"As an Irishman, I am certainly superstitious," says Connor, "I always use green tees, and I never play a ball numbered '4'. I mark my putts with an Irish coin - harp side up, of course." Connor adds that he's not partial to any particular color or clothing style out on the course, but you'll never see him in orange. Staying true to his lucky charms may have helped Connor play some spectacular golf, but his great attitude, hard work, focus and passion for the game have likely helped him more.

A golfer since he was 10, Connor knows the game inside and out. He earned his Master's in business and worked for a golf management company right of college. Fourteen years later, he's now a top PGA Teaching Professional at Hartford Golf Club, and he couldn't be happier. "I have a great passion for this game and truly love sharing that passion with others," says Connor. "To make the game more enjoyable for others is a great thrill."

Connor recalls offering a "Beginning Ladies Golf School" in his first year as a teacher at Hartford. The school ran two days and was designed to remove 'the intimidation factor' in golf as well as provide plenty of fundamental instruction. Three years later, while Connor was refereeing the 9-hole Ladies Club Championship Match, he knew one of the finalists. She had been in the Beginning Ladies Golf School, and Connor had worked with her at other times on both the practice tee and the course. She won the match and the championship. "It was exciting to see someone come so far over those few years," smiles Connor.

Connor remembers helping this student by simply "playing shots." The student was a good athlete in other sports, so Connor was able to draw connections and use analogies to help her better understand her golf swing and the game itself. "I would tell her to hit a topspin forehand, and she would square up the clubface," says Connor. "I would tell her to pretend she was a homerun hitter, and she would make a full rotation through impact," he adds. Connor rarely talked in technical golf terms with this student, but she obviously knew where he was coming from.

When working with beginners, Connor encourages them to watch great players to get a picture in their minds of the correct motion. He advises them to be patient and give themselves plenty of time to improve. Getting bogged down in tips and thinking too much only causes confusion and can prolong the learning process.

Intermediate level players should concentrate on getting the ball in play off the tee, according to Connor. They also need to develop a short game they can rely on. "I always tell my students that if you know you can get it up and in from off the green, you will put less pressure on yourself on the approach shot," says Connor. "Therefore, you will make a better swing and hit better shots."

As a coach to many advanced players, Connor has noticed a common thread. "Most top players have one recurring errant shot that has some mechanical root," notes Connor. "This one bad shot can mean the difference between 68 and 72. We try to eliminate that shot." Connor may also help an advanced player develop a "garbage" shot - one that might not look pretty, but they can rely on it under the gun. For some, the shot could be a smearing fade, for others, a low punch. "Whatever it takes to help them find a fairway or the middle of a green to get back on track," says Connor. He's been there himself.

"If I'm having a bad day hitting full shots, I tell myself to accept it for that round," says Connor. "I play to the middle of the green, safe side of the hole, try to hit the fairways and so forth. I don't allow myself to hit risky shots or try to be a hero - that will quickly make for higher scores," he adds. Having a reliable short game helps, too, and that's why Connor focuses a lot of attention on pitching, chipping and putting - not only for himself, but with students of all levels as well.

Practicing his short game often involves taking his seven through wedges (and putter) over to the Short Game area and "playing" 10 holes. He plays a shot from off the green, then putts it. Par for every "hole" is 2. "If I shoot 20 or 21 for my ten holes, I'm pretty pleased," says Connor. "If I shoot 27, I know I need to take some of the dust off. My best score so far is 17."

Not surprisingly, the most reliable part of Connor's game is his putting. He putts every day, even if only for 15 minutes. With more time, he will follow his full practice routine, which always begins with rolling 20-, 30- and 40-foot putts with no specific target in mind. Next, he will sink 50 four footers in a row. If he misses at 48, he starts over. After that, Connor completes Dave Pelz's 20-foot drill. "To me, that is still the best putting exercise," says Connor.

With such determination and attention to detail in his working on his own game, Connor makes a sound impression on first-time and repeat students alike; he will work as hard as you to help you improve your game. "I can explain and demonstrate what my students need to do to improve in ways that they can understand and appreciate," says Connor. "My students tell me they like that I make it possible for them to do and feel the correct motion." During a lesson with Connor, students can expect honesty, effort, follow-up and probably a laugh or two.

"It sounds corny," says Connor, "but the love of the game is what motivates me. It brings me great pleasure just being around the game."