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USA Today
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Martin Hall not retiring after stepping away from 'School of Golf' on Golf Channel
Martin Hall not retiring after stepping away from 'School of Golf' on Golf Channel Show Caption Hide Caption Celebrities attending Tiger Woods TGL golf matches at SoFi Center While most fans attending TGL golf matches since January are ordinary people, there has been no lack of big-named celebrities at SoFi Center. Hall made the decision to leave the show after 15 years and 430 episodes, citing a desire to "have a little left in the tank." WEST PALM BEACH — It is late Friday morning and Martin Hall is in his happy place: the south range at The Club at Ibis. There are no cameras or producers around, no microphone clipped to his chest or IFB (audio receiver) in his ear, just the occasional sound of a ball being well struck by an Ibis member. Hall has settled into LAT – Life After TV – as easily as making a 2-foot putt. He's doing the same thing he did for 15 years and 430 shows as the face of instruction on Golf Channel's "School of Golf." Only now, it's to an audience of one, the Ibis member who is smiling after hitting her final drive straighter than a ruler. 'He's good!' she says. Hall smiles. If he misses being in front of a camera, he hides it well. Timing isn't just important with the golf swing, it's paramount to a successful life. Hall, who turns 70 this fall, insists he has no regrets after taping his last show that aired March 31 (his shows continue on replay on GolfPass). 'It was my decision for a variety of reasons,' he said. 'I was listening to Rory (McIlroy) being interviewed about when he was going to retire, and he said he wanted to have a little left in the tank. I remember my mom telling me, there's nothing worse than seeing a singer stay too long when they can't sing. There was a little voice in me that said this was the right time to hang it up.' More: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy TGL golf league announces first expansion team - for 2027 Hall is not retiring. He still gives lessons four or five days a week at Ibis, where he has taught since 1997. But that seems like a part-time job after he started hosting the popular Golf Channel show in 2011. Playing golf at a high level is one of the most difficult tasks in sports; you can win a trophy one week and be humbled the next. Teaching golf in front of close to 1 million discerning viewers around the world is perhaps even more difficult. 'People ask me how many shows do I tape a day … four, five, six?' Hall says. 'They don't understand TV at all. I would say on average it takes me about 20 hours to prepare for a 30-minute show when you add up all the time I take to write it, prepare for it, talk to producers, get stuff ready. 'They say, 'Well, you made it look so easy, so natural.' There's nothing easy about it. You've got five cameras, you've got an earpiece, and you've got to look at this camera, then that camera, now 'Turn over here, two steps left, Martin.' It's very difficult, but I loved it.' More: IN HONOR OF MOM: Bella Cecere dedicates her life to late mother Kristin Hoke Martin Hall wanted to play golf professionally Teaching golf was never the plan for the England native and Palm City resident. He became a professional golfer after high school and played on the DP World Tour for a couple of years. In 1977, he had to go to Q-School to keep his card, but failed to advance after missing a 4-foot putt on the final hole. 'It turned out to be a very good 4-foot putt to miss,' he said. Hall started teaching in England before moving to the U.S. in 1985. One of his first jobs was teaching at St. Andrew's in Boca Raton, where he worked with famed instructors Bob Toski, Peter Kostis and Jim Flick. That led to him working for a golf academy run by Jack Nicklaus and Flick, known as the Nicklaus-Flick Golf Schools. When the company went public, Hall started teaching privately. In 1997, Hall was hired at Ibis by former head professional Steve Philbrook. Almost three decades later, Hall is still at Ibis – he's the director of instruction. 'It's been a great fit for me at Ibis,' Hall said. 'Not that I think I'm particularly clever, but I knew it was the right time to leave (Nicklaus-Flick).' Hall's big break, to coin a Golf Channel term, came in 2011 when he won a national talent search to host the network's weekly instruction show. His easy personality, English accent, knowledge of the swing and love of unusual training tools – some call them gadgets – quickly earned him high marks on TV. There were some early anxious moments, such as when he learned he was taping two shows on the same day alongside Tom Watson and Sir Nick Faldo. Hall felt like a high handicapper hitting balls next to Tiger Woods. 'I was so nervous because we're talking about two Hall of Famers,' Hall said. 'I told (wife) Lisa as we were driving to Orlando to turn the car around because I didn't think I could do this. But when I got there, I was fine. They were great to work with.' That was 14 years ago. Things soon changed after Hall became ubiquitous with his weekly prime-time show and unique drills. Some of the world's best golfers were in awe to see him. 'I think the first time I saw Shane Lowry, he nearly fainted,' said Hall, with a chuckle, of the native of Ireland who now lives in Jupiter. "I was coming out of the Bear's Club, and he was going in. When you've done this as long as I have, you can tell when people recognize you. Shane jumped out of his skin.' Such are the perks of being on TV for 430 shows. Hall insists he never got into teaching for fortune or fame – good thing, because most instructors toil quietly – but it was his curiosity of solving the Rubik's Cube that is the golf swing. 'I don't think of myself as a legend at all,' Hall said. 'I'm someone who just loved, loved golf. Never quite played at the level I wanted to but love trying to discover what makes golf swings tick.' Golf Channel's loss has been Ibis' gain. He still arrives before dawn on most days, eager to solve a 20-handicapper's slice, without the constant stress of coming up with a different show next week. Morgan Pressel, Karrie Webb, Lexi Thompson among those he helped For the most part, he eschewed working with touring pros – though he helped LPGA major champions Morgan Pressel, Karrie Webb and Lexi Thompson – because he didn't want to travel more than he did. In addition to private lessons, Hall conducts a half-dozen clinics for Ibis' membership, sometimes with special guests such as Annika Sorenstam when the club started using TopTracer technology on its range. 'Martin knows how to adapt to that individual,' said Robin Boretti, Ibis' director of golf, who has worked with Hall since his arrival at the club. 'He can make you laugh during a lesson. He can make you serious during a lesson. He knows his stuff. He can change your ball flight in seconds. 'What's great about Martin is he's always giving back to the members as well as our other instructors. I don't think there's any doubt he has helped us put together the best instructional team in South Florida. Sometimes, I don't think our membership knows how lucky they are to have Martin here.' His wife, Lisa, knows how much effort he puts into each lesson, especially when he was on Golf Channel. She has been among those making those last-minute drives to Home Depot to pick up a 2-by-4 for his latest prop. 'Martin never takes any shortcuts, which to me stands out more than anything,' said Lisa, who was the 1997 LPGA Rookie of the Year and played on two European Solheim Cup teams. 'He always wants to do his best. There has been relief now that the TV pressure has been taken off. There's a sense of freedom and space and time.' Hall isn't about to use his extra time these days to play much golf. He says he plays maybe 18 holes every two weeks, keeping his handicap in the 2-to-4 range. 'I'd rather go for a walk on the beach and have ice cream,' he said. Like all good instructors, Hall has used ever-improving technology to assist with his teaching. He points out technology is important – if it's used properly. He didn't need a computer to tell him it was time to slow down. His body and mind have been telling him that for a while. 'I feel like I've been going down the river in a speed boat at 100 miles an hour,' he said. 'I'd like to swap it for a canoe and a paddle.' Five Questions with Martin Hall Here are five questions we asked longtime Golf Channel teacher Martin Hall, the director of instruction at The Club at Ibis in West Palm Beach: Question: You hosted 430 shows on Golf Channel. That's a lot of shows. How did you keep them fresh and unique? Answer. Putting a show together that's interesting, compelling, and somehow putting a bit of a slant on it that's a little unusual, a little different, without being ridiculous. It's hard to do, and it I mean, and it got harder at the end as well because my producer kept saying, "I want a drill that no one's ever seen before.' How much joy does it bring you when you see one of your students play better and the enjoyment they have? I don't take any responsibility for how well people play. That's on them, right? I take responsibility, particularly if they're good players, to make sure they have the right message and they have the right tools to do better, but they have to put some of the work in. They have to do some of the push-ups, right? You didn't plan on becoming an instructor. What was it like when you started teaching? I had no idea what I was teaching when it first came off. It really depended on what was on the cover of Golf Digest that month, because that was what I taught for a month until the next Golf Digest came along. If you could take a lesson from anyone, who would it be? I would want to take one from Tiger (Woods). I know Rory (McIlroy) well. I have a really good idea of what Rory would say to any question I would ask him about his golf swing. But Tiger, I'm not. He doesn't give it up as much as Rory does. That's just the difference between them.' What are your thoughts on technology with instruction and how much did you embrace it? I think technology is a good thing for golf, but you have to understand what you're using. I've got five computers running this morning. You have to understand the strengths and weaknesses of every system. They're not perfect. Once you've got a few miles under your belt with technology, it's fantastic. I wouldn't want to teach without it. I'm a far better teacher because of technology than without it.
USA Today
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
After 15 years, 'School of Golf' host Martin Hall ready for one final lesson March 31
After 15 years, 'School of Golf' host Martin Hall ready for one final lesson March 31 Martin Hall is ready for calmer waters. After a 15-year run and 430 episodes, Hall will host his last episode of 'School of Golf' on Golf Channel and Golf Pass on March 31. 'I've lived life in a speed boat going down the river left and right, and I'm ready to switch to a gentler pace in a canoe with a paddle,' said Hall, 69, who will continue to teach in his longtime role as director of instruction at The Club at Ibis in West Palm Beach, Florida. Hall turned professional in 1975 and competed on the European Tour until he missed a 4-foot putt at the Qualifying School and needed a new way to make ends meet. He taught players of all levels, including tour players and major champions such as Morgan Pressel, his pupil since she was 12 years old, and the likes of Hall of Famer Karrie Webb during the latter stages of her career as well as Lexi Thompson. When asked whether he had ever given lessons to Golfweek's own Eamon Lynch, who has been known to hire and fire coaches more frequently than Viktor Hovland, Hall quickly answered, 'No. I refused,' before adding that Lynch, who also hosts Golf Channel's 'Golf Today,' once said his game 'was too bad to be fixed.' But Hall clearly had great success in doing just that with countless students – he was named the PGA Teacher of the Year in 2008. Given the popularity of the show 'The Golf Fix,' Golf Channel wanted to launch a second weekly instruction show and decided to cast a wide net. The network conducted an on-air national talent search in 2011. But Hall initially didn't submit an entry. He mentioned the opportunity to his wife, who replied, 'You're too old to be doing that.' But Hall had done some previous work for Golf Channel, so he made the short list and eventually ended up being the top choice. He has done episodes with the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Annika Sorenstam and the list goes on and on. 'Each show is special,' he said. 'I treated everyday like the Super Bowl and I left it all on the field as they say.' His favorite part of the show has been hearing the comments from viewers, which can be a dangerous world to enter. But Hall said ever since the shows began being posted on GolfPass, interest in his lessons have exploded to all corners of the world. He recounted meeting a golf enthusiast from India at the PGA Show in Orlando one year who called him 'the golf guru.' 'The reach that I have had has been immense,' he said. 'I treated it as a great responsibility that people around the world are using my lessons as the main source for their information on the swing.' Hall said he's listening to the voice in his head, which has served him well during his career, that it is time, as he put it, 'to let someone else have a go.' But not before one final send-off episode. 'It might be the most special episode we've ever done,' he said.
Forbes
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Martin Hall Closes The Book After 15 Years Of ‘School Of Golf'
Martin Hall ends "School of Golf" run after 15 years and 430 episodes, making him one of the most ... More visible and impactful faces in the world of golf instruction. After 15 years and 430 episodes, Martin Hall is stepping away from his role as the face of "School of Golf," the popular instructional program that has helped millions of golfers improve their game through television screens and digital devices around the world. The March 31 final episode marks the end of an era for one of golf instruction's most recognizable figures. Hall's distinctive teaching style, combining technical expertise with an approachable demeanor, made him a mainstay in homes of avid golfers since he first appeared on Golf Channel in 2011. "You have to know when it's time to end," said Hall, 68, a former European Tour player who began his teaching career in England in 1978 before moving to the U.S. in 1985. "My mother would always say to me, 'There's nothing worse than the singer staying too long when they've lost their voice.' So, I've always been aware that if it was my choice, I was going to leave before I was past my sell-by date or not relevant or couldn't do it well anymore." "I've spent my life going very fast for a long time to achieve a lot, and I'm ready to just take it a little bit easier and take a breath," he added. Martin Hall on set with Blair O'Neal, one of his co-hosts on "School of Golf." Hall's journey to television stardom wasn't planned from the beginning. Following the success of "The Golf Fix" with Michael Breed, Golf Channel sought to expand its instructional programming with a second weekly show. The network conducted a nationwide talent search in 2011, and Hall emerged as the standout choice. With decades of expertise as a PGA professional and accolades that included the 2008 PGA Teacher of the Year award, Hall brought considerable credibility to the role with School of Golf. What started as a studio production at Golf Channel eventually evolved into an on-location show, which viewers have enjoyed on GolfPass in recent years. Throughout his TV career, Hall has been joined by notable co-hosts who added their own expertise and talents to the program. Holly Sonders was his original co-host, helping to establish the show's format and appeal, and Blair O'Neal was a mainstay in later years. Holly Sonders, left, was Martin Hall's co-host at the start of School of Golf. While Hall says he'll miss certain aspects of the job, particularly "sending messages all over the world to avid golfers," he won't miss the 3 a.m. wake-up calls or extensive show prep and is instead looking forward to a slightly more relaxed lifestyle. Though he's stepping away from the cameras, Hall isn't leaving the golf instruction world. He'll continue teaching part-time at The Club at Ibis in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he's served as Director of Instruction since 1997. "I still love teaching,' Hall said. 'It's my passion.' School of Golf has been available as content for GolfPass members in recent years. Beyond teaching, Hall looks forward to having more time for reading, new pursuits, and traveling (including to his native England more frequently), as well as spending additional time with his wife Lisa, who is accomplished in the golf world herself as a two-time Solheim Cup player and former LPGA rookie of the year. A Legacy of Distinguished Guests Hall's "School of Golf" tenure saw a who's-who of guests, among them 10 World Golf Hall of Fame members including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Nick Faldo, Tom Watson, and Annika Sorenstam. In total, the show featured guests who have collectively won 118 major championships across men's, women's, and senior tours. "I wouldn't single any one person out,' Hall diplomatically says when asked who his most memorable guests have been. 'They've all been wonderful, and I learned something from every one of them." Martin Hall on set with Annika Sorenstam, one of the many World Golf Hall of Famers who have ... More appeared on the program over the years. Hall says he takes pride in the longevity and impact of the show, including the influence it's had on players of all levels over the years. 'I love watching how good the players are, especially how good they are these days at a young age. And I think Golf Channel and GolfPass has had a lot to do with that,' says Hall. 'It's pretty interesting when I bump into someone like (PGA Tour pro) Viktor Hovland and he says, 'I've been watching you for years.' When people at that level say that to me, that's really amazing, actually.' During his time as a teacher, Hall has witnessed significant changes in golf instruction, including massive shifts from a technological standpoint. "We have things that can measure and verify what people are really doing. And they're very accurate," he explains. "It's not telling us anything that Ben Hogan didn't do. It's not telling us anything Jack Nicklaus didn't do, but it's quantifying how far away perhaps a lesser player is from doing that." "The quality of video now is astonishing,' he adds. 'They can shoot at 600 frames per second now in high def, which is remarkable. You can almost see every dimple on the ball. We have so many measuring tools which help us explain to people why golf swings work or why they don't work very well." Martin Hall has been teaching golf in the U.S. for four decades, having moved from his native ... More England in 1985. As Hall reflects on his time with "School of Golf," what stands out most is the program's fundamental purpose: helping golfers improve. "Every show that we filmed is a chance to help golfers, or more golfers, play the game that I've loved my whole life a bit better," he says. "We get to help people who are bad players become better and help people who are good players become really good players. We keep people interested in the game. That's been my favorite thing."
