Many golfers hesitate to take golf lessons for a variety of reasons. “I won’t be able to hit balls for an hour,” “It will screw up my game,” “I won’t understand what’s being taught,” or “I don’t have the time,” are common explanations for why some golfers don’t enroll in lessons.
Even finances can be a barrier as pricing can be competitive amongst instructors based on location, credentials, and experience. A past bad experience with an instructor who wasn’t a good fit for your game can often stop players from wanting to invest further in their own development.
There is a psychology to coaching, and the best teachers and coaches know how to work efficiently with players to help optimize their game. To know that someone speaks your language, will go at your pace, and will offer smaller bits of information so that you can learn and improve are vital. There is no “one size fits all” in golf instruction and you’ll want a coach that customizes the lesson structure to fit your needs.
To find a good fit for an instructor do your research, just as if you were trying out any new business or service professional. Talk to others about their experience, look at online reviews, visit their website, and consider their past achievements and industry awards. LPGA and PGA credentialed instructors have been formally trained in teaching, coaching, and player development and this is an important qualification to look for.
Many instructors specialize in teaching juniors and have spent extra time investing to expand their knowledge of child development, physical development in adolescents, as well as catering their approach to the minds and language of children. Instructors certified in US Kids Golf have specialized knowledge in working with juniors.
Mental performance is a growing field of study in golf, and many instructors have additional education in psychology, motor learning, and neurofeedback training. There are many different niches that instructors can specialize in, but most importantly, a teaching/coaching relationship is a special bond that will be just as important to your performance as the information being delivered, so you want to make sure you like working with your coach!
Your junior should look forward to spending time with their instructor and walk away having had a FUN time. Juniors will look to their coach as a mentor, teaching them golf skills and important life lessons as well. Appropriate behaviors, morals, ethics, sportsmanship, and mutual respect can be learned through a positive rapport with an instructor.
Your junior should look forward to spending time with their instructor and walk away having had a FUN time. Juniors will look to their coach as a mentor, teaching them golf skills and important life lessons as well. Appropriate behaviors, morals, ethics, sportsmanship, and mutual respect can be learned through a positive rapport with an instructor.
A good coach and instructor will make one feel comfortable during the lesson, asks lots of questions about you and your game, inquire about your feedback, doesn’t criticize or judge your performance, and follows up with your performance in various ways. Most importantly, a good coach/instructor cares about you and your improvement.
Lessons are an investment in yourself, and your game, work with an expert who is a good fit for you and your daughter to improve your performance.
LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals: Find a Teacher Service.
Alison is a PGA Master Professional and a LPGA Class A Member. Being 1 of 11 women to achieve the highest PGA credential earned by an instructor, Alison has over 28 years of golf competition background and has recently played in four LPGA Tour majors.
Alison arrived in California after being a 2 time Academic All-American and competing on a full scholarship on the women’s golf team at Florida State University. Owner of Alison Curdt Golf in Simi Valley, CA, she earned the 2016 Southern California PGA Teacher of the Year, as well as the LPGA T&CP Western Section Teacher of the year award in 2012, 2015 and 2017. She was also selected as an LPGA Top 50 Teacher in 2017.
Alison is the Director of Instruction at Wood Ranch Golf Club and practices as a licensed clinical sport psychotherapist, while completing her doctorate degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis on sports psychology.
Contact Alison Curdt at her website alisoncurdtgolf.com and follow her online on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.
