I had two long term coaches, Howard Bennett a Master Professional and Jane Forrest, a past tour player. The combination of both has gifted me with experience and an opinion from both sides.
The fundamentals of golf will never change, however, how they are talked about and taught differs massively from coach to coach.
I see my role as the sounding board, the go-between ball and player. A coach is not with you on the golf course so it’s my place to guide you and teach you to teach yourself; self-discovery is your most efficient form of learning. One of my greatest moments in my golf career was preceded by one of the toughest lessons in my career. The week before I won my first tour event in 1993 I had to disqualify myself whilst playing in the Women's British Open, there had been a storm delay, the round eventually took about 9 hours to complete and still to this day I'm not sure how it got by but in correcting one whole where the marker of my card got wrong the second mistake slipped the net, the delay happened on the 14th hole at Woburn. My scores on the 14th and 15th got mixed up and it meant that I had signed for the wrong score, one less. However, I didn't realise until the following morning and seeing it in the paper, then on the scoreboard, at which point I took myself off to the tournament directors cabin and disqualified myself, because I knew I had scored one more than had been posted. Now, this whole devastating experience undoubtedly was the reason why I ended up winning the immediate Ladies European Tour event the follwing week. It took many years to understand what altered in my thinking that week in Sweden, my attention switched from making good golf swings, to dealing with this indescribeable pain from the previous week. It took me away from getting in my own way.
You learned to walk, drive a car, speak, brush your teeth – you probably had guidance initially but you had to learn the skill! You undertake these tasks every day and you repeat them, successfully.
Golf...now it’s not life and death to you and it is likely not putting food on your table as it was mine.
We neglect to learn the skill, we aren’t disciplined enough because it’s not going to get us involved in a car accident, or break a leg if we can’t walk, or lose our teeth because we’ve not brushed them!!
Making sense so far? Good, listen carefully folks.
Why would you try to control a movement that’s over in less than 2 seconds travelling at great speed?
To perform well hitting a ball has to be a subconscious act. If you’re trying to control movement, you’re in a conscious state which makes golf very difficult.
‘Lose control to gain control’ is one of my key beliefs. You have to give up control of the swing in order to gain control of the ball.
So what can I do to help:
- REDUCE YOUR SCORES
- LOWER YOUR HANDICAP
- HIT THE BALL FURTHER
- ENJOY IT MORE
- FEARLESS
- FEEL LESS ANXIOUS
We will work on EVERYTHING you do before you start to swing the club.
The two biggest foundations required, are your GRIP and your POSTURE.
You're grip because it’s the only thing you have in contact with the golf club and your posture because this will allow the BIG muscles in your body to work efficiently and produce effortless power.
These basic principles will allow you to swing the golf club in a repeatable, consistent fashion.
PRE-SHOT ROUTINE is also a necessary component so that your good grip, great posture, fab alignment, can work best for you.
You will not see one ELITE GOLFER without a pre-shot routine that rarely differs. Fact. It’s not a coincidence, it’s because IT WORKS.
We will use a range of mental techniques to improve learning, performance and enjoyment.
We will look into how we can build your CONFIDENCE and TRUST and what underpins this.
Knowledge builds confidence and confidence removes fear and anxiety which can paralyse any golfer.
You will learn the skill of playing golf with a vacant mind, feeling calm and serene. This, in turn, will:
- REDUCE YOUR SCORES
- LOWER YOUR HANDICAP
- HIT THE BALL FURTHER
- ENJOY IT MORE
- FEARLESS
- FEEL LESS ANXIOUS
Lora coaching qualifications include:
- TPI Level 1 Certified
- Golfing Mind Practitioner
- Instinctive Golf Certified
- Mind Factor Mindfulness Certified
- PGA Level 2 license
My Everest Analogy
I wake up tomorrow and decide I’d like to climb Everest!!
Do I just focus on reaching the top?
My only thought is the image of me stood by the famous landmark at the peak of Everest.
Is just that super strong mental attitude going to pull me through??
Do I just book my flight the following day, pack a few extra warm clothes, buy some thick gloves?
No, of course not. There are many things I have to do before I can even sit on that plane and golf is very much the same.
Break your golf down into bite-size pieces; it’s too overwhelming otherwise. Elite golfers don’t set out every season and say they are going to win 5 titles. Their approach is to improve every part of their game, which in turn lowers their scores.
My Key Beliefs
‘'Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I will learn’' – Benjamin Franklin
‘’Believing and trusting yourself in life and on a golf course, are critical factors of leading a contented life’’
‘’A club golfer off 20 handicaps will be required to play around 25 finesse shots (bunkers, pitching, chipping) during 18 holes of golf. Ask yourself if you proportion enough of your practice to this area of your game??’’
''A master of anything was first a master of how we learn''
''The more you resist, the more you strengthen'' - Karl Morris
''Your body/mind will organise itself faced with a clear intention''. Ever wonder why we pull off the Seve shot when faced with a unusual challenge? We stop the over thinking of how to swing a golf club, we put the attention in a better served place.
Lora Fairclough Golf
Testimonials
'' So good I did it twice! And now signed up for next year. Lora provided a focused but relaxed week of golf. I needed a re-boot after lockdown and always need improvement. As a lone participant who didn’t know any of the other woman, I was quickly reassured and befriended. I was also concerned about the restrictions health conditions posed but Lora embraced these and designed the week so that I was fully included. I had a great time, met fabulous women AND improved my game. Last time I went my handicap dropped by 10. I’m expecting the same this time.
Lorraine Trenchard - hcp 35
I just wanted to thank you for a fabulous teaching holiday in Costa Navarino, Greece. The resort was 1st class and the golf courses stunning.
The organisation from start to finish was second to none, and you manage to incorporate fun and great company with lessons and personal tuition effortlessly. (although I realise it was a lot of hard work behind the scenes).
You’re a star!
Jakki Slack
Absolutely love Lora’s coaching holidays, best way to accelerate your game and meeting new golf friends, can’t wait for the next holiday.
Debbie Holland
What a wonderful trip despite the cyclone! Lora's organisation was superb and her work behind the scenes to make our stay so memorable must have been endless. Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius was a fantastic resort and we shall certainly look forward to returning in the future, hopefully, to enjoy better weather. The place is a little bit of heaven on earth. The staff were so welcoming and accommodating, the food varied and high quality. Our room was spacious and we had a nice patio that made easy access to the beautiful gardens, restaurants, pools and beach. Our golf coaching sessions were enjoyable and fun. Again Lora was amazing in the trouble she took to give us all group and individual coaching with the benefit of her expertise and valuable experience. It was a great pity that the weather was so unkind that we couldn't play all the golf we had hoped to, but we could see the calibre of the courses despite the torrential rain and wind. We were so lucky to have met such a great group of ladies to share our holiday with and through all the difficulties that the Cyclone Berguitta threw at us we were able to sail through with the humour, high spirits ( the bars were extremely welcoming ) and Lora at the helm guiding and reassuring us all. Thank you so much, everyone, we are looking forward to our next trip together.
Fran & Gill
Having been a struggling 16 handicap golfer I was frustrated that things were going backwards.
A friend of a friend recommended Lora to give me a few lessons. The judges Strictly insist that the contestants cannot perform till their frame and posture are correct. For the first time in a golf lesson, this was the same observation by Lora about a(my) golf swing.
It's uncanny that Lora can spot any flaw or a bad habit you may have picked up There is no hiding place. Golf lessons are fun and I always leave feeling motivated and hopeful. I am enjoying golf again thanks to Lora
Roger
Hey, Lora, these lessons you give us are amazing mainly because you make it so easy to enjoy them and we go home wanting to do the lessons again and again and then when it comes to lesson time we want it to go on forever. She is also so supportive when you are not feeling above the moon and will cheer you up no matter what. So If anyone wants to learn golf and have fun at the same time I highly recommend Lora. She is in my opinion the best teacher you could ask for.