Golf pro keeps greens going
By Timothy L. Paullin, Special to Soundoff!
Fort Meade resident golf professional Jimmie Cockerill
Fort Meade resident golf professional Jimmie Cockerill has been golfing since the age of 6. Cockerill is a certified golf instructor with his sites set on becoming a member of the PGA tour. - Photo by Suzan Holl
Behind every professional golfer like Jack Nicholas stands a golf professional like Jim Flick.
Even a professional golfer like Tiger Woods has a coach, instructor or a father who gives advice on how to fix that swing or tweak that putt so the ball will drop dead center into the cup.
Who stands behind you?
Without good instruction, even the best golfers cannot see everything they are doing, right or wrong.
Jimmie Cockerill, 22, a recreation specialist and an assistant golf professional at the Applewood and Floyd L. Parks golf courses here, firmly believes that starting with the right knowledge of fundamentals will allow a player to improve attitude and swing, thus becoming a more consistent golfer.
Born in Wurzberg, Germany, Cockerill began playing golf at age 6 when his father cut down an adult club and gave it to him to hit with.
"We were living in the south of France at the time," said Cockerill. "My dad asked me if I wanted to go to the driving range with him. He took one of his old clubs and cut the shaft down so I could swing it and that is how I got started.”
Cockerill's father, Jimmie Cockerill, was stationed in Germany, and after his tour of duty decided to stay. There, his father married Ingeborg, a resident, and they started a fast-food franchise before moving to France.
After living in France for a few years, Cockerill's father decided to return to the United States and they moved to Orlando, Fla.
"My parents had a house in Orlando," said Cockerill. "I continued to play golf until I was 15. Being a teen-ager was a rough time for me and playing golf wasn't a priority.”
Graduating from high school in 1997, Cockerill was called back to the game of golf. He worked part time at a local golf course and Disney World in Orlando until he had enough money to attend the Orlando campus of the San Diego Golf Academy (SDGA).
"After high school, I decided to start playing golf seriously," said Cockerill. "I realized that being involved in golf was something I really wanted to do. I saved up my money and went to the golf academy to learn everything there was about professional golf.”
The SDGA is a 16-month program designed to teach students the basics of professional golf management, according to the SDGA Web site. SDGA graduates hold a myriad of positions in the ever-expanding golf industry.
Whether they deal with teaching, managing, sales, marketing, the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) tour and other tours; or are related to a facility, product or service-the direct and relative opportunities continue to grow as a golf professional or professional golfer.
Tiger Woods is a professional golfer; Jim Flick is a golf professional. A golf professional has learned all the aspects of golf from course management and maintenance, to golf club repair and golf instruction.
In order to be eligible for the academy, you need to have a handicap established by the United States Golf Association and about $16,000, said Cockerill.
"The school is tough," said Cockerill. "You need to maintain a good grade point average (GPA) and a minimum 8 handicap. If you can do that for two years, you will graduate with an associate of science degree in professional golf course management.”
Not only did Cockerill graduate, but he also maintained a 3.0 GPA and a 4 handicap to help him on his way to his ultimate goal - becoming a PGA golf professional.
"After graduating from the academy, I worked at various courses," said Cockerill. "My father heard about an opening at the golf course here. I applied and took the position as a recreation specialist until I can finish my PGA requirements.”
In order for Cockerill to become a PGA professional, he will need to take a PGA certified exam and a Player Ability Test (PAT). The exam tests his knowledge on subjects such as course management and the dynamics of golf. The PAT also tests his actual golf skills.
This PAT is a PGA sponsored tournament where players seeking to become golf professionals register for a two-round tournament at a PGA certified golf course. In order to make the cut, players need to complete 36 holes of golf with a score of 150 or less.
"I haven't taken my PAT yet, but I am working on it," said Cockerill.
"While I am studying for my exams, I am teaching lessons here at the golf course. I have mastered all the physics involved in the golf swing that I learned at the academy.”
The next step for Cockerill is to get some experience under his belt. Once he has gained enough experience and proven himself knowledgeable, then he will be well on his way to becoming a golf professional.
"Jimmie is very knowledgeable about the game of golf and golf instruction," said George F. Cornell, recreation specialist here. "I have been working here for seven years, and Jimmie has the potential to make a name for himself. He has a good head on his shoulders.”
Players who are interested in taking lessons to sharpen their golf skills can benefit from the programs offered at the golf course. For a one-on-one lesson, a player is given the opportunity to have their golf swing examined by Cockerill.
Cockerill will diagnose and offer a solution to problems. The lesson ends with practice drills and tips to work on while not under supervision.
Lessons come in a variety of packages, including private lessons, a stroke saver package and an advanced package.
"In my experience, most players need lessons because of misconceptions of the fundamentals," said Cockerill. "With practice you can master the fundamentals and improve you game.”
For more information, contact The Courses golf pro shop at 677-5326.
Editor's note: Timothy Paullin is a student at the Defense Information School here.
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