Taking lessons is vital to the success of your golf game; this is especially true for beginners. Having nice equipment and comfortable apparel should all play second-fiddle to the knowledge and experience you’ll gain from one-on-one instruction.
However, one lesson won’t do the trick for anyone.
Golf is complex, and each part of your game feeds off each other. It’s crucial to gain a firm grasp of all aspects of the game if you want to see improvement fast.
Consider the points below to determine how many golf lessons you should take to reach your goal as soon as possible.
In this article, we will cover:
- Beginner Level: How Many Golf Lessons Should I Take?
- Intermediate Level: How Many Golf Lessons Should I Take?
- Optimal Frequency Of Your Lessons
- Important Aspects To Cover In Your Lessons
- How To Choose An Instructor
- 3 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Lessons
Let’s get to it!
Beginner Level: how many golf lessons should I take?
A beginner golfer should take at least five lessons before teeing it up on a full 18-hole course.
Of course, there is no official rule, and many people find themselves on the first tee of a course with no experience whatsoever. But a little knowledge and practice go a long way to make the most of this glorious game.
Intermediate Level: how many golf lessons should I take?
An intermediate golfer should take as many lessons as they need to achieve their goal.
For some intermediates, this may only be one or two lessons to straighten out a specific aspect of their game. For others, it may be a comprehensive plan spread out over an entire season.
Optimal Frequency of Your Lessons
The frequency of your golf lessons is based on your current skill level. Newer golfers should schedule their lessons once a week and as close to the beginning of their golf season as possible.
This will help you start on the right foot and prevent any bad habits from forming. It’s very easy to fall into negative routines that could carry forth for years to come.
More skilled golfers may opt for lessons that are more spread out. The reason is that their issues may take longer to overcome. More practice is needed, and sometimes, taking a swing change from the range to the course is harder than it looks.
Also, intermediate golfers will want to play on their own a few times to identify their issues more accurately. This will help their instructor develop specialized lesson plans to ensure students get the most for their time and money.
Important Aspects To Cover In Your Lessons
Most intermediate golfers will arrive at their lesson with a plan in mind. However, if you’re new, you may not know what to work on, so having an outline to discuss with your instructor is paramount.
Here is a list of areas to work on in order of importance:
Short Game
I know you want to learn how to hit booming drives, and you will. But it shouldn’t be the first thing you address.
A good short game will accelerate your learning curve with the driver, but learning the driver first will do nothing for your short game and may even hinder your initial learning.
- I strongly recommend starting with wedges, as this will get you comfortable with hitting off the ground (as opposed to the tee) and also help you develop your tempo. Having a smooth tempo helps with literally every other shot in golf, including your driver. Tackling this issue early on will give you a head start against other beginners.
- Next, work on your chipping. You will miss a lot of greens as you learn this crazy game, so being able to chip it close will help you avoid big numbers, which can be very demoralizing. Take the time to learn the basics of proper chipping techniques, and always set aside some time to practice.
- Lastly, your putting, specifically, inside 10 feet. Become comfortable with these as you will face them for the rest of your golfing career. They can be the difference between a good round and a great round. It doesn’t take much effort to practice putting, just discipline.
Etiquette
Many new golfers overlook this aspect of their training, and I believe that is a big mistake. There are so many rules and regulations that you’ll never stop learning about them.
So start early and prevent yourself from causing any embarrassing moments during your first few rounds.
You can primarily focus on etiquette around the green, as this is where most of the weird rules are applied. Knowing where to walk, how to mark your ball, and what to do about your shadow are just some of the things that most new golfers don’t know about.
Ask your instructor to always set aside time to teach you about one or two etiquette procedures during each lesson. This will be worth its weight in gold as you start to play with golfers who are more experienced than you.
Driver
Everybody loves hitting bombs; that feeling never goes away. But to hit your best drives, you must understand your swing and how power is generated. This is advanced golf knowledge, so don’t rush your training.
Your first goal with the driver is to hit fairways.
Controlling the direction of your drives is far more important than gaining distance. Distance will come with timing and confidence; your timing and confidence will improve when you start hitting fairways consistently.
Do not fall into the trap of reeling off an entire bucket of drivers at the range. If your bucket has 80 balls, only 15-20 should be dedicated to the driver. The other 60 should be divided between your short irons, mid-irons, and a few woods or hybrids.
How To Choose An Instructor
Here are a few points to consider:
Proximity
No matter how good an instructor is, if they are a far driver away, it will discourage you from making the trip consistently. Be sure to choose a teacher who is in your neighborhood.
Many golfers choose an instructor close to their work so they can easily visit them during their lunch break or after work on their way home.
Personality
If you don’t get along with your instructor, you’ll be less inclined to take their advice. At the end of the day, golf is supposed to be fun, even when you’re training.
The more fun you have, the faster you’ll learn and the better you’ll get. Find an instructor that is recommended by others or have YouTube videos posted so you can get a sense of their teaching style and overall demeanor.
Cost
More expensive doesn’t mean quicker learning. If a lesson is too expensive, then you may end up putting too much pressure on yourself to improve, and pressure is a killer in golf. You’ll have plenty of time to feel pressure on the course.
Choose a program that is well within your budget so if everything goes well, you can sign up again and again.
At most instructional academies, the more lessons you buy at once, the lower the price. Just be sure you are clear on when or if they expire; sometimes, they must be used during the current season.
Facilities
For beginners, be sure your lesson location has a short game practice area. If the nearest facility to you only has a driving range, then keep looking elsewhere. The short game is paramount to your success, and you can’t learn it without a practice green.
Also, be sure your driving range operates off grass tees. Beginners should avoid mats as much as possible; they will give you false hope and create bad habits immediately.
3 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Lessons
As someone who has taken hundreds and taught hundreds of lessons, I can assure you that the most beneficial sessions will happen if you always do these three things;
1. Show Up Early
Instructors often book their day solid. Golf is seasonal, so teachers must make the most of their time. If you show up late to your hour-long 2 o’clock lesson, it will still end at precisely 3 pm since another student is probably waiting.
Do yourself a favor and always be prompt; I can almost guarantee your teacher will never be late. Sometimes, the lesson before you may cancel, at which point you could possibly get started a little early and squeeze in a few free minutes with your instructor.
2. Practice In Between Lessons
The last thing you want your instructor to do is repeat themselves. This is a waste of your money and time.
To avoid this, squeeze in at least one practice session between each lesson. This allows your body to become accustomed to the changes so your instructor can continue to build on the progress you’ve solidified at the range.
3. Write Everything Down
When I taught, I would always provide my students with a binder that had a printout of each lesson given.
Together, we would track and record everything we worked on, and I also included a section where students could write down their questions, concerns, or triumphs while they were off practicing.
This is a great method to track your progress while also helping you remember everything being taught. The simple act of writing allows the information to sink in deeper, so it becomes second nature that much quicker.
Summary—How Many Golf Lessons Should I Take?
Asking yourself, “How many golf lessons should I take?” is the first step to getting better. Of course, instructors may try to persuade you into large lesson packages, but don’t dismiss them as sales tactics right away.
For beginners, there is no such thing as too many lessons. If your local pro is offering you a great 10-lesson package and is at a full-service facility near your home or work, then take advantage!
The more info you acquire, the quicker you’ll improve and start shooting low scores fast!
