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 Playing in major championships is an aspiration for every touring pro. Long Beach native Mike Miles might be a former touring pro, but he still managed to qualify for two majors in 2009 — the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship. The former All-American at Long Beach State, who began playing golf at the age of 14, has been an instructor since 2001 and currently is an assistant PGA professional at Virginia Country Club. What was the first thing that attracted you to the game? My father took me to a professional tournament and I saw a “properly hit” golf ball for the first time. I was hooked! What inspired you to become a golf teacher? I have always enjoyed the learning process that comes with striving to become a better golfer and passing on the information is very much a part of that process. You played in two majors last year. Is that one of your most significant career accomplishments? Playing in two majors last summer was a huge thrill for me and also for my family and friends who encourage me to play and to get better. Do you have aspirations to play on the Champions Tour? It’s hard not to look through that window and think, “I can do that,” especially after the level of golf I played last summer. I really love what I do at Virginia Country Club and I also know what it means to be a professional golfer as opposed to a golf professional. Maybe I can be a Champions Tour Player in my spare time. What’s your best round ever and where? All the rounds I’ve had that I was able to look past the club and the ball and think to myself, “This is a beautiful place and I really like these people I’m with. I can’t wait to do this again!” Thankfully I have had a few of these in my life. What’s the most satisfying thing about being a golf teacher? Helping someone get over that golfing obstacle that seems so difficult and having them realize, “I can do it!” Has working with your students helped your own game? I think I learn something about my own game with every lesson I give. To be effective at teaching, you have to put yourself in your student’s mind and body. You will always get something personal out of that experience. Best golf tip you’ve ever received? I’ve always had the most success with any tip that changes my attitude. The problem is, I can never tell if the tip is helping until well after I adopt it. What’s the most challenging thing about being a golf teacher? Not reacting to the student when they struggle during a lesson. A half-hour lesson is a lot like playing a round of golf — there will be good and bad stretches. I can’t throw my fundamentals out as soon as I hit a few bad shots. So, when I’m teaching, I like to identify within the first few swings what the student must do to improve and then spend the rest of the time finding the feels and thoughts to improve only those issues. What’s the most common problem you see in your students, and how do you fix it? The most common problem in my students is a lack of trust, either in themselves, the instructor or both. The simplest mechanical improvement, especially for the average golfer, will always make them better. However, without the thought of “I can do this, I should do this and this person can help me,” we get nowhere. I have to be willing to have that conversation about a particular issue — sometimes you have to be subtle about it, and sometimes you have to hit the student on the head with their 2-iron. Whose swing on the PGA Tour do you most admire, and why? I think that Long Beach native John Merrick has one of the finest swings in the sport. It has the perfect blend of what I consider classic fundamentals and rhythm. The PGA Tour has a lot of great rhythm players and many fundamentally repeating swings, but when you see these things blended together it is art. Watching John’s swing is like watching birds fly or fish swim. What’s your favorite part of the game? Being in a tournament and being so nervous that you might lose your lunch and then hitting a great shot anyway. Your most treasured golf possession? The 10 dollars I won from Lee Trevino in a practice round in Texas during his last year before turning 50 and joining what is now the Champions Tour. He signed it, and I’m lucky he didn’t punch me when I asked him to sign it. What’s your greatest achievement in golf? I feel that I may not have had it yet. So I need to keep trying. What’s your personal motto on the course? Try to have instant amnesia after every shot. The golf ball doesn’t know what’s going on. Who are your golf heroes? Byron Nelson, Fred Funk, Peter Jacobsen and Tom Lehman’s wife Melissa. All heroes, because of personal stories you will have to ask me about. Who is your mentor or role model, and why? I have had so many people that have helped me over the course of my golfing life I can’t name them in this space. I think at this time of my life the small group of people that I work with at Virginia Country Club are most responsible for the personal and professional success I’m enjoying. Three people in particular: Jamie Mulligan, my longtime friend and the COO of Virginia is always challenging and encouraging me to try to be a better club professional and a better golfer; Trevor Baker, our head golf professional and a role model for patience and kindness; and, Charlene Alfonso, one of our assistant pros who caddied for me in all the big tournaments last year, will not let me forget that attitude and enjoying what we’re doing is most important. |
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