Assistant Golf Professional
Golf Academy Teaching Professional

Don Parker is glad to be back for his second season: eager to resume his teaching, his own game, and his new responsibilities as Manager of Outside Services here at Sportsman's.

This past winter has given Don new insights to his work as a golf professional. "Among my chief goals this year is simply to cultivate happiness. My personal playing goal is simply not to get upset with myself on the course." Don believes the two greatest challenges facing golfers currently are keep a positive attitude and making committed choices with each shot. People come here to enjoy golf-not always easy to do and for many different reasons. "I look forward to exploring how to make the most of where we are, so that we can get to where we want to be as golfers and as people.

Don approaches teaching from the perspective that there are many factors to the swing, but simplifying our approach to how and why we swing the club is critical to a good learning process. "A good golf swing involves finding the easiest way to bring the club around the body and return it squarely and solidly through impact ("easiest" does not mean "laziest"!) and to participate fully in each shot. "If you make decisions and stick to them, then you can take credit for the great shots you hit-and you can learn better from the not-so-great shots. Frustration arises easily from not giving something you care about your best effort and then wishing you'd tried harder...or smarter."

Don feels that anyone who is willing to seek help with their golf game deserves his best efforts to help them. With a degree in Education, ten years' experience in teaching and coaching in public schools, and continued personal research in learning theory, Don is ready and eager to help each player find their own style in their golf swing, as well as to help learners improve at learning,.

This winter was a time of regrouping for Don, during which he pursued his other interests, including taking a creative writing class, resuming his work as a wine educator, and breaking ground in other entrepreneurial curiosities. Now it is time to get back to the golf world, and Don is glad that it is happening for him at Sportsman's.

Don can be reached here at Sportsman's, (847) 291-2351, extension "0" for the clubhouse. You can also contact him at his email, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or on his cell phone at (773) 732-6430.