rickyleepotts.com | a voice of rhythm, reason, & reality

I’m on my way home from the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show, and I just had to write down some thoughts on my week in Orlando. For those of you unfamiliar with the PGA Show, it’s the biggest collection of golf course professionals, equipment representatives, and basically golf industry people in the world. I mean EVERYONE in the world of golf is there. I have been going to this show for four years now, and this one was the best yet. It just seems to get better year after year.

Working for IMAVEX has given me access to some of the biggest names in the world of golf. To give you an idea, while in Orlando I met with Martin Hall, Henry Brunton, Mike Bender, Jason Sutton, Mark Sweeney, Jeff Ritter, Peter Kessler, Dylan Ross, Lorin Anderson, and many more. We got in Monday and were in meetings from the time we got there until we left for the airport. We literally left a meeting and grabbed a cab.

Golf Business Network

We work closely with the Golf Business Network, and not only manage their website but also several of their members. GBN has a room during the show, and we set up in there. It also allows us a place to call home for meetings and also schedule meet-and-greets. There is a cocktail party in the room (known as the GBN Clubhouse) every night allowing for networking. I try to take full advantage of that by passing out and collecting business cards left and right.

Other vendors set up in the GBN Clubhouse too. Brands like the Greg Norman Collection and Fairway & Greene have booths to showcase their offerings to GBN members. IMAVEX also has a pretty sweet discount for members. Anyway, they hold several meetings and round table discussions in the room, and we love being able to out our booth up there.

We have a great relationship with GBN, and without guys like Lorin Anderson, Bob Mulcahy, and Grant Way, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

Networking Events

One of my favorite things about the show are the networking events. From cocktail parties to meet-and-greets, the PGA Show is a great place to meet the movers and shakers in the game of golf. On Wednesday night, I went to the Brick House Tavern + Tap (they have a great beer selection) for the Junior League meet-and-greet. My close friend Jackie Cannizzo is affiliated with the Junior League, and they had a huge announcement the Friday of the Show. I ended up running into several people I knew including Dennis Sales, Sara Dickson, and Kate Temptesta. I actually hadn’t met Kate until this week but we ran into each other several times.

The mixer was fun, and I’m glad I went. Junior golf is a huge part of the game and tomorrow’s lesson and private club member is a junior. The sooner pros realize that the better. I couldn’t be more proud of Jackie for her attention to the project.

On Thursday night, I was back at the Brick House for another meeting. John Graham, a Twitter superstar, holds one of these every year, and I wasn’t missing this for the world. I ended up meeting tons of people I had only communicated with online. I ended up meeting and chatting with Jason Helman, Rob McGill (love that dude), Brandon Stooksbury, Megan Padua, Aaron Olson, Andrew Marr, Kirk Oguri, and many more. It was fun putting a face to a tweet. I must admit I knew more Twitter handles than I did names!

Show Floor

Last year I didn’t even make it to the show floor. This year I walked around a little bit to see what’s new in the industry. From golf balls to gloves, you can find a little bit of everything here. You can even buy stuff like shafts, balls, towels, and more. If you’re lucky, you will get some free stuff from some of the vendors. Some of the booths, like the Callaway, Taylor Made, Puma and Titleist booths were massive. I’m talking ridiculous setups that you could get lost in. A lot of them have open bars so you can grab a drink while walking around the floor.

On Wednesday, I was walking around and ran into Butch Harmon. I had never met Butch, only in passing, but stopped to say hello. I also ran into Yani Tseng, Alexis (Lexi) Thompson, Natalie Gulbis, Kristina Kim, Brad Faxon and several other pros. It’s neat to be walking around and see Dave Stockton or Scotty Cameron just hanging out on the show floor.

Eating Out & Lodging

When we travel like this, we eat out a lot. When we got in on Monday, we went to The Crab House. Steve loves this place, and while it’s not the best seafood I’ve ever had, it’s solid, and I highly recommend the macadamia nut crusted Mahi Mahi.

On Tuesday, my good friend Greg came to visit me. He recently moved down to Florida and was only a couple of hours away. He drove up, and we had lunch. It was good to see him. I miss hanging out with him.

Wednesday we met Grant at Hooters and ended the night at Miller’s Ale House. Miller’s is sweet, and has a very open and inviting atmosphere. Every time I am in Orlando I try to swing by there. The place is always busy, regardless of what’s going on at the convention center.

For lodging this year, we stayed at the Hampton Inn. Last year we stayed at the Holiday Inn Castle, but this year we were much closer to the Orange County Convention Center. It was close enough to walk, and we got a GBN discount for staying there. The room was nice, and the hotel had free Wi-Fi. They also had a sweet breakfast every morning. I didn’t get to enjoy it, but the guys did and were impressed. The hotel lobby also allowed for a place to meet people.

The PGA Show is just a ton of fun and a great place to meet new people, to network with everyone, and to see the latest and greatest in the world of golf. The older I get, the more I get dragged in to this industry… and I couldn’t see myself working in any industry but this one. As they always say… FORE!!!

Have you ever been to the PGA Merchandise Show?

Beer… man I love beer. From drinking a Bud Light to sipping on a B.O.R.I.S., I love it. (You can thank Jake Long for introducing me to B.O.R.I.S. We had it at his place for the first time… and I have a bottle in my fridge right now!) I have also brewed a few batches of beer (two to be exact) and the process, while long and tedious, is fun. It’s just neat to see how much work goes into making a 5-gallon batch when even good beer, that takes time to perfect, is so readily accessible. Like the Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS). That beer takes a few weeks to make… but then it is cave aged for a year. CAVE aged!

Anyway, moving on. I read an article on Yahoo! Health the other day about health benefits of beer. They listed 10 health benefits.

1. Stronger Bones
2. A Stronger Heart
3. Healthier Kidneys
4. Boosting Brain Health
5. Reduced Cancer Risk
6. Boosting vitamin Levels
7. Guarding Against Stroke
8. Reduced Risk for Diabetes
9. Lower Blood Pressure
10. Longer Life

If any of those are true, cheers to that! I knew that beer, in moderation of course, will help with certain things… but I had no idea it would do all that. Wine is also said to have similar health benefits. I just thought this list was interesting. I didn’t read through them all, but if drinking a beer or two is going to help me stay healthy and live longer… bottoms up!

What is your favorite beer?

Source: http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/10-surprising-health-benefits-beer

One day, on my way to work, I turned on the radio. I usually listen to NPR in the morning, but for some reason I switched it over to another station. I can’t remember what station it was on, but they were in the middle of an interview with a man who worked for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The interview was really good, and I was inspired by what this man had to say. I was so impressed, I stopped the car and looked him up on my phone. I would eventually reach out to him to learn more about his story and his battle with prostate cancer. His story is a good one… that’s for sure. The guy also blogs. We had something in common right from the start! It is my pleasure to introduce you to Dan Zenka.

Dan, I heard part of your story on the radio one day.  I have been intrigued to learn more about you since. You were on there talking about prostate cancer. Before we get too far into this, what’s your story?

I have to admit, there is a bit of irony to my story… I was already working at the Prostate Cancer Foundation for two years in my capacity as VP of communications… I had been having my annual PSA screening and DRE since I was 40 and suddenly, I was diagnosed with what appeared to be an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Within a year my PSA nearly doubled, going from 3.1 to 5.8. The biopsy revealed more than 50% involvement of my gland and a Gleason Score of 7 (4+3).

As my urologist dutifully started to pencil out my treatment options, I stopped him and said, “You can stop… I know we are headed for surgery.” He looked at me with surprise in his eyes until I told him where I work. I shared with him that I was tracking with everything he was telling me and that I understood the potential severity of my situation.

If I had known that I was going to one day be diagnosed and decided to set my sights on my current job, I doubt I would have been able to make that happen. Life doesn’t work that way!

The PCF says, “accelerating the world’s most promising research”. What has the research done over the last few years, and where is that research headed?

Prostate cancer research is one of the most promising areas of cancer research—in terms of results—for both patients and researchers. More progress has been made in the past two years than in the entire preceding decade. We’ve identified twenty-seven genotypes or varieties of prostate cancer—some are very aggressive and life-threatening while others are indolent or so slow growing that they are not life-threatening. We seen five new drugs approved for patients with advanced prostate cancer and we are making progress in developing better diagnostics so we can someday soon overtreat less and cure more.

You studied at the University of Southern California and are still living in LA. Do you ever travel outside of Cali? (Not sure why you would… it’s gorgeous there!)

LA is great, but my wife and I actually left LA in 1988 for Portland, Oregon. It’s one of the most beautiful areas of the country with a much gentler lifestyle. We’ve also lived in the Netherlands for several years which was a fabulous experience.

It looks like you grew a mustache for MOVEMBER. Did you shave? Someone told me that December was also a “no shave” month!

Actually, the blue moustache you saw on Facebook was the work of Photoshop. Following my radical prostatectomy, the post-surgical pathology showed that my cancer had metastasized to my lymph nodes. Since then I have had seven weeks of radiation treatment and I am currently in two to three years of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). It cuts the production of testosterone which is a fuel for prostate cancer. It certainly makes for an interesting life: hot flashes, cold spells, night sweats, sleep problems, mood swings, laughing fits, muscle loss, extreme fatigue, etc. It’s why I call it a slow-drip chemo!

But it is doing what it is supposed to do. My testosterone level is way down and my PSA levels are imperceptible. But there are upsides: I don’t have to pay for a brazilian wax on my arms, legs and chest, and my male pattern baldness has reversed. (You see, testosterone creates a bi-product called di-hydrotestosterone which causes baldness!) When my surgeon first brought up ADT I remember asking if I would grow more hair on my head…

PCF raised over $14 million to support cancer research this year. That is impressive. How will those funds be spent?

Actually, PCF will have raised approximately $40 million to support research this year. Since 1993, we have raised more than $475 million. MOVEMBER raised $14 million in the US this year. We will split the proceeds from MOVEMBER with Livestrong in the U.S.

All proceeds that come to PCF are deployed rapidly to support game-changing research. We do not operate with an endowment. It’s cash in, cash out to support the research enterprise. It’s why we have been able to accelerate discovery in prostate cancer research. We also require our funded-researchers to share their data at our annual scientific retreat (a heretical idea when we were founded in 1993).

You can read about all of our research programs at www.pcf.org.

What are some of the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Unfortunately, prostate cancer is often a symptomatic, meaning that patients do not experience symptoms before they are diagnosed. The most common symptoms include pain in the lower back and hips, frequent urination, and interrupted urine flow. These could be dismissed easily by the average man. Other symptoms that are more likely to prompt a man to see his doctor are painful urination and blood in either his urine or semen.

Is there a way to check for that?

For years, the best first step in spotting a potential cancer has been the PSA test and the DRE (digital rectal exam). Men should speak with their physicians about a proactive plan that is right for them based on their physical shape and medical history when they reach 40.

But it must be clear, the PSA test is not a cancer test. It is the first diagnostic step in determining if there are any potential problems, including infection or enlargement, in the prostate. Prior to PSA testing, the majority of men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer were already had metastatic disease. Today, the reverse is true. What’s more, the death rate is now 40 percent lower than what was once projected.

A lot of diseases of there have cures… are we close with prostate cancer?

We are closer than ever to making prostate cancer a chronic or manageable disease rather than a life-threatening one. We are also closer to discerning which of the twenty-seven varieties need to be treated aggressively, which require moderate intervention and those which do not require immediate treatment and are suitable for active surveillance. This will enable us to prescribe personalized treatments and overtreat less while curing more. Ultimately, our goal is to find cures for the aggressive varieties.

With the progress we have achieved, many men are now living longer, more productive lives.

I don’t know many people affected by this… is it wide spread?

More than 16 million men worldwide are affected by prostate cancer. For 2010 in the U.S., 244,000 new cases were projected and 33,000 men were projected to die from this disease. In incidence and mortality, prostate cancer is to men what breast cancer is to women.

Who started the PCF?

PCF was founded by our chairman, Mike Milken shortly after he was diagnosed with advanced disease and told to get his affairs in order. He quickly discovered that prostate cancer research was virtually non-existent at that time. Thus, PCF’s model of venture philanthropy was born to support high-risk, high-patient-benefit research—the type many government programs do not sponsor. PCF’s involvement and model has helped build a global PCa research enterprise, built human capital to support research and enabled many—if not most—of the advances we have seen to date.

You haven’t always been at PCF. What did you do before?

I have worked on both the agency and corporate side of public relations and marketing communications for a wide spectrum of industries, both here and abroad. For the past eighteen years, my work has focused on life sciences and healthcare.

You work in and around communications… and I ask this all the time to the bands that I interview. How has the Internet changed the way that you do business? Has it changed the way you communicate on a daily basis?

Above all, the Internet and social media provide a wealth of opportunities for getting an organization’s message out to very specific, highly-engaged audiences. Blogs, user communities, Facebook and Twitter are very effective ways to communicate with targeted audience. It makes it easier to rise above the clutter. Of course, all of these venues require a high level of content generation. It’s a constant challenge to maintain a steady stream of high-quality, timely information. It has set a new standard. There is also a lot of poor information on the Internet. Those who can provide the quality information consumers are seeking, can set themselves apart from the rest.

It’s not easy getting published… but you have been published several times. Tell me about some of the things you have had published.

It’s as difficult as many think, especially in this time of reduced budgets and editorial staffs. If you have some of value to share, the expertise to back it up, and knowledge of where to pitch the idea, it’s achievable. My two recent favorite were Where’s the Prostate? (something many do not know, much less understand what it does) and Ladies, Check Your Prostates (women still make 85% of the healthcare decisions in households while men tend to neglect their regular checkups).  In my previous life, I published several articles on nanotechnology.

What exactly is nanotechnology?

That’s a whole other discussion we could spend hours on. It’s fascinating. Prior to ten years ago, we were working largely in the micro level. New technology has enable us to see and work on the nanoscale. Thus, we can increase storage capacity on disks—storing more data in less space and we can produce faster, more powerful computer chips and processors. In life science, we can now study cells on the molecular level and develop new nano-formulations of pharmaceuticals with new capabilities. From better paint jobs on our cars, to our iPhones, self-cleaning surfaces and lighter, more durable materials, we are surrounded by nano-enabled products and advances.

In my past job, I saw gold atoms dance on the edge of their surface. Those poor guys—trying to find their bonds and equilibrium just don’t get a rest. I’ll stop there.

You are the main point of contact for all media inquiries at the PCF. Do you get a lot of requests? What’s the weirdest request you have ever had?

We and many of our partner researchers serve as leading sources of information on prostate cancer, so we naturally get a good number of media calls on a routine basis. These are generally straight forward.

The oddest requests we get are from concerned patients who do not have access to good information. I once received a letter from a woman whose partner had prostate cancer. She was worried that she might get prostate cancer through oral sex. When it comes to health matters, no question is too weird or off the table. We provided her with a simple and direct answer. No.

Were there any major milestones in 2011?

Please see our just-published Progress Report at www.pcf.org/ourstories for more information on that.

Let’s say I have prostate cancer… what’s next? What are my treatment options?

First, don’t panic. Don’t put any carts before the proverbial horse. Remember early detection and treatment provides a five-year survival rate of nearly 97%. Also key to remember is that there are twenty-seven varieties to deal with. Do your research and become your own advocate so you can make informed decisions with your physicians. No one sized treatment fits all. Discuss your test data with your physicians to determine the perceived aggressiveness and, based on your personal health and age, make the decision that is right for you. Remember, you are also entitled to second opinions. They can often provide valued clarity in the decision-making process.

Also, be sure to take your partner or a trusted family member or friend to your consultations. They can help make sure you have “heard” everything and that all of your questions are answered to your satisfaction. www.pcf.org also provides valuable information for newly diagnosed patients and their families.

It looks like you guys have embraced social media. Do you have a team of people dedicated to those efforts, or is that just delegated to others in the office?

We have a team of two working together on social media. My cancer blog, www.mynewyorkminute.org, is all mine. I never know what I am going to write but I always find inspiration. I tell fellow patients and their caretakers that the content is there for them to pick and choose. The most important function of the blog is to remind all of us that we are not alone on this journey.

Oddly, I started thinking about initiating the blog while my urologist was giving me my diagnosis. Half of me was listening to him. The other voice in my head was saying, “You’re the communicator… you’ve spent the past two years telling men they need to make prostate cancer something to talk about… this is no coincidence… you need to be very public about this…” It felt like a moral imperative.

Two days later, totally unprompted, my wife turned to me and said… you know, being in your position, I believe you need to talk about this… you need to start a blog and talk about your “New York Minute”. There it was—agreement AND a name for the blog. No wonder we’ve been married almost twenty-seven years.

Breast cancer has pink… prostate cancer has blue. Is there any reason behind the colors? (Maybe a girl/boy thing?)

It’s been that way from the start, but I belive that is the thinking…

You have written a few blogs about your journey. I bet that takes a lot of courage to write about what happened.

Courage? Not really, once one gets past the whole macho thing. Passion is what’s required. As I said, it seemed like a moral imperative. My job, for which I long had a passion, now seems like an avocation. I often look back over my shoulder thinking I’ll find the boney finger that brought me back to LA… this position… and this journey.

What is MyBridge4Life?

It is an online forum where patients and caregivers can share their stories and provide support for each other.

Your diagnosis isn’t simple… can you walk me through that? When did you find out? What was that process like going from a healthy young man to having cancer?

I was diagnosed at age 51. I was surprised, but not shocked. Working at PCF, I knew the statistics. I understood that 1 out of 6 American man falls into those stats and and a diagnosis. I like to say my Pachinko ball simply fell into the cancer slot.

How do you stay so positive?

What else can you do? I draw great strength from my loving wife, family and friends and the many inspirational patients I have meet along the way. I’ll be honest—prompted by my reality and hormone treatment, I still have my down moments and can shed my share of tears. It’s important to allow one’s self to do that. You need to let it out. But I know I am not alone. There are many cancer patients who are doing better than me, and there are many who are in worse positions. We need to realize this is life and life has its challenges.

The journey isn’t over… what’s next for you? What does 2012 look like?

I look forward to just two more quarterly injections of Lupron and hopefully seeing the side effects start to wane in the fall. I’m told that it could take up to a full year to feel like my old self again. Just knowing I am close is comforting.

Of course… that means I enter my “wait and see” period. I’ll be giving up my active fight to see if my cancer recurs and if additional ADT treatment will work, or if I will become resistant to it and need to move onto chemo and other treatments. It’s all part of the journey. If I am fortunate, in four years I will hear my oncologist say, “You are cancer-free.”

Dan, this was a long time coming. I am glad that we finally got the chance to sit down and do this. I could ask you questions all day! In all of the interviews that I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

Come on guys, for you and your loved ones, take care of your health. Make prostate cancer something to talk about and, once you reach 40, talk to your physician about your prostate health. Life is good. Don’t waste it!

He’s originally from the Hoosier state, but spends his summers in Ohio and the winters in Scottsdale, Arizona. In Ohio, he teaches at Beechmont Country Club while in the desert he teaches at Mirabel. I have been by Mirabel… it’s incredible. In terms of what he does with golf instruction, he was developed by the top 100 Teacher Rick McCord and has a ton of experience. His goal is to get you to focus on improving your golf game and to shooting lower scores. His passion to the game blows me away, and he strives to provide his student with the latest and greatest in technology. He also obsesses with social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. He’s in Arizona right now… but it’s my absolute pleasure to introduce you to Jason Reddington.

Not sure if you have had a chance to check out the blog, but I have interviewed over 350 bands and DJs from all over the world. Recently I decided to get into PGA teaching pros. Made sense! Anyway, this is a new concept for me… I am glad to have you on board. Have you had a chance to look at any of the other interviews I have done with PGA guys?

I have checked out your interviews with quite a few of the PGA pros; exciting stuff. I am glad I can be a part of it. Thanks for bringing me this opportunity!

My pleasure! You are an Indiana boy… where are you originally from?

I am originally from Evansville, Indiana. I spent the first 23 years of my life growing up there and then going to the University of Evansville for 4 years. Then I moved to Orlando about 8 months after graduating and haven’t looked back!

You teach at two clubs, one in Ohio and one in Arizona. Tell me about the two places you teach. Do you prefer one club to the other?

They are both higher end private clubs. My club in Cleveland, Beechmont Country Club, has close to 400 golfing members, so it is very active. Mirabel in Scottsdale is a little more laid back, but I think that has a lot to do with it being more of a vacation spot for the members in the winter months. Most of the members there live somewhere else during the summer. As far as preferring one over the other, they both bring about different challenges and excitement.

How do you go about that… working at one club in the winter? Are both clubs aware and OK with you doing that?

Yes, both clubs know that I travel from one place to the next. I don’t know if you’ve ever been to Cleveland, but you are lucky to get 3 months of good weather. So for me to stay there past the summer season would make it difficult for me to be successful as an instructor. Therefore, my contracts are structured for 5-6 months at each place and it actually works well for both the clubs and me.

You recently launched a new website. It looks great by the way. Is that your first site?

It’s my first site. I worked with IMAVEX and they did a great job on the new site!

You and I will be working together to build your brand a little bit too. Part of that is a Facebook/Twitter/YouTube campaign. Are you excited to share all of your thoughts with the world on these social media channels?

I am very excited! Most of that is new to me, but putting it all together has been fun while also challenging work. I look forward to seeing how much it grows and helps build my brand.

Tell me about your relationship with top 100 teacher Rick McCord.

Rick has been my mentor for the last 8 years, and no doubt I would not be where I am in my career without him. I began working at Orange Lake Resort where he has his academy back in 2004. My passion was in teaching, so I interviewed with him to see how I could get involved with his academy. I spent a lot of time watching Rick teach that first year, and fortunately he allowed me to do so. When you get to see a top 100 teacher give lessons on a daily basis you can improve as an instructor in your own rite very quickly. I was fortunate enough to be at an academy where the top 100 teacher is there on a daily basis, and not only that, but works with his staff to help them in their own careers. Rick helped me expand my career into Cleveland and now Arizona as well. We have become great friends through the years, and we still talk golf and golf swing on a regular basis to this day.

Did you play high school and college golf?

I started playing golf when I was 14 as a freshman and I was not good! However, I fell in love with the game, and by my junior year I was the best player in the city. I had options to walk on at some big schools, but decided to take a scholarship to my hometown university. I knew I would be able to play immediately at the Division I level there, so I couldn’t pass it up.

Do you still get to play a lot? I know some teachers who never play!

Define a lot… (Laughs.) I definitely play and make it a part of my business and profession to ensure that that stays a part of my practice. I love to compete, so I play in quite a few tournaments when I can, mostly in the summer months.  However, even if didn’t like to play in tournaments, I believe that actually playing the game of golf is so important to any golf professional’s business. It’s a shame to see golf professionals get into this business and fall into the traps of being inside behind a desk or computer all day. There are a lot of pieces to the golf business, but to me the most important pieces will always be teaching and playing.

I am sure you have played some pretty sweet golf courses… what’s your favorite golf course?

This is always a tough one for me. I tend to enjoy different things about many courses. Pine Valley is awesome and there is a lot more to it than just the course that makes it cool. Philadelphia Cricket Club and Caves Valley near Baltimore are also near the top of my list.

Starting with your driver, and working your way through the golf ball, what’s in your bag?

Taylor Made Everything!

• Driver – R11 10.5
• 3 Wood – R11 15 deg
• 5 Wood – R11 19 deg
• TP Rescue 2011 23.5 deg
• 4-PW – R9 B’s
• Wedges – 54 deg and 60 TP
• Putter – Rossa Daytona
• Golf Ball – Penta

How does being the Director of Instruction differ from being the head golf professional?

As the Director of Instruction, I am in charge of directing the entire teaching program at my clubs. Therefore, I coordinate clinics, golf schools, junior programs, and any packages or programs that we may have at the club. My sole responsibility is making sure the members are happy with the teaching program and the instruction that they are getting while also coming up with new creative and innovative ideas to present to them. As a Head Professional, you are much more in charge of the day to day operations of the club. The HP has a staff that he is in charge of; he has tournaments to run, and members to satisfy with everything from merchandising to pace of play.

Let’s say I schedule a lesson with you. What’s that first lesson look like?

It depends on the person. I’m not a method teacher, which means I don’t have a script that I go through with every person the same way.  I don’t believe in teaching everyone the same thing because everyone is different. I really believe that getting to know your students personality is important. Therefore, my lessons begin with asking questions. You can find a lot out about your students just by talking to them. Everything from what they are working on, to what they think they are doing in their swings. It’s important to understand your student and what type of a player they are before you can build a program for them. It’’ vital to understand their commitment to practice and the time they are going to put into improving before you begin working on them as well. I don’t believe you should expect everyone to work as hard as a tour pro or to be as talented as one. Therefore, I am going to structure the amount of changes we make based on a number of factors, including coordination and ability, as well as their time commitment.

Do you watch much golf on TV? I am the biggest Tiger Woods fan… who is your favorite player?

When I get the time I do try to stay up on what is going on with the PGA TOUR. Growing up I was a huge Fred Couples fan and then David Duval as well. Recently, I enjoy watching Dustin Johnson; just wish he would learn to putt!

Do you do playing lessons?

Absolutely. It can be difficult when the courses are busy in prime season, but that is the best way to really get your students to learn and improve. I tell my students that if we are spending a multitude of lessons on the driving range then we are not moving in the direction I would like to go. It always depends on each individual player, but I like to get them comfortable with an improving swing thought, and then move to the short game and on course. Most people think that to get better they need to improve their swing when actually you can improve most players’ game and scoring just by progressing in the short game and on course strategy.

What’s the lowest score you have ever shot?

In college, I shot a 60 in a qualifying round at a very easy public course. Most recently, I had a very streaky summer in 2010 where I shot a couple 63s and a couple 64s in tournaments which is always nice.

Let’s say I want 10 more yards off the tee. In 140 characters or less (thinking Twitter over here) what would you suggest?

Focus on hitting it more solid.

You are a member of the Golf Business Network. How has that helped you grow as a teaching professional?

I’ve only been a Golf Business Network member for less than a year, but it definitely gives you the tools you need to be connected in the golfing world. GBN is also committed to keeping their network small enough to where each individual can benefit from personal service which is nice.

There are four majors on the PGA TOUR… which is your favorite to watch and why?

The Masters. They each bring something special to the table, but I’ve been to Augusta and the place is incredible. I can’t describe it, but if you are a fan of golf you have to find a way to go.

Most PGA teaching professionals share lesson rates. Are your lesson rates public? Do you set those or does the club set them for you?

My lesson rates are advertised at my clubs, but are not posted on my website. If someone wants to take a lesson, I want them to take a lesson from me because they liked my philosophy or were recommended to me by someone, not because I charge less or more than someone else. I determine what I charge for instruction, but there is some discretion that I use since I am working at a private club and my job is to service the membership.

Let’s go back to the top 100. In your opinion, who is the best PGA teaching professional? You are not allowed to say yourself!

That’s such a difficult question. I’ve seen a lot of great instructors out there and I’ve seen a lot of bad ones. The top 100 list is very political and in my opinion does not represent the best 100 teachers in America, and a lot of people would agree with that. To me, Rick McCord embodies what every instructor should be. His expertise has taught the touring pro, but also is able to “dummy” it down for the average golfer. I believe he has the longest tenure on the top 100 list, which is saying something.

It gets hot in Arizona. Do you ever get sick of the heat?

Fortunately, I leave Arizona in late April before it gets crazy hot. However, I’d rather endure extreme heat than extreme cold. You can’t play golf in the snow!

Taylor Made has a white driver. Have you tried to hit that thing? No way you can stay comfortable over the ball!

Yes, I have tried and succeeded! The R11 is in my bag and is the best driver I have ever hit. Honestly, the color never was an issue. As a golfer, you begin to get used to your equipment. I remember when the titanium drivers first started coming out and they kept getting bigger and bigger. At first, I was like how can you hit these things, they are so big!  Now, if I see an old Big Bertha it’s the size of my 5 wood!

You are in Arizona during the Waste Management event at TPC Scottsdale. Do you go to that every year?

Well, last year was the first I was here during the tournament, but I did go. We sat on #16 for a while, and actually saw the first hole in one they have had on that hole in 6 or 7 years I think… pretty cool.

Do you think Tiger will break Jack’s record?

If he stays healthy, then yes. But I am a lot less sure about it now than I was 3 years ago. I do think he will return to Tiger form next year and I actually just wrote an article about this for my website!

On Facebook, there is a group called the Business of Golf Instruction. The idea behind this group is to share information from one pro to the next. What are your thoughts on sharing information? Have you seen a lot of benefit from being involved with that group?

I’ve just joined the group so I haven’t gotten involved a whole lot yet, but I have already made some connections and can see that it will be very beneficial in the future. As far as sharing information, I’ll never understand instructors who are too insecure to share information. I love to hear what others have to say about the golf swing and the business, and I hope they enjoy what I have to say as well. I believe networks and groups like this are what will help improve and grow the game.

I like to listen to music when I practice. Do you listen to tunes while you practice?

I’d like to, but when I’m practicing it is usually in between lessons and near members, so I don’t think it’s very professional to tune them out when they are around.

Have you ever had a hole in one?

NEVER!

2012 is here. What does the New Year have in store for you?

Well, I’m excited about my new website and being able to bring some of my ideas and talents to the public!

Will I see you in Orlando at the PGA Merchandise Show?

No. I am just too busy in late January to be able to miss a few days. That is the heart of the winter season in Arizona!

Jason, I could ask you questions all day long. I appreciate you taking the time to sit and chat. In all of the interviews that I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

Stay thirsty my friend.

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I’ve got the itch. I have the itch to dive. I went on a dive trip last fall, but that was in September! I am ready to dive again. They warned us about this from the beginning… if you dive, you will either love it or hate it. If you love it, it will be the only thing you will want to do. Well… it is! I hate that I want to dive so much, because it’s winter and I live in the Midwest. It’s cold, and there isn’t much water around here. Sure, there are places to dive. But nothing like the ocean. I got certified a little over a year ago, and have already been to Aruba and the Bahamas with a trip planned for June to Cabo San Lucas. We actually got a Groupon for that trip. Besides saving money on our hotel room, it will be our first resort experience. We tend to stay in the locally owned places, since we are rarely in our room. I don’t plan on being in the room much on this trip either… I hope to be on a boat, or under water petting sharks!

When we leave, we will head south to Cabo San Lucas. Our hotel is sweet, and is on one of the only swimming beaches in Cabo. The water there is rough, and you can’t get in the water on most beaches. We will be staying at the Casa Dorada, and plan to take full advantage of the resort. We get some champagne service with our room, as well as some meals if I remember correctly. I plan on playing some golf down there too. Since we are staying in Cabo, it makes sense that I play the Cabo San Lucas Country Club! While we are down there, I also want to see La Paz. La Paz is just a couple hours north, and offers better diving. They usually have whale sharks there, and while the sharks won’t be there when we are, the water will be better and the fish will be plenty. I can’t wait! I hope to play some golf there too. Perhaps we will just get up early, I will play golf, grab lunch, and dive in the afternoon. That sounds fun! I wonder if they have public transportation from Cabo to La Paz… renting a car in Mexico might be a challenge.

At any rate, we are stoked for our trip. I know it’s a few months away, but that will be our first vacation of the year. I will be in Orlando later this month for the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show, but that’s work related… no fun on business trips. I have been chomping at the bit to get wet. I might fly down to Key Largo for a weekend; we’ll see. But writing this, and looking at pictures of the water helps. Or does it? Yeah… it does. I can’t wait for the trip, and I am stoked to be swimming with the fishes! Let’s get wet people.

The pro I am with today is originally from Palm City, Florida and is the Director of Instruction at the at Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club. Come to think of it… Harbour Ridge is also in Palm City. Anyway, he has been in the sun his whole life down there in the Sunshine State. I actually met Mike for the first time at a Golf Business Network summit… in Florida! It was in Orlando, actually, and we have stayed in contact via email and phone tag. We have become close over the last couple years, and I just knew when I started doing these PGA professional interviews I had to work with him. That… and he plays Titleist. Can’t go wrong with a guy that plays the best equipment in the world! It’s been a long time coming, but today I am sitting down with a man that truly understands golf performance. It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Mike Malizia.

This is the third PGA teaching professional interview that I have done. Are you excited to be a part of the growing list of interviews?

Ricky, I am honored.

You are currently teaching down at Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club. How long have you been down there?

This is my sixth year at Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club.

Do you have a yacht?

(Laughs.) No, but I do have a 24 ft. Sea Ray bowrider.

How does being the Director of Instruction differ from being the head golf professional?

A DOI specializes on golf instruction only, where as a head golf professional specializes in the entire golf operation.

You are TPI Certified. How many levels of certification are there?

The highest level is three. I take my level three in January.

You work with a ton of players. My favorite is Hugo Leon. When these players are in a tournament, do you travel with them or are you just teaching at Harbour Ridge?

I travel to about eleven or twelve events a year.

When working with players like this, do they pay you by the hour or do you work with them on a case by case basis?

I would say it’s half and half… some pay by the hour; some have me on a retainer.

Do you work with any PGA and / or LPGA players?

I have been a pretty big staple of Nationwide and Future Tour players (eleven). Derek Fathauer and Kevin Johnson had their tour cards last year.

What’s a TPI body assessment?

It’s a  test to evaluate a person’s limitations by assessing their stability and mobility. This tells me what their body can or can’t do. I need to know this if I want them to make a specific move.

Do you do playing lessons with your students?

If I had it my way all my lessons would be on the course. Golf is the only sport that is practiced on a different field than you play on.

To you, is it coaching or teaching? Is there a difference?

COACHING… to me teaching is showing a student how to make a specific move where as coaching is teaching a student how to make that move while teaching him to play the game.

You are a member of the Golf Business Network. What does being a member of an organization like that do for you?

Being a GBN member is great for understanding your industry. It also establishes you as an expert in your profession.

Tell me about your relationship with Dr. Bob Rotella.

I started working with Doc my rookie year on Tour. We became good friends and I see Doc out on Tour quite a bit. I still consult with him when I have a mental issue with one of my players. We play golf about once or twice a year together (the big match)…

Hugo is on the Nationwide. What typically keeps players from making the jump to the PGA Tour?

They need to get to a point where they understand THEIR SWING (not the swing) and understand THEIR MIND. It’s my job to help the as a COACH; to help them understand what works.

Do you play very much golf?

Not really. I would say about five times a year.

What’s your favorite golf course? Think hard here… you aren’t allowed to say Harbour Ridge!

(Laughs.) Well I would have to say Pebble Beach. I played the 2000 U.S. Open there and fell in love with the place. But the River Ridge course at Harbour Ridge is still one of my favorites…

Your student Richard Donegan just won the Florida State High Championship. I bet that feels good. When players win events like this, how do you celebrate?

It’s “Miller Time”… I don’t do too much; maybe go out with my wife Judy and have a few adult beverages. It feels great to know you’re making a difference in someone’s goals and dreams.

Starting with your driver, and working your way all the way through the bag… golf ball included, what’s in your bag?

Well hell I don’t even know where my bag is, let alone what’s in it… Not all Titleist equipment. I have a D2 Driver, AP2 irons, Vokey 56 and 60 wedges, Scotty Cameron prototype putter and Titleist Pro V 1x ball… wow, OK I won’t lie. I had to actually find my bag and look to see what I had in it!

You have a new website. It turned out great! I see you have some videos coming soon there… what sort of videos are you wanting to produce for your students?

I want them to understand the game, not just the swing. The game is driving, irons, chipping, pitching, bunker play, putting and course management. What I am trying to do is help them improve one shot on each aspect of the game, instead of all of it on their swing. – http://www.mikemaliziagolfperformance.com/

Let’s say I want to get a lesson with you… what’s the first lesson like? How do you get comfortable with your students?

The first thing I do is listen to them… (the first key to communication); this will tell me what type of person they are and how they learn. My goal is to make each lesson fun and educational.

Are you able to work with folks who are not members at Harbour Ridge? (I assume you can, since you work with so many players.)

Yes, I am very fortunate to be at a place like Harbour Ridge.

You have a profile page on the PGA Tour website. You were on the Tour?

If you want to call it that! (Laughs.) For a little while, let’s put it this way… I have played every tour except the LPGA. I never really cared about playing that much. I was more intrigued on why things happen from a physical and mental aspect.

There are a lot of good instructors out there… but in your opinion, which is the best?

The one who can adapt to any student, mentally and physically. If I don’t know what his or her body can do and how they learn, then they’re just guessing when they want you to do something.

What’s it take to make the top 100? Do those pros get any benefits for being in the top 100? (The top 100 DJ list is something I pay a lot of attention to as well.)

The benefits are great. It’s something I don’t think about much. My goal is to keep improving and getting better everyday, learning more about the body, the mind, and biomechanics. Like I tell my students, “Focus on the process and let the outcome happen.” It is a goal of mine and I would be honored to be nominated as a top 100 instructor, but right now I need to pay attention to the process.

Speaking of music, what are you into? Who are some of your favorite bands?

Well this usually freaks people out, but my two favorite bands are Rush and Motley Crue. I listen to everything from Zac Brown to Marilyn Manson to Pantera. When I was on Tour, Doc Rotella said I needed to listen to something soothing. One day he rode with me to the course and I put on Motley Crue Wild Side for him… he just looked at me and said, “I can see now why you can’t cut.”

Let’s say I hit my driver 270 yards off the tee with a slight draw. I don’t want to buy a new driver, but I need to pick up 10 more yards. What tips would you give me for increasing my distance off the tee?

I would tell you to take 10 steps backward and you just picked up your added yardages… and you want to know why I get paid the big bucks! (Laughs.) No, I would test your body, mobility, and stability and see if we could improve your body to increase distance.

What’s next for you… any big plans for 2012?

Just to keep learning; that’s why I love what I do. No matter how old or how educated you get, you can still always learn.

You are still young, but what do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done? What is the Mike Malizia legacy?

Is 41 really considered young? I want to be remembered as a good person… someone who went the extra step to make a difference and someone who enjoyed life.

Mike, thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule for this. It means the world. In all of the interviews I do, bands and golf pros alike, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

I think I have to ask my wife before I answer this question because she said she always has the last word… hold on, I’ll be right back. She said it would be okay! (Laughs.) She said the last word would be (I love these lyrics, by the way), “Each day’s a gift and not a given right.” Thanks Ricky… now name the band!

Hearthstone Coffee House & Pub just opened up here in Fishers, Indiana. The idea is simple… coffee, beer, food, and supporting the local community. This place has a solid foundation, and money isn’t their incentive. I have heard the general manager say, “We aren’t in this to make money.” Of course making money would be nice… but they have bigger goals here. To prove that, they are donating 10 cents from every drink to charity. That adds up fast, so drink up! I just find it so unique that a place would open, and start off by donating so much to charity. I will soon be sitting down with the general manager, and we will discuss more about that when the time is right.

The general manager is Devin Rose. I first met Devin a few weeks ago (we actually talked on the phone first) and will be writing a series of blogs about the place. I will be talking about the food, the drinks, and more. First off, I wanted to talk about the menu. As I said, in future blogs I will look at their impressive beer list, their wine list, coffee drinks, and more. I am impressed with this place after having only been here a few times. I told Devin that Hearthstone would soon become my new hangout… and I am already scheduling meetings there!

Breakfast

Not sure the hours here… it’s not on the menu. But they do offer a pretty good breakfast menu. I guess it makes sense that a place offering your morning cup of coffee would offer a decent selection in the morning.

Muffins – $2.49
Banana Nut, Blueberry Streusel, Cherry Cheese, Double Chocolate-Chip, or Lemon Poppy Seed.

Breakfast Ciabatta Sandwich – $2.99
Maple Sausage, Egg, and Cheddar or Bacon, Egg and Cheddar or Egg White with Spinach, Tomato and Swiss.

Scones – $2.49
Cinnamon or Blueberry.

Yogurt Parfait – $2.99
Vanilla Yogurt, Berries, and Granola.

Bagels – $2.49
Plain, Everything, Blueberry, or Cinnamon-Raisin.

Oatmeal – $2.49
Add your choice of Butter, Brown Sugar, Dried Cranberries, Pecans, Walnuts, or Granola.

Coffee Cake (Indy Desserts) – $2.49
Lemon Cranberry or Sour Cream

Fruit Cup – $1.99
Seasonal.

Kids Fare – $2.49
Cereal and Milk, Fruit Cup, Peanut Butter and Jelly (or honey), or Mac & Cheese (Includes Entrée + Milk or Juice + Apple Slices or Applesauce + Teddy Grahams.)

As you can see, there are a lot of items on the breakfast menu. You can’t help but compare a coffee house to Starbucks… but their prices are a lot lower than Starbucks. Let’s take a look at the lunch menu.

Lunch

Pick 2 – $6.99
Select two of the following: cup of soup, ½ a salad, or ½ a sandwich.

Garden Salad – $4.99
Mixed Greens, Tomatoes, Sliced Peppers, Cheddar Cheese, and Croutons.

Cranberry Walnut Salad – $6.99
Grilled Chicken Breast on Mixed Greens Topped with Cranberries, Walnuts, and Blue Cheese Crumbles.

Smoked Turkey Club Salad – $6.99
Smoked Turkey Breast on Leaf Lettuce with Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Tomatoes, and Croutons.

Grilled Chicken Salad – $6.99
Grilled Chicken on Leaf Lettuce, with Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, Mild Pepper Rings, Fresh Parmesan Cheese, and Croutons.

Soup (changes daily)

• Cup (8 ounces) – $2.99
• Bowl (12 ounces) – $4.99

Caprese Salad Sandwich – $4.99
Garden Fresh Lettuce, Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Cheese with Balsamic Vinaigrette on a Ciabatta. Comes with a side of kettle chips and a dill pickle spear.

Cranberry Chicken Salad Sandwich – $6.99
Chicken Salad, Lettuce, Tomato, on Cranberry Walnut Bread. Comes with a side of kettle chips and a dill pickle spear.

Smoked Turkey Club Sandwich – $6.99
Smokey Turkey, Swiss Cheese, Bacon, Tomato, Lettuce, and Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce on Whole Wheat. Comes with kettle chips and a dill pickle spear.

Grilled Chicken Sandwich – $6.99
Grilled Chicken Breast with Lettuce, Tomato, Cheddar Cheese, and Chipotle Honey Mayonnaise on Ciabatta. Comes with a side of kettle chips and a dill pickle spear.

Salad dressings include Ranch, Honey Mustard, Pear Gorgonzola, Raspberry Vinaigrette, Mango Chardonnay, or Tomato Bacon.

The lunch menu is pretty impressive. Nothing on the menu is over $7 and most come with a side of kettle chips and a pickle spear. The Pick 2 reminds me of Panera Bread… but cheaper! Moving on to the dinner menu… They don’t have a dinner menu here at Hearthstone Coffee House & Pub, but they do offer some filling appetizers. I have tried a few of them and this place just opened! Let’s take a closer look at their list of appetizers.

Appetizers

Cellerman’s Plate – $12.99 / Half Order $7.99
Toscana Salami, Prosciutto, Aged Irish Cheddar, Marinated Olives, Bourbon Beer Cheese, Tart Apples, Garlic Sourdough, and Flatbread Crackers.

Blue Cheese & Honey – $6.99
A Wedge of Maytag Blue Cheese drizzled with Sweet Clover Honey topped with Pecans served with Flatbread Crackers.

Sweet Habanera Salsa & Chips – $6.99
A Generous Portion of our very own Sweet Habanera Salsa served with Whole Grain Blue Corn Tortilla Chips.

Fruit & Cheese Plate – $12.99 / Half Order $7.99
Fresh Sliced Apples, Grapes, and Strawberries with “Heavenly Fluff” Fruit Dip and Aged Irish Cheddar served with Flatbread Crackers and Garlic Sourdough Bread.

Veggie & Cheese Plate – $10.99 / Half Order $6.99
Sliced Peppers, Asparagus, Baby Carrots, Aged Irish Cheddar, Veggie Dip, Marinated Olives, Bourbon Beer Cheese, and Flatbread Crackers.

Bourbon Beer Cheese – $6.99
A Hearthstone Classic Spread made with Aged White Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, People’s Amber Ale and Bourbon. Served with Flatbread Crackers.

Hummus & Pita Chips – $6.99
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Served with Baked Pita Bread. Add a side of fresh veggies $1.99.

The Cellerman’s Plate rocks. It reminds me of a dish I have had at Bella Vita once. The only thing that would make this dish better is a side of asparagus. Nothing beats wrapping fresh prosciutto around a stick of asparagus. The bourbon beer cheese is pretty good too. Oh, and the “fluff” fruit dip rocks! The apps will be a nice touch when they have tastings… like wine and martini tastings. They will be doing those every month.

You can’t have a coffee shop and not have a list of desserts to choose from. Starbucks has cake pops… but Hearthstone has brownies, cakes, and cookies. Let’s take a closer look at their dessert menu.

Desserts

Brownies – $1.99
Brownie and Blondie flavors are available.

Cake – $3.99
Choose from Carrot Cake, German Chocolate Cake, or Amaretto Cheese.

Premium Desserts – $4.99
Choose from Tiramisu, Lemon Sunshine, Chocolate Decadence, Strawberry Surprise, or Mascarpone.

Coffee Cake – $2.49
Choose from Lemon Cranberry or Sour Cream.

Cupcakes (Provided by Flying Cupcakes) – $3.49
3 Flavors available daily.

Cookies (Provided by Flying Cupcake) – $2.49 / Half $1.49
3 Flavors available daily.

Last week, I had the chance to try a few of these desserts. First up was the coffee cake. It was a little dry, but that’s what makes coffee cake so good. It really does taste better with a cup of coffee. The crust is my favorite part. I also tried one of the cupcakes and the tiramisu. I must say, it was the weirdest looking tiramisu I have ever seen… but it was incredible. It was cold, which I usually don’t care for. But the way this one was presented made all the difference. Any one of these would go good with the South American. Imagine this… coffee, chocolate, and Patron XO. Oh man… it’s amazing! It’s the best coffee drink I have ever had. Not sure of the calorie count, but it’s incredible.

If you are hungry, and looking for a new place to hang out on Indy’s north side, stop by Hearthstone Coffee & Pub. They have an impressive beer list, some incredible coffee flavors, and a nice atmosphere. I have a feeling I will be spending a ton of time here.

Have you been to Hearthstone Coffee House & Pub? What is your favorite thing on the menu?

Click here to “like” Hearthstone Coffee House & Pub on Facebook.

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Oh man… I don’t even know where to begin. This guy came my way on Twitter. Then he showed up at a Golf Business Network summit, and the rest is history. You want to talk about a guy that knows what he’s doing… this guy is not only a great player, but he is an incredible PGA teaching professional. He is ALWAYS on top of his game, and pretty much lives on the cutting edge of technology. From utilizing Twitter to schedule lessons (well, more like AimPoint clinics) to blogging his brains out, he is always on the tip of my tongue for an example of a guy who does it right. He lives in Rochester, New York… but is always on the road helping people make more putts. We will get to that later, but as John says, “make everything.” He is a very good friend of mine, and someone that I admire for what he does with the game of golf. It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to John Graham.

Oh John… this is going to be fun. I have only done a few of these, but I am so glad that I am able to sit down with you for this. Have you had a chance to check out the other interviews I have done?

Yes, I think I have read them all.

One thing that I like about you is your passion with social media and blogging. You write one of the best golf blogs on the Internet, and you fuel that fire using Facebook and Twitter. You might use Twitter more than me! I am sure it’s not an easy answer, but how has social media made an affect on your career as a PGA teaching professional?

Social media has given me a platform to build an identity that is viewable by many more people than just in my local area. I’ve used it to meet, network and build relationships with some of the best and brightest golf professionals in the world. This has allowed me to learn from and share my knowledge with so many coaches I now call friends. In a nutshell, social media has completely changed my business in the most positive way I could have imagined.

You do a LOT of work with AimPoint. Tell me a little bit more about AimPoint, and what it means to being AimPoint certified.

AimPoint is a system for teaching players how to predict break on their putts. Based on certain variables and the balls location relative to those variables; a very accurate target is determined. AimPoint teaches players what those variables are and how to determine them. Being AimPoint certified basically means that one has been taught by Mark Sweeney (AimPoint founder) and approved to teach this information to others. There are only about 100 of us in the world currently AimPoint certified.

You are also TPI certified. What’s that mean?

TPI stands for Titleist Performance Institute and they have a program to help golf professionals better understand how the human body. Basically, if I’m trying to teach a player to do something and they physically can’t do it, I’m wasting my time. TPI helps teach us golf pros how to assess a players physical abilities and connects us with medical and fitness trainers to create a team helping golfers reach their goals. Honestly though, my business is going in a direction that doesn’t really require me to stay certified. I will be allowing my TPI certification to lapse.

You are currently the Director of Instruction at the Webster Golf Club in Rochester, New York. Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t it snow there? What do you do when you can’t be on the lesson tee?

Yes, we receive about 100 inches of snow a year, on average. During the school year, I’m a stay at home dad during the day then will teach and travel nights or weekends. There’s an indoor facility that I have used the last couple years but most players in Rochester will take some time off from golf until after the Super Bowl has been completed. After that, it can get quite busy. The travel I do is for AimPoint classes and I typically will travel two weekends a month in the winter then every week come spring.

One of these days, when I settle down, I want to coach a high school or college golf team. I think that would be a blast. You did that for 8 years at the Monroe Community College. What was that experience like for you?

College coaching was one of the most enjoyable things I have ever done. I loved working with the players. I absolutely loved it. It was a very hard decision to stop coaching but I was having a difficult time allotting enough time to do it to the level I thought was appropriate. Because it was a part-time position, I had to continue teaching and traveling and I wasn’t able to spend enough time with the players. It certainly helped that many of my players were also junior students of mine and that we were very successful. I’ve built some great relationships with a few of the players that I see on Wednesday nights to this day.

While you were coaching, your students won a TON of awards. What’s that like, coaching a team of guys who play so well and can win so many awards while under you?

It’s great. There’s nothing better than helping someone attain the goals they have set for themselves. I was a hands-off coach on the course when it came to decision making. I provided the facts and let the player play. That’s how I saw my job. Provide the facts and the opportunity and let the players play.

On Facebook you have a personal page, and then the John Graham Golf School. Is that run out of the Webster GC?

Yes, that is run out of Webster Golf Club.

Let’s say I want to book a lesson with you… what’s the first lesson like?

The first lesson with a new student can vary greatly depending on the student. However, the start of a lesson with a new student consists of a bunch of questions about past experiences, lessons, injuries and ideas. I want to make sure I understand where the student is coming from and what they think needs to be done to get there. So many students have the wrong concept of what is needed. I need to know there concept so I can assess it and inform them what it takes to achieve their desired goals. After that, it depends on what the student is doing.

Do you do playing lessons with your students?

Yes, I do playing lessons very often. Once I start to see improvement in the movement, I want to see if it happens on the course on weird lies and strange situations. It’s really the only way to truly assess how well they are doing.

You are a member of the Golf Business Network. How has being a member of that group helped you grow as an instructor?

GBN has provided me an opportunity to meet face to face with so many great people. The seminars have been wonderful and they cover such a wide array of topics. I’m happy to have been invited. It has helped me grow as an instructor by providing me information on topics I may not have considered studying and from experts in those fields. It shortens the learning cycle. I love that.

You do a lot of work with video. Does that mean someone on the other side of the world can, in theory, have a lesson with you?

In theory, someone could have a lesson with me online. I don’t currently do any online lessons but I’ll look at swings on Twitter and offer advice for free to my followers.

It seems you are always on the edge of new technologies… what’s next in golf instruction? Is there anything on the radar you are focused on?

Hmm. That’s a tough one. I love learning about the newest things even if I won’t really use that information in my business. You just never know when you might need a piece of information. I think continued advances will occur in tracking the movement of the human body, the club and the ball. I think the next big thing will be starting to train the mind for competition at earlier ages. Just a guess though.

Your lesson rates are reasonable. How do you decide what to charge? Do you set that, or does the golf club set those?

I set my rates. I charge what I think is fair. I don’t know where I fall in my market in terms of price, but I think it seems about right for the value received.

Do you get to play a lot of golf?

I have played very little golf since my children came. I simply choose to spend that time either working or at home. Once my children are older, I will play more golf again.

Your blog is loaded with great content… where do you get inspiration for a new blog post?

Thank you. Honestly, most of the inspiration comes from conversations I have on Twitter. Someone may be talking about something that I find interesting and I get involved. Then I’ll use that conversation as a basis for a post. Happens more often than not.

Starting with your driver, and working your way all the way through the bag, including your ball… what’s in your bag?

• Driver – PING I-15
• 3 wood – Callaway Steelhead +
• Hybrid – Cleveland
• 3-6 and 8-pw – Cleveland TA-4 (missing 7 iron)
• 52º – wedge Cleveland CG-10
• 58º – wedge Vokey
• Putter – Edel
• Golf Ball – Pro V1

Wait a second… what about your 7 iron?

It was always my teaching club. I left it on the range one day and haven’t replaced it.

I am sure you have played a lot of them, but what’s your favorite golf course?

My favorite course played was Ballybunion Golf Club in Ireland

Will I see you at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando next month?

Oh yes. I’ll be there. Wouldn’t miss it. I’ll be organizing another tweetup as well. Details should be coming soon. I’ll be working at the AimPoint booth all week.

What’s the D-Plane?

The D-Plane is a phrase coined by Theo Jorgenson in his book “The Physics of Golf”. It basically describes the plane that is created by the two factors that control the balls flight. Those two factors are the direction the club is moving and the direction the club face is pointing. Based on their orientation, the movement of the ball can be calculated. Simply, it describes how ball flight is created.

You have an email newsletter on your blog. How many people subscribe to that? How many times a month do those go out?

I have almost 1,200 people that receive my blog posts. I rarely send out just a newsletter. My subscribers typically just receive my new blog posts when written. The amount I write varies with the time of year. I can say I’ve written over 200 posts in the last 2 years if that helps describe the frequency.

You have a few kids running around the house… any of them showing interest in golf? How will you handle that, as they get older?

My oldest son enjoys the game but prefers more active sports. I have no problem with that. I’ve never pushed them and since I play so infrequently, they aren’t really exposed to it all that often.

YouTube is great… I wish I could do more with video. How often do you post a video on there? Jeff Ritter is doing a GREAT job with video too.

Yes, Jeff is doing a great job. Nearly 4 million views is big time. I used to post much more frequently than I do now. I would say I post a video maybe once a month. I’m working on becoming a YouTube partner and will need to get more views and subscribers to do that.

There is a list of the top 100 golf instructors… what’s it take to be on that list? Does being on that list affect the number of lessons you get or the rate you can charge for said lessons?

I don’t know much about the list. Honestly, it has never been a goal of mine so I don’t pursue it. I don’t really know if it affects the number of lessons and rate, but I would it assume it does.

In your opinion, who is the best teaching pro out there?

Hmm. I think that question is part of the problem I have with the lists. The golf industry is so diverse in terms of the goals that teachers have. They are all not working toward the exact same goal. Some teach juniors. Some want to teach only PGA TOUR players. It is inappropriate to take a singular goal or standard and apply it all teachers. This is why that question is too general to answer, and why the lists are dangerous. If they didn’t assign a number to them the lists could make more sense but to say someone is ranked higher than someone else and they don’t even teach the same clientele is a mistake.

As you know, I am a HUGE Tiger Woods fan. Do you watch a lot of professional golf on TV? Who are some of your favorite players?

I watch very little golf on TV. Usually just the Masters Tournament and the US Open on Sunday. Don’t really have a favorite player either.

How is the John Graham Golf Journal different from the blog?

The journal is a place where I keep my personal experiences with my game. I continually tell my students to write things down when they compete and practice. It helps them remember what to do and how to correct them selves when I’m not around. As you can see, I haven’t done much with my game in a while.

What’s next for you… what does 2012 have in store for John Graham and the John Graham Golf School?

2012 looks to be a busy year with AimPoint and focusing just on my current students. I will also continue to use social media to help build more relationships to further my business.

You travel a lot… especially for AimPoint. Do you ever get to travel overseas?

Yes, I typically will travel overseas at least once a year during the summer. The last 2 years, I’ve gone to Europe and worked with my good friends Jamie Donaldson and James Ridyard. Good chance I’ll go over again this year. I also already have classes scheduled in Cabo San Lucas and Bermuda in 2012.

John, I feel like I could ask you questions forever. Thank you so much for taking some time to sit with me and answer these. It means a lot. In all of the interviews that I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

Thanks again for helping me with so many areas related to social media. You have been a big help. I’d like to let everyone know that reads this that I am always available to help and share information whenever possible. Thanks to everyone for reading and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter!

Click here to follow John Graham on Twitter.

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Click here to watch John Graham Golf on YouTube.

Oh boy… where do I even begin to describe this guy. Well, he lives in Arizona. That, and he is always wet. Not from the rain (it never rains in the desert) but because he is always on some exotic vacation scuba diving all over the world. My favorite cousin Chris introduced me to him, and when she told me that he was an underwater photographer, I just had to learn more. I just got my certification a year ago, and I have no interest in taking photos… but when you see what this guy has done, you will see the attraction. I haven’t been diving with him yet, but I have a feeling we will be soon. We have become fast friends, and if all else fails, we can talk about one the dives he has been on. He has been on over 1,000 dives! At any rate, I can’t wait to get wet with this guy! It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to the man behind SCUBAREWS and All Wet Portraits, Ron Watkins. (What a cool name… All Wet Portraits. I love it!)

You are a scuba diver… know that diving will be a HUGE focus of this interview! Let’s start at the beginning; how long have you been diving?

My dad first took me diving in Lake Mead, Nevada in the summer of 1983. He had learned to dive while in the Navy during the Korean War on the USS Oriskany. That summer we dove several times in Lake Mead and even though the visibility wasn’t great, I was hooked. Later that summer we went over to California and did some beach dives near La Jolla and there was much more to see.

Surely you are certified. What certification(s) do you have?

I actually wasn’t certified in 1983 when I first dove. My dad and his friends weren’t either, but back then the certification process wasn’t well established and if you knew a buddy with an air compressor, you could get your tanks filed. My dad just took me in our pool and showed me the basics of breathing compressed air and told me to never ascend faster than your bubbles. He was always with me when I dove and we never went deeper than 40 foot. Actually when he started diving, there were no recreational diving certifications and so he never did get certified.

After graduating from college, where I didn’t dive because I was broke, I took a tip to Jamaica in 1992 and went diving again after taking a brief resort course. The waters of the Caribbean were the best I had ever seen and quickly I got hooked on diving again. So in 1993, I took PADI open water classes from a friend in Phoenix and I did my open water dives in San Carlos, Mexico.

After a few years of diving, I got my first 35mm underwater camera, which I quickly traded in for a more advanced model that allowed me to control aperture underwater and had different lenses that could be changed underwater.  I used it on a few dives and had moderate success with it, but struggled to consistently take good pictures. So I signed up for a PADI underwater photography class on a Great Barrier Reef 7 day live-aboard trip. My instructor was an Israeli name Uzi and he would teach classes on the boat, then dive with me and assist underwater. Once back on the boat, we would process the slide film and view it on a light table and he would critique and provide feedback on how to improve my images. That instant feedback was great and I quickly mastered the basics of that camera and drastically improved my images. In fact, I entered a shark image from that trip in the Seaspace 2000 international underwater photo contest and took first prize. My prize was a trip to Roatan, Honduras where I got my PADI advanced open water certification.

Do you teach others how to dive? I was certified at Indy MPH Watersports, and the guy that taught me had a day job and taught lessons in the evening.

I never got my instructor certification, so I don’t teach scuba diving. I do enjoy informally teaching others underwater photography on live-aboard dive trips. If someone is interested, I am always willing to share tips and lessons learned over the years diving. I meet a lot of people on dive boats with new cameras and they do not know the basics of photography so mostly shoot in automatic mode which will not consistently deliver quality images. So I help them use the manual settings on their camera and provide them photo tips. Over the years, I learned a lot from other more skilled photographers, so I am just trying to pass that on.

You have been diving a long time… how many dives have you been on?

Good question… I actually stopped logging dives at about 600 dives because I found my photography to be a better log book. My dive computer also stores each dive in it so that is another record in case anyone needed to see what my dive profile was for a given dive in the event of an emergency. I typically will take a picture of the dive map that the dive master draws as a reminder of the site and then tag my images with the location of the dive. When I am on a dive trip on a live-aboard, I am typically diving 3-5 times a day so on a 10 day trip, I can really get a lot of dives in. I do try to keep a dive journal during the trip that I make note of unique experiences or conditions as well as the conditions of the operator and boat. I will then typically write up a trip report and share it on my website so that others can see what to expect if they are planning a trip. I now typically put my trip reports on my blog (http://www.ronwatkinsphotography.blogspot.com/)  and then create a new gallery on my website.

Your tank, in some of the photos I have seen of you, says “NITROX” on the side. What’s that mean? Does that require a different certification?

If you are going to be doing a lot of repetitive dives for several days in a row (like on a live-aboard), NITROX is a certification you will definitely want to get for a number of reasons. NITROX or enriched air NITROX is a mixture that contains a higher percentage of oxygen and lower percentage of nitrogen. A standard air filled tank is around 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen and as you know from your certification, nitrogen absorption into your blood stream is what limits your bottom time. So, by increasing the oxygen to 32-36%, you reduce the amount of nitrogen you absorb and therefore can increase your bottom time significantly. You also reduce the risk of decompression sickness and you can decrease your surface intervals so you can spend more time in the water. There are also side effects associated with the nitrogen, like feeling lethargic that you minimize. But there is a risk to diving on NITROX and that is oxygen toxicity, which can kill you. To avoid this, you have to know the maximum depth allowable for the percent oxygen you are using. When you take the NITROX certification classes, they teach you all about this and you also use a special dive computer that you can program your percent oxygen in to.

What’s the best dive you have ever done? Is it even possible to pick?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions I get and the most difficult to answer. It really depends. The easy answer is Indonesia, but that is like saying my favorite state is the United States because Indonesia is about the same size and is an archipelago made up of thousands of islands. Indonesia has incredible biodiversity and the remote regions are pristine. Not only the diving, but the people and culture are phenomenal. Some areas can be challenging though for diving and photography, but if I could only go one place and dive there the rest of my life, it would be Indonesia. I would live in Bali and use it for my base camp for diving expeditions because it has good diving; the nicest people and is a beautiful island.  Some of the places I have been in Indonesia include Bunaken, Lembeh, Wakatobi, Komodo, Flores, Alor, and Raja Ampat. All together, I have spent over 4 months there.

Besides Indonesia, here are a few of my other favorites… For wreck diving, Truk Lagoon in Micronesia has hundreds of sunken WWII Japanese ships and planes. The soft coral and people of Fiji are also hard to beat. Venture out into some of the 300+ islands and find fantastic diving. Hawaii is my favorite US diving. Cozumel is my favorite in Mexico and the Cayman Islands my favorite in the Caribbean.

That’s a lot of dives… have you ever run out of air?

Can you define “run out”? Technically I have never run out of air or I wouldn’t be doing this interview! I have had a few occasions where my primary tank of air ran low and I had to share my buddies air all the way up to the surface. You know, buddy breathing. I am usually really good about monitoring my air, but on occasion, I get so in to my photography, that I allow my air to get lower than recommended. Buddy breathing works fine, but when I am diving with other photographers (the worst kind of dive buddy, me included) or when I dive alone, there isn’t always a buddy nearby. On one dive, my dive buddy and I separated early on in the dive and I found myself at 40 foot with only 250 psi (supposed to surface with at least 500 psi). I saw another diver in the distance, but couldn’t get his attention, so I had to decide to either do a controlled ascent on the air I had or swim after him which would use up air quicker. I swam for him and finally caught him with the take near empty and he quickly gave me his primary air hose and he switched to his back up. We did our 3 minute safety stop at 20 foot and surfaced together.

The other time that was a closer call was on a recent photography dive trip in the cold waters of California where I had not dove in 20+ years.  I found myself separated from my dive buddy photographer after a few minutes into the dive but since I was in only 50 foot of water, I decided to continue on with the dive and photograph. I was breathing more air than usual because of the chilly waters and slight current. I was focused on a colorful nudibranh when I tried to breath in and felt resistance. I immediately looked at my gauge and it read empty. I didn’t panic though. I looked around and saw no one, so I slowly ascended remembering what my dad had taught me about never go faster than your bubbles. I had to skip the safety stop, but I was on NITROX in shallow water for only 50 minutes, so I was fine. I actually had to manually inflate my BC because there was not enough air to inflate it and surface swim on my back to the boat. I was very fortunate and that close call reminded me that safety has to come first.

Do you own all of your own equipment?

I went on one trip to La Paz Mexico in the early 90s after getting certified without my own equipment, and the rental equipment was so unsafe and I almost drown. When I returned home, I bought all of my own equipment. But times have changed and the rental equipment at diving resorts and on live a-boards is often better than what I have. It can be expensive to buy and maintain your own gear, so unless you dive more than 10 days a year, I would seriously consider just renting. It is also a major hassle traveling with all of that extra weight and paying those baggage fees.

You travel all over the world diving… your job also helps that, but still. Does the cost of diving in say, Micronesia differ from diving in the Bahamas?

Dive travel can be very expensive… from the airfare, to the dive boat and the accommodations. Most liveaboards cost between $300-400 dollars per day but you will typically get the most dives in on one. I especially like this option because my camera equipment is safely stored on the boat and there is usually ample space to service it.  So for me, unless there are great land attractions, I try to do a live-aboard because that is my best value to maximize the bottom time and have the most time for photography.

For land based destinations, I think Cozumel and Roatan are two of the best values in the Caribbean and you can usually get low cost airfares. Cozumel has inexpensive hotels, great food for much less than in the US and good dive operators for reasonable price. I do however use a dive guide in Cozumel named Jeremy who owns Living Underwater because he is the best and worth the extra money. His boat, the Jewfish, has a custom made rinse tank that fits my camera exactly because he used it to design the tank. Now that is service!

I typically will do all of my own trip planning to save money, but do have a few travel agents who specialize in dive travel to remote places. I always first try to use my airline frequent flier points if possible,and plan ahead. Many of the southeast Asia destinations like Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines are cheap once you get there, but the flights can be expensive.

As you have mentioned, you do more than dive. You are a professional underwater photographer. What prompted you to start taking pictures down there?

I have always like photography, but really got seriously into it when I took up diving and wanted to capture the beauty I was experiencing and share it with others. Particularly my dad, who can no longer dive, is still able to experience my underwater adventures through my photography. I have also been able to use photography to increase awareness on just how fragile the underwater ecosystem and how we are destroying it. I have given several photography presentations and done photo essays and use them as forums to educate people on the dangers facing the oceans and the creatures that call it home. I am now on my 5th camera setup and it is a really addictive activity.

I have seen sharks, dolphins, sea lions… Do you prefer to shoot any one kind of creature over another? Do you plan the dive for that specific shot?

I go through phases. I shot sharks a lot and planned all of my trips to sharky waters for several years. They are incredible creatures and I am always trying to get that majestic image that shows the beauty of a shark in contrast to the perception of them being man eaters.

I free dove with dolphins in the Bahamas and that was one of favorite shoots ever. I was able to get some great shots of them feeding on squid at night. I was in the water for about three hours with them well after midnight until a large tiger shark showed up and spoiled the party. Sea lions are very playful and fun to shoot because they are like puppy dogs underwater. I also like to shoot macro and capture all of the amazing little critters like pygmy seahorses, squid, crabs, shrimp, anmonefish and eels.

As far as planning the dive for a specific shot, I always try to do that, but sometimes you just get lucky and see something that you never expected.  Then, you hope you can capture a great image. I enjoy researching the marine life of the area before I go. That way I can know what rare species are in the area, their habitat and behaviors. I am also a bit of a history buff, and love to read about the ship wrecks and how they came to their final resting spot. Several years back, I dove in Truk Lagoon in Micronesia, which is considered the wreck diving capitol of the world. It was the site of a major allied offensive during World War II called Operation Hail Storm. There are over 50 Japanese ships and 100 airplanes in the area that you can dive. Seeing these wrecks with their deck guns pointed upward, military artifacts scatter around and the crew’s living quarters was very moving and better than anything I could have read in a history book or seen in a museum.

It’s not just animals you shoot… tell me about All Wet Portraits.

All Wet Portraits presented a new challenge in underwater photography… photographing children underwater. It is so much fun for me and the kids. I use different backdrops, lighting, and even costumes for the kids. It allows me to be very creative in a controlled environment (a pool) and experiment with different techniques.  It also allows me to do photography when at home in Arizona. I have partnered with several swim clubs and also do private shoots on location at pools.  These images are a lot of fun and can be seen on my website www.allwetportraits.com. If you have young children and want to get their picture taken underwater, let me know! I have photographed babies as young as 6 months old.

What’s the deepest you have ever been?

I only dive as deep as I have to in order to get the photo and to date that was 145 foot. There was a Japanese transport ship with tanks strapped on the deck that I had to photograph. It was a quick 15 minute bottom time and then several safety stops at different depths. Not exactly a fun dive, but the tanks were really cool. Usually most of what I shoot is in less than 60 foot, and I prefer shallow water so that I can use the ambient light along with my strobe light.

You are originally from Las Vegas. I LOVE Vegas, but I am not sure I could live there. Do you miss living in Sin City?

Not at all! It was a neat place to grow up in the 80s, when the mob still ran the town and crime was organized. Now, crime is out of control and there are some really bad parts of town. You can get a really cheap house there, but I could never live there again. Usually after 3-4 days, I am ready to escape the strip and head home.

Do you ever exhibit your work? I could totally see a fish on the wall at my local coffee shop!

I use to exhibit my work a lot and participate in several juried art shows a year, but I don’t have the time to do that now. I do have some art in a local coffee shop and a permanent exhibit of 9 prints at the Peoria Library in the kid’s book section.  My main exhibit now is in my home and online.

I have only been on a few dives, but I LOVE it. Do you get the same thrill 1,000+ dives in that you did when you first started?

I do get excited every time I dive and feel fortunate to be able to do so. I must admit that I do get less excited when I am diving in the Caribbean after diving so much in SE Asia because there is a lot less marine biodiversity.

Tell me more about the Sonoran Arts League.

The Sonoran Art League (SAL) is a wonderful group of talented artists of all kinds. SAL allowed me to not only network with other artist and learn more about the business of art. The SAL Hidden in the Hills Studio tour is one of my favorite events each year. I participated 3 years in a row and unlike the typical tent art show, you get to see the artist demonstrating their art and spend more quality time with the artist in a relaxed setting. For me, it is difficult to demonstrate my art at the tour, but I do have all of my underwater photography equipment on display and enjoy explaining the process to interested people. I encourage everyone to come out and the tour which is held the weekend before and after Thanksgiving each year.

Does diving get easier the more you do it?

It does come very natural to me know and I rarely consciously focus on breathing. Buoyancy is also something that improves with experience and the less weight that you wear (new divers are typically over-weighted). I have a mental checklist that I go through before each dive with my gear and camera equipment. If I haven’t been diving for several months, it usually take the first dive for me to get back in my groove, but then after that, I really feel at home.

You have done a few liveaboards. What’s that experience like? Take me through a week on a boat.

Eat, dive, sleep and repeat pretty much sums it up. Most the boats I have been on hold between 10-16 divers and are really nice inside and out. You get your own cabin and usually your own bathroom. On low end boats, like in California, you may just sleep in bunks and share a couple of bathrooms. Food is great and plentiful, the service excellent and the dive setup really easy. They usually wake you up shortly after dawn and you have a light bite and then dive. When you get out of the water, you sit your tank in a designated spot and put away your gear under your seat.  They fill the tanks and everything is ready for the next dive, which is after a full breakfast. You repeat this and dive about 3-5 times each day. If you don’t do a dive, you can relax, read a book, nap or work on pictures and camera equipment. The boat may move a little bit throughout the day and so you will dive different spots. At night is usually when they make the major moves. They also usually have land tours to local villages or sites. It is a diver’s paradise and will spoil you.

Have you ever been bit?

I once got bit by an anemone fish (Nemo) when I was too close to her eggs. They have really sharp teeth and it did draw blood. I have suffered a couple of severe jellyfish stings on my neck that really hurt. I also got a hickey from a stingray in the Caymans.

Your work is SO good. Have you ever won any awards for your photography?

Thanks Ricky. Glad you like it. I won The Digital Shootout two years in a row in Bonaire and Little Cayman and have also won awards in several international photography competitions over the years. I also won the photography category in the Cave Creek Film & Arts Festival 2 years in a row and the second year won the people’s choice award. The prizes for these contest include cash, some really nice dive trips and dive/camera equipment. The latest underwater photography competition that I have entered has over $82,000 in prizes!

You are currently living in Scottsdale… that’s the desert. There is no water! If you get the itch, where do you typically go to dive?

Besides pools, I have only been to Fossil Creek, which is about 2 hours north of Phoenix. There I photographed the native fish and scenery and wrote an article that was published in the Arizona Wildlife Views magazine.

When I was learning how to dive, the instructor always said before we got into the water, “Let’s get wet.” I say that EVERY time I get ready to jump in. Do you have any rituals before you jump in?

No cool sayings like that, but I like it! On the liveaboards, they usually say, “the pool is open” and you are free to dive. I always double-check my camera seal so that it doesn’t leak.

What’s the coldest water you have ever dove in?

This trip to the Channel islands just his last October for the Southern California digital shootout. Water was a chilly 63, which the locals said was warm. Screw that… I prefer the warm water, but the diving is California is really good and I will be going back soon.

Speaking of getting wet, what’s your preferred entry method? I prefer the giant stride!

Me too. Back rolls are okay though.  I always have to swim back to the boat after jumping in and get my camera though.

You are all over the place… how many stamps are on your passport?

When I was living in Singapore, I filled up all of the pages on my second passport and had to get additional pages. I haven’t counted recently, but my current passport is getting full again. I also have Visa’s for China and Indonesia in there as well.

When you take photos, do you post them as is, or do you take them into Photoshop and clean them up?

Some of colors you see underwater are like no other color you have ever seen before. However, the deeper you go, the darker it is and the more color you lose to the naked eye. But when you add light with a flashlight or the strobes on my camera it brings back the true colors. I am sometimes asked by people viewing one of my exhibits if I enhance or change the color of the marine life in the image. This is often because when they have seen that fish of turtle while snorkeling or in an aquarium, it appeared with less color or a different shade of color. I currently use an SLR digital camera for my photography and shoot all of my images in a RAW digital negative format. Like the earlier slide film that I worked with, RAW files have to be post processed in a “digital” dark room environment using software instead of chemicals. Most of the adjustments made to the image are the same types of adjustments that were made in a traditional darkroom. The goal of my fine art photography is to represent the subject as close to its true colors as possible and allow nature’s palette to shine through. I do not manipulate any of my images by adding elements that were not in the picture.

Do you ever shoot on dry land?

I do and love it. My favorite subject is wildlife and have gotten some of those images published as well. On a recent trip to Canada, I photographed black bears for three days in the wild. I was able to get pretty close to them and captured some awesome shots. Another fun trip was when I took snowmobiles into Yellowstone National Park in the winter. I got some nice images of bighorn sheep, bison, elk, deer and a bald eagle all with a winter wonderland backdrop.

We talked about your scuba gear, but what about your camera gear? I bet you have some pretty high-end cameras and lenses. What all are you shooting with?

My equipment is pretty high end, but not the highest end. I have been shooting with my Nikon D300 DSLR camera in a Sea & Sea housing for the last 3 years and feel really comfortable with it. I use two Sea & Sea 250 strobes and a focus light. On land it weighs about 22 pounds, but under water with some floats it is almost neutral buoyant. Depending on the type of lens you have on the camera, you have a different port on the housing. This means you have to commit to shooting macro or wide angle for the entire dive.

It is definitely not the camera that makes the photographer though. I have been out shot by some camera setups a lot less than mine. There are so many factors that go into a good image. On a recent trip to La Paz, a friend with a point and shoot Canon G12 got a lot better whale shark photo than the one I got and it was her first time diving with that camera. So all it takes to take good images is to be a good diver with excellent buoyancy, have a quality camera that you know how to use, a good eye for composition and lighting, and a little luck never hurts.

There are so many places to dive… but what’s next? Where is the next dive? Are there any places that you have never been but want to visit?

First where I want to go still! Maldives, South Africa for the Sardine run and possible Alaska if I can brave the cold.  My next trip this April is to a new place and I am very excited about that trip – Papua New Guinea! I will be on a 10 day live-aboard dive trip and can’t wait. I also hope to explore some the local tribes that live there and get some nice land photographs. And I want to “get wet” with Mr. Ricky Lee Potts in the near future. Maybe we could get some cool images of you underwater that you can share with your followers!

We have been talking about scuba diving and photographs all day… but what else do you like to do? What other hobbies do you have?

I really enjoy flyfishing and hiking. Actually anything outdoors I love. I like golf, but I am just a hacker and enjoy being outside. I also love to travel and experience new places, culture and food.

Speaking of golf… diving is like golf… something you can do forever. Do you see yourself diving your way into retirement?

Absolutely! My dad was able to dive pretty late in life, but had to stop after he damaged his ear drum. I have been diving with people in their 80s before. So as long as I am healthy enough, I will dive!

Man, I feel like I could ask you questions all day. This has been fun… we need to go diving soon! In all of the interviews that I do, I always give the artist last word. Go.

Life is short so make the most of it. I have been fortunate to pursue my passions and experience some wonderful places in my life. Another one of my passions is preserving the ocean and all of its inhabitants. I also use my art to increase awareness of the reefs and marine life. The oceans support a diverse and important marine ecosystem which humans depend on. Over the years I have been diving, I have witnessed the deterioration of reefs, decreased fish populations and the decimating practice of shark finning. I hope that by people seeing my images, they will take more of an interest in the conservation of this fragile natural resource. Shark finning kills tens of thousands of sharks every year and is senseless. Please do not support any establishment that serves shark fin soup. Thanks for this interview Ricky and I look forward to getting wet with you soon!

According to AIDS United, one of five people infected with HIV are unaware they have the disease. The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reported 514 new cases of HIV and AIDS in 2010, but there could be additional undiagnosed cases.

In conjunction with World AIDS Day on December 1, 2011, The Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis is raising money through its KNOW POSITIVE text-to-give campaign to fund 500 additional rapid HIV tests. A rapid HIV test not only gets people who test positive for HIV into medical care more quickly, it also prevents further exposure to the disease from those who may not know they are infected.

“The best way to stop the spread of HIV is through prevention. The best prevention is for people to know their HIV status and that of their sexual partners,” said Betty Wilson, President and CEO of The Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis, which operates the Indiana AIDS Fund. “We want to provide more tests so more people, especially the younger generation that doesn’t seem to be as aware of HIV, can know their status.” Forty-six percent of all new HIV diagnoses in Indiana last year were in people age 30 or younger, according to the ISDH.

“HIV is affecting people in what is supposed to be their most productive years,” said Carrie Carter, a medical social worker for LifeCare at Indiana University Health, an Indiana AIDS Fund grant recipient. “I always tell patients that in order to live a successful life, they must take control of their HIV.”

To participate in the KNOW POSITIVE campaign, simply text the word “KNOW” to 20222. Each text results in a $10 donation to the Indiana AIDS Fund. The Health Foundation will donate one HIV test to an Indiana AIDS service organization for each text donation. The $10 donation will be added to your cellular phone bill. Standard text messaging fees also apply. “When you text “KNOW” to 20222, that’s one more person in the know,” said Wilson.

The Health Foundation will distribute KNOW POSITIVE cards and bracelets at World AIDS Day events across Indianapolis. In addition, they will share the text-to-give information on Facebook and Twitter. The Indiana AIDS Fund is a program of The Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis, dedicated to supporting HIV/AIDS service programs in Indiana. Each year, the Indiana AIDS Fund provides grants to community-based organizations through the state for HIV education, prevention and treatment programs for women, women of color, youth, under-served communities and men having sex with men.