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Ann Jo and I wanted to thank you for arranging the Jekyll Island Bird Golf School for us last week. It was a phenomenal experience and one we hope to repeat again and again.
Our group certainly presented a challenge to Roger Kreuter and Steve Godley and they met that challenge with grace and professionalism. Rachel had only held a club once before she arrived on Monday morning; by the time she left she was proud of her 100+ yard drives straight down the fairway. Ann Jo had been working on her swing for a year with limited success until Steve suggested ‘Tuck in your elbow!’; from then on she was making consistent contact and created a skill base she can work on at home. Greg (whom we nicknamed Tiger), has played for 12 years but had consistency problems; Roger helped him to turn rather than slide his hips and the trajectory of his drives improved dramatically.
I needed the most work – Roger changed my grip and my stance and I can already see improvement while practicing on Saturday and Sunday. After having me practice swinging with my eyes closed and then with my bifocals in my pocket Roger shared that my glasses prevented me from seeing the ball all the way through my swing – something that I had previously never realized. I could clearly hit better without my glasses; today I am ordering distance glasses and will keep my bifocals in my pocket when I play this summer.
The Jekyll Island Club was beautiful and the suites that you arranged were luxurious. Only the eager anticipation of improving our games could motivate us to leave the Club grounds each morning. We are looking forward to a return visit to the Club and the courses.
Ann Jo, Rachel, Greg and I are already making plans to attend the Bird Golf Invitational in November. We will all be working hard on the range and playing on the course so we can improve our games for that event. Since our younger daughter lives a few hours outside of Phoenix we will be able to combine the Invitational with a trip to visit her and her family.
We loved the complete Bird Golf experience and we are looking forward to continuing our instruction and improving our game.
Have a great summer – we will see you in the fall!
Paul Jackson
Gloucester, MA
Golf School: Georgia
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Dear Jay,
Just a brief note to express our positive experience we had with Mary Mills at our Boca-based golf school lat month. Mary was a delight, humorous, patient, very helpful and obviously experienced. Both Barbara and I immensely enjoyed the whole time, and it was a nice getaway for us as well. We will be raving about Mary and the Bird Golf Academy to our friends, some of whom we think may also contact Bird in the future.
Per Mary’s advice, we’ve been at the range more than on the course, and we are trying to groove our swings. As warned, it is not easy but we will be persistent. On the course, I finally broke 100 without a mulligan a week ago, and Barbara now has increased confidence with her new set of clubs, is “smashing” many shots with her new 5 and 6 rescue clubs and is putting much better. My short game is much improved, and I no longer tremble when I have to hit a wedge out of the sand or over a water obstacle.
Alan and Barbara Hartstein
Miami, Florida
Golf School: Florida
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Dear Jay:
After researching golf schools and talking to the various individuals associated with those schools, Bird Golf was the clear winner for my husband and I to attend. The 5-day school in Phoenix (with you as my instructor, and Jim Samsing as Charlie’s instructor) exceeded all of our expectations. As you know, I came to you with little experience playing golf; having played a round of golf only a handful of times (and even then, picking up my ball on many of the holes and never being able to record a score). However, I left the school with the skill and confidence to play a full round of golf (with no pick-ups!). With your encouragement, I joined the lady 9-holers at my club, and played very well, not only during our weekly playdays, but also in the interclub tournaments. Your continued encouragement and teaching (both via e-mail and by telephone) elevated my golf game from nothing to winning several interclubs and team competitions, breaking 50 in the nine-holers, and then breaking 100 for a full round. And less than 5 months after attending Bird Golf, I shot a hole-in-one on a 163-yard par 3! Bird Golf is the absolute best golf school, and you are absolutely the best teacher!
Marilyn Eickenhorst
Sugar Land, Texas
Golf School: Arizona
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I have just returned from my Palm Springs vacation and wanted to share with you my experience with Coach Craig Waryan and our three day golf instruction at Indian Wells.
First, I wanted to comment on the wonderful facilities and accommodations that were set up at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort. The location and proximity to the golf course and instruction area were convenient and the resort itself was both inviting and comfortable during my stay. Indian Wells is truly a world class facility and ranks very high on my all-time favorite golf destinations.
Secondly and most importantly, I wanted to comment on the fantastic instruction and valuable experience I had with Coach Craig. From the very start, I was nervous that a “semi-experienced golfer” like myself would be overwhelmed with a lot of information about what I have been doing wrong and was worried that an overhaul of my swing would be in order, effectively undoing all my habits from 9 years of play and causing me to feel as though I am starting from scratch. Coach Craig ensured that wasn’t his objective and basically spent time learning my swing, understanding my tendencies and then using that information to tweak and modify so as to correct and not just change for the sake of change.
For an individual like myself who has never had professional instruction, Coach Craig’s teaching approach was welcoming and helped me to not only listen, but retain his instruction. There were elements to the lessons that were both simplified and technical in nature, and both methods worked in concert near flawlessly. Credit to Coach Craig for knowing which method to use at which time. It was an absolute pleasure spending my time learning the game from such an accomplished instructor.
The definitive and most concrete evidence I can give of my positive experience was how enjoyable golf was during my time with Coach Craig and also every round I played after the 3 day program was over. I am now back in Calgary and absolutely disappointed that I’m unable to play until the springtime. I have already seen noticeable improvements in my game and I’m confident I will be achieve my personal golf goals in the coming season. Hitting the ball straighter, longer and with the desired ball flight is addicting – I just want to keep playing more. I feel I’m equipped with a lot more valuable knowledge on both the physical and mental aspects of the game and the retention of said information is entirely due to the excellent and commendable instruction of Coach Craig.
If this was the level and quality provided from all teaching golf professionals, I would certainly recommend professional instruction to anyone. However, though I cannot comment on other golf schools or instructors, I do now know what Bird Golf can offer and the quality of instruction from Craig Waryan. And without a doubt, I will recommend your school and especially Coach Craig to anyone interested in learning and seriously developing their golf game. I cannot wait to get back on the driving range this week, let alone the golf course next season.
Thank you so much for making golf even more enjoyable than it already was.
Take care,
Dennis de Jesus
Calgary, AB
Canada
Golf School: California
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Michelle and I have just arrived back in New Zealand after spending what we both agree is our best adventure yet! Lee was out of this world (not an alien though) and Michelle and I learnt more than we ever thought possible in only five days. We felt at ease from the very first moment we met Lee and he has a true knack of getting the most from the time available. The resort, Indian Wells, Palm Springs, California and the USA were all truly amazing.
Thanks to Bird Golf for making my 50th such a memorable time.
Richard Toulson
Albany, New Zealand
Golf School: California
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I just returned from one fantastic week with Jim Samsing of Bird Golf School at Wild Horse Pass Resort in Arizona. What a week! Jim was great, helping not only to build my swing but train my mind to hit the best shots I ever have with a golf club. I will put all the instruction to use this summer, practicing (with a purpose) and playing. My wife and I loved the resort and spa at Wild Horse Pass, and she’s already looking at when and where to book my next session with Jim. I cannot recommend Bird Golf enough, nor compliment Jim enough! If you want to play better and have more fun, enroll in Bird Golf Academy…NOW!
John S Corsale, Jr.
Raleigh , NC
Golf School: Arizona
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“My girlfriend and I spent three days with an instructor at the Sedona Golf Club. It was a wonderful experience on so many levels. Hopefully I can remember all the things that made it wonderful as I share them with you now.
First, the process of registering was unexpectedly easy and pleasant. I worked with Bob Willis. I learned about Bird Academy by searching the Web for some type of golf vacation, so I called completely cold. I truly did not know anything about Bird Academy beyond what I read on the Web. I was pleasantly surprised by the personal attention I received from Bob as he answered my initial questions, and then followed over the next couple of days. I was surprised when I received the questionnaires regarding our goals and personality, but at the same time, I was impressed with the idea that you were interested in finding out about us in advance. My hope was that the information would really be used for tailoring our time with an instructor, but of course, at that point, I didn’t know how it would be used.
The Sedona Rouge Resort was such a gem. We enjoyed the facilities, and appreciated that you structured the package so that our resort fees were already covered and that we had $25 each day towards incidentals. The Sedona Golf Resort was an amazing place. I felt like a celebrity getting to hang out at such a beautiful course and receive such attention from the staff. On the first day, we parked the car and started getting our gear out, and a staff member zoomed up in a cart and already knew who we were! I still don’t know how he did that. He grabbed our clubs and told us our instructor was waiting for us at the club house. All of the facilities there were wonderful, from the food services, to the putting green, to the course, to the gift shop and more! I haven’t made it completely through Carey’s book yet, but I find it fascinating. I probably will give him a call as I get further into it. I’m not sure I quite understand my profile, so it would help to be able to converse with him. Thank you for providing his contact information. I appreciate the fact that your instruction addresses both mental and physical aspects of golf.
And finally… our instructor. I can’t say enough positive things about our experience with her. From the first moment that we met her, she felt like an old friend. Her style of teaching was a great match for us. She took the time to get to know us and know our games. I so appreciated the fact that she didn’t try to fix everything. She was able to identify the small things that made the biggest difference. There is one moment with her that I will always remember. We were at the driving range. She asked me to verbalize the thoughts that go through my mind as I set up and swing. I won’t tell you everything I told her, because it is a bit embarrassing (suffice it to say I was thinking WAY too much). She said, “Put that all out of your mind, and just think about your finish.” The very next swing I made was the best one I hit all day. I’ve kept that with me since then, and its changed my game (for the better!). I could go on and on about the 3 days we spent there, but I think you get the idea. I have kept in touch with her and she has been very responsive and willing to talk. In fact, during my last visit to Scottsdale to see my Dad, she met us over at the Ping factory and arranged a personal tour of the factory for us! It was great fun.”
Kelley Shaw
Albuquerque, NM
Golf School: Arizona
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Dear Jay
Let me start by saying that Debbie & I were treated in a first class manner for the entire Bird Family experience. The accommodations were outstanding; the instructions were also outstanding and the location in Sedona was gorgeous! We found Shirley to be patient with us and her instructions were clear and appropriate! She is an excellent instructor and we enjoyed her company as well. You are lucky to have her as part of the team!
The Clear Key concept, which Shirley gave us, is particularly appealing to us as we are constantly thinking about all the things we SHOULD be doing and therefore we don’t do them properly! I am looking forward to the day we can get out on the course and work on the game in real time.
By the way – we both found the personality profile quite interesting and right on the mark – perhaps so correct to be amusing! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and expect to be back next year!
Thanks
John & Debbie McCrea
Ontario, Canada
Click here to learn more about our Arizona locations.
Golf School: Arizona
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A huge thanks to you and your vision!!!! My golf school was everything you had promised and more – I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the bunkers, on the practice greens and range and on those gorgeous Whirlwind courses. I can still feel the “ear to ear” grin I had on my face on Wed when I “gave myself a chance” on each of the 9 holes we played. A bit of tumbling down to earth though on my return to 4 degree Celsius temperatures (not liking the cold, I won’t be hitting the driving range until we warm up a bit, hopefully in the next week or so) as I am itching to get back out to the range and course.
We also had a wonderful evening at Kai. And my sisters and I had a wonderful and peaceful time at the resort which was much needed.
Dr. Shannon Venance
London, ON; Canada
Golf School: Arizona
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“Just wanted to drop you a note and let you know what a tremendous 4 days Ewing Madole and I had at the Bird Golf Academy last week. l also want to thank you so much for recommending Sharon Miller to us as an instructor. I would run out of superlatives before I could completely capture how terrific Sharon is as an instructor and as a person to spend time with. Sharon worked us hard but also kept it fun. She has infinite patience and if I didn’t grasp something one way she had a bevy of other drills or swing thoughts to try. Sharon keeps at it until you grasped it. I only wish I could mimic her wonderful tempo and repeating swing. I certainly intend to be a returning Bird Golf Academy student in the future. Thanks again and Best Wishes.”
Paul Eldridge
Hamilton, Bermuda
Golf School: Arizona
