Lou Guzzi Golf Academy

Award Winning Instruction

Guzzi named Section Teacher of the Year

By: Jeff Smith, Staff Writer
3/5/2004

Experienced Golf Center teaching pro Lou Guzzi was introduced to the game of golf on a whim. At 16, Guzzi and his girlfriend at the time played a round of golf, largely because they were bored and wanted something to do. The round marked the last time, Laurie, now his wife, had any desire to play the game, but the moments before teeing up for the first time, marked the last time Guzzi hasn't thought about his life-long passion.

He immediately became hooked to the sport and began competing in amateur tournaments by age 19. Now as a full-time teaching pro, Guzzi eats, sleeps and drinks the game of golf, and for his hard work and dedication, he was recently notified that he's been named the 2004 Philadelphia PGA Section Teacher of the Year.

"The award is a great achievement because I have a real passion to teach the game of golf," said Guzzi. "It is also amazing, because there are so many great teachers that could be nominated for the award. I'm obsessed with the swing and the mechanics of the swing. I love everything about the game. The desire to be around the game is always there."

Guzzi has been teaching for 18 years, starting at the Flourtown Country Club, where he is still a member. He has been teaching at Experienced since 1995. "I actually started a couple years after I started playing because I would constantly practice different shots when I was learning the game," said Guzzi. "Soon all my friends were asking me how I hit different shots, and, all of a sudden, I started teaching them."

After nine years of practice and hard work, Guzzi dropped down to a 2-handicap, and was competing full time on the amateur circuit. In 1986, Guzzi missed the U.S. Amateur cut by five strokes. The qualifying tournament was 36 holes at Hershey Country Club.
In 1988, he finished 4th in the Philadelphia Amateur Championship at Cobb's Creek Golf Club. He also won four club championships at Flourtown Country Club and holds a course record for nine holes at Flourtown with a 29. Steven Acerra, the head pro at Flourtown was Guzzi's first instructor, and he also recommended to Guzzi that he get involved in teaching because he had a great desire to learn the game and a willingness to teach what he learned.

          Also instrumental in helping Guzzi learn the game was PGA pro Gary Hardin, Jerry Pisano and teaching pro John Carson. To supplement his golf, Guzzi ran a successful painting and paper hanging business that blossomed to three vans and 12 employees. The job eventually became too physically demanding to go along with his work on the golf course. Guzzi then went into the restaurant business, founding Scoogi's Italian restaurant in Flourtown after Brennan's restaurant closed its doors. "In 1990, I decided to drop my other opportunities and jump full time into the golf business," said Guzzi. "I was teaching as an amateur for no fee, then at the urging of Hardin, I decided to get involved on a professional level." Guzzi was an assistant pro at Flourtown before taking over as the head pro at the club for the next eight years.

          In 1995, Guzzi was approached by Experienced Golf Center owners Chris Eck and Kirk Sardaro to become a teaching pro at their brand new indoor golf training academy. He started teaching part-time after his day was done at Flourtown, then transitioned to a full-time basis three years ago. "I want to thank Chris and Kirk for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to teach here," said Guzzi. "This is a great opportunity, it allows me to teach the game 12 months out of the year." Eck, Pete Coffee and Tom Casey are also teaching pros at the golf center. Guzzi says the four pros have meetings every week to discuss their experiences and go over the most effective teaching methods. The golf center also works with the Lower State Road driving range for outdoor training. The range is currently undergoing renovations that should be ready for the spring season.

          The golf center also has a membership at Ashbourne Country Club, where it can take students. And Guzzi has an honorary membership at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL. The golf center takes four golf schools a year to Florida to give its students some hands-on training. Guzzi uses a myriad of teaching aides to get through to his students, and his favorite part of teaching is that no two students are the same. "I like being honest with my students," he said. "If I think your swing is wrong, I'm going to tell you. Golf is not easy. It takes a lot of practice to get good. I just want to help an individual improve his golf game the best I know how."

          Guzzi has read more than 100 books on the golf swing and strives to be as knowledgeable as possible to help his students. He uses video training and variety of golf charts to get across what he is trying to teach. He reads up on and has talked with several teaching pros across the country including David Ledbetter, Rick Smith, Bob Toski, Martin Hull and Nick Faldo. Guzzi tries to translate all the knowledge he has picked up over the years into a simple straightforward teaching method.

"Learning to play golf is similar to learning how to walk," said Guzzi. "Every golfer needs to understand that learning the game is a slow and steady progression. It's not that easy. You have to realize the best players in the world struggle at times. Golf is a love-hate relationship. You get what you put into it.

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