Don Trahan

Don Trahan
Don Trahan
	Southeastern Massachusetts University
Turned professional	1973; PGA Class A Member - 1977; PGA Master Professional - 1992

Donald Roland Trahan (born November 13, 1949) is an American PGA Master Professional golf instructor. Known as "The Swing Surgeon," Trahan is the father of PGA Tour professional golfer D. J. Trahan.

Early life

Trahan was born in

New Bedford, Massachusetts

. His father introduced him to the game of golf when he was ten years old. By the age of twelve, Trahan was a scratch golfer and a member of New Bedford Public Links, now called Whaling City Golf Club (known as The Whale).

Trahan graduated from Bishop Stang Catholic High School in 1967. He was the top player on the high school golf team all four years he attended. Trahan then attended

corporate attorney

.

Trahan met his wife, Susan, while attending college. The two married in 1973 and moved to

New Smyrna Beach

, Florida and entered into the PGA of America Apprentice Program. He earned a Class A membership in 1977.

He would later achieve the status of PGA Master Professional in 1992.

Philosophy

While Director of Golf Instruction for

orthopedic surgeon to learn the physics and physiology of swinging a golf club

. From this study evolved "The low stress, low maintenance golf swing," through which Trahan shows students how to hit the ball straight and long without stress and strain.

Prior to his work at the Sea Pines/Harbour Town Golf Links, Trahan ran golf schools in

Hilton Head Island, SC

). Trahan's passion for helping golfers play better and enjoy the game more resulted in the creation of several training aids and instructional videos. These instruction and training tools have become the nucleus of his company, The Swing Surgeon Group.

In addition, Trahan shares his knowledge and philosophy through various websites.

Author

Trahan was a teaching editor for Golf Magazine from 1987 to 1992 and continues to have articles published there and in numerous national magazines. The February 1998 issue of Senior Golfer Magazine featured a six-page article outlining the results of a study based on Trahan's theory of the short, 3/4 length, limited turn backswing. The biomechanical study in which Trahan participated, and scientifically proved correct, showed that a short swing does not lose clubhead speed versus a full parallel swing. Trahan was featured in the July 1993 issue of Choice magazine, the award-winning publication of Golf-Digest Japan. Most recently Trahan wrote the feature instruction article for the February 1998 issue of Senior Golfer Magazine.

Achievements

PGA of America Apprentice Program

Class A member – 1977
PGA Master Professional – 1992

Awards

Golf Magazine, "The Best 50 Teachers in America" – 1991
Golf Magazine, "The 100 Best Teachers in America" – 1996
Carolinas PGA Senior Player of the Year – 2002, 2007

Tournament wins

Carolinas PGA (CPGA) Senior Championship – 2002
12 CPGA Senior Wins

Collegiate golf record

Match play record (53–0–3) – 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971

References

External links

The Swing Surgeon Official Site
Don Trahan Golf Academy Archived March 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
2010 PGA Master Professional List Archived May 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine