Wojciech's Blog

About

Last updated: June 2024

Father of two, working remotely on EU sport education projects. I used to be a golf coach and spent a few years in international golf education and coach development space.

I enjoy making stuff (including blogs, YouTube videos, podcasts, websites), reading, learning and playing.

You can:

  • send me an email – wojciech[at]wasniewski.com.pl
  • follow my ramblings on Twitter – @WojciechGolf
  • check out my CV on LinkedIn
  • check what I’m reading on Goodreads

EU Sport Education

Since April 2024 I’ve worked for EOSE – European Observatoire of Sport and Employment as Projects and Research Coordinator. I oversee, manage and consult on various EU-funded international collaborative projects in the fields of sport education and employment, helping the sector have access to a qualified workforce with relevant skills.

Golf Education and Coach Development

I used to juggle my working time between roles in international and national golf education.

On the international scale, in 2020-2024 I was working for the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG), an umbrella organisation for national PGAs worldwide. I was developing various projects in the golf education space – such as running a national education recognition scheme, setting up an international Learning Institute hosted on a world-class Learning Management System, or delivering EDUGOLF (2021-2023) – an EU Commision Erasmus+SPORT funded international collaborative partnership project aiming to modernise education and training in golf. 10 international partners were involved in this project.

On national (Polish) front, in 2019-2024 I was the Director of Education for the PGA of Poland, managing the training of Polish golf coaching workforce, designing and implementing a new education structure developed jointly with the Polish Golf Union, and tutoring students at coaching courses.

I am still involved in the work of the Polish PGA as its Board Member.

Through the Polish Institute of Sport I became a certified ICCE (International Council for Coaching Excellence) Coach Developer.

Golf Coaching

I’ve been a golfer since I was 12, and played in the Polish Junior National Squad (I wasn’t very good).

I studied in the UK and graduated from BSc Applied Golf Management Studies at the University of Birmingham, UK – as the first, and so far the only, Polish graduate. I went on to graduate from part-time MSc Sport Coaching.

I turned professional in 2013 and gained coaching experience at many clubs, including Leadbetter Golf Academy at La Manga Club in Spain. I shadowed many coaches, and attended a number of in-person and live workshops and courses. I became a member of the PGA of Poland.

I held Teaching Professional and Junior Golf Coordinator positions at a number of local golf clubs, but most importantly my home club Binowo Park Golf Club. I specialised in junior, beginner and recreational coaching.

In 2018-2019 I worked as an Assistant Coach to the Polish National Team. The experience re-assured me that I did not want to work in high-performance sport.

In 2019 I created a “Long-term golf coaching programme” for the Polish Golf Union, a junior coaching framework for sport schools and golf clubs in Poland.

In 2020 I was a regional junior squad coach (coordinator).

Coaching-wise I was mostly interested in participation development, junior coaching, sport pedagogy and practice planning. A big fan of joyful golf and unique practice strategies. Allergic to grass, golf myths and the ban on jeans at golf clubs.

I’m no longer actively coaching golf.

Making

WRITING

I have written for the following outlets:

YOUTUBE

Edu Golf channel – for a few years I recorded and edited instructional golf videos in Polish. It is the biggest golf YouTube channel in Poland with over 130.000 video views at time of writing.

My favourite (and last) video from this channel is this 15-minute introduction to golf from April 2020.

I also have a personal channel – some quirky video projects and videos from personal trips.

I was using an iPhone XS Max and Canon EOS 80D to record (most often with Canon EF-S 10-18mm), Rode VideoMic Pro to catch sound, and Final Cut Pro to edit.

Podcast

Participation Coaching Podcast – I did a bunch of interviews with expert coaches in the junior, beginner and recreational spaces, as I couldn’t find any high quality content and advice on how to become the best participation coach possible.

Used a Blue Yeti USB microphone to record, GarageBand to edit, Auphonic for post, SoundCloud for hosting and Blubrry for distribution.

CODE

I enjoy coding and creating websites for myself and sometimes for friends and family. I’m relatively comfortable with HTML, CSS and WordPress. I’ve dabbled with JavaScript and Webflow. Hope to learn JavaScript and/or Swift in the future. I’ve created all of my websites (EduGolf.pl, ParticipationCoaching.com, this website). I’ve played with many no-code and low-code tools (Airtable, creating automations with Zapier, Apple Shortcuts, Microsoft Power Automate etc.). I also like to tinker with basic smart home setup and automations (Home Assistant on Synology NAS).

Learning and research

I am considering searching for PhD opportunities in the area of (?) sport education and development.

Studies I’ve done so far:

  • Investigation into developmental journeys of polish talented golfers (BSc dissertation)
  • Beginner golfers’ perceptions of Nonlinear Pedagogy (MSc dissertation, to be published)

Follow me on ResearchGate.

Playing

VIDEO GAMES

Some of my favourite digital games: Uncharted series, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Burnout: Paradise, Mirror’s Edge, Journey, Stray, Hades, Lumines, SUPERHOT.

Some of my favourite tabletop games: Codenames, Neuroshima Hex, chess.

Currently I mostly play with my older son (e.g. Luigi’s Mansion 3, Untitled Goose Game, LEGO CITY Undercover, Super Mario Oddyssey).

SPORTS

Sports = pure recreation for me.

Now: e-biking with kids on the back of a longtail cargo bike, kayaking, aerobie

Sometimes: climbing, golf, ultimate frisbee, SUP (love it), spikeball (cool), padel, slackline, lifting weights, swimming, tennis, speedminton, badminton.

Used to: Capoeira, volleyball.