The journey of Coach Mohammed Arif from a Self-taught Caddy to a Successful Senior Coach at To The Tee is his lifetime. Amongst his varied milestone, He is also the first to experience Motion Golf (Sensor Based Body Movement) Training under Mr Peter Murphy from Hank Haney (Former Coach to Tiger Woods) Academy.
He has grown from being a favourite caddy, an admired professional player to be the most loved coach with a multitude of talent training under him. He is responsible for many golfing professional careers and golf champions of India including Kshishang Nayak, Saanvi Reddy, Manisha Choudary, Gagan Vinod, Ayushman Jaiswal, Rayaan Anwar and Nayaz Pasha.
He is known to spot talent and guide them both as players and coach; he believes in discipline and trains them as athletes to perform in their sports. Coach Arif aims to promote golf to all sections of society and is happy to associate with To The Tee who believes in taking golf to the masses.
Arif’s exposure to the game began with a rejection at Bangalore Golf Club – where his friend introduced him very early in life in hopes of helping him earn a few rupees. He was rejected due to young age. Arif was 9 when he came back to become a forecaddie at BCG for a paltry ` 5-10 per day. It was not long, before he understood the game and became the most sought after caddy. Soon Arif had moved up to player position and began participating in regular caddy tournaments. His very first tournament had everyone impressed – Arif had played 18 overs the course. It was this appreciation from peers and players alike that strengthened his resolve to play professional.
In his very first professional tournament he won `.2000 for the 3rd place which he used to upgrade his golfset. Even before he could settle into the new journey as a player.. Life changed for Arif: he lost his mentor and guide – his father. He not only was left with a vacuum in his life but a huge responsibility of the family too. He, then chose to coach to augment his income and stay close to the game. He approached Mr. Bamby Randhawa, Senior Coach and former professional player with a request to assist him. He worked up his popularity very well, as recruitment sky rocketed from a mere 8 -125 students.
He was beginning to enjoy coaching and started working on his PAT prerequisites; which took a few attempts to clear owing to the issues in education and theory writing – however he succeeded in achieving his teaching certification from IGU Certified D in 2008. Just as he was ready for this phase in golf; ‘Life happened’ – Arif bowled over in love took some time off to get married & settle down with his beloved wife – it was post this that he started his journey as full time coach under his mentors Bamby Randhawa & Vijay Dwicha and never looked back.
He has been responsible for training many Junior champions across India both at Touche Golf, Tarun Sardesai
Academy and continues to do so at To The Tee.