Neil Manchip
G. U. I Head Coach
WHERE DO YOU TEACH?
I mostly teach at the G.U.I. National Academy at Carton House, however I also travel to tournaments with Irish teams. In the last 12 months we have been to South Africa, Spain, Denmark, Scotland, Wales and England.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR OWN APPROACH?
I take into account that each player is different and will respond to different types of coaching; in my experience the trick is to find out what the player really wants from their golf and work out an improvement strategy that will fit in with their lifestyle, learning stlye and ambitions.
DO YOU PLAY MUCH YOURSELF?
I used to compete reguarly especially on the P.G.A. Irish region circuit. It can be helpful for someone who coaches for a living to play competitively, as it keeps them in tune with the thoughts and emotions that are going through the heads of the players they coach.
WHAT CLUBS DO YOU USE?
I use a Titleist D2 driver, Taylor Made 3 wood, Sonartec 19degree hybrid, 3-PW: Titleist 660 irons, Titleist 52 and 58 degree Vokey wedges and a Scotty Cameron american classic putter.
THE MOST MEMORABLE LESSON YOU HAVE HAD AS A PLAYER?
I have had great lessons improving my technique from my old boss Kevan Whitson at Royal County Down GC. I improved my thinking a lot on the course working with Karl Morris and Jamie Edwards, and my physical condition improved greatly under my trainer Hamish Abbie and physio Orlaith Buckley.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A PUPIL?
Every pupil is different and it is the coach's responsibility to get the best out of them. The hardest bit is finding out what is going to improve the player the most; this is sometimes a slow process but a good challenge.
FAVOUIRITE COURSE?
My favourite courses so far are: Royal County Down, Sunningdale old and Casa de Campo (teeth of the dog).
FAVOURITE OTHER TEACHER?
The only teacher I've ever had on a consistent basis is Kevin Whitson. I enjoy reading books by Mike Hebron and Fred Schumacher.
GIVE US YOUR BEST TIP!
It is important for people to be aware of the state of mind that they are in when they play their best golf, and to find ways of replicating this state with the help of a good coach. I find that most people try too hard to play well and get frustrated or demotivated when things don't go their way. All that we can really do on the course is:
Assess the shot conditions, lie, stance, wind etc.
Rehearse a swing that feels good for the shot at hand, while visualising the ball flight/roll if you can
Commit to copying the practise swing