THE WEEKLY

Christian Campbell shares how a career setback led him to Ahwatukee Golf Club and a fresh perspective on coaching. In six questions, we explore his South Phoenix roots, the barriers in golf, and what it takes to keep moving when your plan falls apart.

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Christian Campbell might break down your golf swing one minute and dance the next.

He gives you fair warning.

That was his answer when I asked who he is beyond his job in golf. Before we talked about coaching, competition, or his next chapter at Ahwatukee Golf Club, we talked about being yourself.

Christian grew up in South Phoenix, learned the game alongside his dad, and spent years trying to convince his friends to give golf a chance.

Now those friends are hooked. He’s coaching, building Different Strokes Golf, and finding new ways to share a game he’s loved since he was three.

Here’s the person behind the swing.

I’m a South Phoenix native who loves to laugh, dance, joke around, and have a good time. I’m also a complete golf nerd. I can talk about the game all day.

There’s more to me than the golf swing, but if you know me, you know that’s a part of my life.

Mainly, I like making people feel comfortable being themselves around me, because that’s how I’ll always show up.

You might catch me breaking down a swing one minute and dancing the next. That’s just me.

A golf coach with a personality you don’t have to leave at the clubhouse door. Meet Christian on Instagram.

My pops put a club in my hand, and people quickly recognized I had a natural ability for it.

I loved other sports, too. Basketball, football, soccer, track- none of it mattered. I was always competing in something.

But nobody in my immediate circle of friends actually played golf. No one in my immediate circle of friends would say, let’s go golf. I spent a lot of my time on the course with my pops and his buddies.

Looking back, that helped me get comfortable following my own interests, even when they looked different from everybody else’s.

I was always telling my cousins and friends to learn. They thought I was tripping.

Fast-forward, and everybody’s playing. They’re all saying the same thing: man, I wish I got into it earlier.

I probably love golf more than ever, and teaching plays a big role in that.

Nothing beats competitive rounds. Tournament golf brings out a feeling that’s hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it. I love that pressure and the challenge of seeing what I can do.

But helping someone hit a shot they didn’t think they could? That’s a different kind of excitement.

Watching something click and seeing their confidence change has given me a whole new appreciation for the game.

I’m still a player who wants to improve, and a coach who wants to keep learning. Golf keeps me humble in both roles.

Andy Walker has been a huge influence. He’s like a big brother to me.

He shaped how I play and think about golf, and he gave me the confidence to teach.

I wasn’t always the most accurate player, so learning to use my imagination and figure out how to score was important.

Watching Tiger inspired that creativity. Andy helped me understand how to use it.

I’ve also had people encourage me through coaching and by putting myself out there on social media.

One thing I take from those relationships is that you never stop learning. The more I learn, the more I have to offer my students.

I had a teaching opportunity that I thought was set. I’d planned around it and was supposed to sign the contract, but they withdrew it that morning.

It was frustrating. I trusted the situation, and suddenly the plan I’d built was gone.

After working through that initial reaction, I had to ask myself, okay, what’s the next move?

That pivot eventually led me to the opportunity I have today at Ahwatukee Golf Club. I believe it opened up even more possibilities.

It reminded me of playing golf. You can have a plan, hit an unexpected shot and still find a way to score.

I’ve gotten better at accepting what happened, looking at the options in front of me, and committing to the next shot.

I’m continuing to grow my brand, Different Strokes Golf, and grow within Ahwatukee.

I’ve become more consistent with posting. People are starting to recognize me from videos and ask about lessons. This is letting me pursue coaching and see where it goes.

I also recently became a Shot Scope ambassador. Things I didn’t expect or wasn’t sure I could do are becoming real opportunities.

At Ahwatukee, I’m excited about the community. People have wanted to see the place become what it could be.

Places like Dobson show how people can enjoy golf while staying true to themselves. An accessible entry point helps people get comfortable starting.

Christian knows what it feels like to chase a score. He also knows the excitement of watching someone hit one solid shot and immediately start thinking about their next round.

I enjoyed how easily he moved between competition, coaching, and fun. The same person who wants to understand your swing wants you to feel comfortable standing next to him.

For more from Christian on golf, his coaching approach, and the next chapter of Different Strokes Golf, follow @christiantcampbell on Instagram.

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