Golfer enjoy ... long distance instruction

Taiwan's Eric Lo came to the IMG Academy in Bradenton to learn how to play winning golf from instructor Tim Sheredy.

But when his dreams of a professional career didn't materialize, he learned that Sheredy taught him something just as valuable.

How to be a good coach.

So when Lo turned his attention to developing Taiwan's young stars at the Lexus Taiwan Golf Academy in 2010, he didn't forget his mentor, who started it all. He reached out to Sheredy, who now runs the Tim Sheredy Golf Institute at the River Club Course in Lakewood Ranch, about the possibility of forming a partnership. They worked out a plan to have Sheredy teach two weeklong junior summer golf camp each year.

“Coach Tim is really good for juniors," said Lo. "He helped me change my swing.”

In July, the partnership switched the focus a bit. Five of Taiwan's rising junior golfers, ages 12-14, traveled to Lakewood Ranch for a three-week training session under Sheredy's guidance at the River Club. 

The players arrived July 11 and concluded their training July 29. 

While training with the Tim Sheredy Golf Institute, the players worked on aspects of their game such as swing, short game and course management. They also worked on technical aspects of their game using Bodi Trak, which helps students feel motion, and FlightScope, a launch monitor that monitors ball speed and distance. 

“The kids absolutely love it,” Sheredy said. “And (Eric) watches me teach and that way he can learn, too.”

Of the five players, two recently won championships, including 12-year-old Yuyu Chen, who is Taiwan’s No. 1 junior golfer for his age group, and 13-year-old Kevin Shu, who won a national junior championship. 

Twelve-year-old Alan Kuo never wanted to participate in physical education classes at school. Diagnosed with epilepsy, Kuo couldn’t run fast and continually felt sick and off balance. 

When it came to sports, he just wasn't interested. Then his parents brought him to the driving range. Kuo fell in love with golf and began playing regularly and attending the Lexus Kids of Taiwan summer camp. 

So when Kuo learned about the opportunity to come with Lo to the United States to train with Sheredy, he opted to forgo a month in Europe with his family to spend time on the golf course. 

“He always wants to play golf,” Lo said of Kuo. “He wakes up early just to go to the course. Golf has pushed him so much. It’s in his heart. Golf has changed him so much.” 

The other two players were Wayne Hsu, 14, and Ting Chen, 14. 

In addition to work on the course, the players also participated in a fitness segment three nights a week with James Whatmore at Whatmore Performance Training in Lakewood Ranch. 

While the boys spent the majority of the time on the course, the trip wasn’t all business. The players made sure to find time to have a little fun with trips to Walt Disney World and Lido Beach on the itinerary, as well as an opportunity to get fitted for new golf clubs and Under Armour golf clothes. 

“The kids love it here,” Sheredy said. “They see how lucky we are to live here. They love the food and the little things. All kids are the same though no matter what country they are from.”