Most golfers don't fail because they aren't trying… they fail because they're showing up to lessons with the wrong expectations, the wrong habits, and no plan between sessions.

In this episode of #OnTheMark podcast, Mark Immelman is joined by Chris Smith, a Master PGA Professional and Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor, to break down 5 common mistakes that ruin golf lessons—and what to do instead so your next lesson actually turns into lower scores.

You'll Learn:

• How to get more value from every lesson
• What to stop doing immediately (and why it's holding you back)
• How to practice between lessons so improvements stick
• How to communicate with your coach so you leave with clarity, and The simple mindset shift that makes training "transfer" to the course.

The 5 Things (and the Fix):

1. No clear goal for the lesson → Fix: define a "win" before you arrive (shot pattern, contact, start line, scoring goal)
2. Trying to rebuild everything at once → Fix: one priority, one feel, one drill—stack progress over time
3. Collecting swing thoughts instead of building skill → Fix: convert tips into a repeatable drill + a checkpoint you can self-diagnose
4. No plan between lessons → Fix: a simple practice structure (block → random → on-course challenge)
5. Expecting range success to instantly become course success → Fix: train pressure, variability, and decision-making—not just mechanics.

If you've ever left a lesson feeling hopeful… then lost it by the weekend—this one is for you. Like, Subscribe, and comment below: What's the #1 thing you want your next lesson to fix?

In this episode of On the Mark, host Mark Immelman sits down with PGA TOUR winner Chris Gotterup to go inside the ropes—covering the real nuts and bolts behind elite performance: power, feel vs. technical thoughts, practice drills, putting improvement, and handling pressure when it matters most.

Chris shares what was happening in his mind and body during his playoff win at TPC Scottsdale, how he trains for speed without getting "too technical" in tournament weeks, and why communication with his caddie is one of the biggest keys to performing under the gun.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• What playoff pressure actually feels like—and how Chris handles it in real time
• How Chris thinks about power (and the setup tweaks he uses when he wants more distance)
• Why he avoids technical thoughts during tournament weeks (and saves them for offseason work)
• The "guardrails" approach: shaping shots without over-complicating your swing
• Training aids he uses (band, wrist device, HackMotion) and why they help
• Course management for different venues—Augusta vs. Harbour Town (and why mini driver matters)
• Putting improvement: start-line work, 3-putt avoidance, and speed training with Tim Yelverton
• Mental game under chaos (Waste Management), plus a playoff mindset: play to win
• Chris's favorite win breakdown—and what each victory taught him

Key Themes:

1. Pressure Is Normal—It Means You Care Chris is clear: nerves show up at the highest level, and that's part of competing.
2. Feel First (Tournament Week), Technique Later (Offseason) He'll work on mechanics away from competition, but once the tournament starts, he commits to what he brought that week.
3. "Guardrails" Beat Constant Overhauls He stays inside a preferred shot pattern—then adjusts toward neutral when needed, rather than rebuilding mid-week.
4. Communication Is a Performance Tool When things get loud or fast, Chris slows down by communicating clearly with his caddie about target, shape, and intent.

Episode Takeaways

➡ Power is useful—but it's only valuable if the next shot backs it up.

➡ Feel-driven golf gets more reliable when you keep your swing inside simple "guardrails."

➡ Putting improves when you start with start-line, then build speed control and accountability.

➡ Under pressure, slow down by communicating clearly—target, shape, and intent.

If you want more episodes like this—where Mark goes deep on how the best players actually practice, think, and compete—subscribe to On the Mark and share this episode with a golfer who wants to improve their game. Also, search and subscribe to Mark Immelman on YouTube.

Nick Biondi is a PGA Member and the Director of Golf Instruction at Radley Run Country Club in West Chester, PA. One of the most respected golf instructors in the country, Nick has over 20 years of elite teaching experience. His quality instruction has helped him build a reputation for transforming golfers through a science-backed and data-driven approach.

Nick joins #OntheMark to illustrate some game improvement insights from his new book, "Making the Turn.":

This podcast features golf tips and nuggets that will help you improve your Scoring Shots:

• Deciding who you want to be in golf
• Putting and Checkpoints for a consistent, repeatable and productive Putting Stroke
• Being Reactive vs. Over-thinking
• Chipping and Pitching insights incl. Data for success
• 3 Different Styles for Pitching, and
• Setup and Posture keys for consistent Strikes and Spin Control.

This podcast is also available on YouTube - search and subscribe to Mark Immelman.

Tyler Coonts is one of the leading young instructors in the game, and most certainly a leading "Online" golf instructor via Skillest. Based in Las Vegas and mentored by George Gankas and Jeff Smith, Tyler preaches "Rotation" but joins the #OntheMark podcast to talk about Shallowing the Golf Club and how to do it correctly.

He talks about the following topics pertaining to the downswing and how the club should move:

• What is Shallowing the Club
• How does the Club Shallow
• What needs to Happen for the Club to Shallow
• What is the Correct Amount of Shallowing
• Playing Above, and Below the "Plane"
• Backswing vs Impact Work and Focus
• Overtake Rate and "Flipping" and
• Rotation and the Appropriate Side Tilts for success.

Tyler also illustrates how great ball-strikers shallow the club in the downswing. Champions like: Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Viktor Hovland.

This podcast is also available as a vodcast on YouTube. Search and subscribe to Mark Immelman.

A Golf professional, NCAA Collegiate Coach, Author and Entrepreneur, Edgar Evans Jr. picked up golf at age 11 and never looked back. As the current Head Golf Coach at Morehouse College, he dedicates himself to building up men, winning championships, and leveraging his connections to provide world-class facilities for his teams.

He joins Mark Immelman to recap the 2026 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia and share lessons from the competitors, and their play, that can help you play your best golf when it matters.

Edgar addresses the following game improvement elements as demonstrated by the world's best golfers:

• Patience in challenging circumstances
• Playing with and against better Competition for development's sakes
• Keeping a healthy Perspective on golf and results
• Productive Preparation and Practice
• Course Management, Process Control and Playing to your Strengths
• Self Belief and maintaining confidence when things don't go your way, and
• Handling Pressure and Fear with Poise.

Edgar uses examples and anecdotes from Masters Champions Rory McIlroy, Jack Nicklaus, Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer andScottie Scheffler as he revisits his time at The Masters with his Morehouse College Men's Golf Team.

Download and share this podcast, and watch it on YouTube - search and subscribe to Mark Immelman.

Seth Pepper is a former #1 Ranked Swimmer in the World, a USA National Champion and an American Record Holder.

With his swimming career behind him, Seth is now a Motivational and Keynote Speaker, and a Performance Coach. He works with athletes of all sporting codes, including golfers to "Unlimit Their Potential." He joins #OntheMark to help you to think like a pro as he dives into elements of Kobe Bryant's "Mamba Mentality."

Seth maps out stories and anecdotes into a simple, applied performance playbook that translates cleanly to golf and high-pressure execution:

• The Kobe Archetype — A student of the game. Unconditional love from his family whether he scored he succeeded or failed, and how that freed Kob to fail and grow.
• Internal Drive — Bryant's "kill list" as personal motivation, and how the responsibility for obsession always lives with the athlete.
• The Mamba Mentality as a tool — How to create a performance persona. And the dsicipline of studying acting and characters to access different mind states on demand.
• Seeking Separation and the Continuous Accumulation of Advantages — "Just keep getting better." The compound effect of incremental gains over time. Kobe's philosophy wasn't about a single "big break"; it was about the relentless accumulation of small advantages that eventually make him untouchable.
• Deliberate Practice — A trait that Kobe and Tiger Woods shared. The art of living by "Don't get Bored with the Bbasics."
• The Reset Weapon — Accepting the moment on its own terms to return to flow and presence. Kobe's process for getting into The Flow State / The Zone.
• Prepare like a Scientist, Perform like an Artist — Separating analysis from execution. Playing with joy.
• Love and Greatness — At the highest level it is not about trophies, money, or fame. It is about honing your craft and studying what you love.

This is Seth Pepper's second appearance on the #OntheMark podcast and just like the first time, he delves into his extensive experience and research to help you to perform at your best under pressure.

This podcast is also available as a vodcast on YouTube - to watch, search and subscribe to Mark Immelman.

Robert Rock is a 2x winner on The DP World Tour, a golf instructor, and one of the sweetest swingers of a golf club in the game.

He recently designed a golf-swing training aid called the TRS Slider, and he joins #OntheMark to talk about it and how it can help you improve various elements in your golf-swing:

• Garner the Correct Feel for an On-plane Swing
• Cure an Over the Top Move
• Improve Connection in the Trail Side
• Improve Trail Elbow aAction
• Improve Swing Path
• Improve Low Point Control
• Improve Clubface Release, and
• Direct a Proper Exit Path and Balanced Finish.

As a bonus, Robert also delves into various golfswing elements such as Swing Thoughts vs Swing Feels, Length of Backswing, Transition, Impact, Angle of Attack and Swing Path, as well as a centered tilted pivot as the hub of an on-plane, repeatable swing.

More about the TRS Slider - It is also used by professional golfers such as Open Champion, Cam Smith, PGA TOUR winner Thomas Detry and PGA TOUR winner Patton Kizzire. This simple to use training aid will certainly highlight appropriate feels in the golf-swing and help you to hit the ball more squarely and powerfully.

Use code onthemark15 at golftrainingaids.com to get a discount on your purchase.

Learn from Rocky about how to make silky smooth, repetitive golf swings.

Download and listen or watch on YouTube - search and subscribe to Mark Immelman.

Inci Mehmet is a former LET (Ladies European Tour) professional golfer. Her playing career was curtailed by injury and she turned to TV broadcast and has become one of the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour Announcers for Sky Sports.

Inci brings a blend of her playing experience and her vast knowledge of the game to her broadcast, and she has quickly become one of the leading voices on the International coverage.

She joins Mark Immelman to discuss lessons learned from her career in golf, and to take you inside the ropes to learn from some of professional golf's leading players. She talks about and highlights lessons that will help you take your golf game to the next level:

• Scottie Scheffler
• Justin Rose
• Marco Penge
• Charley Hull, and
• Lydia Ko

Inci also talks about valuable game improvement concepts like (a) Healthy Perspective, (b) Strong Competition. and (c) Health, Well-being and Discipline.

Download and listen to this podcast or watch it on YouTube - search and subscribe to Mark Immelman.