Nuremberg, Summer 1983
…I went, at the urging of my late friend and supporter Uli Knappertz, to a German Championship for the first time — and made it straight to the final.
The picture shows the moment of defeat, which I experienced as a victory.
At the time, Golfmagazin wrote:
„Reaching for the stars. The previously unknown Rainer Mund consecutively outplayed the German national players and only lost in the final against Christian Domin.“
Even at the awards ceremony, I realized that the officials back then were overwhelmed by my shoes and shorts, yet they themselves were the real problem in German golf.
In Nuremberg, my serious journey as a golfer began — and with it, the ongoing effort to push things forward that continues to this day.
German No 1
After Nuremberg, I never let up and established myself as a national team player.
In 1990, I won the German rankings and, with a five-page open letter and the support of the national team, was able to initiate a political turnaround in what was then an incredibly old-fashioned federation — bringing in more focus on sport and more open-minded people.
In 1991, after completing my studies at the German Sport University Cologne, I turned professional. With the generous support of Willy Hofmann and Bernhard and Erwin Langer, many additional doors opened along the way.
During these years, I played with everyone who mattered in the sport, gaining an incredible amount of experience.
German Federation 1996
By then, the sailor Uli Libor had become DGV Managing Director and had already approached me in 1990, during the period of federation reforms, bringing me to Wiesbaden to work at the DGV after my time as a tour player.
Together with the brilliant Oliver Heuler, we became the first full-time national coaches in an office that practically had no experience with elite sport.
What an opportunity. We seized it, and I still remember very clearly the journalists — not always easy to please — who said in unison: „For the first time, we feel that something truly good is being created here.“
In 1997, I became vice European champion with the girls. In 1999, we won the title. I then spent about two years with the women’s team, including players like Sandra Gal, Martina Eberl, Betty Hauert, and Miriam Nagel, all of whom went on to successful careers.
In 2003, I took over the men’s team. From the very beginning, my focus was on providing potential world-class golfers with the right environment. At that time, however, I was still working alone in this vision.
"Thinking Majors" 2005
For the first time, we soon began competing at the top with the men’s team. In 2005, we became vice European champions, finishing behind England.
From then on, my main focus was to ensure that the top players truly got what they needed, including Martin Kaymer.
I believe that during this time, I was the only one besides Martin who dared to think all the way to the top. I also knew that with Martin, we would see another real golf boom. The guy didn’t just win on tour — he went on to win the PGA Championship, the US Open, and became world number one. Incredible, yet entirely logical in retrospect.
I then became a freelance coach, working internationally. This is when I began to develop my very own coaching method: PBi.
PBi evolves 2010
Around 2010, I built my own indoor hall in Wiesbaden and fully unleashed my creativity there. I still traveled the world coaching Playing Pros.
In cooperation with a local club, the first ideas emerged about fully immersing ourselves in a golf club.
Several top golfers were developed during this period, and in the meantime, the club team composed of these players reached the very top.
And the first time I had a whole country, Switzerland, to get to know the insights of PBi Golf Anatomy.
And really good individual players. One of them, Thibault Junak, embodies the PBi philosophy in human form, and it gives me profound satisfaction that he can play extremely well under pressure. And, not unimportantly, he stands firmly on both feet.
Bad Liebenzell 2016
Moving into nature, more remotely, to Bad Liebenzell in the Black Forest, has enriched my life enormously. I can hardly imagine a daily life in the big city anymore.
Still I had the opportunity to work internationally. Since I quit as a national coach, no one in Germany knew that I was still going further in the field of developing PBi. I was in Asia and could educate two countries in building a trainings system. I worked hard on figuring out some white spots in my Structure.
By the end of the year I had it fixed: I had found a way to get the wrist and arm action completely unrestrained -with the free fall drill. What a discovery.
It was an incredibly beautiful time, with wonderful people and lasting friendships. To this day, we still miss a bit of the floral lightness of the people in this region.
And without a doubt, the northern Black Forest has the best air in Germany.
By the end of 2016 I knew I had probably developed the best competition training program on the planet.
Münster 2020
I needed a regional playground with not yet Playing Pros so, in 2020, after five years in the Black Forest, I decided to return to my home region.
Right in the middle of the COVID period, I took over the team at GC Wilkinghege. These were talents, but no playing pros.
My PBi Competition Training System, the Anatomy, my setup for generating immediate Roll, the freefall drills —all of this was set in motion by me way before. And I could proof it with average low Hanicappers now.
By the end of the next season we climbed the ladder and made the step into the next league.
I knew I hat to produce a whole picture to pass it on to the world. Since then I went to a perfect Tour Course up to 8 times a year to film my insights.
Alcanada Golf
Many years ago, I asked Kristoff Both and Alcanada Golf if the DGV could use their wonderful facility as a training base. Since then, this has developed into a unique, hospitality-focused cooperation.
Not least, the training various European and World Championships have taken place here since then.
I am very grateful that I can still use this very special location for my golf videos today.
This is where I have fun and experiment. Showcasing the amazing PBi training modules is an incredible amount of fun.
Music
…btw, I have been holding a guitar for many years.
My insights into golf and music are increasingly aligning with each other.
The guitar helps me to relax and it looks as if there is coming up some more for me in this field.
Neviges 2025
In 2025, I was asked for help by the club where I became German Team Champion in 1990.
Once again, the PBi magic appears and we succeeded in moving up to the second Bundesliga.
I think that was my last appearance as a Team Manager. I have decided to finish the PBi Videos and then get deeper into the Music.
In 2026, beside my private coaching in Münster, I will only run my Masterclasses for Professionals and Federations.
The rest will be Music.
Music
Somehow, really good songs have emerged over the past year.
After the wonderful seminar with Reinhart Gabriel in Vienna, it has now become clear where the journey is heading.
More music, my own stage program, and even more songs.
More information at:
playing-pro.com
www.playing-pro.com
