Kent Tarkleson, Peak Performance Golf Owner, and Director of Instruction of the Peak Performance Golf Academy at Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs, NY, has joined the ranks of only 6 PGA professionals in New York State to have earned specialty certification in teaching golf. Of the more than 28,000 members of the PGA, a select group of only 81 professionals nationwide have earned such certification, the PGA's highest level of achievement for instructors.
Launched in August 2004, the PGA Certified Professional Program is a career-enhancing educational curriculum that supports the goals of PGA Professionals who are committed to continuously enhancing their various skills in order to stay ahead of the increasing demands of the industry.
Tarkleson, a TPI Certified Golf Fitness Instructor, KZG Master Club Fitter and PCS Accredited Class A Clubmaker, is currently offering winter game improvement programs from his studio in Greenfield Center, NY. Committed to utilizing the latest information and technology available to enhance his instructional ability and improve the games of his clients, Tarkleson uses state of the art SwingView Pro video capturing software to record a golfer’s swing from two angles. The video software integrates with a P3ProSwing path analyzer that tells exactly what the club is doing as it swings through the impact zone. He also uses a Zelocity Launch Monitor to capture ball flight data, speed and spin rates, which enables him to identify the specific equipment characteristics that will maximize a players potential.
Understanding that physical limitations can make it difficult if not impossible for a student to accomplish what they are being asked to do during instruction, Tarkleson conducts a comprehensive physical screening to identify any physical limitations a student may have, and correlates these findings to the their individual swing tendencies. A custom “web-based” golf conditioning program is then designed to address these limitations and improve physical performance.
“The winter season can be a great time to get your game in shape and learn how to change troublesome swing flaws” says Tarkleson. “It is also a great time to lengthen and strengthen those golf muscles that are crucial to developing a consistent and powerful swing. Training in a controlled environment is very conducive to adjusting swing motions and improving technique. By training with the proper grip, posture and alignment, players can quickly develop a more fundamentally sound setup. Removing the stimulus of ball flight allows golfers too focus more on mechanics. They learn to feel and ingrain new motions through the use of drills and teaching aids while eliminating the swing compensations they make due to undesirable ball flight.”
For more information about Winter Game Improvement Programs, or Golf Academy Programs at Saratoga National Golf Club, please call Peak Performance Golf at (518) 301-0791 or visit their website at www.peakperformancegolf.org.
