Tom O'Brien Jr. is the PGA Director of Instruction at BlackHawk Country Club in Richmond, Texas. Tom was honored to receive the Southern Texas PGA Teacher of the year for his chapter in 2018. He has taught professionally since 1999 and has mentored under World Golf Hall of Fame instructor Jim Hardy, Golf Digest Top 50 instructor Stan Utley, and top green reading instructor Mark Sweeny with AimPoint Golf.
Tom gives lessons to all levels of golfers over all aspects of the game. His experience with some of golf's finest instructors and players his given him the ability to help anyone from a touring professional to an outright beginner.
Tom is a Level II certified instructor with Plane Truth Golf and Level III instructor with AimPoint Golf. Tom has been a member of the PGA of America since 2003.
"I have known and worked with Tommy for nearly 16 years. He is a warm, friendly and generous man who happens to also be a gifted and talented instructor. Any one lucky enough to have a lesson with him will benefit from it and be an improved golfer as a result."
"Since I began working with Jim Hardy 17 years ago I have come to know Tom. He's a fine gentlemen with a keen eye for golf. His knowledge of the swing and his ability to interact with his students makes him an ideal instructor. Tom has an easy manner and teacher's spirit. Like any seeker of "the truth, " he has spent the better part of his adult life learning about this, the greatest game, and he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge along the way. His understanding of the swing and exposure to playing professionals gives him particular insight into the mechanics of, not only the golf swing, but, how to play the game. That kind of knowledge is unique. Great teachers have that intimate understanding of our game, but they also must be able to communicate to their students. There is Tom in a nushell."
Tommy has a knack for helping his students rapidly improve their skill set, thanks to his ability to quickly understand and coach their needs. His genuine, warm style immediately puts students at ease and in the right mindset to receive his instruction. Tommy constantly seeks to improve as a coach and instructor by gathering information from other teachers to broaden his knowledge base. This is a rare quality that greatly benefits his own students - Stan
Tommy was one of my first certified instructors and has continually shown his enthusiasm and understanding of teaching green reading and has helped grow the game for golfers of ALL levels. He has continually throughout my relationship with him exhibited the finest qualities of a PGA professional and I have received nothing but positive and exemplary testimonials from his students.
I have known Tom O’Brien Jr. since he was a youngster and I was the Director of Golf at Sweetwater Country Club back in the mid 80’s. One of the most rewarding parts of being a PGA golf professional for me is feeling like you have had a positive influence on other golf professionals and Tom is one of those professionals that I am very proud of. Over the years I have seen many talented and passionate PGA golf professionals whose true passion is teaching the game of golf. Tom is without a doubt one of those professionals. His passion and love for teaching golf is undeniable and he is extremely good at it. Tom has built a great teaching resume and is an outstanding ambassador for the South Texas Section of the PGA and the PGA of America.
"I follow an "impact" based strategy to teaching the game of golf. If your contact is not perfect then it either hits the ground too much or not enough. I first and foremost identify this and then very importantly help the student understand how to identify this "on their own". My goal is to make the student their own best instructor in addition to improving their contact/consistency.
If the student can't identify the fault and fix on their own then they will not improve when they are by them self which is paramount in my professional opinion. After identifying the troublesome impact condition I use EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION I have ever retained to help the student improve without bias or prejudice in regard to my own beliefs.
From there I take students on the golf course to help them with the new process; it is key to work on your game with a combination of time on the practice range and then time on the golf course to ensure the change translates to the golf course.
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