How to Find A Golf Instructor

[Linda Long]

You want to learn how to play the game of golf. Now the questions come
flooding through your mind. Do I need to take golf lessons &
instruction? How do I find a qualified golf instructor? How long
should the lessons be and how often should I take them? What should we
be working on in my golf lessons and instruction sessions and how long
until I improve? Eventually you will discuss all aspects of the game
with your instructor including the full swing, putting, short game,
golf fitness, mental game and golf club fitting.
Let's discuss the above questions.
Do I need to take golf lessons & instruction?
Technically no you do not have to take golf lessons & instruction.
With this being said, it will take you longer to learn the game and
could bring un-needed frustration to you. Especially as you begin to
learn the game it is a good idea to take golf lessons &
instruction.
Would you try to sky dive or ski without first having lessons or would
you just try to figure it out? You will be able to learn the proper
golf swing fundamentals from your golf instructor and this will give
you a good foundation to build on as you learn to play the game.
How do I find a qualified golf instructor?
There are many ways to find a qualified golf instructor. It is a lot
like finding a new doctor or accountant after re-locating to a new
city. Ask your co-workers, friends and fellow golfing buddies for the
experiences that they have had. You can locate a local golf instructor
through PGA.com that is close to you. The PGA offers certifications in
teaching and these instructors are few and far between. If you are
close proximity to one you are lucky and should take that opportunity.
How long should the golf lessons & instruction session take and
how often should I take them?
As you are starting with a new instructor, I would advise a 30 minute
lesson. You will be receiving what will seem like a lot of information
and will need to understand it all and digest it. This will take some
time. How often you take them will depend on several factors such as:
how much time you have to practice, how much you have to spend to
learn the game and how much time you actually do practice.
I always suggest that if you go out and practice and it is horrible
than go back. The information is clearly not understood by you or was
not clearly explained by the instructor. I suggest taking a golf
lesson & instruction session after you have been able to practice
on your own twice.
What should we be working on in my golf lessons & instruction
sessions and how long until I improve?
If you are an accomplished player you should have an idea of the
weakest part of your game and start there. As a beginner, I would want
my golf instructor to start with teaching me a putting stroke then a
chip shot then a pitch shot and finally a full swing. Why this order?
This order starts you closest to the hole and with a small stroke. As
you become better you would go to the next step and learn a swing that
is a little longer than the one before. This allows you to keep
building on what you have learned.
The amount of time that it will take you to learn the game is the
$64,000 question. The good news is that it mainly rests on your
shoulders. You must consistently go to your golf lessons &
instruction sessions as well as practicing in between sessions. In
addition, it depends on if your goals are to just enjoy the game or to
play the game at a high level.