Porto based PGA of Portugal professional Miguel Bianchi has much to cheer, becoming the first Certified Putting Instructor (CPI) in Portugal.
Miguel is looking forward to helping golfers in Portugal putt better, having already improved his own putting since completing the CPI Course.
“When I found the Frankly Golf CPI Course I thought it would be a great area to invest and who knows to create something to help golfers, and also to improve my putting skills.
“Putting is a very important part of the game, being 45% of the score and needs a specialist focus. If a golfer can be better at putting it will benefit the rest of their game,” said Miguel.
Miguel Bianchi, the first Certified Putting Instructor in Portugal
The Certified Putting Instructor (CPI) Course is a certification offered by U.S. based Frankly Golf in co-operation with various PGA’s around the world with the goal of helping golfers putt better, adding an extra dimension to the services that the golf professional can deliver.
Miguel, who has played golf for many years, believes that the CPI Course is correct in what it teaches, and enjoyed the professional presentation of the course, the combination of videos and text.
“I have played golf for 33 years and in all that time no-one had ever explained to me how the putting stroke worked, until now. The CPI Course explains why the golfer should do something and the results are amazing when the golfer understands this.
“I found the CPI a very useful course with a lot of important information regarding the correct posture and a correct approach to the mastering of putting. All of the topics were very helpful: from good putter fitting to a good routine and a solid strike of the ball .
“Putting is the most challenging part of golf. It looks easy, but it can blow your mind.”
Miguel, who turned professional in 2013, has had an interesting journey to become a PGA professional.
“In 2011 after I won the FedEx Golf Challenge in Portugal I was runner up at Pebble Beach in the World Final and had the chance to play in the pro-am at Bethpage Black with Graeme McDowell and then I started to think I would love to become a professional golfer. Finally in 2013 I got to a 4 handicap and passed the playing ability test
“My goal was of course to try and play PGA tournaments but most of all to be able to work with golf, either teaching or tourism or in golf course management, something related to the sport.”
Miguel also runs his own marketing company and he looks forward to using that experience in combination with the CPI Course to create a unique experience for golfers in Portugal.
“Using my experience as a marketer I hope I will be able to help the Frankly Golf teaching technique and Frankly Frog putter to become a success in Portugal as it is all over the rest of the world.”
Already Miguel is using his marketing skills and has secured a Portugese wine company to sponsor some of his classes, an idea that grew from what he had read in the “Ideas For Your Business” Section of the CPI Course.
“I will be giving putting classes indoors at the winery. My teaching will be based on “first you study then you do it” with some wine tasting in the mix. A relaxed environment to learn a relaxed shot!”
Upon learning of Miguel becoming the first CPI in Portugal, Frank Thomas, founder of Frankly Golf, former longtime USGA Technical Director and inventor of the graphite shaft, said,
“I am continually surprised by the reach of the CPI Course and specifically the recognition of the importance of putting and expert instruction. We are proud that Miguel is combining his talents and marketing experience to put putting instruction on the front page of golf in Portugal.”
Certified Putting Instructor 