Orlando, FL — It was my first time being on camera for the Golf Channel. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. The format was Q and A so I couldn’t script anything, I just had to roll with whatever they were gonna say- so improvise by falling into my comfort zone, which is the […]
Orlando, FL — It was my first time being on camera for the Golf Channel. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. The format was Q and A so I couldn’t script anything, I just had to roll with whatever they were gonna say- so improvise by falling into my comfort zone, which is the game of golf and my teaching philosophy. As you can imagine, as with anything new, it was exciting, fun, and slightly terrifying all rolled up into one experience. About 45 minutes before show time, I came across some fun colored teaching aids at a booth, I thought they would be great for the Golf Channel appearance. But, that was also a risk because I hadn’t used them before and this was my biggest teaching debut. I came to the conclusion that life is full of risk and rewards. I took my new toys to the studio and saw my co-instructor, Bruce Wilkins. I showed him the new toys I found and his eyes lit up. I told him he was welcome to use any of them during the show. Instantly, we were a team! Then, our host Alex O’Laughlin showed up and we met and put on our mics. I sent a video to my wife telling her I loved her. (It’s always fun to share in-the-moment experiences with the ones we love most in the world.) Next, our producer informs us that the internet connectivity isn’t good enough to do a Facebook live and will go off other questions. Focus, adapt, improvise is the name of the game! Then Bruce tells me he is “left handed” and I would be hitting all the shots for the show (its easier for everyone to understand a right handed demonstration than left handed). I began hitting balls and warming up before the cameras started rolling. It was calming to know I could still hit a ball with all that was going on. “Action” we started the show and Bruce took the first question and I followed his lead. It felt like we were just teaching and doing the stuff we do everyday. When it was all over it was a rush much like finishing a rollercoaster ride — Scary at first but was so exciting when it was over.
Here was the show if you want to see what I mean! Check It out here. https://www.facebook.com/GolfChannelAcademy/videos/242572666644533/
I met one of the most influential teachers of all time, David Leadbetter. I joined the EyeLine Golf Team to help demonstrate putting products to the Leadbetter staff.
A few thoughts on spending time with David Leadbetter and his staff. The most notable takeaway for me was how comfortable their staff seemed around a former #1 Teacher in the world. The culture within academy was remarkable, it didn’t an ounce of “don’t make a mistake” but of “let’s be excellent, have fun, and enjoy our jobs”. Sometimes around great leaders it can feel scary but in this culture the followers seemed to feel valued and relaxed. A simple example of this was that David would listen intently to whomever was speaking to him and his staff didn’t hesitate to approach him.
We also had a chance to spend some time with James Sieckmann, the PGA Teacher of the year for 2018. EyeLine Golf is producing a product with him and my father was going of the details and changes. Its been such privilege to meet and interact with my dad work with Haney Hank, Stan Utley, James Sieckman, Michael Breed and others.
The PGA Show
Anything golf you want to find from simulators, to golf robots that teach you the perfect swing, to clubs, clothes, and training aids – they’ve got it all. I have been to this show 15 (or more) years with my father/brother’s company www.Eyelinegolf.com working and selling product. This year I was there as a Golf Channel Lead Instructor. It felt different for sure not being a salesman but being an instructor. It took a while for people who saw me as the son of the great Sam Froggatte, putting training aid guru, to golf instructor of the full swing. But then I took the stage at the Golf Channel, mic turned on, camera rolling. Man. What an experience! I wanted to make sure to capture this in my blog because there are many more adventures to come and I hope you’ll come along for the ride as I continue to share my journey!
~Garrett Froggatte
THE CLUB AT FLYING HORSE AND COLORADO GOLF PROFESSIONAL, GARRETT FROGGATTE, JOIN NETWORK OF GOLF CHANNEL ACADEMY INSTRUCTORS. Garrett Froggatte, PGA and the Head Teaching Professional at The Club at Flying Horse in Colorado Springs, Co., has been named a lead coach for Golf Channel Academy. Froggatte, an accomplished player and coach who played alongside […]
THE CLUB AT FLYING HORSE AND COLORADO GOLF PROFESSIONAL, GARRETT FROGGATTE, JOIN NETWORK OF GOLF CHANNEL ACADEMY INSTRUCTORS.
Garrett Froggatte, PGA and the Head Teaching Professional at The Club at Flying Horse in Colorado Springs, Co., has been named a lead coach for Golf Channel Academy.
Froggatte, an accomplished player and coach who played alongside 2016 PGA champion Jimmy Walker at Baylor University, is the most recent addition to Golf Channel Academy (GCA), a dedicated network of teaching facilities operating with the active support of Golf Channel, the game’s leading global multimedia and golf entertainment source.
“I’m very excited to be among this group of highly successful, motivated and influential teachers,” said Froggatte, who has been at Flying Horse since 2008 and has since grown the junior and women’s golf programs many times over. “This is a great opportunity for golf coaches to work together and learn from one another, adopting best coaching practices to better serve their students. My goal is to help clients learn to play better and enjoy playing golf more.”
Golf Channel Academy is the first network of its kind devoted to efficiently growing the business of golf instruction. With 87 locations already committed, GCA will be inviting additional coaches to become part of the network as it continues to grow.
After graduating, Froggatte apprenticed under Mike Bender, coach to two-time major champion Zach Johnson and one of Golf Digest’s “50 Best Teachers in America,” and also served as Director of Instruction at Woodmoor Pines Country Club in Monument, Co.
Garrett continues to compete in local professional events, including multiple Colorado Opens, he and shot a 66 to win a U.S. Open Local Qualifier. He enjoys teaching beginning and intermediate golfers as well as juniors, and has helped grow the club’s PGA Junior League program from zero to four teams and 48 players. Several of Froggatte’s juniors have gone on to play collegiate golf. The Golf Academy at Flying Horse is a year-round facility designed to help players improve without being dependent on the weather. Complete with four heated hitting bays and state-of-the-art synthetic turf, the academy is open to all golfers of all levels of ability, and offers individual, group and corporate instruction programs.
For more information about the Golf Channel Academy at Flying Horse or to book a lesson with Garrett, email golfacademy@flyinghoseclub.com or call 719-201-0240. For more about Golf Channel Academy, including a full listing of all its current locations and coaches, go to www.golfchannelacademy.com.
ABOUT GOLF CHANNEL
Golf Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based in Orlando, Fla. Serving the most-affluent audience in all of television, Golf Channel – co-founded by Arnold Palmer in 1995 and now part of NBC Sports Group – is available to nearly 500 million viewers in 78 countries and nine languages around the world. Golf Channel features more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, including tournament action from the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, The Open, Olympics, and Ryder Cup, as well as high-quality news, instruction and original programming. Delivering unmatched coverage of the world of golf, fans are able to enjoy 24/7 live streaming of Golf Channel content through Golf Channel Digital and the NBC Sports App, powered by Playmaker Media. In addition, Golf Channel connects the world to golf through a wide array of digital and lifestyle services including Golf Channel Mobile, a comprehensive app covering golf’s latest headlines, scores and analysis; GolfNow, the world’s largest online tee time booking platform and golf course technology partner, which includes the GolfNow Mobile App, featuring on-course GPS tracking, in-round scoring and game tracking; Revolution Golf, the largest direct-to-consumer digital platform in golf ; GolfAdvisor.com, the world’s largest golf course ratings and review resource for golfers, by golfers; a North American network of Golf Channel Academy instructional facilities; and Golf Channel Am Tour, the world’s largest amateur golf tour; and as the Official Media Partner of St. Andrews Links, the Home of Golf.
