Most of the golf courses around Cork remain very soft, and instead of playing many golfers are honing their skills at ranges and through lessons and classes.  Cork Golf Centre has been a busy place since January and Wayne O’Callaghan’s putting studio is one of the busiest.  O’Callaghan started focusing on putting around four years ago and now he’s recognised as one of the leading coaches in Ireland.

Wayne has invested a lot in terms of new technology, in addition to Trackman, he has a number of specialised putting tools.  He’s been using Capto for a number of years, this provides a full 3D picture of the stroke.  SAM Puttlab is great for providing visuals, and combined with Wayne’s motorised putting platform, any break or line can be created.  Quintic was the latest addition to Wayne’s putting toolkit, and this takes the analysis to a new level.  He also has a raised putting green that can change heights to provide students with life like breaks to recreate real conditions.

Wayne points out that the new aids help his role as a coach.  “Tech always makes a big difference to teaching but there’s a narrative of delivering it, it’s not all about the numbers going out to the client.  It’s definitely made my coaching easier because I can look and I can determine very quickly if it’s an aim issue, or if it’s a start line issue because I’m getting all that feedback.  Most people have poor setups, they don’t have a routine and I find they don’t have a targeting strategy.”

A decade ago the only people an practice greens were those next on the first tee.  Now with better facilities in many clubs, you’re likely to see several golfers practicing their putting with purpose.  Wayne has seen a shift in the approach too.  “I find they now come back and take repeat lessons more often than before.  Previously I would notice over the years people taking a one-off putting lesson and they thought they were fixed.  People have come understand the value of putting, but they also understand the value of coming back to check, whether it’s just confirmation or whether it’s just the top-up what we did previous session because you certainly wouldn’t fix everything in one session.”  Wayne is also quick to point out that the putter can account for 50% of strokes on a par 72 course.  O’Callaghan also linked up with Odyssey and he provides a custom fitting service for the tour leading range of putters.

Wayne recently turned 50, and is back playing competitively for the first time in a few years.  Around a decade ago Wayne was a prolific winner on the Irish PGA tour, and he’s now focused on the seniors category.

“There’s a seniors tour now in Europe for professionals that I was aware of a few months ago and I literally said ok I’m a rookie again and I’m gonna give it a shot. With the help of Frank Long in Signature Health, Wayne went on a six month S&C and flexibility programme and he say some great results.  “I managed to add close to 10 miles an hour of club speed and over 30 yards of carry on my driver, my irons are all up about 10 yards even on the best years of my playing so I’m fitter than I ever was.”

The busy teacher had little time for practice other than using his Trackman Simulator, and his first event was in Mallorca two weeks ago and he came away with 3rd place in the 54 hole event.

“I got to three under in round one and five under in a pro-am after nine holes in round two, but I hoping to do well as my goal was to win it.  On the final day the weather was awful so I thought definitely might suit my game and I managed to get up second place after 10 holes I had a couple of bogeys on the back nine but I finished with a birdie and I managed to grab a share of third place which I was very happy with.”

Wayne is going to play a few more events, hoping to get out once a month and he’s looking to keep the momentum going.  “I’m going to try and keep my game sharp definitely, I suppose 50 is a new lease of life regards golf, it gives me the mindset that I’m the youngest now out there and I definitely have the game to compete from what I saw on the golf course.”