We sat down with PGA Professional Erika Pirkl, the Director of Player Development for the Wisconsin PGA Section. Erika is responsible for setting up everything from local, subregional and regional Drive, Chip & Putt events to junior tour tournaments and finding unique ways to grow the game.
We asked Erika a few questions recently on how she’s getting ready for next year and a few tips for you to sharpen that short game!
What would your advice be for juniors out there looking to get a little better?
Erika Pirkl, PGA: I think that getting a putting lesson from a PGA Professional should be a top priority on the to-do list! I’ve noticed a lot of our Wisconsin PGA Members starting to do putting and short game activities on social media that you can do anywhere, so a coach is an excellent resource this time of year. Plus, there are so many drills, tips and lessons you can utilize to improve your putting, which is an important skill to keep sharp year-round! It all boils down to the effort you put into your practice. Putting and chipping are easier to do from home, too, so even if it’s for 15 minutes a day, you’ll reap those benefits come springtime!
You mention drills and tips. What resources are available that juniors can tap into right now?
Erika Pirkl, PGA: We’re always looking for ways to improve, and we found a great way to reach golfers in our state through our Section’s social media channel during the spring months. We had several Wisconsin PGA Professionals do “takeovers” on our Instagram handle, where they were asked questions, shared golf tips and gave some excellent advice on playing the game. We’re planning to do that again as the winter months arrive, so be on the lookout for that! Your local hardware store is a good resource, too. My husband made a device that you can create using products from Home Depot for under $40 to draw rings like we do for Drive, Chip & Putt!
For those youngsters who’ve never tried Drive, Chip & Putt, what would you tell them about the program? Why is it a great way to get into golf?
Erika Pirkl, PGA: For any child that hasn’t tried Drive, Chip & Putt yet or is considering entering, the events are really a fun way to get started in a low-key environment. You get instant results with Drive, Chip & Putt, and you’re only competing against you — not necessarily the rest of the field. I especially like the chipping and the putting aspects of it, because that’s half of your score on the golf course! If you work on those two things, you’ll end up being a great golfer, too!
