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Suzy Whaley is the President of Golf Nation, an online and connected TV/OTT channel that brings golf lifestyle and premium video together on a shoppable streaming content platform. It's currently viewed on www.golfnation.com and will launch on app this spring.

As the first woman ever elected to serve as President of the PGA of America, Whaley is applying her expertise to create a more accessible, diverse, and engaging space not only in Golf but the entire sporting world. 

Whaley has dedicated her career to moving the Golf industry forward through a variety of roles, including Director of Instruction at the Country Club at Mirasol in Palm Beach Gardens, a golf analyst and on-course commentator for ESPN, ESPN+, PGA Tour live, and SiriusXM. 

Recognized as one of the country's top business leaders in the game and a top 50 Golf Digest and top 100 Golf Magazine instructor, Whaley earned her PGA Master Professional Status in May of 2018. As a dual PGA of America and LPGA Professional member, she continues to leave a lasting impact on the sports business.

She has been honored as the 2015 Sports Business Journal “Game Changer” and won the 2017 Betsy Rawls Award from the American Junior Golf Association for her service, dedication, and contributions to women’s golf, and was recently inducted in the CT Women’s Sports Hall of Fame and the CT Golf Hall of Fame. 

Tina Tombs was born in 1962 in Montreal, Quebec and raised in Bedford, NH. She graduated from Arizona State University with a BS in Physical Education and a Minor in Anatomy and Physiology. Tina was a varsity golfer at ASU (1980-1985) and ranked among Golf Digest's top 10 amateurs in the USA. In 1987, she qualified for the LPGA Tour and won the 1990 Jamie Farr Toledo Classic. Tina is married to Larry Fischer and has two daughters. In 2002, she founded Tina Tombs Golf, LLC at the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club, where she serves as Director of Instruction.

Kevin is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher in America and a Golf Digest Best Teacher in New York for 2022. He has been based in New York for over 20 years, and was previously Master Lead Instructor at the Jim Mclean Golf School in Doral Miami. Kevin has helped many students play collegiate golf at schools such as Florida State University, Williams College, and the University of Virginia. He works with elite competitive golfers, beginners, and intermediate players to help improve their game. He is mentored by world hall of fame teacher Jim Mclean, and works with other influential figures in the golf world. Kevin is featured in publications such as Golf Digest, GOLF Magazine, and the Met Golfer Magazine, and is involved in the Met PGA Hope program.

Billy Mitchell is a performance coach for high school golfers, adult amateurs, and recreational golfers. He played professional golf for 12 years and has studied with the likes of Gary Gray, Mike Clark, Greg Rose, Dave Phillips, Wendy Batts, Jon Tattersal, and Mark Blackburn. He has competed in Australia, South America, South Africa, Canada, and the US, with 17 USGA events. He won the Georgia Senior Open in 2016 and is ranked by WAGR in the top 20 in the world over 55 age category.

Beth Daniel is an American professional golfer who joined the LPGA Tour in 1979 and won 33 events, including one major championship. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and won the U.S. Women's Amateur in 1975 and 1977. She was also named LPGA Tour Player of the Year in 1980 and the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year in 1990. She has played on eight U.S. Solheim Cup teams and was captain of the 2009 team. She also awards the best junior female golfer in South Carolina with the Beth Daniel Award.

Lucas you ask, what are the keys to having a good coach athlete relationship? And I think that that relationship has a two-way Dynamic. I believe, obviously and honesty integrity truthfulness and where you are as a coach and how you see the athlete. And I think in the athletes feedback, I think it's important for the athlete to say what they're ready to do, what they're not doing, what they're feeling. As a result of the training or the coaching the ability to agree on common goals, the ability to mutually buy-in and feel accountability to one. Another, not only from a program design but from a coaching and mentoring and then from the athletes perspective, the ability to buy in contribute and go through the program. 100% commitment, there are going to be days where you don't feel like doing anything. They're going to be days where you feel like you're just off. And like any relationship things can get one. Anki, but I think it's really important that open lines of communication and honesty are really important. You can have all the knowledge in the world and if it's not delivered appropriately, and it's not received, then that relationships not going to work. So honesty, integrity and communication, what I would tell you, Lucas good luck, have a great day.

The keys to having a good coach-athlete relationship are honesty, integrity, truthfulness and open lines of communication. It is important for both the coach and athlete to be committed and accountable.

What are the keys to having a good coach/athlete relationship?

The Key to a Successful Coach/Athlete Relationship

The keys to having a good coach/athlete relationship involve a two-way dynamic. It's important for the coach to demonstrate qualities like honesty, integrity, and truthfulness in their approach to the athlete. Equally important is the athlete's feedback, expressing readiness, feelings, and any concerns related to the training or coaching.

Both parties should be able to agree on common goals and have mutual buy-in, fostering a sense of accountability towards each other. This applies not only to program design but also to coaching and mentoring. From the athlete's perspective, full commitment is crucial, even on days when motivation may be lacking or when things feel off.

Like any relationship, there may be challenges, but open lines of communication and honesty are essential. It's not just about having knowledge; it's about delivering it effectively and ensuring it is received well.

In summary, honesty, integrity, and communication are key elements for a successful coach/athlete relationship. Good luck, and have a great day!

What values and qualities do you look for in other coaches? For me, they have to have like a peace about them, you know, a patience and a calm about them. I think that's really, really important. And the other thing that I really look for is, are those coaches, are they giving their athletes credit for things that they know, as opposed to, you know, having like a teacher-student type interaction? I've got an almost two year old little girl and she knows a whole lot more than I give her credit for. And so I think coaches would do themselves and their squads a lot of service by developing a relationship where there is actually a share, a transfer of knowledge and information, as opposed to it being, I guess, a one way street.

I look for coaches to have patience and calmness, as well as having a relationship with their athletes where there is a sharing of knowledge, rather than a one way street.

What values and qualities do you look for in other coaches? 

The Key Qualities: Peace, Patience, and Knowledge Sharing

When looking for qualities in other coaches, I prioritize finding individuals who possess a sense of peace, patience, and calmness. These qualities are essential in creating a positive coaching environment.

Additionally, I value coaches who give credit to their athletes for their knowledge and abilities. It's important to foster a relationship where there is a mutual transfer of knowledge and information, rather than a one-way interaction. Just like how my almost two-year-old daughter knows more than I give her credit for, coaches should recognize and acknowledge the capabilities of their athletes.

By seeking coaches with these values and qualities, it promotes a collaborative and empowering coaching dynamic that benefits both the coach and the athletes.

Is there a difference in frequency or type of stretches recommended for amateur versus professional golfers? I think that question is a bit flawed based on it assumes everybody's body is different based on whether they're an amateur or professional golfer. And the reality is, is our bodies are where our bodies are. So the frequency of stretches, strength, whatever we're looking at in programming is completely dependent upon the athlete's body. Some people are hypermobile, some people are hypomobile. And obviously we're trying to find that perfect blend between stability and mobility, that tension that creates more speed and reduces injury, maximizing range of motion with the ability to create force. So the short answer to that is it just depends on the athlete's body. If their thoracic is limited, whether a professional or an amateur, they're going to need to work on their thoracic rotation. If their hips are tight or their scapula or their shoulder joint is tight, then we're going to need to look at that as well. So it's really not relevant to professional or amateur. It's based on your body. So make sure you have somebody who understands how bodies work. And people who are hypermobile don't need to stretch. They need to strengthen. People who are tight need to stretch. And most of us fall on that spectrum in between.

Frequency and type of stretches recommended for amateur and professional golfers depends on the individual's body. People who are hypermobile don't need to stretch, they need to strengthen, while people who are tight need to stretch. A professional or an amateur should find someone who understands how bodies work in order to determine what stretches are needed.

Is there a difference in the frequency or type of stretches recommended for amateur versus professional golfers?

The Key to Golf Stretches: It's All About Your Body

Regarding the difference in frequency or type of stretches recommended for amateur versus professional golfers, I believe the question is flawed. It assumes that everyone's body is different based on whether they are an amateur or professional golfer. In reality, our bodies are unique and individual. The frequency of stretches and the specific type of stretches recommended depend entirely on the athlete's body. Factors such as hypermobility or hypomobility come into play. The goal is to find a balance between stability and mobility, creating tension that enhances speed and reduces injuries while maximizing range of motion to generate force. So, whether someone is a professional or amateur golfer is not relevant when determining their stretching routine. Instead, it's crucial to focus on the individual's body. If their thoracic rotation is limited, they will need to work on improving it, regardless of their skill level. The same applies if they have tight hips, scapula, or shoulder joints – those areas should be addressed accordingly. It's important to consult with professionals who understand how bodies function and can provide appropriate guidance. Some individuals who are hypermobile may not require stretching but rather need to focus on strengthening exercises. On the other hand, individuals with tightness may benefit from stretching routines. Most people fall somewhere in between on this spectrum.

What are three quick tips into helping you read greens and breaks? Well, I would tell you that as you approach the green, that you have your eyes up and you're kind of looking at the surface of the green to look for slope and tilt in the greens. All greens have slope and tilt. Most greens have between 1 and 4% of slope, maybe 5 or 6 in the areas where they put the cups. You can't have excessive slope way more than that. But typically where you can putt is going to be in a 1 to 4% grade. I would also kind of, when you get on the surface of the green, look to see where the water would drain. That usually, the ball will break where the water rolls to. So it's usually rolling to lows or off to sides. Grain is important if you're in Florida. The Aimpoint people would argue with me about that. But you can also plumb bob different methods. But I really like to use my feet to kind of feel slope. So the three things are have your eyes up when you look at the green, look for slope and tilt in the green. The second thing would be you can look for the low areas where water would run off and third usually feet. But I would also say check your partners or your playing partners balls out. If they're on the same line, you can kind of pick off a read that way as well. So observation is the key to reading greens. Hope that helps.

Three tips for reading greens are to look for slope and tilt in the green, look for lower areas where water would run off, and use your feet to feel the slope. Additionally, observing your partner's balls can provide a helpful read.

What are 3 quick tips in helping read greens and breaks?

Mastering the Art of Reading Greens: 3 Quick Tips

Three quick tips for helping you read greens and breaks are:

1. Keep your eyes up as you approach the green and observe the surface for slope and tilt. Most greens have a slope between 1% and 4%, with slightly higher slopes near the cup locations.

2. Look for areas where water would naturally drain off the green. The ball tends to break in the direction of the water flow, which is usually towards low areas or off to the sides.

3. Utilize your feet to feel the slope of the green. Walk around and sense the changes in elevation to get a better understanding of the terrain.

Additionally, it can be helpful to observe your playing partners' putts, as their balls may provide insights into how the green breaks along a particular line. Observing and paying attention to these details is key to successfully reading greens.

Is there something I say to myself during challenging moments and training or competing that helped me push through in training a big one? I like to just remind myself of my goals for the winter. So, like last summer, I would remind myself about the world championships. This spring that helps me push through. And then also in competing and stuff. Also training, I like to have a queue that, like, I always go back to and a big one for me is you have energy. You can fight through this or You can do this, you can fight or just like push fight, big stuff like that. Those all those words that I just listed all kind of remind me that I can go harder and I can hold on and it's important because you need to be able to do that to dig to those depth to compete. Well it compete at your best.

To push through challenging moments and training or competing, I remind myself of my goals and tell myself phrases like "you have energy", "you can fight through this" and "you can do this". This helps me to dig deep and compete at my best.

Is there something you say to yourself during challenging moments in training or competing that helps you push through?

Finding Motivation: How Words of Encouragement Help Athletes Push Through Challenges

During challenging moments in training or competing, I have a few things I say to myself that help me push through. Firstly, I remind myself of my goals for the season or the upcoming event. This serves as a motivation to keep going and give my best effort.

In both training and competing, I have a specific cue or phrase that I rely on. For me, it's often something like You have energy or You can fight through this. These words serve as a reminder that I have the strength and determination to push harder and overcome the challenges I'm facing.

These phrases help me tap into my inner resilience and remind me to give it my all. They are important because they allow me to dig deep and compete at my best, pushing through any obstacles that come my way.

How do you handle the pressure when the stakes are high? Well, when they're at their absolute highest, the flat out answer is I didn't. I suffered from something called performance anxiety, which is a, I guess a mental issue of sorts where you are unable to manage your thoughts and keep them in the present moment. I did that in the training pool very well. Obviously, there's a lot less pressure there. But as far as how I converted that over to the competition pool, I just did that really poorly and did it enough over my career to have it be a habit pattern. So if you're in this situation, I have camps on weekends with kids and I tell them that story about the Sydney Olympics. And invariably at every clinic, one or two or more kids come up and they ask, how did you deal with that? And the way that I dealt with it is I learned how to keep my thoughts in the current moment. When you do that, you'll be surprised just how little thoughts you have. And those thoughts can become emotions very quickly. So as far as controlling those sorts of things, that's the key. Everyone suffers from performance anxiety to some degree, but the really great athletes manage it. And that's why they handle the biggest moments.

When I was competing in the Olympics, I suffered from performance anxiety. To manage it, I learned how to keep my thoughts in the present moment and to control my emotions. This allowed me to handle the pressure of high stakes situations.

How do you handle the pressure when the stakes are high?

Cracking under pressure? Learn to manage your thoughts and stay in the present moment

When faced with high stakes and pressure, I have personally struggled with performance anxiety. This mental issue made it difficult for me to manage my thoughts and stay present in the moment, especially during competitions. Unfortunately, this pattern became a habit throughout my career.

However, I have learned a valuable lesson from my experiences. I now emphasize the importance of keeping thoughts focused on the present moment. By doing so, I have discovered that the number of distracting thoughts decreases significantly, preventing them from quickly turning into overwhelming emotions.

I often share this story with kids during weekend camps, particularly recounting my experience at the Sydney Olympics. Many young athletes approach me afterward, seeking advice on how to handle similar situations. I always stress the significance of keeping thoughts in the present moment as a means of controlling performance anxiety.

It's important to recognize that everyone experiences some level of performance anxiety. However, the truly exceptional athletes are skilled at managing it, allowing them to thrive in the most critical moments.