“People usually don’t understand how much work it takes,” says Hughes, a former collegiate and professional soccer player who turned to golf when an injury ended his career. He had been exposed golf as a teenager, but only began to take it seriously and play regularly at age 22. Hughes found that golf filled a void soccer had left behind.

A PGA teaching professional for over 10 years, Hughes welcomes the opportunity to help people do what it takes to improve their games.

“Beginners need to focus on good basics, both pre-swing and in-swing,” recommends Hughes. “I work with intermediate level players to get a better understanding of proper motion, conditioning and good practice. I also encourage them to get fitted clubs.” Hughes also teaches his fair share of advanced players, who learn from Hughes the importance of the short game and mental preparation. He guides them in game simulation drills and urges them to be more focused in practice sessions.

“I use simulated situation drills in my own practice sessions,” notes Hughes. “This helps me build trust in myself. I also have conscious/subconscious drills I use for mechanics. Before tournaments, I do a lot of trust and feel practice.” Hughes is motivated in his own game by continuing to learn and grow professionally and personally. He passes this self-motivation and discipline along to his students with care and ease.

Hughes once taught a senior golfer who had come to Hughes looking to get his game back after a serious illness. Hughes admits the most difficult challenge they both faced was overcoming expectations of the past and focusing on the reality of today: this man was not going to play like he used to. With that in mind, Hughes helped the student with swing mechanics, mental expectations and physical conditioning. He is now able to play more regularly, despite his severe limitations. Hughes was able to help this 80-year-old do what it takes to enjoy the game again.

“I think I bring a lot of knowledge to a lesson,” says Hughes, “and a way to apply that knowledge so that it fits well with anyone’s learning style and lifestyle.” Hughes adds that he also likes to have a lot of fun with students. “Many of my students like the fact that I make things simple, that I apply the lesson material in a simple manner, and especially that I make things fun and enjoyable.”

For Hughes, giving lessons means seeing that big smile on his students’ faces when they achieve their goals. This happens when they can not only repeat the achievement physically, but also when they are able to communicate the concept back to Hughes to show they understand it.

The best part of Hughes’ game in his opinion is his short game and putting. He is also very confident in his ability to mentally prepare for a round. Out on the course, he often wears red or black, and he tends to use only black tees. You might find him doing so on the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island in South Carolina or on The Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tennessee, two of his favorites. A seven-year resident of South Carolina, Hughes has plenty of great golf to choose from; he adds the Secession Club in Beaufort, South Carolina and Pinehurst #2 in Pinehurst, North Carolina to his preferred list of places to tee it up.