THE PLACE TO ENJOY
GOLF AT AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
The Golf-Resort IMLAUER Hotel Schloss Pichlarn is pleased to introduce Gregor Kotnik as the new Golf Pro at the Golf & Country Club Schloss Pichlarn. Born in Styria, he gained many years of experience in professional golf in America, Asia and Europe.
In an interview with Gregor Kotnik, we found out more about his professional golfing career, his path to becoming a golf coach and what is particularly important to him when teaching golf.
How did you get into golf?
Through my father. I was 13 years old at the time. He was able to convince the whole family what a wonderful sport it is. We were all immediately impressed and have become a real golfing family.
How long have you known Schloss Pichlarn and the golf course?
Since I started playing golf in 1998. I got my license to play golf here at the Schloss Pichlarn Golf & Country Club. I started playing tournaments in 1999/2000. I’ve been familiar with the hotel for a long time thanks to the award ceremonies that have also taken place in the hotel.
Where did you have your most formative experiences in golf?
Until 2011, I played golf alongside my job at the time and still managed to achieve a handicap of 0. That was a great achievement back then, in 2010/2011, and it really kick-started my golf career. A sponsor gave me the chance to concentrate solely on golf for five years and play it professionally. I became an active playing golf professional in November 2011.
From then on, I did nothing but train and play tournaments at a highly professional level. All over the world. I was in America and got to train with some of the best coaches in the world. I played tournaments in America, and of course also in Europe. In 2015, I tried to qualify for the Asian Tour. I then stayed in Thailand for a few years and played professional tournaments there. This allowed me to gain a lot of experience.
How did you become a golf instructor?
From 2017 to 2019, I worked at Golf & Country Club Schloss Pichlarn every summer and completed my pro training as a golf instructor here. Alan Mitchell was my teacher at the time.
A three and a half year training course is required to be allowed to teach golf. I completed this training in 2020. During this time I taught in Asia at Black Mountain Golf Club in winter and at Schloss Pichlarn in summer.
What do you particularly like about Golf & Country Club Schloss Pichlarn?
That it is my home and that I started playing golf here. Although I have played some of the world’s best golf courses, it was always nice to come back to Pichlarn. The combination of this superb castle hotel and the golf course is unique. That was always a highlight for me when I came back after a few months of traveling.
What advantages do our guests have from the major redesign of the golf course?
The redesign makes the golf course even more attractive to the eye than it already was. Fairway 5 is a signature hole with a view over the course to the castle and the Grimming in the background.
The conversion of holes 11 and 12 makes the whole thing absolutely more play-friendly. This is a huge advantage, especially for guests who are not yet familiar with the course. The course retains its uniqueness through this redesign, but has been somewhat “defused” at some key points.
What are you most looking forward to once the redesign is complete?
Personally, I’m really looking forward to the new driving range, which of course affects me the most as a golf pro. There I teach our guests and members how to play golf or improve their game. The entire new driving range area, as it is being planned, will certainly be a top practice facility, and I’m really looking forward to that.
How will you use the new driving range for your golf lessons?
I will use the entire driving range. The long strokes, which we will then analyze with Trackman technology. However, the so-called short game is particularly important. On the new short game area, you can practise everything from putting, chipping and pitching to bunker shots.
Tell us more about the advantages of the Trackman
TrackMan is the best known and best golf analysis technology currently available on the market. Trackman can be used to play tournaments and golf courses all over the world. But you can also measure and analyze your own strokes. Everyone who logs in via the Trackman app has a personalized account. When you start practicing on the driving range, you measure the distance of your shots, how far the ball rolls, how much lateral deviation there is and how high it flies. All parameters are recorded automatically.
Once completed, we will have 10 Trackman stations on the driving range, all of which will be equipped with a screen. However, it will also be possible to have your shots measured from the grass tees.
I have been a Trackman user for years and use the technology in my teaching. However, as a golf coach, I have even more detailed data at my disposal. In addition, the player is recorded on video so that I can explain any changes even better. My experience with the Trackman has been very positive, there is simply nothing better.
What do you attach particular importance to when teaching golf?
In my golf lessons, it is important to me that I look at each player individually. For me, there is no one model golf swing. After 13 years in professional golf and six years as a golf coach, I can say that you have to look at the golf swing individually. In my golf lessons, I simply try to get the best out of every player. The important thing is that the swing feels good, the ball flies and that you enjoy the game.
Who are your personal role models in golf?
Having started playing golf around the year 2000, when Tiger Woods really took off, I am naturally a Tiger Woods fan. Rory McIlroy and the current No. 1 in the world golf rankings, Scottie Scheffler from America, are also playing some really good golf at the moment. One could argue that Rory McIlroy has the most beautiful and best golf swing. Scottie Scheffler, on the other hand, doesn’t swing the golf club quite the way you think you should. But for me as a golf coach, that’s exactly my approach again. That you have to look at each player individually in order to achieve the best possible result.
