Advice Needed

**Jtjohns** · May 12, 2010

I'm new to the forum and I've already learned tons of helpful advice from reading past posts. I have couple, maybe a few questions that I would like to be answered directly based on some of your past experiences.

1. I am looking for a golf coach and I have it narrowed down between two people. Instuctor one: I have small amount of experience with him as he helped me for a few minutes while at the range. In those few short minutes I made some improvements to my swing that helped a ton. I am scheduled to start lessons with this instuctor tomorrow. His rate is $135 for 3-30min lessons with video.

Instructor two: I have no experience with this instuctor but at least five people I know have taken lessons from him and swear by him. I spoke with him today and the only downside I found from our conversation is he doesn't use video. And yes, I read the article on hear that states that it is "advised" to find an instructor that used video. His rates are $175 for 5-30min lessons.

Which route would you take in this scenario?

2. Dang, all that typing and I forgot question 2.

3. Ok, got it. I am interested in purchasing a driving range membership. The cost is $600 for a year round membership. The facility has an indoor range as well. My question is, is this worth it or should I just go pay $800 for a membership to the local club that has 45 holes and get my practice in on the course? My only concern about getting the membership at the club is I don't like to necessarily play the same course over and over.

Thanks in advance for all your advice.

Also, I'm in Dayton, so if anybody around wants to link up, send a PM and I'll get my number to you.

**golfro** · May 12, 2010

1. I say go with the first coach. For me especially, video is crucial. Videos don't lie. Any time I'm at the range, I video tape atleast a short segment of my swings to get a feel for what I'm doing wrong. If I'm hitting the ball with a slice majority of that day, I can look back at the video and see where I'm going wrong, etc etc.

Both instructors may be good but the thing you have to remember si that with a video, you can take it home with you. The second instructor might be able to spot where your swing is messed up on sight but moving forward, when you're practicing, its easy to forget small things. With a video, you can remind yourself why your ball is going the wrong way, etc.

2.

3. Go with the driving range. Its more likely that you're gonna hit the range after a day of work than going to the course to play after work. I only play on course roughly once a week or once every other week, because I work Monday through Friday. But I goto the range almost daily during my lunch break or after work for a quick hour or two.
Plus you make a good point about playing at different courses. I rarely play the same course mroe than once a month. I like variety and the same course gets boring. Half the fun of golfing for me to going to new courses and playing around the new obstacles, etc.

**saevel25** · May 12, 2010

Yankee Trace Golf Course, YPD membership, unlimted range use for the north and south range, use of a private short game area that goes out to 40 yard pitch shots, for 10 bucks more you can get a membership key to the driving range, so you don't have to go in and ask for buckets. I love this membership, its a bit out of the way, but the value is awesome, if you go for 500 bucks instead of 400, you get 4 lessons (60 dollar value) for the price of 100 dollars.

I would say try out both, and see which one you like.

**saevel25** · May 12, 2010

The only issue is that if you do the YPD, it only last till december 31st, so you will have to get in alot of range practice until the weather turns cold. If you get the normal range membership there, it will be 365 days from the day you bought the membership.

**jambalaya** · May 12, 2010

The first instructor has already helped you so go with what you know. As for the memberships, do the one you know you are going to use and get your money's worth. If you have a lot of time on your hands and can play rounds freely to the golf course. But if you want to play multiple courses, have guys you play with that want to move the game around to different courses, do the driving range thing.

**Jtjohns** · May 12, 2010

Thanks..... I was leaning towards taking lessons with the second guy, but after reading your responses and really thinking about it, I think I'm going to stick with the first guy. Afterall, I know he helped a lot in the few minutes he worked with me. As far as the membership goes... I'm still kinda up in the air about it because I think $600 is kind of steep for a range membership, I could be wrong. As far as being able to hit the course, I have plenty of time on my hands, but the problem is I don't have many people to play with that often and I'm not the type to go and play alone all the time, which will probably change soon though.

Dang... the golf bug is killing me, lol. I'm to the point where I'm thinking about selling my motorcycle because on a nice day all I want to do is hit the course!

**saevel25** · May 12, 2010

hehe, i know the feeling, i am lucky enough to have a golf league every week. But i don't stop playing just because i go out by myself. I enjoy the time alone, its a good time to just let everything go.

**Jtjohns** · May 13, 2010

hehe, i know the feeling, i am lucky enough to have a golf league every week. But i don't stop playing just because i go out by myself. I enjoy the time alone, its a good time to just let everything go.

Yeah... I just joined my first golf league. We play on Mondays so luckily I'll get to have a lesson before then. Hopefully I'll pick up something helpful, lol.

**jambalaya** · May 13, 2010

Thanks..... I was leaning towards taking lessons with the second guy, but after reading your responses and really thinking about it, I think I'm going to stick with the first guy. Afterall, I know he helped a lot in the few minutes he worked with me. As far as the membership goes... I'm still kinda up in the air about it because I think $600 is kind of steep for a range membership, I could be wrong. As far as being able to hit the course, I have plenty of time on my hands, but the problem is I don't have many people to play with that often and I'm not the type to go and play alone all the time, which will probably change soon though.

Yeah, unless you plan to go to the range about 60 times or more seems a bit steep.

**Hollister** · May 13, 2010

1. Go with no. 1 or do a short test session with instructor no. 2
2. Huh.
3. I have a range membership and happily pay for courses were ever I like to play. Been at the range about 3-5 times a week, price is about the same as yours.
Having a home course is nice, too. I play on mine about 70%-80% year round paying the reduced fees when "entertaining" a member for the round :D

Oh, I forgot:
4. Buy a cam with hi-speed video (e.g. a Kodak - I have the Exilim FC-100, which was the best investment into progressing with golf lately)

**Jtjohns** · May 13, 2010

Count down till my first lesson!!!! 4 hrs to go!!!

**saevel25** · May 13, 2010

were you getting your lesson at?

**Jtjohns** · May 14, 2010

were you getting your lesson at?

I got them from Rollandia. They went well. He gave me a few things to work on, so I'll be on the range.

**saevel25** · May 14, 2010

Ah, a good place to practice on those cold days in Ohio ;b

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