Introducing “Thoughts From Coach Brendon

The start of what hopefully becomes a regularly occurring post across my social channels and on my blog. "Thoughts From Coach Brendon" will share my feelings on a variety of topics, primary in the golf space, but who knows what else? We will just have to wait and see...

4 Ways to Help Your Child Love Golf in 2022 and Beyond

Golf has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 3 years. With that said, there are still millions of people, and kids especially, that are interested in playing but have yet to do so. Here are some tips to get your kids interested in golf in 2022 and beyond...

Operation 36: Helping Beginners Find a Love for the Game for Life

Over the years, there have been a multitude of approaches that golf instructors and coaches have taken to teach the game to those looking to learn it or improve at it. One approach that has become widely accepted, adopted, and admired over the last few years is the Operation 36 model.

Pathways for Elite Young Golfers

In this post, I share my thoughts on what parents of young intermediate players can do to help their kids reach the next level. My thoughts come from a project I worked on for PGA.com in the fall of 2021. I shared an eight-part series called a “Parents Guide,” where I came up with some guidelines through my study of the American Development Model and the PGA.Coach playbook.

Do your Research When Searching for a Coach…

Finding the right coach for your young golfer can be a daunting task. With that said, you still must do your research in looking for the right coach. In this post, I lay out some tips for finding the perfect coach for your young golfer.

Learning from the 2022 Girls Junior PGA Champion: Kaitlyn Schroeder

After an interview prior to the event, I reconnected with the 2022 Girls Junior PGA Champion, Kaitlyn Schroeder, after her Major Victory. In this follow up we discuss her experience at Cog Hill, reflections on her summer of golf, her long-term goals and more.

Kaitlyn Schroeder Ready to Compete at the Junior PGA Championship

This week, Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Palos Park, Illinois will host the Junior PGA Championship. I had the opportunity to chat with one of this year’s players to watch , Kaitlyn Schroeder, from Jacksonville, Florida. Kaitlyn is currently ranked 7th in the Rolex AJGA Rankings. In June, Kaitlyn won the Rolex Girls Junior Championship, and earlier this month, she tied for 17th at the 73rd U.S. Girls' Junior.

Transforming Lives Through Golf

“Seeing the results of what PGA HOPE, PGA Jr League, and our after-school junior program had, and the impact it made on individuals, inspired us to continue this journey in hopes to gain more local community support to help shape the lives of those most in need.”

Summertime is for Golf! PGA Junior Golf Camps are Growing the Game

In 2013, at the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Marc Haddad brought an idea to the PGA of America. The idea: create a national summer golf camp platform to help PGA Members grow the game across the country. And now, 9 years later, PGA Junior Golf Camps are providing a fun, educational experience that provides another reason for kids to go outside and play.

Critical Things All Parents of Junior Golfers Should Know…

Every so often I hear chatter among parents of junior golfers that gives me great concern. Not just as a coach, but also as a parent myself. Many times the things I hear come from "newbie" parents who are just getting their kiddos going in the game. Other times, it comes from parents of more seasoned junior golfers, which is even more concerning to me.

Learn From Anna Davis: 16-Year-Old Augusta National Women’s Amateur Champion

One of the cornerstones of my coaching philosophy is to always, no matter what level you may play at, remember to have fun and be grateful for the opportunity to play such a wonderful game. Some of the most important components that lead to success in golf are the ideas of staying in the present, not getting too far ahead of yourself, and keeping your nerves in check. These are all some of the main pillars of mindfulness, in golf, and in life.

This Kid’s Got Game: Drive, Chip & Putt National Finalist Angela Nip

I had the opportunity to catch up with Angela Nip, one of this year’s DCP National finalists. Qualifying out of the Southeast Region, in the 14-15 Girls Division, Angela punched her ticket to Augusta at the famed Bears Club in Jupiter, Florida.

Introducing The Danny Mapes Special Needs Lifetime Memorial Scholarship

The Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development (501c3) is humbled to introduce The Danny Mapes Special Needs Lifetime Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship, named in the memory of Danny Mapes, is for a deserving youth with special needs that either plays golf now or would like to explore the game.

Parent’s Guide: Part 8- Parent’s Guide: Without Trust, All Else Fails

Parents will often choose to bring on a PGA Coach for their junior golfer to help navigate the process of learning and improvement. Once this decision is made, a bond of Trust must be formed in order for the coach-student, student-coach and parent and coach relationships to work.

Parent’s Guide: Part 7- Parent’s Guide: Hard Work & Fun Should Go Hand in Hand

While the concepts of “hard work” and “fun” don’t usually go hand in hand for most, inevitably, this combination tends to become a secret sauce of sorts, in helping young golfers get to the next level.

Parent’s Guide: Part 6- Golf Should Never Define Who Your Child is as a Person

’m sure that this happens in other concentrations for young people…music, art, other sports, or even the quest for a 4.0 GPA. In any circumstance, a pre-teen or teenager needs to understand completely that golf, or whatever their chosen passion is, does not define them as a person…and never should.

Parent’s Guide: Part 5- Being Okay with Defeat, Failure & Bad Play

Golfers, and young golfers in particular, as well as their parents, need to understand that winning in golf should never be something that defines success.

Parent’s Guide: Part 4- Being Mindful of the Mental and Emotional Side of the Game

In golf, mental and emotional skill development is just as, if not more, important than the development of technical skills.

Parent’s Guide: Part 3- Helping Your Child Build a Plan and Set Goals

As your young golfer moves through their development under the guidance of a PGA Coach it is imperative to understand some of the key factors that lead to long-term success.

Parent’s Guide: Part 2- Understanding the Process of Working with a PGA Coach

Finding the right PGA Coach is critical for the development of your young golfer.

Parent’s Guide: Part 1- Start with a Realistic Assessment of Your Child’s Game

If you have a child that is showing a great deal of promise and you are thinking about, or they are asking you about, competing, I would suggest to you the following…