Deane Beman is not only designing golf courses, but players to play them

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – You’ve probably heard this from me before, but the biggest problem with retaining golfers isn’t that golf takes too long or is too expensive; it’s just that it’s often too difficult and frustrating.

With that said, there are a number of programs out there designed to introduce golf to newcomers and even help them learn the game, but how many of them promise a certain level of success?

Well, today after playing golf at the thoroughly enjoyable Cannon Ridge Golf Club in the Celebrate Virginia development, head professional Bart Wolfe explained a relatively new program called Deane Beman’s 6/90 Golf Instructional Program.

The former PGA Tour commissioner is one of the co-designers of Cannon Ridge, along with Bobby Weed. Beman has designed a golf instructional program that will give students all the tools necessary to shoot in the 90s within six months.

“Do you know what the average score is for a golfer who has only been playing about six months?” Wolfe asked. “About 125.”

Which makes Beman’s program amazing if it gets the results it promises. After all, that’s 35 strokes better than average, and the program is able to accomplish that by focusing on all the critical skills necessary to enjoy the game.

In other words, players who shoot 125 typically have no chance at executing many basic shots. They may not be able to get it out of bunker; two-putt the majority of greens, hit a chip or short pitch shot or even reach most par 4s in three, much less two.

To shoot 90, you don’t have to be great at any of these skills, but reasonably competent in all of them, and the 6/90 program teaches each of those skills in an organized, systematic manner. No student is left behind.

The program consists of 10 instruction sessions, 17 hours of golf instruction and classroom, practice range and on-course sessions. The teaching focuses on success, not failures, to create a positive experience.

Most of all, though, it focuses on having fun, and players who can shoot 90 as opposed to 125 are going to have a lot more of that.