Kevin O’Neill has recently gained accreditation as a putting coach in Australia from PuttingZone Australia.

Kevin, a Master Teacher with the World Golf Teachers Federation, has a reputation for innovative teaching practices coupled with a passion for best learning practices.

In 1974, Kevin went to England as an amateur to play in the qualifying rounds of the British Open. Although he didn’t qualify, Kevin did take up a traineeship at a course north of London.

“I was giving lessons immediately because of my teaching background (B.Ed., Dip Teach, TC). However, I worked out fairly quickly that I wasn’t going to be a household name as a player in the golfing world, so I gave lessons six days a week and just played locally.”

Kevin spent two winters in the pro shop in Nth London, prior to flying back to Sydney, getting married, had kids and did all the usual things. Golf and coaching became dim memories.

Twenty years later a relocation to Melbourne found Kevin back on the teaching tee and enjoying the experience.

A move from Melbourne to Torquay, where Kevin still lives, he has juggled lecturing, part time teaching, coaching and writing a weekly golf column.

So what got Kevin interested in putting?

“Because up to now I’d been a dreadful putter. As a young golfer I knew that I was not a naturally good putter. I was told that good putters are born not made. No matter what I did I would never improve my putting was the poor advice given to me and I believed it.”

In his quest for better personal putting performances Kevin decided to design a putter. Seven years of research and testing and 12 prototypes later Kevin is in the final stages of being granted patents for his design which has both R and A and USGA approval for play in any event or tournament around the world.

And that’s when he thought …. “what’s the use of having the best putter if I still can’t putt?” I’d better get my act together or have someone else putt for me.”

“I’ve done lots of research…Pelz, Swash, Utley, Mangum …and read lots of books… Trevino, Norman, Ballesteros, Couples, Nicklaus and Pavin… and I still wasn’t sinking any putts.”

“Via the internet, I came across PuttingZone Australia. I phoned Bruce Howard, talked putting ideas, and agreed to meet.”

“I can tell you, nothing comes close to what I’ve just learnt on how to putt and how to get the ball in the hole. Working with Bruce Howard of PuttingZone Australia was a lightning bolt experience which opened both my eyes and my brain as to how putting really works. Now I sink putts”

“I am over the moon with my putting and my putting stats. And I’m over all that bad advice. I’m going back into coaching to help golfers make permanent changes to their putting (and their scores) with a minimum of practice and time”

“PuttingZone Australia, with its clever concepts and structured approach, ties in neatly with my philosophy of Simple Solutions, Rapid Results.”

Kevin O’Neill can be contacted on 0417 137 808 or email oneillkevin@bigpond.com