Jane Frost Golf School

LPGA T&CP Education Is Going Global

2012-02-01T12:44:00.004-05:00

The LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals are expanding their National Education opportunities to now become International. With 42 LPGA Tour Members, Korea is a perfect choice to host and Seoul will be the first site for this global LPGA education...and yours truly will be on the first team to travel to Korea in May of 2012!

PGA Master Professional Jay Na will serve as the Approved Education Provider for the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) membership in South Korea. In this role, Na will help to schedule, promote and conduct LPGA Teaching and Club Professional education and certification programs throughout the country.

Na, a PGA Golf Professional since 1999, has already been tutoring Korean LPGA applicants for several years. His philosophy of instruction and belief that every student has his or her own unique way of swinging the club aligns well with the LPGA’s student centered approach to teaching.

LPGA T&CP Professionals achieve certification by completing a multi-year series of educational programs. They must first pass a Playing Ability Test (PAT) to ensure that they are qualified to play and teach the game of golf. After passing the PAT, LPGA Professionals go through three levels of education and testing in order to obtain Class A membership status.

I have been involved with various aspects of the LPGA's education since 1996, and to now see it go Global is quite amazing. To say the least it is very exciting news and I am honored to have been selected to participate in such a new and wonderful expansion for the LPGA T&CP.

안녕...That's Goodbye in Korean...better get learning!

Keep Swinging!

Jane

Senior Sentiments

2011-03-31T23:04:00.001-04:00

Older, wiser and still playing great golf, Julie Inkster is causing the youth of the LPGA to take notice. She is playing so well that currently Julie would make the Solheim Cup team. Her experience and leadership would be welcome weapons for Captain Rosie Jones.

Word on the fairway is that even if Julie plays her way onto the team, she would step aside and allow the next in line to play. Say it Ain't so! Julie, if you qualify for Team USA PLEASE play. It would mean that you are one of the elite players that deserves to be representing your country, a true honor for you and a special gift for the fans.

Now there is a lot of golf left in this season. Will the senior swinger be able to continue the birdie barrage as the season grinds onward? Only time will tell if the fountain of youth will keep Julie humming for a few more months. It sure would be grand. Perhaps a side trip to St. Augustine would be in order!

I for one will be cheering Julie on at every event. To see her with the red, white and blue proudly displayed and hoisting the Solheim Cup would be spectacular. Besides, who wouldn't want to see the fleet footed Inkster dancing up a storm one more time? I'm smiling already.

Keep Swinging!

Jane

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Paula Made the Call

2011-03-26T15:34:00.001-04:00

Paula Creamer made the call all on her own. No living room rules official with high def tv had to speed dial the Kia Classic and tattle on this classy professional. She saw when her club accidentally touched the sand in a bunker during her backswing and immediately called the two stroke penalty on herself. That's the way the game has been played for eons...players calling penalties on themselves.

Listening to Paula being interviewed was impressive. She eloquently stated that the rules are the rules, she saw it happen and there was no question that the penalty had to be called. Those are the lessons in sportsmanship that need to be broadcast for adults and youth to hear. It was a significant call as she finished the day tied for 60th rather than tied for 34th. Paula will always be able to look herself in the mirror as having done the right thing even when no one was looking.

On another note about Paula, I am extremely jealous that she had the opportunity to fly in an F-16 with the Thunderbirds. Looked like a blast. I came close one time to a ride with the Thunderbirds however my best airplane experience is when I was fortunate enough to fly Crazy Horse, a dual controlled P-51 Mustang. I did aerobatics for an hour and then got to land the great bird. What a thrill.

Keep Swinging!

Jane

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Great Week For LPGA

2011-03-21T23:23:00.001-04:00

As a fan of Golf, I thought the LPGA aced the RR Donnelly Founders Cup. What a great venue for crowd participation and the competition was very exciting. Congratulations to Karrie Webb for showing the youngsters a thing or two about winning. I think she gets classier every year.

Seemed as if the players were relaxed and very approachable throughout the week. The various highlights they did about the players, past and present, was very interesting and I think helps the image and brand of the LPGA.

Charity was the ultimate winner with much support being given to the relief efforts in Japan. May the country heal quickly.

One other great bit of news from the LPGA tonight. This was a Tweet, yes I'm on Twitter now @JaneFrostGolf:

From Annika:

"SURPRISE! I went into labor today & William Nicholas McGee was born at 6:33 PM. I'm well. Will is hanging in there fine for being 27 weeks."

Congratulations to Annika and her family at this joyous time. May good health rule for Mother and Son.

Keep Swinging!

Jane

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The LPGA is Alive!

2011-03-19T22:16:00.006-04:00

What a joy to watch the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup held in Phoenix. Today was a great tribute to those 13 women who had the vision to create and grow the LPGA into the Global sport that it is today. How wonderful to see the youngsters paying tribute to Shirley Spork, Louise Suggs and Marilynn Smith. A real lesson in respect for the game and for the pioneers who have paved the way for these young women to reap the benefits of today's purses and endorsements.

In my career I have had the good fortune to actually play with Shirley Spork, Marilynn Smith and Patty Berg. In fact, I even attended a Dallas Cowboys football game with Marilynn Smith. What a thrill and what great ladies indeed.

I was very impressed with Commissioner Whan's interview and how adamant he is to bring this tour back to it's rightful place in the golf world with 30 to 33 tournaments being held annually by the 2012 - 2013 season. He has an enthusiasm and a genuine concern about the LPGA and it's stars, past and present. Mr. Whan has proven to be one of the best commissioners the LPGA has seen in many years.

How refreshing to hear the tour players say that the best advice they ever received as a junior golfer was to have fun, play by feel and to not get bogged down in mechanics. Hallelujah! Yes, let's get back to the PLAY of golf and to engage in an activity that brings joy. We all need to golf our ball rather than playing golf mechanics while out on the course. My motto is Hit it, Hunt It, Hole It...repeat until the round is complete. If you have fun first...good golf will follow.

To learn more about the LPGA Founders please visit: http://www.lpga.com/content_1.aspx?mid=2&pid=3421

Keep Swinging!

Jane

Muchas Gracias

2011-03-18T20:44:00.001-04:00

Hard to believe that we are coming up to the year anniversary of the mighty mite from Mexico, Lorena Ochoa, retiring from competitive golf on the LPGA.
She had so much going for her as she reached so many milestones at an early age. Lorena was #1 in the world for 3 years and finished with 27 LPGA
victories, two of which were majors. Those gaudy numbers qualified her for the LPGA Hall of Fame once she completed 10 years on the LPGA tour in 2012.

Yet Lorena had found another side of life that had a greater calling than the tour. In 2009 she married Andres Conesa and immediately fell into the roll as step mother, a roll that she enjoyed far better than the grind of the tour or the allure of the Hall of Fame.

While she is no longer prowling the fairways of the tour she has hardly been retired from the world of golf as her philanthropic activities are keeping her busy. She is the queen of humanitarian efforts as her foundations reach out to children, especially the Latino community.

She has recently announced a program called the Lorena Ochoa Neighborhood Golf. It has been described as a version of a backyard bounce house seen at a youngsters birthday party except it has a tent, golf clubs and limited flight golf balls. Because of the mobility of this country fair like game, Lorena is striving to introduce the game of golf to American minorities throughout the country. This is all in an effort to bust the myth that golf is a rich, white persons game. Seriously, in 2011 we are still battling this stigma? Sometimes I think we have not evolved at all.

I have not had the honor of meeting Lorena. Everything I hear is nothing but glowing. She may only meet you once and yet at the next meeting she will remember every detail about the first. A rare talent indeed and shows her deep connection to the world and to making a difference with mankind.

In the world of professional athletes whining about how are they going to feed their families with only a 5 million dollar contract, it is refreshing to know that one Hall of Fame Athlete has chosen to follow her heart and make a difference. A difference that will touch future generations of golfers, the golf industry and perhaps even the evolution of mankind where people are seen for the good that they do and not the color of their skin.

Keep Swinging,

Jane

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Who Makes the Call?

2011-03-16T22:29:00.001-04:00

I am a rabid football fan who like every other fan occasionally has a thing or two to say about the officiating, especially when my beloved Patriots are wronged. Seems as if the refs never hear me through the tv so I decided one Sunday that I simply had to call CBS and tell them that from the comfort of my own home, with hi-def tv I know the officials got that call wrong. The solution of course is to wait until the end of the game and then correct the call and disqualify one of the teams and then take away their paycheck for the day. Get real. Like that will ever happen...wait a minute...it does happen in golf and no one knows better than Padraig Harrington about the sting of the penalty...DQ'd and no paycheck. All because technology has made it possible for viewers to see what the human eye can not. And the powers that be in the golf rule kingdom allow Joe Slicer to affect the outcome of the tournaments and the lively hood of these professionals.

It is time for the Royal & Ancient, the USGA and all tours to take a stand about this living room officiating and to change the antiquated rule of disqualification for a player returning an incorrect scorecard as a result of information that comes in after the round has been completed. Not fair.

Golfers as a whole have been way above average in self policing themselves on rules infractions. Countless penalties have been called by the players themselves. They have a respect for the game of golf and their fellow competitors.

Can you imagine Wes Welker saying to the official " Oh no, it was my push off that caused the contact. It wasn't pass interference at all." That is not going to happen nor is it the nature of team sports. In that arena the officials on site can and do influence the outcome of games...not the fans.

Please let the golfers continue to be their own officials and if the naked eye can not see a rules infraction then hi-def tv should not be allowed to influence the outcome of this honorable game.

Keep Swinging!

Jane

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Life Happens

2011-03-15T21:39:00.001-04:00

Where does the time go? Seriously, it was almost three years ago that I made my last post. So what created this void in my musings? Life happened.

Right after that last post in June of '08 I had little oops on my motorcycle. Nothing life threatening however it did bump me off of the blog express. After months of rehab ( Thank you Brianna Lackenby of Cape Cod Rehabilitation) I found that there were many other items on my "to do list" that always seemed to be more important than making an entry here. My bad.

It's all about having discipline. I could certainly improve in this department and I am going to do my best to improve starting today. Another beginning.

So much has changed since 2008. Was Facebook and Twitter even around then? Perhaps in their infancy, yet those are some new (to me) social media items that I am dipping my toe into at this time as well. Technology can be such a friend as long as we do not become so entrenched that we forget to stop and swing the golf club. Balance people...balance.

In the world of golf who would have predicted back in 2008 that Tiger would have fallen so far; that Lorena would loose her competitive spirit and that golf course closures would surpass course openings. It's a new world.

Lot's to discuss in future postings. For now, I'm glad to be back, excited to be learning about new communication tools and look forward to practicing discipline and balance.

Keep Swinging!

Jane

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Integrity is Alive!

2008-06-24T21:12:00.004-04:00

I could not be a prouder coach tonight. Nick Mc"Golf"...you rock.

It is a rare find indeed...A human being in today's world of "It's All About Me", who will take responsibility for their actions and admit that they have made a mistake.

In this case, Mr. Nick, 14 years old, stepped up there with the best of them (Roberto di Vincenzo and Jackie Pung for starters) and disqualified himself from a state tournament as he realized that he had signed an incorrect scorecard. No one but Nick knew, yet this young man had the right stuff to admit the mistake and to take the necessary actions to right the wrong. Kudos to his parents for instilling all the right morals in him that allowed Nick to rise above the importance of winning to reach the pinnacle of professionalism...at just 14!

That's what I love about the game of golf...it is a venue that will challenge your skill, your spirit, your determination and your integrity all in one sweet package. You can learn SO much about people and how they respect...or disrespect...the rules of the game and react to disappointment.

I have suggested on more than one occasion that golf is a barometer that truly measures a persons soul. Thinking about going into business with someone or how about the ultimate commitment of marriage? Play golf with the individual before signing on the dotted line or saying "I Do" and you will have a peak through the window of who they really are as a human being.

Nick has learned a lesson himself and has taught an invaluable lesson to many. In ten years, the scores from the tournament Nick DQ'd himself from will be forgotten...the moment of integrity upheld by a 14 year old playing a game of golf will always be remembered.

Keep Swinging!

Jane

Postscript - The Open

2008-06-19T11:46:00.003-04:00

Congratulations Tiger. You certainly showed some real grit and determination. Your work ethic and your skill are exceptional and great attributes for others to mimic. I hope you have not paid too high of a price for yet one more major title. Only time will tell.

Perhaps during your forced layoff, you could work on curbing your anger and learn to accept disappointment as a gracious champion and not as a pugnacious 3 year old. Watch the highlights of the 2008 Open...not your highlights, we know the outcome...watch Rocco and the pure joy of playing this great game, as I'm sure this aspect of his professionalism escaped you. It's never too late to learn to appreciate what an honor it is to play golf and to embrace all of the lessons that the game can offer to each every one of us.

Thank you Rocco for the great golf. You have earned many new fans and we are all behind you to keep the magic going. For 5 days you showed the world that anything is possible. For one hole you showed us you were human and what it is like to hold your head high even with the agony of defeat staring you in the face. You are a champion in many ways.

Phil...it was not your time as I had predicted / wished for. You are an amazing talent yet you continue to find ways to sabotage success. Sometimes you under think and this time I believe you were over thinking. You must be a Gemini as we never know who is going to show up from week to week. Keep learning from every experience and please leave the evil twin at home next time!

A side note... Congratulations to the Boston Celtics on their THUMPING of the LA Lakers. That was fun...Now I can finally get some sleep! Thanks for a great season and for returning the luster to that green shamrock that has been tarnished for more than 20 years.

Time to get back out there on the lesson tee...it is the greatest office in the world.

Keep Swinging!

Jane

The Winner Is...

2008-06-16T15:27:00.003-04:00

Rocco Mediate...no matter what happens over the last two holes in the 2008 U.S. Open playoff round this guy is THE MAN and the champion of demeanor.

He's playing for the pure love of the game and is appreciating every opportunity that comes his way. What a breath of fresh air...smiling, laughing and pure joy. I'm a fan.

As for his fellow competitor...quit acting like a three year old. Shame on you for throwing your golf club not once but twice on the 72nd hole only to then birdie the hole and end up in the playoff. Is that the type of sportsmanship...excuse me...lack thereof...that you wish to teach your daughter and the thousands of youngsters who look up to you? You have a responsibility to everyone to be professional and to be gracious in victory and in disappointment.

It's not enough to be the best with all the records in the world if you alienate the fan base just because you were too immature to handle the good and the bad.

Let's hear it for the middle age guy having fun...Rocco On!

Keep Swinging!

Jane

Come On Lefty

2008-06-12T12:43:00.002-04:00

Phil...

It's your time Mr. M and it's on your turf.

So let's put that Johnny Depp swashbuckling mentality in neutral for four days and go win a U.S. Open. Who cares that the statistics say that trees are 90% air...go for the BIG opening...stay in play on the fairways and that gives you 100% air to play with. I like that extra 10% myself.

I know you are a betting man so make an informed decision when taking those risks and bet the purse on being smart...just like all those students that you and your wife are offering math and science scholarships to.

One more thing...beware of an injured Tiger. Animal instinct may kick in so don't be lured into that den of excuses. Stay ahead of his reach at all times.

Remember that unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes.

Enjoy the view Phil...it's your time.

Keep Swinging!

Jane

Weather and Distance

2008-06-10T21:35:00.003-04:00

Man...it was H O T today on that lesson tee. I'm sure that the temperature was over 100* and that has an affect on you the golfer (you have to stay hydrated) and the golf ball too.

Do you take into consideration what the weather does to the golf ball? It could make the difference of being on the green or being in the drink...again.

Often times, golfers think that warmer weather means longer driving distances, however, truly the hot weather, combined with humidity, can cost you several yards of carry and therefore, hitting that green as you had planned.

As annoying as that can be, cold weather, which we had just last week, can affect the ball flight even more.

Cold air is thicker than hot air, so it puts more drag on the ball and reduces distance. Distance is optimized when the air is thin (at higher elevations), there is low humidity and the temperature is above 75 degrees.

When that cold air is in residency you are better served to play with a golf ball that has a lower compression. It will fly off the face more readily and will not feel like a rock when struck.

Stay cool...This season take one more club when the three H's are around (Hazy, Hot, Humid) and be smooth with that swing.

See you on the green!

Keep Swinging!

Jane

Vizualization And a Motorcycle

2008-06-08T21:50:00.003-04:00

I had the greatest motorcycle ride today. Of what importance is this, you might ask, to the game of golf? There is much to be learned from a motorcycle: respect, balance, environmental awareness and always looking at where you want to go.

If you can not visualize success then you will never achieve success. This is true of any aspect in your life. You would never dream of entering a meeting with the idea that you're going to stink up the room, now would you? Yet this is the frame of mind that far too many golfers are attempting to play the game from. Let's change those attitudes now...it WILL make a difference. On with my motorcycle story...

I have had my motorcycle license for 5 years. I took the Motorcycle Safety Course and began to ride my 1985 Suzuki Madura 750cc. In those first few years I put about 600 miles on the bike...that's almost like playing one round of golf a year...not a lot of experience.

Last year I turned the big 5-0 and was the recipient of a brand new Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom. (Thank you PR) I was like a kid in a candy store...what a thrill.

This is a significantly bigger and more powerful bike than I was used to and I struggled with building confidence while seated atop this magnificent machine. My trips were basically around the block as I learned how to balance this new beast. (Thank you to all my patient neighbors)

I began to feel a little bit better and started to wander out of the familiar home roads and into the real world. Progress was being made and then, I had an oops. Not an accident, however I found myself in a position on the road that was not where I wanted to be. Shaken, yet in one piece (me and the machine) I made my way home and parked the bike for 9 months. They were the best 9 months of learning that ever could have happened.

I immediately knew the error of my ride. As I was turning a corner, I was distracted by debris on the road and as a result, I stopped looking at where I wanted the bike to go. During the training class five years ago, the instructor laid down a piece of lumber in our training road. She said that if anyone wanted to hit that piece of lumber that all they had to do is look at it. If you want to miss the lumber then to please look at where you want the bike to go. For that one moment of that ride, I forgot to look at where I wanted my bike to go and as a result I had an oops.

With this concept firmly planted in my head I began to use my imagination and over the next 9 months I visualized riding my motorcycle and always looking at where I wanted the bike to go. I may have been driving my car, golf cart or even walking the beach yet in my mind I was on that jet black Harley and I was ALWAYS looking at where I wanted to go. Even when I was playing Mario Cart on the Wii and racing around those tracks I constantly refined my skill of always looking at where I wanted my little character to go.

After 9 months, my heart pumping and my mouth full of cotton balls, I had an awesome ride today. Remember, never sat on a bike for 9 months and yet I nailed every twist and turn in the road. The imagination combined with visualization are two incredibly powerful tools that you too can use to improve your golf, or whatever it is in your life that you want to improve upon.

The next time you stand on a golf tee, rather than describing the "trap" (it's really a bunker) on the left, the out of bounds on the right and oh yes the water in front of the green take a bit of advice...look at where you want to go and you will discover the fairways and greens far more often than ever before.

Create in your mind what you want; Trust your skills; Do the swing...repeat until all holes have been completed.

Believe and Achieve.

Keep Swinging & Ride On!

Jane

It It Really That Important?

2008-06-06T22:01:00.003-04:00

The almighty golf score...you can become a slave to it or ignore it like a tax bill. It is ultimately your decision...your choice...your power.

To enjoy the company of others, to view a hawk (isn't that a birdie?) soaring above the tree lined fairways and to truly enjoy the freedom that we have to stroll down a carpet of green is by far the best score any of us could ever have. A laugh, a smile, an appreciation for what a glorious experience this golf can be.

It could all be gone in an instant. Take every experience as what it is...unique and incredibly precious.

Quit worrying about the score and for heaven's sake stop being concerned about where your elbow is during the back swing. From every swing I've ever seen the golf ball is hit during the forward swing anyway.

Go golf your ball...Hit it...Hunt it...Hole it. Repeat until you have completed your round.

Keep Swinging!
Jane

Thank you to EC & KC...you are an inspiration.

Baseball Swing = Great Golf Swing

2008-06-05T20:03:00.013-04:00

I have been teaching golf since 1982. If I had a nickel for everytime a new client would apologize for having a baseball swing I could retire...not that I would...I love teaching too much to ever stop!

Let's get this right out in the open... good baseball / softball swings translate into good golf swings. No more apologies please...it's really good news that you could knock in those runs for your team. In golf, you simply want to swing at those pitches that are in the dirt. Running after hitting wouldn't be a bad idea either. It would improve your cardio-vascular health and it would speed up the rounds!

Thanks to my man WS in Concord, NH, who always helps me stay in touch with great golf articles, I would encourage you all to visit www.nytimes .com and check out this article: "Just Do It All" by Bill Pennington. It was published on 6/2/08 and is spot on.

I often get asked about youngsters playing other sports and I'm all for it. Anything that will improve motion, balance and concentration is always going to benefit the golf swing. Plus, allowing kids to be kids and experiencing a variety of sports and forging new friendships is what being a kid is all about. They are NOT miniature adults...a topic for another day.

So grab that golf club, step into that golfers "do" box and swing to a balanced finish. There will be joy in Muddville if you repeat on a regular basis.

Keep Swinging!

Jane

Always Beginnings

2008-06-04T18:19:00.010-04:00

Greetings!

This is the beginning of the techno super highway for me. I think I need to buckle my seat belt for this new adventure!

I love beginnings, as it means that there is something new to be explored...something new to be learned and something new to challenge us to be better at what we do.

My logo of the sunrise with the golf green was symbolic of my return to the teaching tee after a 6 year stint managing a golf course here on Cape Cod. The managerial experience was invaluable to my growth as a professional and yet my heart always returns to the passion of teaching. A beginning that I have enjoyed each and every day that I open up the lesson area at Sandwich Hollows Golf Course.

Every round of golf is a beginning of the unknown. Will you have that round of your life this time? Will you hit a career shot? Will you finally par that pesky hole that always seems to raise it's ugly head and devours your golf score? Will you chip in for the first time in your career?

The unknowns are all beginnings that lead us to new opportunities to push beyond where we currently stand so that we may begin anew at our next tee time. Maybe this time......you fill in the blank for your own beginning to happen.

In coming days I will begin to chat more about the grand world of golf...a stream of consciousness if you will. It is a fabulous game that has lots to say to each and everyone of us. It is life wrapped into an emerald carpet ride. Let's make sure that we are listening and appreciating the messages while enjoying every beginning.

There...I've begun...Look out, more thoughts to follow.

Never an end...always a beginning.

Keep Swinging!

Jane

Great Week For LPGA

2000-12-31T19:00:00.000-05:00