By Andrea Harwood
Mike Gerarde, formerly of Keena Staffing, has started a professional golf instruction business.
PSG Golf offers golf lessons to golfers of all ages and abilities, with an additional focus on golf as a means of professional business development, Gerarde said.
He teaches out of Bay Meadows Golf Course and The Luxury Box, both in Queensbury. He will meet clients at their own golf course within 25 miles of downtown Glens Falls.
When Gerarde was in a business development role at Keena Staffing, he went to many golf tournaments to network. He noticed most of his associates didn’t go. When he asked them why, they responded they didn’t think they were good enough golfers to go.
“Golf is such a great opportunity to get with other business owners and people, not just for tournaments, but in general,” he said. “There’s no better way to network … Thinking that you’re not good enough to golf shouldn’t be a reason to deter you from doing it.”
He said his client target is “the person who wants to enjoy golf and use it in the business world. I did the coffee dates and seeing people at mixers. But nothing comes close to the type of relationship that I would get out on a golf course.”
Gerarde is a USGTF certified golf teaching professional. He teaches course lessons at Bay Meadows Golf Course in Queensbury, and will meet with clients at their own golf course within 25 miles of Downtown Glens Falls.
“I’m excited about the people I’m working with. I have clients have all ages, from younger kids to older professionals,” said Gerarde. “The mechanical side of golf is only a small part of what I do. Teaching people the psychology, rules, and etiquette of the sport, and then how to relate that to your sales game or your life in general – golf provides a great opportunity for that.”
Gerarde gets to the simulator at The Luxury Box 5 a.m. daily, getting 18 holes in before work. He takes early morning, after work and weekend appointments, catering to professionals who may be tied to a schedule. Lessons can be scheduled on the website www.psggolf.com.
Gerarde named the business after his late father, Paul Stephen Gerarde, who died in 2002.
“He went to Syracuse then started Keena Staffing, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps,” he said. “He loved golf. He brought a lot of joy to the community. He loved this community. The best thing about my dad was how he made people feel when he was with him. He made people feel at ease.
Gerarde credits his wife, Haley Gerarde, with encouraging him to start his own business. She opened Jenny Jo’s Smoothie Bar this past year.
“I saw Haley just go for what she wanted, and it made me want to do the same with my own dreams,” said Gerarde.
PSG Golf can be found on Facebook and Instagram. The phone number is 518-413-8478. The email address is lessons@PSGgolf.com.