Alvaro Gonzalez never thought Anaheim could support his dreams.
The golf program at the Tiger Woods Learning Center (TWLC) offers a world-class golf experience like no other. It specializes in beginning and intermediate golf, offering fundamental golf instruction at a state-of-the-art facility, along with innovative techniques in instruction involving the latest technology.
We provide golf equipment to students who can't afford their own and access to prestigious golf courses to students who can't afford green fees. Since last year, we've added the Tiger Woods: My Swing app into the program. This app provides immediate, useful feedback to the fundamentals of golf, such as putting, chipping and full-swing mechanics.
In general, we make golf accessible for everyone. Additionally, the TWLC's golf program has been instrumental in helping tens of thousands of students decide on a career path, graduate from high school, pursue a higher education and get excited about learning.
I'd like to take you on a tour of our golf program from the viewpoint of one of our students. When he began playing golf as a sixth-grader, he never thought he would end up on his varsity golf team or compete in golf tournaments across Southern California. He never thought Anaheim could support any of his desires until the TWLC became a part of his life.
Alvaro Gonzalez started at the TWLC by attending the Saturday golf clinics, learning the fundamentals of putting, chipping, pitching and the full swing with other students his age. He practiced the expectations of golf in etiquette, on-course mannerisms and application of basic golf rules. He honed his golf skills so much that he became eligible for the TWLC Player Development Program (PDP). The PDP signifies a student's passion and dedication to the game of golf and allows three levels of progression for students who want to become competitive players.
Alvaro made his way through the PDP, becoming one of the first to pass all levels (Level 1: Tour Class, Level 2: Players Class and Level 3: Masters Class). Being part of the PDP provides privileges such as free range balls during practice sessions at the TWLC, outings with TWLC golf professionals at prestigious courses throughout Orange County, access to special TWLC golf workshops like club-making and golf fitness, and access to professional events like the World Challenge.
Alvaro also regularly checks his swing maintenance using the My Swing app. We were so excited to have access to this technology. The app features Tiger's actual golf swing, something all our students, including Alvaro, really enjoy watching. We use each of Tiger's swings, filmed using every club, as the model to showcase the different length of swings and to describe how the body moves and works in the swing. Alvaro is able to identify his own swing flaws and whenever he feels out of position in his swing, he simply records his swing flaws and refers to the adjustments recommended in the app. He also loves to conduct a side-by-side comparison with Tiger's swing whenever he is swinging well to compare crucial positions like address, impact and the finish.
In his attempt to become the best golfer he can be, Alvaro developed a new outlook on life. A sophomore at Savannah High School in Anaheim, he now has established a golf handicap of 8.0 index. He maintains a 3.3 GPA and aspires to play collegiate golf. He is driven and motivated with plans to pursue a higher education. I can honestly say that the TWLC golf program has had a direct and positive impact on Alvaro's life.
