Jennifer Greggain writes a bi-weekly golf column in the pages of the Chilliwack Progress sports section.
After teaching lessons for many years, I thought it might be helpful to share with my readers how to best prepare themselves for taking lessons.
Many people are hesitant to start, as it can be difficult to find the right teaching professional. And once you do find a pro, managing what you learn can also be challenging.
Finding the right professional is not always easy.
First, ask yourself what you’re looking for in taking lessons. Are you a beginner? Do you want to take private or group lessons? What facility and equipment is available to the instructors. Do they have video equipment or a covered range to use if it’s raining?
Consider your budget too, as there can be a wide range of rates depending on their experience and facility.
It is definitely a good idea to schedule an interview with them and get an idea of how their personality and teaching style matches your expectations. Ensure they are a certified teaching professional through an accredited institution such as the PGA of Canada or the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
Once you have chosen a professional, take the time to lay out your goals for taking lessons. Be specific and reasonable. including short and long term goals. Do you want to fix a hook or slice or hit the ball more consistently solid?
At each lesson, be direct about what you would like to accomplish that day. This will help guide the direction of each lesson. Be sure to mention how often you plan to play and practice, as this can determine what types of points will be brought up in the lesson.
Also, be sure to know what is reasonable to accomplish during one lesson. Coming to a golf lesson and expecting several elements to be changed is not only unreasonable, it is a waste of time and money.
Instead, try to work on one or two elements regarding the set up positions, and then one or two about the dynamic changes in the golf swing.
Don’t be tempted to overwhelm yourself with too much information. Less is more is generally more efficient and
you are not getting a good value by overloading your nervous system with too many points!
Jennifer teaches golf to adults and juniors at the Chilliwack Golf Academy. She played professionally on tour for over 10 years, including 2 years on the LPGA. She is the 2016 LPGA Western Section Teacher of the Year, and is now the lead instructor of the Sardis Golf Academy. She can be contacted at 604-798-9805, chilliwackgolfacademy.com, or at Jennifer@chilliwackgolf.com