Golf
The Golf Performance Academy is a full-time golf boarding school in Ridgefield, Connecticut, for student-athletes grades 6-12 and postgraduates who aspire to play collegiate and professional golf. Daily golf coaching with an expert coaching staff whose mission is to foster high moral character in student-athletes through a deep commitment to the game of golf. For student-athletes on the path to play golf in college, there’s no better environment to prepare them for their journey
The Golf Program
Philosophy
Methodology
Assessments
Athlete Development Plan
Training Program
Tournament Strategy
Mental Skills
Physical Performance
Strategy
Technology
Philosophy
The philosophy is firmly rooted in the 5 Elements of Success, with a holistic approach to long term athletic development. The philosophy starts with the premise that function dictates form, so building golf skill from the foundation of physical function.
Methodology
The development methodology starts with robust assessment and evaluation in the 5 elements. Utilizing best in class technology and the data from the assessments, a comprehensive development plan is developed. The success of the program is based on this methodology, with regular testing and tracking of progress.
Assessments
Athletes are initially assessed in all areas of development: physical performance testing; technical skill assessments; mental skills assessment; on course strategy assessment; equipment assessment; and motivation/drive assessment. Essentially this is the 5 Elements of Success philosophy to ensure an accurate and effective plan.
Athlete Development Plan
Based on the assessment data and student goals, a unique, individualized plan is designed for each athlete. This plan is the athletes specific pathway to improvement and development over time, and each area is tracked in PDI to monitor progress. Testing is done every quarter, and adjustments are made a accordingly.
Training Program
The training program is based on a periodized training program and is a bespoke program for each Academy athlete. The program starts daily with physical performance training at 7am, followed by golf training. This can include on course play, short game, technical training, feel and competition. The objective is to develop and transfer skills and accelerate performance results.
Tournament Strategy
Tournament competition is a critical part of the program, and we help each student create a strategic tournament plan based on their needs and level of golf performance. The objective is to have a good mix of events – some that are a stretch and others that are more suitable to the individuals’ level of golf - to build skills, confidence, and a profile for college golf.
Mental Skills
The mental program at GPA impacts every aspect of student life. By developing valuable mental skills such as emotional regulation, goal setting, visualization and mindfulness, positive routines, positive self-image and self-talk, to name a few, student athletes learn to become more intentional, more present and more self-aware. These skills are critical in golf, but they also have tremendous value in all other areas of life such as academic success, relationships, communication and overall contentment and happiness. GPA has a full-time psychologist to work daily alongside the students, helping them navigate junior golf and all the challenges of being a teenager.
Physical Performance
Function dictates form is a guiding principle at GPA, and all assessments start with a full physical screening to fully understand the physical aspects of each athlete. Physical function is the baseline of golf mechanics for any junior golfer and is foundational to the academy training program. A 5-day training schedule that starts at 7am daily ensures that GPA athletes are focused on physical performance as the basis of an athletic swing. The individual training plans are tailored to the functional need of each athlete and are tracked in PDI (Link to PDI) to monitor physical improvements over time and how these correlates to overall improvement in performance.
Strategy
On course training that includes developing a solid game plan, creating a yardage book, improving decision making, shot selection, tournament preparation and evaluation, and green reading strategies.
Technology
No other junior golf academy has the technology offerings of GPA. The benefit of high-level scientific diagnosis is it allows the coaches to identify strengths and limitations and provide the best plan for development in all key areas quickly and accurately. Students regularly use Swing Catalyst force plates, Gears, K-vest, Foresight, Sam Putt Lab and more.
Measurement
Player Development Index (PDI)
The Player Development Index is a performance management system that helps players to measure and manage their development process and their training plan. By measuring lead indicators in key areas of development (where athletes have achieved performance targets and where they have fallen short), athletes are better able to identify what they need to work on that will have the greatest impact on their progress towards their goals.
PDI is proprietary to GPA, and is a key differentiator for a number of reasons:
Player Development Index (PDI)
Track performance over time in key areas to see patterns.
Benchmarking data to track progress against other junior golfers and golf athletes at all the levels that they aspire to play (college, professional).
Reporting
Monthly reports are sent to parents that provide updates in the following areas:
Golf Coaching Team
Roger Knick
Founder
Tyler Campbell
General Manager
Dennis Hillman
Director of Player Development
Kyle Panek
Director of Physical Performance
Dr. Josh Brant
(Clinical Psychologist)
Director of Mental Training
Wally Gonzalez
Lead Golf Coach/ Master Club Fitter
Roland Millman
Performance Coach
Cameron Heath
Academy Coach
Natalia Quintero
Academy Coach
Max Jewett
Tournament Director
Dr. Kate Campbell
Physical Therapist
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