An Interview with PGA Class A Instructor Jake Hutt
At Swet Tailor, we’re all about integrating work, life and play. That’s why we’ve created a line of men’s casualwear that transitions from office to weekend without a hitch.
Every day, we’re inspired by the incredible men who live by our mantra, like PGA Class A Instructor Jake Hutt . Jake has taken the old man attitude out of golf and transformed it into a casual and accessible sport for people of all ages and backgrounds.
In this interview, Jake tells us all about his journey, his teaching program, what to wear to a golf tournament, and what he loves to wear on and off the course. Learn more about how he designed a career that works with him, not against––just like your favorite styles from Swet.
Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get into golf?
I’ve been an athlete most of my life.I got started in ice hockey, which led me to school in Newport Rhode Island, where I was captain of Salve Regina University’s men’s team. During the summer, my teammates and I worked at a local golf course, which is where I fell in love with the game. My boss at the club guided me through the PGA certification process. It also didn’t hurt that my dad is a big golfer and has been super encouraging of my journey.
Since then, you’ve become an influencer in the golf-sphere. How did that come to be?
I’ve been making music my whole life and am just as driven by creativity as I am by sports. Instagram gave me an outlet to turn my golf instruction into its own kind of art form. My goal was to take complex golf concepts and translate them in a fun and goofy way viewers could learn from and enjoy.
Golf gets a bad rep as “stuffy” and “out of touch,” but it’s actually a great game that anyone can benefit from and enjoy. By adding my own casual style to golf instruction, I was able to make the game more accessible to younger, hipper audiences.
Of course, it didn’t happen overnight. I had a bunch of ideas and a style in my head that I needed to figure out how to translate on video. I had to learn to edit clips. I had to post, fail, tweak, and learn more and more about what people respond to on social media. Fortunately, I love learning, creating, and connecting with people. What I’m doing now feels like the perfect collision of all my interests.
According to your website, your teaching program is intended to help people “suck less at golf.” What’s your strategy for making that happen?
At the root of my instruction is the belief that every student is unique. Everyone learns differently, and it’s my job to establish a connection with the way their brain works. I tailor my curriculum from student to student in ways that make sense to them. For example, if a student has an engineering mind, I’ll communicate using physics. If they’re a field player, I can use terminology they’re more used to.
Your online presence has revolutionized the way people learn golf, which is especially powerful during the global pandemic. What are the advantages and challenges to teaching golf online?
It’s true, my Instagram videos and online instruction have translated well into the “new normal.” While not a lot of people are ready to hit the course irl right now, they do have the time to learn new skills, like golf.
The only drawback to online golf lessons is the lack of physical instruction. I can’t physically put students in different positions, which can be especially important when helping someone improve a movement pattern.
I’ve been getting more and more creative with how to get physical messaging across, through cues and analogies. At the end of the day, I think this is making me better as a teacher.
What’s your favorite thing to wear on the course? Is there a difference between what you wear to practice and what to wear to a golf tournament?
My approach to golf (and life!) is super casual. I’m based in sunny California, so I’m usually in a t-shirt, a pair of shorts, and some sort of hat. In the fall and winter, I’ll switch to joggers.
I’m so busy teaching, I’m not competing often, but I’d say the answer to what to wear to a golf tournament is traditionally a standard collared shirt and golf pants.
What’s your favorite thing to wear at home? Have you found any overlap between what you wear on the course and at home?
I live in joggers, t-shirts, and Jordan shoes. I’m not too into golf tournament attire, like spike shoes, because I like to keep things versatile. What I wear on the course is pretty similar to what I play in. Swet Tailor makes it super easy for me to transition from course to life.
Perfect segway! What are your favorite Swet Tailor styles, on and off the course?
Like I said before, my favorite thing about Swet Tailor is that their styles are perfect for just about everything I do: playing golf, teaching on or off the course, and video editing at home.
I live in their Softest T . It really is the softest! I love how lightweight and comfortable it is.
If I’m dressing up a little more, I’m a big fan of the All-In Pants . They look really styled and nice, but feel like sweatpants.
I wear the Salmon Heavy Fleece Hoodie to work all the time. It’s big and orange and awesome. See it in action here .
If you had one piece of advice for someone considering getting into golf, what would it be?
Be easy on yourself. Getting good at golf takes a long time. It’s like learning a language. It’s going to be difficult and frustrating,but also very rewarding. Fortunately, if you find an instructor you connect with, they can help you navigate the journey faster. Above all else, enjoy the process.
If you had one piece of advice for amateur golfers looking to improve their swing, what would it be?
Everyone thinks their swing needs to look a certain way to perform. Stop focusing on what it looks like. Instead, spend time on learning to control where the club hits the ground. Improving simple skills will lead to immediate results.
What are your long term golfing and teaching goals?
I want to keep doing more of what I’m already doing. I’m not so concerned with ending up on the cover of a golf magazine, as I am with making golf accessible to a wider range of people. In the near future, I’d like to set up clinics for underprivileged kids and minorities as a bridge to get into the game. I believe golf is a fantastic outlet, and I’d love to see more and more people find joy and meaning in it.
Ready to step up your game? Follow @Jakehuttgolf for goofy, low key golf tips set to great music, and snag his favorite work/life/play styles from Swet Tailor.