses.

Then I was of to Fludir, my next stop on my trip to Iceland. A one day clinic with 8 people covering all the aspects of the game in great sunshine and a nice warm day with the temp around +19. This is a great place in the country where I get to stay with my great friends; Edda and Bergie  in their summer house.  There was just time for a quick sleep as I was to play in the midnight sun open which started around 8.30pm that night.

It was a nice night with the sky a real red colour as the sun went down and came up again. We played well too as Edda won the top lady’s prize with 34 points and I won the longest drive... now that was a new one for me!!

Then came dinner, and I guess we got back to the house for a glass of red wine about 3.45am. A great night and a wonderful experience that can only ever take place in Iceland!

At noon that day I did some individual lessons before we headed back to Rekajivik. My next stop was Oddfellows for two days, were I did an Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) clinic for 7 seven ladies.  On the 1st day, we worked on all the basics concentrating on how to think better and how to control the way we talk to ourselves on the course. We ended up with putting drills, and at 4.30 they all went back to the range!!

My 2nd day at Odder was yet again another good day in fine weather. We worked on the basics of the game and some more NLP drills as well as talking through the importance of nutrition as so many people do not eat or drink enough on the course and without that its hard to maintain concentration.

The day ended up with me meeting the new manger at Odda and talking through the plans for next year, so I look forward to that.

I was then on the road again back to Hellisholar for the 2nd of my schools for this year.  The group of 17 were split up into 2 groups - half with me working on alignment, posture and making good contact with the ball - and the other half of the group out on the course.

I feel everyone I teach must understand just how important the right basics are to improve their technique. A sound set up and good grip gives you a greater chance of making a good swing.

Then short game, a session that always goes down well and they were surprised to find out that putting accounts for around 45% of the game with the best lady in the world shooting an average of 69 each round with 28 of those shots being putts!  So working on the short game is so important.

My last 2 days in Iceland were spent teaching the family and friends of Laia and Vidia my lovely hosts at Hellisholar and I thank them both very much for my stay which I enjoyed so much.

I had a great time and thank all the people who came to for tuition at Hellisholar, Fludir and Oddfellows, so until next time... keep swinging!!

A big thank you must go to Edda and Birgie as without all their hard work  my trip would not happen, and of course a thank you to Hordur from the golf federation of Iceland... thank you, you are all special people, and I look forward to 2009.

groups at school

groups at school

groups at school