CAMEO - What Drives You, Domenic Provenzano?

Domenic Provenzano.

ETHAN KAMINSKY

Domenic Provenzano went from making golf clubs to making golfers. Growing up in Washington, D.C., he learned the tools of the game while constructing clubs in his family’s golf shop. A former assistant golf pro at Bermuda Dunes Country Club and now tournament coordinator at La Quinta Resort & Club, Provenzano spent sixth months of 2011 volunteering with the Himalayan Youth Golf Association in Kathmandu, Nepal.  

How would you describe your teaching style?

I first try to identify how somebody learns and their personality type. Some people learn by imitating, some learn by seeing their swing on a video, and others learn verbally. And then there’s listening. It seems like a simple thing, but everybody likes to talk about their swing; and by listening to a person’s history of their game, I can identify what’s going in their mental and emotional state.

Who were your students in Nepal?

They were 90 percent underprivileged. They had holes in their pants, and some of them had flip-flips to play golf in. A foursome of kids would commonly share out of one half-set of clubs.

How does golf mesh with your other interests?

I really enjoy being outdoors. I love gardening, having always found a nice, peaceful zone when taking care of plants. And golf is a way to be around nature. I also enjoy hiking. I’ll do about a 600-foot climb; that’s a great way to build golf muscles.

You’re nearing completion of earning PGA instruction membership. Where will that accreditation take you?

I hope to implement a teaching clinic to the tournaments at La Quinta Resort & Club. And being in Nepal inspired me to start my own nonprofit. Down the road I can see myself trying to create more golf opportunities for disadvantaged kids.