N°1 female golf instructor Cindy Reid opens academy in China
Cindy Reid was ranked #1 in “Golf for Women” magazine’sannual top Female Golf Instructor’s list for three consecutive years and is heralded as one of the best golf instructors in the world. Her internationally respected teaching philosophy has taken her all over the world and has brought her to China to develop champion golfers and grow the game of golf in Asia.
Prior to teaching this great game, CindyReid was a player. She spent 7 years playing professionally on the Japanese LPGA Tour and the US Futures Tour where she won 4 professional events. After concluding her playing career, Cindy discovered her real passion was in teaching the game of golf to others and as the former director of instruction at the PGA TOUR's TPC Sawgrass, Reid had the opportunity to work with several professional golfers
including Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Fred Funk, Davis Love, Tom Kite, Sophie Gustafson, Deb Richard, Rocco Mediate and many many more. For ten years now she has worked with the US Golf Channel, and has also provided on-air playing tips forCBS Sports, USA Network and NBC Sports.
Over the last 6 years, Cindy has built her reputation in Asia as well by creating the Cindy Reid Golf Academy at Mission Hills in Shenzhen, China and launched the Cindy Reid Golf Certification Program as a new path for golf instructors in China. This focus on improving golf instruction in China has paid off. Cindy Reid Golf Academy at Mission Hills has earned the distinguished “My Favorite Academy Award” from China Golf Magazine for the last three years. Besides teaching Cindy also is the author of several golf instructional books, such as ‘’Cindy Reid’s Ultimate Guide to Golf for Women ’’ and ‘’ Get Yourself in Golf Shape ’’ with a foreword written by Vijay Singh, also published in Chinese.
What difficulties have you encountered living and working in China?
You need to prove yourself as a woman in a man’s world in Asia and of course you need more experience and credentials as a foreigner working in China. The language barriers have also been a real challenge.
What successes have you had while living and working in China?
With hard work training students many have succeeded in reaching their goals and I have proved my worth and skills to the PGA Tour Players and PGA Tour Headquarters.
Chinese golf is booming at the moment. What do you think of the young talents, like Guan Tian Lang, with his 14 years the youngest golfer in the world to compete at “The Masters” one of the four major professional golf tournaments?
I think it is very positive for golf in China and for all Asian countries to see Guan Tian Lang do so well, this young man is very mature for his age and he has a great short game – not a single 3-putt green in 72 holes of golf at The Masters. Very impressive!
How do you explain the supremacy of South Korea golfers in the professional women 's circuit?
The South Korean women are physically the strongest of all the Asian countries and many of the South Korean golfers are training in America full time with the best golf instructors and at the best golf facilities – so they are already ready to play the LPGA TOUR style courses and are used to the culture and playing conditions –types of grass and weather conditions.
The Swedish golf player, Anika Sorenstam, has dominated women golf between 1995 – 2008. She has given feminine golf another dimension; do you see another female golf player step in her footsteps? A couple of years ago we saw a young American prodigy, Michele Wie, step forward, but she doesn’t seem to have taken over from Anika Sorenstam.
Maybe there will never be a player as good as Anika again, she was so consistent with her swing, very accurate. Anika rarely changed her swing motion or any parts of her game for decades. Many of today’s golfers are of different body types and always changing their swing to attempt to hit the ball farther. The talented Michele Wie tried to play the same competitions as men but I don’t think women should play the same tournaments as men. The short game in women’s golf is not the same as the short game with the men. It was already incredibly difficult for Anika at the peak of her career and Michelle was much younger when she attempted the same feat.
How do you see the development of golf in China?
Golf in China is limitless today, but to make it truly successful and sustainable for the long-term it will take a lot of work by many people, organizations like the China Golf Association and the many players of the game to take more lessons and learn the rules of the game. With the huge population and growing wealth, this sport is rapidly growing.
You are going to open a Golf Academy in Shanghai in July 2013. Why Shanghai and not Beijing? Can you tell us what you are going to offer?
Shanghai is perfect for our business model to start this new expansion, it’s a very international market and, in my opinion, is the best city in China to start this new business. Expansion to Beijing is in our future plans. I will offer the best programs at this first Golf Academy to help teach people how to “Score” on the golf course – lowering their 18-hole total score and becoming more competitive in tournaments and golf related events. We will offer golf instruction to Adults, Juniors, Corporate Clients, Hotel and Resort guests, international students from all over Asia for long-term lesson programs and those who just need a “tune-up” or “quick-fix”.
What’s your definition of luxury?
Luxury is to me defined as materialistic items or services that make living elegant and comfortable. Luxury allows for great enjoyments in life with ease and comfort/pleasures to a high level of quality and well-being. I think luxury can be an indulgence that is out of the ordinary and not a necessity.
What’s the ultimate luxury for you?
The ultimate luxury for me are a few items to make living and traveling easier… 1) A Gulfstream G650 aircraft. 2) AMercedes S65 AMG Sedan. 3) Living at a Mandarin Oriental Hotel & Residences.
What’s the luxury you can’t do without?
A comfortable, safe, clean and elegant living environment. A good home!
including Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Fred Funk, Davis Love, Tom Kite, Sophie Gustafson, Deb Richard, Rocco Mediate and many many more. For ten years now she has worked with the US Golf Channel, and has also provided on-air playing tips forCBS Sports, USA Network and NBC Sports.
Over the last 6 years, Cindy has built her reputation in Asia as well by creating the Cindy Reid Golf Academy at Mission Hills in Shenzhen, China and launched the Cindy Reid Golf Certification Program as a new path for golf instructors in China. This focus on improving golf instruction in China has paid off. Cindy Reid Golf Academy at Mission Hills has earned the distinguished “My Favorite Academy Award” from China Golf Magazine for the last three years. Besides teaching Cindy also is the author of several golf instructional books, such as ‘’Cindy Reid’s Ultimate Guide to Golf for Women ’’ and ‘’ Get Yourself in Golf Shape ’’ with a foreword written by Vijay Singh, also published in Chinese.
What difficulties have you encountered living and working in China?
You need to prove yourself as a woman in a man’s world in Asia and of course you need more experience and credentials as a foreigner working in China. The language barriers have also been a real challenge.
What successes have you had while living and working in China?
With hard work training students many have succeeded in reaching their goals and I have proved my worth and skills to the PGA Tour Players and PGA Tour Headquarters.
Chinese golf is booming at the moment. What do you think of the young talents, like Guan Tian Lang, with his 14 years the youngest golfer in the world to compete at “The Masters” one of the four major professional golf tournaments?
I think it is very positive for golf in China and for all Asian countries to see Guan Tian Lang do so well, this young man is very mature for his age and he has a great short game – not a single 3-putt green in 72 holes of golf at The Masters. Very impressive!
How do you explain the supremacy of South Korea golfers in the professional women 's circuit?
The South Korean women are physically the strongest of all the Asian countries and many of the South Korean golfers are training in America full time with the best golf instructors and at the best golf facilities – so they are already ready to play the LPGA TOUR style courses and are used to the culture and playing conditions –types of grass and weather conditions.
The Swedish golf player, Anika Sorenstam, has dominated women golf between 1995 – 2008. She has given feminine golf another dimension; do you see another female golf player step in her footsteps? A couple of years ago we saw a young American prodigy, Michele Wie, step forward, but she doesn’t seem to have taken over from Anika Sorenstam.
Maybe there will never be a player as good as Anika again, she was so consistent with her swing, very accurate. Anika rarely changed her swing motion or any parts of her game for decades. Many of today’s golfers are of different body types and always changing their swing to attempt to hit the ball farther. The talented Michele Wie tried to play the same competitions as men but I don’t think women should play the same tournaments as men. The short game in women’s golf is not the same as the short game with the men. It was already incredibly difficult for Anika at the peak of her career and Michelle was much younger when she attempted the same feat.
How do you see the development of golf in China?
Golf in China is limitless today, but to make it truly successful and sustainable for the long-term it will take a lot of work by many people, organizations like the China Golf Association and the many players of the game to take more lessons and learn the rules of the game. With the huge population and growing wealth, this sport is rapidly growing.
You are going to open a Golf Academy in Shanghai in July 2013. Why Shanghai and not Beijing? Can you tell us what you are going to offer?
Shanghai is perfect for our business model to start this new expansion, it’s a very international market and, in my opinion, is the best city in China to start this new business. Expansion to Beijing is in our future plans. I will offer the best programs at this first Golf Academy to help teach people how to “Score” on the golf course – lowering their 18-hole total score and becoming more competitive in tournaments and golf related events. We will offer golf instruction to Adults, Juniors, Corporate Clients, Hotel and Resort guests, international students from all over Asia for long-term lesson programs and those who just need a “tune-up” or “quick-fix”.
What’s your definition of luxury?
Luxury is to me defined as materialistic items or services that make living elegant and comfortable. Luxury allows for great enjoyments in life with ease and comfort/pleasures to a high level of quality and well-being. I think luxury can be an indulgence that is out of the ordinary and not a necessity.
What’s the ultimate luxury for you?
The ultimate luxury for me are a few items to make living and traveling easier… 1) A Gulfstream G650 aircraft. 2) AMercedes S65 AMG Sedan. 3) Living at a Mandarin Oriental Hotel & Residences.
What’s the luxury you can’t do without?
A comfortable, safe, clean and elegant living environment. A good home!
Juin 2013
