Certified Golf Instructor - Helping Golfers of all Skill Levels Simplify your Swing, Game & Play With Confidence

Find out more about Tony

• What age did you start playing sports? Tell us about this time or moment in your life.

  I started playing golf at the age of 55. Interestingly, I had never played before that. I was involved in other sports throughout my life, but golf had never been a part of it. I was asked many times to play with friends, but never found the interest. The moment that changed happened at a conference I was attending at one of my leaders country clubs. My leader at the time was an avid golfer and he decided to hold our business meetings in the golf clubs conference room. It was during this conference that he decided to take us out as a team building event and part of it was a putting contest. I remember having so much fun with it. I ended up winning the contest. What caught my attention was the challenge of readibng the greens, figuring out how the ball would break and trying to sink the putt.It was much more than simply hitting the ball. As I talked throughout the remaining days about golf, I began to realize just how complex and challenging the game was. If you knew me, just mention a challenge, and I'm in. When I got home, I bought a second hand set of clubs and started going to the driving range. From that moment in time, I was hooked. What started as a simple putting contest at a conference turned into a passion that has become a mjor part of my life. I live for the game today, and eventually that passion led me to become a golf instructorso I could share my experience as a beginner and what I've learned in order to help others discover the same enjoyment and challenge that I found at 55.

• What are your favourite sports; those that you practice at a high level, a simple hobby, and a sport that you'd still like to discover?

  Sports have always been a big part of my life. I’ve competed at a high level in basketball, softball, bowling, bodybuilding, and golf. I’ve been fortunate enough to win national championships in bowling and softball, and I’ve also competed successfully, winning championships in bodybuilding. Baseball is my favorite sport. I love watching and playing basketball, and I still enjoy staying active and challenging myself physically. For me, sports have always been about more than competition; they’ve taught me discipline, strategy, perseverance, regimen, teamwork, and how to handle both success and failure. I've learned how to expose an opponent's weakness(es) in order to gain a competitive edge. I'm a gracious loser and always look to improve as a result.
  As for a sport I’d still like to discover, I’d love to try tennis. I’ve always enjoyed sports that require strategy, movement, anticipation, and the ability to adjust to an opponent. At this stage of my life, I think learning a completely new sport would be both humbling and exciting. That’s exactly what I enjoy about sports. Sports has had the greatest impact on the person I've become.

• What gives you the motivation and passion to pursue your sport?

  What motivates me most is the challenge. I love that sports, and especially golf, are never as simple as they appear. There is always something new to figure out; technique, strategy, timing, conditions, or even the mental side of the game, which I truly love. I enjoy analyzing a problem, figuring out what needs to change, and then putting that solution into action. I try to see what others don't.
  Golf gives me that challenge every time I play. No two shots are exactly the same, and there is always another level to reach. That combination of complexity, strategy, and continuous improvement is what keeps me passionate and makes me want to keep learning, competing, and getting better.

• Do you have a sporting achievement that you're particularly proud of?

  The sporting achievement I’m most proud of is being elected to the Long Island Softball Hall of Fame. To me, that recognition represents much more than a plaque or a title. It represents nearly 30 years of competing in national tournaments, the countless hours of practice and preparation, and the commitment I made to continually become a better player.
  Over those years, I was fortunate enough to be named tournament MVP 17 times. But what I’m most proud of is the work that went on behind those accomplishments. I worked hard, and I played hard. I never wanted to simply rely on natural ability or past success. I was always looking for an edge.
  
  I rarely let a day go by without doing something to improve. I watched videos, studied other players, practiced, analyzed my performance, and constantly tweaked and adjusted my technique. I wanted to understand not only what I was doing, but why I was doing it—and what I could do differently to gain a competitive advantage.
  
  That mindset became a way of life for me. I learned that success isn't usually about making one big change; it's about identifying the small things that can make you a little better and being disciplined enough to work on them consistently.
  
  Being elected to the Long Island Softball Hall of Fame is special because it validates that 30-year journey. It's a selection process by other players, umpires, officials, and the governing body of the HOF, which helps to validate my worthiness of the honor. But the greatest lesson I took from it is that there is always something more to learn, something to improve, and another challenge to overcome. That same philosophy is a big part of how I approach golf today and how I teach my students.

• How have your achievements and challenges made you a better sportsperson?

  My achievements have taught me what is possible when I commit myself to something, while the challenges have taught me how to respond when things don't go my way. Throughout my years of athletic competition, I experienced wins, losses, pressure, disappointment, and success. Each one taught me something about preparation, resilience, discipline, and the importance of continuing to learn.
  I became a better sportsperson because I learned not to become too comfortable with success. Whether it was winning tournaments, titles, or being named MVP, I was always asking myself, “What can I do better?” The difficult moments taught me to accept failure, learn from it, and come back better prepared.
  
  The greatest lesson I took from it is that there is always something more to learn, something to improve, and another challenge to overcome. That same philosophy is a big part of how I approach golf today and how I teach my students. I don't believe there is a point where you simply arrive and have nothing left to learn. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, there is always an opportunity to improve.
  
  Those experiences have also made me more patient as a teacher. I understand that everyone learns differently and that improvement doesn't always happen overnight. I try to help my students understand that mistakes and challenges aren't setbacks—they're part of the process. My goal is to help them learn from each experience, build confidence, and enjoy the journey of getting better.

• If you had to go for a jog with a famous athlete, who would you choose?

  If I could go for a jog with any famous athlete, I would choose Jackie Robinson. What fascinates me about him isn't just what he accomplished on the baseball field, but what he had to overcome to accomplish it. He broke Major League Baseball's color barrier at a time when he faced enormous racial hostility, threats, and pressure, yet he continued to perform at the highest level.
  I would want to understand what was happening inside his mind. I would ask him; “How did you mentally prepare yourself for the hostility you knew you were going to face every time you stepped onto the field?” “Were there ever moments when you wanted to fight back or walk away, and if so, what kept you going?” “How did you maintain your focus on becoming a better player when so much around you was trying to distract you from the game?” Finally I would ask him; "What advice would you give an athlete today who is facing adversity or being told they don't belong?"
  
  To me, Jackie Robinson had an incredible mental toughness. He not only had to absorb an enormous amount of pressure and still perform, but he had to manage himself, his emotions, and stayed laser focused when the circumstances around him were so difficult.
  
  I think that is one of the most valuable lessons sports can teach us. You can't always control what happens around you, but you can control how you prepare, how you respond, and whether you continue moving forward.

• How do you help people stay motivated?

  I help people stay motivated by first understanding what motivates them as an individual. I don't believe there is a one-size-fits-all approach to motivation. Some people are motivated by competition, some by measurable progress, and others simply want to gain confidence and enjoy what they're doing.
  I try to break big goals into smaller, achievable steps so people can see progress along the way. When someone can recognize that they're getting better, even in small ways, it creates momentum and makes them want to keep going. Like eating an elephant....one bite at a time.
  
  I also remind people that struggling is part of the process. Improvement isn't always a straight line, and mistakes or setbacks don't mean you're failing. They are opportunities to learn, adjust, and try again. I've experienced that myself throughout my athletic career. It motivates me far more than success does, and that's a message I try to get across to my students.
  
  Most importantly, I try to believe in people before they necessarily believe in themselves. As a coach and teacher, I want my students to leave feeling more confident than when they arrived. If I can help someone discover that they are capable of more than they thought, I've done more than teach a sport, I've helped them believe in themselves. My life's philosophy is; If I impact just one person, then it's mission accomplished.

• What makes you a Superprof in sports?

  What makes me a Superprof in sports is that I don't just teach a sport, I teach people how to approach it. I've spent decades competing, learning, making mistakes, overcoming challenges, and constantly looking for ways to improve. Those experiences have given me a deep appreciation for the process of becoming better, but they've also taught me how important the person is behind the athlete.
  When I teach, I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Every student is different. They learn differently, they have different goals, and they gain confidence in different ways. My job is to understand the person in front of me, identify what they need, and find a way to help them succeed.
  
  I also believe a great coach should make people want to come back and keep learning. I try to create an environment where mistakes aren't something to be embarrassed about—they're opportunities to learn. I want my students to leave a lesson not only knowing something they didn't know before, but feeling more confident about their ability to improve.
  
  My competitive career taught me to constantly search for the next advantage. My experience as a coach has taught me that the greatest advantage I can give someone is helping them believe they can grow and improve. That's what being a Superprof means to me: sharing what I've learned, continuing to learn myself, and helping others become the best version of themselves.