Brian Jacobs, a two-time Western New York PGA Section Teacher of the Year, the 2021 Section Bill Strausbaugh Award winner, the 2020 Section Player Development Award winner and the 2018 Section Professional Development Award winner, is the PGA of America Director of Instruction at BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Brian Jacobs on the importance of increasing your knowledge to maximize results with clients:
With a background in health science, physiology and kinesiology, and a Master’s Degree in Education, I was very interested in taking the online 3D Functional Movement Coach and 3D Functional Golf Coach Certification courses offered by the Golf Fitness Association of America (GFAA) and Gray Institute. Wellness and fitness have always been integral to my player development training with students. So, doing my research on the GFAA-Gray program before officially starting it and talking to Gary Gray and his team at the PGA Show earlier this year, I saw that it was more comprehensive than most other golf fitness and functional movement curricula. After completing the certification, I found that initial assessment to be accurate. I was familiar with Gray Institute from my early days of teaching and training golfers and understand that they’re at the top of the food chain in this industry. Gary Gray has decades of proven results and expertise in movement and is known as the Father of Function. Completing this two-part certification made sense for my brand, as I can now take on various work with clients that I would once farm out to other fitness and training professionals and movement specialists. Being hands-on with my students in all aspects of their development only strengthens those relationships. As a golf coach, it’s better that I perform those initial assessments and take them through the protocols and movements. Here at BallenIsles Country Club, our team has completely bought into the GFAA-Gray certification program and will be taking the course across the facility, from golf to racquets to health and wellness/fitness.
Brian Jacobs on the business impact of increasing your knowledge to maximize results with clients:
With stellar amenities at our facility, our professionals have the tools to help our 1,000 members attain their health and wellness, golf and racquet goals. Now, with the GFAA-Gray certification, we also have an incredible resource to enhance our knowledge. BallenIsles has a great racquet and fitness club and a $2 million golf performance center with four bays, Trackman and force plates. But one of the most valuable pieces of equipment we have is the True Stretch Cage which allows me to teach students about mobility and moving on all three planes. I’ve only been at BallenIsles since March, and I’m already seeing increased engagement on topics having to do with the body. As our whole staff gets trained on these vital concepts, this work with members will only increase, creating previously unimagined possibilities for their on-course and on-court performance, as well as their general wellness. The GFAA-Gray 3D Functional Movement Coach and 3D Functional Golf Coach Certification courses are effective and have been impactful on my business from day one.
If you would like to veto email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email brianjacobsgolf@gmail.com.
