Has Ricky Fowler revealed the secret of famous instructors? Maybe, but the last sentence in the latest Golf Digest piece raised my eyebrow. I flipped to the cover story and found some insightful information. Butch thanked his students for educating him. DJ, and Ricky spoke well of Butch. It was a love fest.

However, there was one line, which quoted Ricky Fowler, that stood out to me. Golf Digest placed the quote on the picture that ended the article. Before you read it, remember that my opinions about instruction and famous instructors are well-documented and cynical. Therefore, take that into consideration as I explain my view. Here is the quote.

Am I the only one who sees it? Didn’t I just read that Butch has created a mystique so potent that it allows him to cherry pick his players based on their chance to be great? Ever hear of catching a shooting star? What a fortunate position to be in, huh? Having the gravitas to write your own ticket must be wonderful. But, before you think that hard work led to his success, let me tell you that it was inevitable.

I’ll hold Butch’s astrology in reserve, or at least until enough of you ask for it that I feel compelled to share it. In the mean time, I can just say his heritage provided a paved path to success that never wavered. Additionally, Butch has always been nice to people who can help him.

He learned golf from his father, who provided his sons an immediate “In” with top players. It’s a dynasty – a continuum of consistent presence in one field of work. As a dynasty grows, it intensifies. Hence, over the past thirty years, we witnessed the weight of the Harmon family dynasty manifested in Butch and his brothers’ fame. But, dynasties are fickle things.

The Hilton’s had a dynasty. Paris is their matriarch now. However, she is famous or, infamous, not because she has any special business skill, but because she has the benefit of the Hilton dynasty. Her family maintains business partners that Paris used to turn her sows ear of an image into a silk purse.

Then, there is the Open Stance Academy. Descended from no one teaching the Open Stance, I work without the assistance of ropes and safety nets, inheritance or privilege. My only possession is the brain between my ears and the desire to free golfers from the cult-of-personality, instructional treadmill. Hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to be a hypocrite in the near future, so I can find out if I’m any different than he who floats on a raft of adoration. In the mean time…

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy