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Who is Bohlmann Golf?
My name is John Bohlmann. I am the founder and director of Bohlmann Golf. I've been teaching the game of golf for roughly 8 years now and I'm happy to say that I've enjoyed some fine success as a golf instructor. I wasn't always a golf instructor; however, and I want to share a bit of my story with you so you may get to know me even before starting lessons with me.
About 10 years ago I made a decision to change my field of focus and switched from a short-lived career as an engineer, to become a golf professional. I gave myself only 2 years to make it happen, and that meant I needed to make progress fast. I woke up early every day, exercised and headed off to the golf course to hit balls, practice my short game and play as many holes as possible before heading off to work. I took a winter in Florida to work at a country club in Bradenton and continued to practice. After just one year I was able to break par. I was thrilled. I decided to take the playing test that all PGA professionals have to pass in order to claim professional status. I failed. I did not let the failure derail me, so I practiced more and tried again. I missed the score needed to pass by 1 shot! After the second try I continued to practice and then I missed again by 1 shot. After a couple of close missed attempts, I was frustrated but didn't give up. I hadn't passed my 2 year point so I continued to practice with the help of my mentors Billy Wolfe Jr and Sr. Just before the 2nd year had passed, I attempted the test again and I passed! I had done it. In 2 years I was able to shape my game from a regular 90's shooter down to par golf and to pass the seemingly impossible playing ability test. I was a "pro".
I worked for a short time at a local driving range where I learned all about club fitting and sales. I was asked by my mentor to take over the teaching position that he had held for nearly 25 years and I accepted. While teaching, I continued to practice and play and after 1 more year I was able to shoot some very low scores. I tried a couple of times to qualify for the US open and the local PGA Tour event, at that time called the Kemper Open. Each of those times I did not qualify, but I always learned something about the game and about myself.
I continued to teach and to learn more about the game and compete in local events. I placed in the top ten a few times and one time I held first place only to have the tournament be rained out before it was 'official'. I had shot 66 with a 5 under par front nine! That 'loss' was quite a disappointment. Shortly after, as I was practicing martial arts, I sustained a hamstring injury that changed my perspective completely. It became difficult to make a powerful swing and I was sore after even attempting. I needed to get some help rebuilding. As fate stepped in I met Scott Donroe, a physical therapist who specialized in training athletes in Rockville, MD. He was working with Body Balance for Performance at the time and started me on the path to recovery; a path which would turn out to be a great learning process. While working with Scott, I studied body mechanics (being an engineer by schooling, I found this intriguing) and learned a lot about body training from him.
During this time I couldn't play much golf and fate stepped in again and I met the woman who later became my wife. We now have a lovely daughter together. I always believe that life has its way of setting things in the right place at the right time.
Soon I was able to make good progress in rebuilding my physical structure, but getting the swing motion in place was not as easy. This rebuilding process took me through many hours of physical training with mental training accompanying. I began to intensify my interest in the practice of yoga at this time and soon became aware that yoga was of great value to a golfer (or anyone wanted physical fitness). It quickly became part of my regular workout routine. The physical and mental exercise received in the vinyasa style of yoga brought myself, Scott, and the Sacred Space Yoga studio owner, Kim Groark together to create Golf Flow™ a golf-specific version of a yoga class.
Coming to experience a powerful swing again I realized that my teaching was going to be even more effective than it already was, and my swing was going to be more reliable too.
I often ask myself "what makes a coach good"? and "what do I offer my students that makes me a good coach?" To answer this I have listed the characteristics that I believe not only make for a good coach but make me the coach I am:
- Caring for the success of others
- Patience in knowing "it's all a process"
- Keen listening skills
- Sharp intuition
- Open-mindedness and a spiritual viewpoint
- A positive outlook on life
- Engineering and Bio-mechanical training to understand the structure of the motion
- Physical training experience with golf-specific exercises
- Understanding of the psychological aspects of performance and learning
- Interest in the growth of the individual and not just in the results
- Personal experiences of success and failure in the area of expertise
- Willingness and ability to coach all levels of expertise from the beginner to the top performer
All of these characteristics are summarized for you as an individual when you come to me for a lesson. I hope to share some of these experiences with you as my student in the near future
John
My teaching philosophy
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