“My greatest achievement as a coach, is to have a student I teach, want to refer me to a friend”
— Christian Small
Student Testimonials
John Phillips
Starting handicap 26 - Lowered it to 10
I’ve coached John for over 10 years, meeting him initially when he was looking for a new driver to fix his slice. He had played for 45 years and was playing of 26 even though he had taken many lesson and read many Golf books and Golf magazine instructional pieces. John always showed a willingness to commit to the plan, maintain a consistent thought process and he just loved learning and loved the game. John lowered his handicap to a career low of 10 handicap at the age of 71 and in Novemeber 2019 shot 3 over par.
HEAR MORE FROM JOHN BELOW
I first started working with Christian at The Northern Beaches Golf Academy in 2010. Since then I have followed him to Moore Park & The Lakes golf club.
As an Instructor, Christian is on top of all things golf. Putting, Chipping, Pitching, Bunkers & Full Swing. He is second to none as an analyst & has that rare talent of being able to pinpoint the exact cause of a problem & providing the right solution.
I have been privileged to have had some great sporting teachers including Brian Booth and Warren Ryan & had the privilege of training under George Daldry @ City Tatts. As well as Baseball coaches Sid Thompson, Barry Sundstrom, Ken Reus & Lindsay Doubleday. Christian is right there with the best. I believe Christian is to the golf swing in Australia what Charlie Lau was to the baseball swing in the US Major Leagues.
When I met Christian at age 61, I was on a 26 handicap & at 71 I am on 10 HCP. I am now retired & living in New Zealand, but still manage to catch Christian every time I get back to Sydney. Any major problems I send him a video & he soon sorts out the correct solution. I would thoroughly recommend him to any person interested in their golf. Finally, Christian always says you only have one friend when you are on a golf course. If you are interested in finding out who that friend is, go see him & book a lesson
John
Tracey Jane Allan
Starting handicap 14 - Lowered it to 8
I met Tracey 15 years ago playing of a 14 handicap and struggling with a low left to right ball flight that was too low, affecting her ability to reach par 4’s in regulation. Tracey is very organised and logical and reasonated with the layered learning process i began to teach her. Tracey is very good at sticking to a plan and has a very diligent work ethic. We worked hard on all aspects of her game and Tracey got to a career low handicap of 8 and increased her driver distance by 15 -20m.
HEAR MORE FROM TRACEY BELOW
Christian and I have been working together for around 15 years. He is always working towards being a better teacher and coach, looking for new and innovative methods.
When we started, my handicap was around 14 and reduced to 8. He worked on my technique and also spent time helping me to understand the importance of imagination and visualisation in golf. I also realised the importance of a tight short game, as I did not hit the ball as long as many others I played with.
He also provides skills helping you to put yourself in a better mindset on the course, which not only makes for better golf but makes teeing it up each week a pleasure.
It’s not a quick fix process and the explanation of each item during the lesson along with the video tutorials and tips provided after the lesson, allow for progress between lessons. Trust what you’re being told and listen to Christian, rather than trying to teach yourself from YouTube and improvement is guaranteed!
Part of the success is due to Christian engaging the student in the learning process, by making them take responsibility for understanding why certain outcomes (both good and bad) occur and what to do about them.
I have followed Christian all over Sydney. He is an example of someone who is seriously good at what they do, with a genuine interest in passing on their skills and enthusiasm to others.
I would highly recommend Christian to anyone who needs help with their game, or is simply looking to improve and take their game to the next level.
Tracey Jane Allan
Edward Sissian
Starting handicap 27 - Lowered it to 1
Edward started playing golf at the age of 18 having never played before. I saw Edward had a real passion for the game and in the first couple of lessons he asked me if i was committed as a caoch becuase he was going to be a committed student. In the next 18 month Edward lowered his handicap down to 4 and conitnued to get down to 1. Edward always showed a willingness to stick to the plan, a trust in me that accelerated his learning and a work ethic and passion for practice and the game that i admire to this day.
HEAR MORE FROM EDWARD BELOW
Christian has been my golf coach since I started playing the game 10 years ago. When I started I couldn’t have broken 100, but with his help, my handicap got down to 4 within a year and a half and to 1 after 3 years. In that time he has not only guided me through my golf progression but also my life progression. He is a fantastic golf coach and an incredibly selfless person. Through my own ups and down through golf and life Christian has always been very patient, understanding and truely honest. Christian not only excels at the physical side of the game but the mental aspect as well, he is an extremely well rounded golf coach.
Christian has always gone above and beyond, for a period of about 4 years I struggled with very bad anemia which eventually saw me hospitalised. In this time I was a very unpleasant person to coach, but he never once got upset or angry with me throughout this period even though it was unknown how sick I was and would have been extremely easy for him to ask me not to come back. Instead he was extremely understanding and helped me get my mental frame of mind back to where it should be, as well as my golf game once I recovered.
The things I’ve listed above are very much a small part of what Christian has helped me with/done for me. There are way too many instances where he has gone above and beyond and would be impossible to list completely.
In essence, from meeting Christian aa a bratty 18 year old he has not only been a golf coach, but a true mentor for me in all aspects of life. I can honestly say he is the most selfless golf coach I have ever met or heard of. The odds of finding another coach that is near his standard are very slim, but to find a coach who is as good of a person would be close to impossible.
I highly recommend anyone of any standard to see Christian, as I know he has an abundance of knowledge of the game and people to get the best out of anyone.
Edward
Lucy Wei
Starting handicap 22 - lowered it to 10
I started coaching Lucy after she had numerous lessons from another coach and had hit the wall at a 20+ handicap. Lucy immediately resonated with the layered learning concept as it streamlined and simplified her thinking and allowed her to focus on awarenss, something Lucy is fantastic at! Lucy is a great learner, an inspiring practicer and has continued to improve the last three years, playing now off 10, which will soon be single figures.
HEAR MORE FROM LUCY BELOW
Passion, excellent technical knowledge,dedicated professional
I have been working with Christian for 3 years on my game and am always impressed with his knowledge of the golf swing. But the most important part is he communicates that knowledge so that the improvements you achieve, stay with your permanently. That keeps your game up to a different higher level.
Christian understands not only what you are doing, but why you are doing it. With root of the cause in mind, he provides simple but effective and efficient solutions that lead the way to know what true great golf play is.
I feel very lucky to have him as my golf coach.
Lucy
John Davis
Starting handicap 24 - lowered it to 6
I meet John 22 years ago as a struggling 24 handicapper who couldn’t hit a football field witha 7 iron because he was plagued by the shanks. When i asked John, his golf life dream was to get to an 18 handicap. John has been my #1 student for many years as he continues to show determination, resilience and a desire to keep pushing himself to get better. John reduced his handicap down to a career low of 6 and still amazes me today in how well he understands his game
HEAR MORE FROM JOHN BELOW
When I met Christian I had been playing golf for more than 10 years. I was a regular lesson taker but was really struggling with my game to the point that I was considering if I should keep playing. I loved the game but was plagued by the shanks and also a weak cut, so badly was it that it was not enjoyable to feel that hopeless on the golf course.
Almost immediately that Christian started coaching me I saw an improvement and as I started to improve he began working on my golfing mindset.
I set the goal of getting to 18 which at the time of struggling off 24 I thought might be just a dream. I stuck to the plan that Christian set for me. I always found what he asked me to do easy to understand and quite logical and this made trying to do it fun.
I reached my 18 handcap goal pretty quickly and then reset my goal for 12 and then single figures. I got as low as 6 in late 2019 and still maintain a handicap between 6-8 now, 22 years later.
Christian has always believed in me, motivated me and helped me understand what I need to do to improve.
I have also seen him coach players of all levels and seen him get the best out of all these players.
I would recommend Christian to any player that wanted to improve, even if you’ve tried in the past and haven’t been able to.
Christian will improve you
John
