Testimonials
| May 2013 Rita – just wanted to thank you for another great academy. Each visit improves my game and my enjoyment of the game. I appreciate how you and your assistants accept where my game is and improve from there, rather than going back to square one to reinvent my game. Enjoy the rest of the summer! John Cartland Washington, DC May 2013 I have been reflecting on my latest experience at golf school with you. This years tee to green instruction with an emphasis on the short game was especially FANTASTIC! I call this my spring tune-up at the start of my season of golf. Framing it as a refresher course always made sense because I think that I usually have a handle on the basics. But, your instructions are always revelatory. The swing is basic you tell us. The technique is the same, you say. But, it is like the famous Oprah "AAAHAA" moment when I remember the forgotten hint, the emphasis on the grip, the ball position and/or the swing plane, etc. You, in your mysterious way, can watch and deduce how I have managed to complicate that swing of mine. Nothing beats you thanking me for demonstrating what you tell/show me to do. Thank-you and your team of Emil, Charley, and Dennis for instructing me and giving me so many invaluable pearls of wisdom on how to play this game of golf. What a GREAT experience. Frannie Johnson May 2013 Attending the golf academy at Cacapon was like getting private golf instruction in a group setting. Rita is able to quickly move from student to student making individual assessments and recommending adjustments for each student's needs throughout the sessions. She'll hone in on two or three important facets of the swing in various situations, lies and common trouble spots; and she will continually reinforce for the group the key elements of the correct way to align the ball, grip, and swing the club. At the end of three days, I wanted more and didn't want to leave. Rita knows more about golf in her few years of learning and playing the game than I have accumulated in all of my golfing years and experiences and, my handicap has varied from scratch to what is now about 19. More importantly, she knows how to quickly recognize your flaws and implement the techniques to fix the problems. The use of videos made by Dale Moser, an excellent club fitter and maker, allows each student to see their swing problems, but Rita's ability to analyze each student's swing and her willingness to take the time to review with each student the problems was most helpful. She looked at my swing and immediately spotted my big loop and Emil pointed out the importance of bringing the club back at 7 o'clock and back through at 1 o'clock as a technique to help correct the problem. I was very impressed with the training schedule she used which allowed for training time on the driving range, putting green, and the course and even exercises specifically geared to prepare your body to play. During all of this training, Rita worked with each individual student to correct their golfing problems. Rita might not have realized it, but it was the help she gave me as part of the instructions on the sand bunker play that I started to turn my game around. I was just getting over rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders and my game was really so bad that I was afraid to swing at the ball with my irons. She helped by continually pointing out in the bunker play that I was not swinging through the ball. Then she corrected my grip and alignment on the driving range. Once I got the corrections through and accepted by the six inches between the ears, my game started to improve. I can only say that the money I spent at Rita's school of instruction was some of the best money I have ever spent on the game of golf. I would, without hesitation, give it five stars out of five. October 2011 September 2011 When my husband suggested that we attend Rita’s Golf Academy, I hesitated as I thought 3 days of instruction would be far beyond my level of comprehension and, to be honest, interest. However, I enrolled with 3 goals: to improve consistency, to increase distance, and to learn to chip/pitch. The Golf Academy experience went beyond my expectations. Each session began with a discussion and demonstration of the skill we were to practice. Because Rita thoughtfully structured the small group lessons according to each participant’s abilities I never felt stressed. She was able to help me visualize what I needed to do, and had numerous ways to present a technique. Rita’s emphasis on the importance of basics such as correct stance, alignment, aim/target, as well as the importance of meaningful practice sessions, and thinking while playing were especially helpful. And, Rita did not hesitate to discuss the dreaded age-factor. She stressed the importance of core strength and demonstrated hand, wrist, arm and shoulder strengthening exercises. Through all Rita displayed tremendous patience and a great sense of humor! For me the Academy was extremely helpful on many different levels. Can’t say that I already met my 3 goals, but I know that I will. Most importantly, I now have a better sense of what the game is about, and for me that will be fun, relaxation, self-improvement and a sense of personal accomplishment. Many thanks to Rita and fellow instructors Charlie, Emil, and Dale. |
| Encounter RITA EAGLE EYE ASTUTE ANALYZER TACTICAL TECHNICIAN GIFTED GURU Thanks for the opportunity to tell you that you are damn good. Frannie |
| Rita's confidence that you can do it convinces you that you can do it. Oh, and then there's that seemingly tireless energy, patience, and persistence that Rita has. Rita has a special gift for not just perceiving your problem but explaining it to you so that you understand it. If it is necessary to rephrase it four different ways before you understand, she can do that. Rita seems to have at least four different plans to help you correct your problem. Plan A might not work so she gives you a back-up plan or two or three. Some other golf teachers have asked me to stop everything I had been doing and start all over again in their style. Rita knows horrible habits when she sees those and tries to help you eliminate those. However, Rita recognizes that there are several different successful variations of golf swing style and she helps you improve within your personal style. The problems my husband has with his golf game and his style are completely different than the ones I have. Rita has no problem instructing us and helping each of us improve in spite of large differences in size, strength, natural style, and very different bad habits. Sally A Silver Spring, MD |
| When I attended my first Golf Academy at Cacapon in June of 2007 I was surprised by how many of my fellow students were there for a second or third time. It turned out there was a wide range of golfing ability and each felt he or she had learned tremendously from the previous experience and, more importantly, had thoroughly enjoyed it and was looking forward to another three days with Rita. The Golf Academy works for a number of reasons but foremost is Rita’s passion for what she does. She loves golf and she loves to teach. She is not one who will radically try to alter a swing to fit some idealized stereotype; rather she works with each student, fine tuning what each has and then providing numerous chances to practice either on the range or on the course. She has a good eye; Rita is not one to waste time with loads of words between each swing; rather she focuses on one or two critical elements and when the student grasps and demonstrates it she invariably says “Thank you” and moves to the next student. But don’t relax, because even then she has a wary eye and may well call out from afar when she sees old habits reappearing. Rita is not only a skilled group facilitator who makes the course enjoyable, she also has a great support team in Emil and Dale who nominally prepare the areas for instruction and check your clubs respectively, but both are experienced golfers who can add a vital new element to one’s game. They just need to be asked. Next year I expect joyfully to drive the 120 miles for a private tune up lesson with Rita sandwiched between 18 holes on the beautiful Cacapon Golf Course. Jeremy |
| When people do ask me to describe you as an instructor I always respond with the following: Rita LOVES teaching the game golf. Rita can break down the mechanics of the golf swing (whether it is full swing, chipping, putting, bunkers) and communicate it in a way that I can understand. That way I can understand and then (try and try and try!!) to execute it. Rita runs a great golf business, but teaching golf is so much more than a business to Rita. Carolyn |