December 18th 2024.
When Rosie Morton, a self-proclaimed hacker, decided she wanted to improve her swing, she turned to the head golf pro at Dalmahoy, Scott Dixon. As we made our way to the driving range, Scott asked me about my experience with other sports. I replied that I had played rowing, although I couldn't see how a water sport that seemed borderline masochistic related to golf, which I considered a more refined activity. Scott smiled and asked me how I learned to row in a straight line. I joked that after falling in once, every bone in my body told me not to repeat my mistake. Scott nodded in agreement, and then he shared with me his message: in any sport, whether it be tennis, hockey, cricket, golf, or rowing, our bodies naturally adjust, correct, and fine-tune our movements. At least, that's the theory. Scott believed that by tapping into my intuition, my aim would improve by the end of our first session.
I was a bit skeptical, to be honest. Scott didn't know that the last time I picked up a golf club, I nearly gave an unsuspecting passerby a bad haircut by slicing the ball in the wrong direction. Was it just a lack of practice? Would Scott notice some strange movement in my swing that I could correct? Or maybe my old clubs were to blame for my subpar results? Needless to say, I knew Scott had his work cut out for him.
But despite my doubts, I was ready to listen and learn. After all, I was standing in Dalmahoy's 12-bay floodlit driving range with a renowned golf guru. Scott's modesty didn't fool me - I knew he had over 40 years of experience, with 30 of those as a professional golfer. He fell in love with the sport as a youngster and worked his way up the ranks before becoming a coach for golfers of all levels, from beginners to elite players. I was in good hands.
Scott started our session with a driver. I positioned myself, waiting for his signal to hit the ball as hard as I could. But instead, he walked about ten yards in front of me and set down a hula hoop. "Try to hit the ball into the hoop," he said. I'm sure my expression was priceless. Confused, I adjusted my stance and took a slow, low swing. It wasn't the prettiest swing, and the ball didn't quite make it into the hoop, but it was close. To my surprise, after a few more attempts, I managed to land the ball perfectly in the center of the ring. Scott then moved the hoop further and further away, and each time, my aim improved.
"But it'll take you five days to play 18 holes like that!" you may exclaim. And you're probably right. But Scott had already proven his point - I had the ability to aim. My brain, combined with my body's natural readjustment, had successfully directed the ball into the hula hoop. "You have to earn the right to hit it 150 yards," Scott said with a smile.
Scott had plenty more teaching tricks up his sleeve, including using miniature driver heads and boxing mitts. As unconventional as they may seem, each tip he gave me was simple yet incredibly effective. His teaching style focused on developing my own unique technique and, above all, having fun while doing it.
Golf can be intimidating, especially for beginners. The rules, etiquette, dress code, and formalities can be overwhelming for those just starting their golfing journey. Even for seasoned golfers, reigniting a passion for the sport after years of playing can seem impossible. But by throwing out the rulebook and standing in that driving bay, I felt just as excited as I did when I first held a golf club.
As our last session came to an end, I tried out my new stance, which was further back from the tee than I was used to. Scott asked me to aim left, right, and straight towards the 50-yard mark. I may not be challenging Tiger Woods anytime soon, but I was pleased with my progress. My lessons with Scott were not only informative but also incredibly enjoyable. And even though the competitive side of me didn't like being told to hold back and not hit the ball as far as I could, I knew Scott was right.
"I've never looked back," he said, explaining that he changed his own golf swing about 20 years ago. And to prove it, the right-handed golf pro hit a left-handed shot with one of my clubs. I watched in awe as the ball flew well past the 150-yard mark. The proof was in the pudding.
Dalmahoy is hoping to attract more women, men, and children to golf with their new "Learn To Play" package. To book an introductory 90-minute lesson with Scott or sign up for the full program, visit the Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club website. And for more outdoor activities, check out Scottish Field's Outdoors pages.
As I looked out at the 9th fairway of the East Course at Dalmahoy, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to learn from such a skilled and passionate teacher. Scott Dixon had not only improved my swing, but he had also reignited my love for golf. And for that, I will always be grateful.
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