The Professor’s Ponderings

December 2025

2026. Almost there. We just have a few more days of 2025. Some people relish the coming days. Others endure them. For some people that decision is made for them.

December 2025

This week’s entry is late by choice and design, not by happenstance. For one, I really enjoy writing these when I travel. For some reason, sitting in an airport really helps me write.

December 2025

Alright, I think we’ve officially hit that time of year here in Fayetteville, NC. And it came almost as quickly as you can flip a light switch. Cold.

December 2025

How many of you remember the movie Limitless with Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro? It came out in 2011 so almost fifteen years ago.

November 2025

This week’s entry is going to be short. Not because I don’t feel like writing, but because it doesn’t need to be long. I’m going to set something straight.

November 2025

This week has been full of highs and lows. I took five Methodist University PGA Golf Management students down to Milton, Georgia to compete in the PGA University Championship at…

November 2025

This is one of those weeks that I really struggle with. I don’t like the attention. That’s not why I did it. I did it because I love my country.

November 2025

As a golf instructor and movement specialist, I am always evaluating how people move in their golf swing. Sometimes that’s a blessing.

October 2025

Oof. As I sit here after the first round of the PGA Playing Ability Test (PAT) at the Methodist University Golf Course, I’m worn out. I’m excited. I’m frustrated. I’m proud.

October 2025

My friend Barry sent this to me on Instagram. With the PAT this weekend at Methodist, I thought it was appropriate to get those students in the right mindset.

October 2025

“Motion is lotion.” I’d be very surprised if any of you haven’t heard that before. Most of you probably understand that moving is one of the best things we can do for ourselves.

October 2025

I am so pumped right now. There I am just minding my own business on a Saturday evening watching Skeleton Crew on Disney+ with Shelby.

September 2025

Well, this is not the circumstances I wanted to be writing in this week. Granted the result I predicted is more than likely going to happen, but still.

September 2025

This past week is one of the biggest weeks of the year in the golf instruction world here in the U.S. It’s the week to find out how you stack up according to your peers.

September 2025

Golf is such a misunderstood game. The biggest misunderstanding that I see? Thinking that having a “more consistent” or “more repeatable” swing will mean you will play better golf.

September 2025

It’s that time of year again. We’ve been braving the last few months waiting for it to arrive. Pumpkin spice is back at Dunkin’s! O wait. That’s definitely not it.

September 2025

On my last deployment, we got to camp early in the year. On off nights, it wasn’t uncommon for groups of us to gather in the “Mdub”, short for MWR, short for Morale, Welfare and…

August 2025

You never know when someone or something will come along that can absolutely change your life.

August 2025

I’ve been thinking about what to write about this week and still really haven’t make a decision.

August 2025

It was sometime in my first year as a student as Methodist and I was done. I don’t remember exactly what day it was, but I can remember that it was slightly cooler with gray overcast…

August 2025

The Combat Water Survival Assessment is completed at Camp Rogers on Fort Benning, Georgia during the Ranger Assessment Phase (RAP) of Ranger School.

July 2025

You will never guess where I am right now? Ok, yeah. I’m in an airport again. This time dropping my daughter back off and waiting for my flight back to North Carolina.

July 2025

09 September 2013. I remember very little details about that morning. The first half of the day I know what happened, but that’s because of all the experience I would gain over the…

July 2025

I tell you what. Max Homa is right. Social media “is an awful, awful place.” I’m not agreeing with Max because my social media presence is pitiful.

July 2025

Apparently, golf is boring. There are four people and two cats in my house right now. Everyone was awake when I turned on the John Deere Classic and now there is only one person still…

June 2025

Well, it’s time to write again, and again, I find myself in an airport. This time headed to Kansas City for Shelby’s cousin’s wedding.

June 2025

I have a confession to make. I’m a hypocrite. Now before you completely write me off, please hear me out. It’s really not as bad as it sounds.

June 2025

This past weekend has been a whirlwind. But very relaxing. A relaxing whirlwind. Fairly paradoxical, but entirely possibly.

June 2025

So, a couple of years ago when I was still working at Highland, my boss showed me a video of Terrence Howard talking about how 1 x 1 = 2.

June 2025

Today I want to do something different. As many of you know, I have an Instagram account. I’m not going to say it’s an amazing page to follow or that I have any idea about what I’m…

May 2025

Today’s entry will be short and most of it not written by me. Today is a somber day for me as every Memorial Day is.

May 2025

A lot has happened in my world since I last wrote one of these. I’ll be honest, I wrote last week’s entry a couple weeks ago knowing my schedule probably wouldn’t permit me time to…

May 2025

Early on in my golf career I was looking to be more of a fitter than a teacher. Rather than be a teacher who fits, I planned to be a fitter who teaches.

May 2025

Before the 16th century, people believed that the earth was the center of the universe. Multiple Greek and Roman scholars had postulated different models of the universe as early as…

April 2025

Rules. Life is full of them. Rules in the classroom: Raise your hand if you have a question. Family rules: if you’re going to act like a wild child, go outside.

April 2025

I never thought when I started this journey into golf instruction that I would be where I am today. I’m not talking about in the geographical sense.

April 2025

Sometimes the hardest thing to do when writing these Ponderings is how to start. I remember Mr.

April 2025

Lately I have been doing a lot of abnormal things. Probably doesn’t surprise any of you who know me pretty well. I’m kind of abnormal. The polite ones among you might call me “quirky”.

March 2025

Professional golf is in such a crappy place right now. The PGA Tour vs. LIV conflict has been raging for almost three years now.

March 2025

“Rotation of the body is your enemy right now.” I actually wrote that in a post lesson wrap up in CoachNow recently. And yes, I was talking about the golf swing.

March 2025

For those of you who know me well, the idea that I’m a big fan of science shouldn’t come as a shock. And not just biomechanics and physics, all sciences.

March 2025

Problems. We’ve all got them. Back in 2004, Jay-Z had 99 problems. If we were honest with ourselves, we’ve all probably said, “if I just didn’t have X problem, life would be so much…

March 2025

This week’s Professor’s Ponderings looks a little different. Rather than write my thoughts out, I built a visual representation of the many decisions that go into playing each shot you…

February 2025

I can’t tell you how thankful I am for all of you. I started this journey writing just letting my thoughts flow out through the keyboard and onto the page.

February 2025

So far in our miniseries on growth, learning and maturation we have discussed two of the three ways these happen.

February 2025

In our last entry, my brain decided to open up on the opportunities we are given to grow through pain and hurt.

February 2025

Growth. Learning. Maturation. Those three words are the reason that you are here. Or maybe I should say that they should be. Plenty of kids choose to go to college for other reasons.

January 2025

When I first started this venture, I told you that I think a lot. Nothing about that has changed. But lately what I think about has changed.

January 2025

Alright, it’s time for the largest gathering of golf professionals in the world. The PGA Show is one of my favorite times of the year.

January 2025

Well, here we are. Day one of a brand-new semester. New opportunities for you to learn, grow and mature as you work towards becoming a PGA member. New people to meet and hang out with.

January 2025

As most of you know, I don’t really subscribe to norms. I like to be different, think differently, and do things differently than what is mainstream.

December 2024

Well, we made it. The final Monday of 2024. I hope you all enjoyed your holiday (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, another or not at all) with your family and friends.

December 2024

Let’s do a recap of what I discussed last week. First, I discussed what I do when you all leave campus.

December 2024

Well, it’s that time of year again. The time of year where you all go home to relax, enjoy time with family and friends and prepare to come back to campus to tackle the spring…

December 2024

Ben Hogan is often credited with saying “Putting is the game within the game.” Uhm ok, yeah, sure. I guess.

December 2024

Well, I can’t believe that this is the final week of classes for the semester already. Notice this is the final week of classes, not the final days of the semester.

November 2024

I believe I would be remised if I didn’t talk about Thanksgiving this week. The older I get, the more thankful I become.

November 2024

Occasionally, I come across a quote from a movie that I really enjoy. While I do enjoy them, I’m not talking about a quick quip that brings out a chuckle.

November 2024

This week is one of the most patriotic weeks we have here in the United States of America. Veterans Day has changed from being a one-day celebration to being a whole week.

November 2024

Why is golf so hard? If I had to count how many players have every asked themselves that question, I would just stop and come up with the quick answer. EVERY SINGLE ONE.

October 2024

Success. We all have a different definition for it, no matter what the dictionary says. “The accomplishment of an aim or purpose” is just so vague in my opinion.

October 2024

Albert Einstein is credited with saying “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” There is no evidence that he actually…

October 2024

Those of you who have worked with me on more than just your swing, but on your game, know that beyond the swing is one of my biggest passions, as it envelops playing the game and not…

October 2024

Ok, here I go. Some of you are going to stop reading as soon as I make this highly controversial statement, and others will continue.

September 2024

What really matters in the golf swing? What are the fundamentals? If you have taken any of the Teaching and Coaching classes from the PGA, you should know the ball flight laws.

September 2024

How many of you remember who Copernicus was? Out of all the random things I could ask, right? How do I even remember who Copernicus was? That answer I can’t give you. But I do.

September 2024

I know I am saying something that you all know when I say golf is one of the most frustrating games of all time.

September 2024

When I think back to all the schooling that I have had in my life, it has been a rollercoaster. I don’t really remember much about elementary school up until I started 5th grade.

September 2024

Think back to the opening PGM meeting that we had and the opening of my presentation. The primary purpose of the initial slides was to get you thinking and involved.

August 2024

We are now a full week into school and hopefully things are starting to calm down for you a little bit. They won’t stay that way for long, so don’t get too comfortable.

August 2024

I think… a lot. I don’t know if it is a gift or a curse, but I struggle to shut my brain off and just live in the moment sometimes.