My name is Michael Dixon and I’m the founder of Inner Power Golf
I’ve been involved in golf for 30 years, 10 years as a scratch player, 15 years as a registered PGA pro, 12 years as a full-time golf coach and given over 10,000 lessons. I’ve held professional roles in Scotland, the US and most recently as Head Pro in the K Club, Ireland.
If I’ve learned one thing during my time playing golf, it is that the variables of enjoyment, learning and performance are based on my ability to stay in the present moment.
EXPLORING
THE NATURAL LEARNING PROCESS
Looking back to when I first learned golf, it felt very natural and mainly came about by letting go in excitement and being present to my experience, trusting natural development would happen from experience. It was then a surprise when becoming a PGA professional that the culture of learning in golf was presented so differently. I came to realise that the technical instructions I was teaching were actually creating self-doubt and tension and were hindering more than helping. So, I went in search to create an understanding of how we learn a motor skill most efficiently, with the intention to coach in a way that would bring out ‘child like’ learning in adults.
MY JOURNEY
TO ‘EXTRAORDINARY GOLF’
It was 10 years ago that my coaching took a pivot. It was inspired by Fred Shoemaker of ‘Extraordinary Golf’. After reading his book ‘The Art of the Possible’, I knew I had to learn from this man in person and went to study with the Extraordinary Golf team in California. Leaving with understanding and experiences in how my own game and my client’s game could be filled with enjoyment, learning and performance in balance. Also discovering that golfer’s already own a swing that fits their unique body embodied within which is led out through self-awareness. Following on from my time spent with Extraordinary Golf, I had the great pleasure of spending time learning with Timothy Gallwey, founder of the Inner Game. Spending our time exploring Tim’s fascinating learning discovery and formula, Self-1 (Our Interfering Self) and Self-2 (Our Potential).
Performance = Potential – Interference