For Arizona Head Pro
David Benson Golf Is a Lifestyle Not a Job

By Tommy Acosta,
Staff Writer

November 30, 1998
"Being a golf professional is not really a job," says David Benson, head pro at The Lakes At Ahwatukee course. "It's more like a life style. It's always on your mind, seven days a week. A lot goes into the game but there's a lot to the business too. You have to live it."

Golf has been a game Benson has been living most of his life. He said he went to his first golf course at the age of 13 with a few friends one day and "We kept going back ever since."

Growing up on a Marine base Benson said he had access to its golf course and by the age of 16 people began to notice he had talent.

"I made a lot of improvement in three years," Benson said. "In high school my friends and I played together on the same golf team. We were undefeated. We practiced every day before and after school. Of the five of us four became golf pros and the one who didn't, wishes he has."

An original born Arizonan Benson grew up in California, attending the San Diego Golf Academy and achieving his PGA status in 1995. Before assuming the head professional position at The Lakes In Ahwatukee Benson was head pro at The Foothills Golf Club. He has played in the Nike Tours and this year played in twenty tournaments.

"I teach everyone to work with the strengths they have," Benson said. "I try to keep it simple for them. We live in a busy society. people can't put in a lot of time to practicing and playing no matter how much good intent they have. I talk to them and find out what they do.

"Then I teach them what they need to learn. I focus on the fundamentals, which never change. As long as they will be playing golf they have a tool they can always use even if they play once every year or for the next twenty years. These fundamentals never change. When they go to other instructors they have a foundation. Get the fundamentals in line and the swing will improve.

"Each person is different of course. I look at each player individually and prioritize what is important for that player to improve."

Unlike other instructors who believe one should learn from bad shots, Benson accentuates the positive.

"Success is important," Benson said. "We should focus on the good shots. We should focus on the feel of a good shot. Keep that feeling going. It keeps you motivated to practice.

"Golf hooks people. There are so many elements to the game in terms of power, finesse and putting. There is so much to learn in golf. Bowling is repetitious. You may encounter no more than 20 varying elements or factors. In golf, no two times are ever the same.

"Golf is also a social game. There are so many courses to play and so many different people to play with. You meet interesting individuals who are on common ground with you."

Benson also gives the mental game its due.

"The game is important at all levels,' Benson said. "I want people to learn a good swing right away but more importantly I teach them not to get down on themselves. people hit a bad shot and right away they feel bad. I've practiced thousands of hours and I still hit bad shots. The best players in the world hit bad shots. It's important to understand how difficult the game is but it doesn't have to be that difficult. When you get upset you get tense, make mistakes and everything goes downhill after that."

Benson said people should also be careful not to make the game of golf an unhappy experience for their children.

"I've seen parents pressuring their kids to play three to four hours a night," Benson said. "The kids aren't smiling. It's obvious the kids are not enjoying themselves. There is no way the kid is going to learn. When I was a kid I wanted to play every day. I practiced before and after school. It's what I wanted to do."

Benson spoke highly of The Lakes at Ahwatukee course.

"This course is a great challenge to a beginner as well as a scratch golfer," Benson said. "A lot of people seem to think it's easy but it's not. The best I could shoot is a six under par here. Thirteen out of its eighteen holes have water. It features a lot of twists, great greens and fairways and you'll pretty much end up using every club in your bag."

Benson has played other premier Arizona courses and was impressed.

"Both courses at Grayhawk in Scottsdale are excellent," Benson said. 'The customer service is great. It has a lot of character. It has short holes, long holes and undulation. You remember a lot of its holes afterwards.

"Troon North has a great layout. It's challenging. it has good service and the course is always in excellent condition.

"The Raven is also very good. Good layout. With all those pine trees its not like a desert course at all. It has a different character and the prices are reasonable."