PROFILE
Title: PGA golf instructor, Lyman Orchards Golf Club, Middlefield, Connecticut.
Years as a PGA Professional: 33.
Top achievements / honors: PGA Player Development Award (1993, 2020), City of Boston clinic/exhibition with Tiger Woods and Earl Woods (1993), Director of Golf, head coach men's and women's, Wesleyan University (2023).
SOCIAL MEDIA / ONLINE
LinkedIn: Jon Wilson
Instagram: jon.wilson.96930013
RELATED: PGA Professional Spotlight archive
TAP-INS
What app is a must-have on your phone? My schedule app, weather app, Waze app.
What books would you recommend? "Greatness" by David Cook, "Relentless" by Tim Grover, "Every Shot Must Have a Purpose" by Pia Nilsson, Lynn Marriott with Ron Sirak.
Who is your favorite golfer? My son, Alex.
What is your most memorable round of golf? A two-hole challenge with Tiger Woods. We halved.
Q&A
The First Call: What made you want to pursue a career in golf?
Jon Wilson: After playing on the west coast, I was back in New England and I accepted a position at Yale Golf Club.
TFC: What is your favorite instructional tip to share with a golfer?
JW: Tee drill. Five minutes a day, three tees 6 inches apart, quarter-inch above the soil. Full swing commitment to clip tees out of the ground for consistent ball striking.
TFC: What advice do you have for someone considering a career in golf?
JW: There are many specific areas within the golf industry to explore. Research all areas — instruction, management, representatives, coaching, etc. Get as much advice as possible.
TFC: What is the best advice you have received on your career path?
JW: Opportunities will be available throughout your career, do your research and go with your heart. Have fun.
TFC: Is there a particular area of your job that you find most rewarding?
JW: I interact with amazing people everyday. I understand how fortunate I am to have this opportunity and I am thankful.
TFC: What is one challenge you currently see in the industry?
JW: Affordability to the public who wish to embark in the game, but find it too stressful on their monetary resources. The industry has come a long way, however we have a way to go.
TFC: Do you have a preferred style or philosophy for teaching golf?
JW: Basic fundamentals, fun, identify the form and movement that works best for the individual. Encouragement as often as possible to play, practice and engage.
TFC: Where is there room for growth within the industry?
JW: I sense the continued growth areas to be open-space practice facilities, and entertainment centers with state-of-the-art technology will attract the curious. Will these enterprises assist in the growth of the game? A small percentage, I suspect. The resources of time, money, travel will have an impact.
TFC: When you look at your career, in what area(s) do you believe you have evolved for the better? And how so?
JW: I have had a wonderful career with the support of my wife and children. The work/life balance is more important now than ever as I am transitioning into the latter half of my career. I truly appreciate how fortunate I have been as a member of the PGA, the greatest organization within the game.
TFC: How does being a PGA/LPGA Professional add value to your brand?
JW: Being a PGA member has allowed for many rewards. We are an association of professionals dedicated to the growth of the game for all who wish to get involved and play. The PGA is the standard for the golf industry. I always inquire with my students how and why did they choose my services and the consistent response is my PGA affiliation.