Golf Gurus

Chris Foley Golf Schools, Brainerd
(chrisfoleygolf.com)

The Game: Making golf more fun through a holistic teaching approach in an idyllic setting.

The Pro: Chris Foley, a 2002 Minnesota PGA Teacher of the year, leads the team of golf instructors at Chris Foley Golf Schools.

The Dance Floor: The four courses at Madden’s Resort on Gull Lake in Brainerd. The resort established the first 18-hole golf course in Minnesota in 1926, and in 1997, one of its courses, the Classic, was ranked number three in North America by Golf Digest for best new upscale public course. Although Foley spends most of the summer teaching at Madden’s, he does travel to other courses depending on client need. In winter, he leads groups to resorts in warmer climates, a definite plus for chilblained executives.

Chris Foley Golf Schools combines custom design with a full-service program. For corporate groups, the school can accommodate up to twelve people. “We do everything from one-hour clinics with individual instruction to three-day golf schools,” Foley says. This summer, the golf school will also feature a series of women’s-only and couples golf lessons.

The corporate program includes a full-swing short game, on-course instruction, golf fitness, instruction on the mental side of the game, club-fitting, course management, and golf etiquette. All instructors go through extensive training in  the Foley method on top of   their own training as golf instructors, Foley says, “so that whether the client is with me or with any of the other instructors, they’re going to get great results.”

In addition to digital swing- and putting-analysis tools, Foley Golf Schools use Launch Monitor Club Fitting technology, which measures ball speed, launch angle, backspin, side-spin, and push-pull angle. “Using ball flight data, a golfer can be fit into a golf club that optimizes distance,” Foley says. “This is by far the most sophisticated and efficient way to get a driver that will truly improve your game.” Clients leave with a DVD of their swing with comments to study at home.