About Clint Suggs & His Teaching Philosophy


Background
Clint successfully played junior and AJGA golf, as well as playing for his middle and high school teams.  He subsequently played for Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee where he maintained the number one or two position. Clint developed a passion for teaching and decided to obtain his PGA certification. He graduated from Campbell University, obtaining the PGA/PGM degree under PGA’s new and intensive Golf 2.0 program, which emphasized Player Development and entailed extensive work experience, intensive testing, and passing the Player’s Ability Test (PAT). Clint is a Certified Class A PGA Professional.

Experience

Head PGA golf instructor at Avalon Country Club in Lenoir City, TN from 2014-2019. Clint provided individiual golf lessons, mens and womens clinics, a junior golf program (OP 36 program), and on-course playing lessons. He also provided indoor golf lessons on his Trackman Simulator. During his time at Avalon, he gave over 4500 lessons and formed relationships with the members and his students. 


PGA internship with David Orr at Campbell University (the short game instructor of Justin Rose, Hunter Mahan, and many other PGA tour players) where Clint’s passion for teaching students to reach their personal best became fully developed.  He studied and learned to use the SAM PuttLab, the TrackMan, golf video technology, and golf bio dynamics equipment to assist students in advanced learning techniques.

PGA internship at the Jim McLean Golf School – Doral, Florida where Clint spent many hours observing and assisting world class golf teachers as they gave lessons to pros, celebrities and other people from all over the world. He assisted with junior clinics and instructed students during practice rounds.  He attended weekly leadership meetings led by Jim McLean, one of the country’s foremost instructors.

PGA internship at Lakewood Golf and Country Club in Tullahoma, Tennessee.  Assisted the Head PGA Professional with tournaments and lessons; conducted private lessons for juniors and adults.
 
 

Why is teaching philosophy important to the golf student?

A student wants lower scores and more prestige on the golf course whether he or she is a beginner, junior golfer, recreational golfer or a professional golfer. However, what works for one student may not work for another student. It is important to understand that everyone is different and to personalize teaching that meets the needs and limitations of each student. It is important to take into consideration physical issues, bodily structure, strength, balance, range of motion, etc. Also, the personality of each student must be considered.

The best instruction begins with discussing the students’ goals and how much time they have to devote to improving. What is he or she trying to do? Once the student’s needs and desires are understood, it is easier to apply a philosophy that helps the student learn and consistently improve in the long game, the short game, golf fitness, and the mental game; and to have fun while doing it!