David Thomas is a PGA Professional who travelled all the way
to Germany 16 years ago to realise his golf coaching dreams.

Now the Head Teaching
Professional at not one, but two of his own golf academies, Thomas has established
himself as a Northern Hemisphere leader in tuition technology. What’s the
secret to his success in a foreign market? It all started with the PGA Trainee
Program in Australia

FIRST STEPS

Thomas completed the PGA Trainee Program at Galles Golf Club
in 1998 under the guidance of PGA Professional Jim Barden. "I could not have
asked for a better Professional to train under. He in his own way brought out
the best in me and taught me to think outside the square," Thomas says.

Barden taught him to think so far outside the square, in
fact, that he hardly hesitated to explore opportunities in the lucrative German
golf market, despite receiving tournament eligibility on the PGA Tour of
Australasia.

"During the PGA Trainee Program I overheard some leading
Queensland Professionals talking about Germany and the potential there. Upon
completing the PGA Trainee Program I immediately started learning German and
managed to obtain a teaching job in Germany, where I stayed for two years,"
Thomas says. "The move to Germany was a very big step and it wasn’t always
easy, however it gave me the chance to build up my own teaching academies."The
first of those academies was launched just outside of Frankfurt in 2001.

Thomas’ overseas success took many years of hard work, investment,
further education and dedication, as well as a lot of time away from his
family. It was time and effort very well spent. "Having learnt a lot about
various European traineeship systems, I can honestly say that the PGA of
Australia Trainee Program is the strongest system I’ve come across. The PGA
gave me the education and playing start that I needed, along with ongoing
support through initiatives like the ACE Program, which enabled me to continue
my education remotely via online study," Thomas says.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

"Along with my fellow Professionals at the academies I offer
private lessons, ladies’ and men’s training, beginner’s courses and intensive
courses for a ‘Platzreife’, which is a type of licence you’re required to gain
before you’re allowed to play on German golf courses.

"The move to Germany was a very big step and it wasn’t
always easy, however it gave me the chance to build up my own teaching
academies"

The ‘Platzreife’ involves a written multiple choice rules
test and a playing test on the course," he explains.

"We do a lot of corporate days through the on-course hotel
and we are very active with our junior programs. We also have an on-site pro
shop and offer a club fitting service." Thomas teaches a wide range of clients
with different nationalities. He occasionally communicates in English, but mostly
in German – a language he has improved at significantly since a somewhat
difficult early introduction.

"When I first arrived with limited German speaking skills I
picked up a few words to help me with teaching golf. One of those phrases was supposed
to mean ‘a little bit’, which in German is spoken as ‘ein bisschen’ (pronounced
‘ein bissyen’). Unfortunately I had learnt ‘ein Imbiss’, which means ‘snack
shop’," Thomas explains.

TUITION TECHNOLOGY

Thomas has invested heavily and specialised in using the
latest tuition technology for a number of years, including K-Vest 3D, K-Vest
6D, Flightscope, TrackMan, Tomi Putting Analyser, SAM PuttLab, SAM Balance Lab,
2 x Scope Video Analysis camera systems and GASP Lab 4. He has also built a
portable indoor facility for use in the cold winter months. "I am constantly
maintaining certification and using these teaching aids daily has made me very
proficient in their application. I have always wanted to offer the best that is
available for the good of my business, my clients and my own education. I enjoy
the further education courses – they enable me to learn and share information
with my colleagues," says Thomas, who is Titleist Performance Institute (TPI)
Certified.

COACHING PHILOSOPHY

"Due to the technology that is offered today we are
producing more and more quality players, however this technology should not be
over-used as it can confuse the player," Thomas says. "In the end we still want
to put a ball in a hole. A good Professional uses the technology as an
assistant in correction and to prevent injuries. It is of course imperative
that the Professional is able to interpret the graphs and other information. "My
overall coaching philosophy would be that there are a million people with a
million different swings, so it’s important to find out about each individual’s
past – such as their playing history and injuries – as well as their future
goals. We as Teaching Professionals are mostly trying to improve our clients’
free time." Thomas is returning to Australia in 2016 and intends to re-launch his
impressive operation locally, including his extensive range of world-class golf
technology.