Jim Hartley is the founder of Bottom Line Golf Schools and co-author of the highly successful golf instruction book, Hale Irwin's Smart Golf (HarperCollins, 1999). Jim speaks to diverse groups of people who like golf, ranging from casual players, to more serious amateurs, and even to individuals who have an interest in taking up the game, either for fun or business reasons.
Jim has two main themes for his talks. In the first, "BLG 101", he shares his personal insights into how every golfer can play better by making the most of his or her own game by making the most of his or her own brain. Paraphrasing the United Negro College Fund, Jim says that, "the mind is a terrible thing to wastewhen playing golf." And, as he discusses in his speeches, he knows from personal experience. As a 13 handicapper, Jim began to examine how he could improve his own game without having to go through the pain, expense and frustration of taking countless lessons. Studying other amateurs and the pros, both on TV and in person, Jim catalogued what ultimately became his "golden rules" for shooting lower scores.
Implementing these golden rules into his own game in the mid-1980's, Jim saw immediate improvement as he started shooting more rounds in the 70's. In a couple of years, his handicap was down to single digits and he found himself shooting near par every so often. He began entering regional amateur events and started playing with better golfers in his men's club. In 1998, Jim won the club championship at his home course in Encinitas, California. He won it again in 1999, and in 2000, just four months after joining a new course, he won the club championship there. Later in 2000, Jim achieved his long-term goal, established more than a decade earlier, which was to become a scratch golfer. In 2001, he qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships in his first attempt. In December 2001, Jim turned 49 and decided to try his game at another level. He turned pro and began playing mini-tour events, with his new goal being to qualify for the Senior PGA Tour.
Jim's other talk is entitled "BizGolf", which typically he addresses to an audience of businesspeople and entrepreneurs who play or want to start playing "client golf." Again, Jim bases this speech on personal experience. He has enjoyed a 25-year career in business, first on the client side, as a marketing manager at major packaged goods companies, and then on the agency side, in the sports marketing industry and most recently as owner of a full-service marketing firm. In his 25 years in business, Jim says he has seen "the good, the bad and the ugly" of business golf. He shares some of his classic "war stories" with each audience, while giving them a detailed "how to" for doing it right, from pre-round preparation all the way through the 19th hole.
In all of Jim's talks, he "informs informally", providing audience members with valuable learning in a fast-paced, entertaining style. Everyone comes away from one of his engagements inspired, motivated and richer for the experience.
Jim lives in Encinitas, California with his wife of 28 years, Debbie, and his two children.
Founder of Bottom Line Golf Schools and co-author of book, Hale Irwin's Smart Golf
