Sevam1 is the code name for Mike Maves. He's great golf coach and an interesting guy

Sevam1 spent a lot of time golfing with Moe Norman and listening to Moe's tales of the fabled Ben Hogan swing. After a couple of decades of studying great golf swings, Sevam1 has written and published his book, "The Secret in the Dirt", and it is now available online with a unique set of embedded videos. These embedded videos bring an experience that no hardcopy book can equal. You can read, then watch, as Sevam1 walks you through the various aspects of a golf swing, and then try them out yourself, (taking care not to break the chandelier!)

Even the inane and sometimes goofy questions by the cameraman help seed the videos with humour. When the dog occasionally walks into the picture, it is clearly time for a break, a story, and then back to focusing on the whys and hows of the golf swing.

These videos also portray a fabulous picture of a great golf coach. The humour and humility with which Sevam1 delivers the lessons make it easy to pick up a golf stick and swing along with him, and we always recognize a little of ourselves in his self deprecating humour.

The other day Sevam1 told me a story that I thought sat at the root of his coaching style. He coaches a PGA player from time to time. This player asked him to spend some time at the practice range just before the tournament, to help him tune up.

Mike said, "You don't want me to do that! Let's go off somewhere the day before and we'll work on some things. Everyone else is going to be up there on that practice range with an entourage of swing coaches, putting coaches, course management coaches and feng shui experts. You'll be up on all those guys if you just walk up with a couple of clubs and hit long and straight without all the distraction of a coach. Confidence, enviable golf shots and a relaxed smile will make a lot of people wonder what you are up to.

It's a neat anecdote, but it really exemplifies a great coaching technique, whether it is for a PGA pro or for the smallest of kids leaving the bench for a hockey shift.

Now normally a coach would want to be seen with his high powered client. It gives them status, access to other potential clients, and feeds their ego. Sevam1 sees it differently. Coaching is about the player, not the coach and Sevam1 lives this philosophy.

If you would like to try the book out, he's put a couple of sample chapters in a primer that you can download for free at http://www.mcustomer.com/better-golf/swing-primer.htm.

If you like Sevam1's gentle style, we know that the book will help you take your golf game to the next level.