On Being Named The 2008 LPGA Teacher Of The Year!
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Karen Palacios-Jansen, a former David Leadbetter trained instructor and Jim McLean Golf School master instructor, Karen has been teaching golf for 17 years and has appeared on The Golf Channel, has a weekly golf internet radio show that follows the LPGA Tour on Prime Sports Radio Network and is the Managing Editor of Golf Fitness Magazine and golffitnessmagazine.com. Frequently requested as a public speaker and lecturer at local and national golf shows and conferences, Karen has helped thousands of golfers improve their golf games. As we celebrate with Karen, we at Golf Fitness Magazine want you to get to know her like we do-
Here are a few insights to how golf fitness has played a vital role in Karen’s life on and off the course.
GFM: What role does golf specific fitness play in your life and how do you
Instill this into that of your students?
KPJ: At the moment, golf specific fitness encompasses my entire life. Because I play golf, teach golf and am the Managing Editor for Golf Fitness Magazine, I am constantly reading about golf fitness, doing researching and trying new exercises. I try to set a good example for my students by always trying to improve myself physically and mentally. I try to practice what I preach. I love to work out, I always warm up before I play, and I work on my flexibility and am constantly working on my attitude on the golf course. I feel that if I set a good example and show them how golf fitness can help my game that they will follow.
GFM: Who do you admire most on tour–men and women-what is it about them that
you admire?
KPJ: To play golf at the highest level, you have to dedicate yourself completely to the game. I admire the men and women that play on tour because they are incredibly disciplined and dedicated to improving their minds, bodies and swings on a daily basis. I don’t think that the general public knows what sacrifices these men and women make every day to become champions. To play on tour, you must spend countless hours traveling, being away from your family and many players not only spend hours on end practicing their games, but they workout and are constantly working on improving their mental games as well.
GFM: Who would be your dream foursome? My dream foursome would be Tiger Woods, Lorena Ochoa and my husband Dan Jansen. Dan and I would need to be given a lot of strokes, but it sure would be great to take on Tiger and Lorena in a two man best ball!
GFM: What course? My new favorite course is Champions Retreat in Augusta, Georgia. There are three nine hole courses there. One is designed by Jack Nicklaus, one by Arnold Palmer and one by Gary Player. You can’t just play 18 holes there; you need to play all 27.
GFM: What thoughts went through your head when you got the call from LPGA
about winning the title?
KPJ: First of all, I couldn’t believe that I won. There were so many other great lady pros up for the award as well. One of them was Suzy Whaley, who won the Northeast Teacher of the Year. She is an amazing teacher who has accomplished unbelievable feats: she was the first woman to qualify for PGA Tour event in 58 years. So I feel so honored even to be placed in her category.
Secondly, I felt very humbled. I really enjoy teaching and feel honored that my students trust me with their swings. I hope that I can continue to help people improve.
GFM: What is your favorite part about being a Managing Editor for a national
golf and fitness publication like Golf Fitness Magazine?
KPJ: I really enjoy doing research and talking to fitness and golf experts. I probably have learned more about my profession in the last year being Managing Editor than at any other time in my career.
Another benefit of being Managing Editor is that I have gotten in the best shape of my life and am probably hitting the ball as far as I ever have. I try all the exercises and workouts that are in the magazine, so I am constantly working out and doing golf specific exercises.
GFM: Celebrity status runs big in your family–tell our readers a little bit
about your spouse and how golf plays a big part in your life together-
KPJ: I am married to Dan Jansen. Many people may remember him from the 1994 Olympics when he won a gold medal in speed skating. I met Dan when I worked for the David Leadbetter Golf Academy. He came down to take a few lessons one weekend. That was in 1996. I would not see him again until 2000 when we re-met at Gary Player’s Charity Invitational. So you can say that golf brought us together.
Golf is a huge factor in our life. Dan is an avid golfer and plays in many celebrity tournaments. Not only is golf our hobby and passion (we play whenever we can). We have also gotten to create a unique company together because of golf. Dan and I started a company we call Swing Blade Golf Inc. Dan does quite a bit of motivational speaking, so we have done numerous outings for companies where he is the keynote speaker and I conduct a golf clinic and then we play golf with the group. I never would have thought in a million years when I started playing golf at the age of 8 that golf would be such a huge factor in my life let alone my love life!