It was a pleasure earlier this month to welcome a legend in golf instruction, Andy Plummer, to Irish soil for the first time in his career!
To add some important context for those not familiar with Andy and his standing in the coaching industry, Andy is one half of the founding duo of Stack & Tilt, along with his fellow American coach Mike Bennett. Together, the pair have designed a system for teaching and playing golf, built on a three-dimensional description of the swing.
Andy and Mike prominently rose to fame in the golf teaching scene upon releasing their instructional book which was followed up with a highly comprehensive DVD series further detailing their system Stack & Tilt, which challenged much of the status quo at the time all the while proving to be successful at the highest levels of the game.
Together with Bennett, Andy has guided 7 Professionals to achieving their first win on the PGA Tour, along with also mentoring Major Championship winners in Masters champion Mike Weir and PGA Championship winner Steve Elkington, whom achieved a noteworthy victory over Tiger Woods at the 2007 Presidents Cup under Plummer’s tutelage.
My first introduction to Stack & Tilt was back in 2017, from my mentor at the time, PGA Professional Stephen Ennis. During my time working at Balcarrick Golf Club as Steve’s assistant, he guided me greatly in my pursuit to learn as much as I possibly could, amid my obsession of reaching my full potential as a coach. Stephen’s coaching journey and life was very sadly cut short as he unfortunately left us far too soon in a battle to cancer.
I am grateful for so much of what Steve thought me that has shaped me as a person and as a PGA Professional today. A very fortunate opportunity early on in my teaching career afforded to me via Stephen’s mentorship, was an introduction to a network of truly top class instructors as he kindly put me in touch with his fellow experts in the Stack & Tilt worldwide community of coaches, which led to me travelling abroad on multiple occasions to connect and pick the brains of some of the brightest minds in our industry.
Having spent years researching, studying and delivering coaching to students utilising the S&T system, it was a pleasure to welcome Andy to Ireland and help him in sharing his wealth of knowledge. Collaborating with elite coach and Galway native David Ruddy as the two sole current Irish S&T certified instructors, together we had a jam packed three-day consecutive run of major events for Andy as soon as he touched down in Dublin airport!
The action kicked off with a weekend full of back-to-back sold-out coaching days. Saturday 14th June seen Andy and I team up at the Mullingar Golf Academy to deliver instruction to two separate half day groups, 4 hours in duration per session, which we strictly limited to a maximum of three students in each group as to maximise the learning experience for all on the day.
The day was an incredible learning experience providing some of my regular students the opportunity to learn directly from Andy as he broke down the Stack & Tilt system in detail as we spent the 8 hours in total together diligently applying his concepts.
Some key elements of the integration process included in-depth one-on-one evaluations, video and photo analysis along with the students enjoying full use of the practice facility on the day outside of their designated lesson period, to continue to engrain the newly acquired technique upgrades. It was a fantastic day coaching alongside Andy and it was a pleasure to have David Ruddy join us on the day as a special guest, his support and insights on the day added real value throughout the sessions. I thoroughly look forward to further building upon progress made on the day with each of the students involved in the event.
Day two of the Stack & Tilt Irish Tour, Sunday 15th June, brought us to the stunning Slieve Russell Country Club which featured the same comprehensive coaching format of delivery, this time with the duo of Andy and David as the pair hammered in the details of the system to David’s students in the Co. Cavan resort as I worked the video analysis camera for the day.
A busy and thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all which consisted of two high calibre groups of students, which all improved their ball striking prowess and no doubt will continue to go from strength to strength as their changes become more engrained with their work with David post their day with Andy.
As Monday 16th June rolled around, we made the return to Slieve Russell and it was far from a case of the Monday blues for anyone involved in what was lined up for the exciting day ahead. Golf coaches from across the country along with coaches who took the effort to make the journey in from overseas, eagerly arrived for an educational day in the classroom with Andy, assisted by David and I, as Andy delivered an instructor education day.
The days learning was comprised of both a theory and practical element, detailing the origin, inner workings and the application of the Stack & Tilt system for instructors, which was followed by a subsequent exam for coaches new to the system and seeking to enter the network. The education day concluded Stack & Tilt’s inaugural Irish tour, which I am very proud to have been a part of and look forward future hosting’s in the years to come.
For those reading this blog and keen to take their game to the next level. Contact Seán and take action today.
In-Person coaching is provided at The SMG Studio (Kilcock), The Halpenny Golf Driving Range (beside Dublin airport) and Online Coaching via Skillest as per the links below:
Seán Marks PGA Professional
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