Tim Flotte - Member Spotlight
Tim Flotte, PGA
Assistant Professional | San Antonio Country Club
ADM Certified and Specialized in Coaching and Teaching
How have you implemented the American Developmental Model (ADM) at your facility?
At San Antonio Country Club, our golf professional staff conducts multiple junior programs (Sneakers and Cleats, TPI and Team Golf) that use various amounts of ADM programming incorporated into each class. Our juniors range from 4 to 14 years old, which allows us to incorporate the entire range of programming that the model describes. Our younger junior classes, Sneaker and Cleats and TPI, begin with ADM based exercise at the beginning of class to get the golfers ready to play. Whereas our older class, Team Golf, will incorporate more intense speed correlated ADM exercises and some Mach3 speed basics into their stations now that our golfers are a bit bigger and stronger.
What differences have you seen at your facility and with your students since utilizing the ADM model?
Since implementing the ADM model into our junior programming we have seen a significant increase not only in the distance our juniors can hit the ball, but they have been excelling in the other sports they participate in as well. In addition, this spring we had a total of 8 juniors make their middle school golf teams and the scores during our monthly golf events have gotten substantially better.
How do you see ADM affecting the future of sports?
I believe the use of ADM will continue to influence the trend of successful multi-sport athletes. Golf in particular will continue to see the trend of juniors being ready for championship golf at a young age. Our latest example is Will Zalatoris who's athletic ability allows him to rank top 25 in driving distance at only 165lbs and this week emerged fourteen year old Chloe Kovelesky who is leading the field in driving distance at the US Women's Open. I believe there will be another surge in not only golf but sports where athletes will push the boundaries and elevate the physicality that is required to compete at a premier level.
Why would you encourage someone to obtain the ADM certificate through the PGA of America?
I would tell anyone considering whether they should obtain the ADM certificate through the PGA of America that it is very beneficial to their development as a teacher. At the end of the day it is about the kids and by learning about the American Development Model it will make the juniors better. The bonus is as a teacher understanding this model will help you frame your mind to look into long term development of preparing your students for long term success.
How was your experience completing the PGA of America continuing education program and becoming a Specialized Professional?
I had a very positive experience becoming a specialized professional and the outcomes are everything I was hoping it would be. I have always enjoyed growing the game through teaching and this education program helped me understand how to build the framework for player development programming. In addition, at the beginning of the program I was just looking to become a better PGA professional and ended up with a great mentor in PGA Tour instructor Mario Bevilacqua.
What aspects of this program did you find interesting?
The part of the program that I enjoyed the most was the actual project you have to conduct in order to become a specialized professional. The program provided me the opportunity to build a program that not only provided value to my facility at the time, TPC Summerlin, but tested my abilities as a teacher to design, plan and execute a program that works!
What is one thing that sticks out that you learned while going through the process?
What sticks out to me the most is how true the statement Bill Cioffoletti always made during PGA Seminars that learning truly never stops. I developed something very valuable for TPC Summerlin to use and am able to take that expertise with me wherever I go. Now I have the opportunity to mold it to the needs of my new facility and continue to develop it into something better with the help of my Director of Golf, Jim Nittoli.
How have you implemented what you learned on a day-to-day basis? How do you feel that being Specialized in Coaching & Teaching has strengthened you as a PGA professional?
I am lucky to be at a facility where junior programs are heavily supported by the membership. We have three junior programs that we operate on weekly bases and that has given me the opportunity to constantly plan and build opportunities to teach the game of golf. I believe through the process of becoming Specialized in Coaching & Teaching I have created immense value as an employee but I am a much more well rounded instructor.
Why would you encourage others to complete the continuing education program?
I would tell anybody looking to start any of the education programs that not only will it make them a more valuable PGA professional to their facility but it will assist in the security of golf's future. At the end of the day we all want the same thing and that is to promote the game of golf and ensure opportunities for future generations of golfers. These specialization programs are where the future of best practices will be tested and developed for the benefit of every facility and golfers all over the world.
In what ways has completing the continuing education program benefited you as a PGA Professional?
Completing this program has not only made me more valuable to my facility but I have also become a much better teacher for my current and future students. It has provided me opportunities to enhance my abilities as a teacher and find ways to develop golfers in a much more organized manner.
Do you plan to further your continuing education by becoming a Certified Professional?
I absolutely plan on continuing my education to become a Certified Professional. What I have learned since the completion of the program in Las Vegas is that between now and when I am eligible to become a Certified Professional there will be lots of discoveries. I certainly want to make sure to organize what I have learned with my golf community here in San Antonio in a form that will benefit PGA professionals everywhere.
What is your favorite golf memory?
My favorite golf memory is the first time I played a premier private facility, Quail Hollow Country Club, in North Carolina with my dad. I wasn't a golfer at the time, but on the 18th hole I hit what I would consider my first true golf shot, and I can picture that moment as clear as day. The ball flew high, straight and with a little bit of a draw right into the center of the fairway. Now, over a decade later and having watched the Wells Fargo Championship numerous times it's unbelievable I hit that shot with how challenging that hole plays every single year on the PGA Tour.
What is a course on your bucket list?
Bandon Dunes Golf Course
What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to spend my free time going to the beach with my wife Sarah and our three dogs.
If you weren’t a PGA Member, what would your profession be?
If I wasn't a PGA Member I would have probably gone to college to become a high school P.E. or History teacher.
If you could play a round of golf with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Why?
If I could play golf with anyone it would be Arnold Palmer because he embodies everything that I stand for as a PGA professional. I think spending an afternoon on the course would be full of great golf and laughter. In addition, I’m certain there would be many life lessons from just being around someone who has dedicated their life to being around and growing the game!
