This month we interview Joe Daniels, PGA, MS, GSED (Golf Stroke Engineering Doctor) and President of The Golfing Machine, LLC.
Joe attended The University of California, Irvine from 1988 to 1990. Through his education there, he was introduced to the scientific method, which became an invaluable asset to his golf instruction. He earned masters degrees in Sport Psychology, Psychology, and Statistics at the University of Oregon. These disciplines formed the basis of The Golfing Machine’s curriculum. Additionally, he published his Master’s project “M.I.N.D. Golf,” which is available at www.thegolfingmachine.com.
Dedicated to education, Joe served on the Oregon Chapter PGA Education Committee from 1995 to 2005 and chaired that committee for five years. He was recognized with the chapter’s Professional Development (Horton Smith) Award four times.
Hometown: Whittier, California
PGA Member Since: 1995
Tell us a little bit about your career. Who or what inspired you to become a Golf Professional?
Well, the first person I must thank posthumously for my introduction into the golf business is Vern Smith PGA, who in 1977 hired me to work in the backroom at Waverly C.C. This was a fortunate opportunity, especially considering my job before Waverly C.C. was working as the jack of all trades at The Bayou G.C. in McMinnville, Oregon.
Working at Waverly, I met Fred Haney PGA, who was their teaching professional. Fred knew Mr. Kelley and had taken lessons from him. Fred was a student of The Golfing Machine and, through his tutelage, I became inspired and affected by Mr. Kelley’s work. Oddly, my first copy of The Golfing Machine was the 1979 Fourth Edition, which I borrowed (permanently) from Fred.
What experiences shaped your involvement in The Golfing Machine?
After a very poor performance at the 1977 Oregon Am qualifier, Fred offered to help me with my golf swing and I jumped at the opportunity. Over the next few months, the right side of the driving range at Waverly and the golf course became my close friend. However, after about four months, controlling the golf ball became much easier using The Golfing Machine’s three imperatives–a Flat Left Wrist, a Clubhead Lag Pressure Point and a Straight Plane Line.
In 2002 I purchased the copyrights to The Golfing Machine text which includes Mr. Kelley’s name, likeness and voice. This purchase and updating The Golfing Machine text and creating classes and training instructors all over the world; which includes a recent trip to Italy where Edorado Molinari “who is an Italian professional golfer who plays on the European Tour, where he is a three-time winner. He was also the 2005 U.S. Amateur champion; 2009 Challenge Tour Rankings leader; winner, with his brother Francesco, of the 2009 World Cup; and a member of the 2010 European Ryder Cup winning team.“ Edorado invited me to his academy in Torino Italy, to train his entire staff.
Who is The Golfing Machine for?
Many renowned PGA instructors have attended The Golfing Machine classes including Mark Blackburn, 2020 PGA Teacher of the year and 2024 – 2025 Golf Digest top instructor of the year. Martin Hall – 2008 PGA Teacher of the Year and Chuck Cook – 1996 PGA Teacher of the Year. I think both have benefited from their Golfing Machine education.
The Golfing Machine education is valuable for everyone but only some instructors will take the challenge and commit themselves to the in depth learning which is necessary to undertake this rigorous mental exercise and look at the golf stroke from a different point of view.