Taking my first golf lesson...

[timastyle]

SpacklersEdge - That's a pretty good deal you got going there. Where in the US are you? I want your instructor!

[TN94z]

Mine are 4 for $150, so I guess 37.50 each, and last about an hour. I always get balls before hand to warm up, and usually 2 buckets after to practice, and these are all free.

No way you are getting a video lesson for that in my area!!! If I ran across an instructor here that cheap with video and balls...I would be afraid to even try him.

[SpacklersEdge]

SpacklersEdge - That's a pretty good deal you got going there. Where in the US are you? I want your instructor!

I am in the Chicago Suburbs. This is at a park district owned course, but the teacher is good. I just checked the site, and it lists it as 45 per lesson, but when you buy in bulk it's cheaper!

[wannabe]

yeah, mine here in metro Georgia are $160 for 4 thirty minute lessons with a PGA Apprentice - video, balls, usually end up being 45min-1hr, and when i'm on the range at the same facility, the guy is usually there wandering around or tending the counter, so he ends up watching me hit a few and giving pointers -- sweet gig.

Oh, and same deal here, individual lessons are more expensive, with a discount for the package.

[TN94z]

yeah, mine here in metro Georgia are $160 for 4 thirty minute lessons with a PGA Apprentice - video, balls, usually end up being 45min-1hr, and when i'm on the range at the same facility, the guy is usually there wandering around or tending the counter, so he ends up watching me hit a few and giving pointers -- sweet gig.

That price is about the same here. Your price comes out to 80/hr which is about what I pay. The guy I go to is one of the best around so he charges a little more. There is another guy in the area that is rated by Golf Digest as top 10 in the US. He charges more like 150 an hour!

[iacas]

My instructor charges $110/hour, which tend to go more like 75 to 90 minutes (he's not a strict clock-watcher by any stretch). Everything included - video, training tools and gadgets (impact bag, foam noodles, etc.), etc.

Worth every penny. You tend to get what you pay for here.

[timastyle]

Ya, I wouldn't even know where to find a good one around here. The Trump National Golf Course is semi-near my city (would take around 30 mins from my house and it's all surface streets due to location), but I'm not even sure what they charge there. The course itself is up to $365 a round depending on the time you go, so I would think the lessons would be more expensive as well.

Other than there, I am completely lost as to where around me I can find a decent pro to get lessons from.

[Cooker]

Not sure I'd be a big fan of my instructor not watching me actually hit balls and correcting on the spot... Personally if he was off doing other lessons in the middle of my lesson I'd be looking for a new instructor... You paid for the time, you should have his undivided attention... Also definitely get Hogans book.

[timastyle]

Not sure I'd be a big fan of my instructor not watching me actually hit balls and correcting on the spot... Personally if he was off doing other lessons in the middle of my lesson I'd be looking for a new instructor... You paid for the time, you should have his undivided attention... Also definitely get Hogans book.

Maybe I misled in that he was doing other lessons in the middle of mine. He did that after we were done, but the fact that I never actuallly hit the ball with him watching right in front of him did bother me. I was allowed to hit as many balls as I wanted at the range afterwards and it was then when he was giving a lesson to someone else that he would glance over and make comments at that time.

I have read some comments about Hogan's book (not on this site), that it is more geared for people with wanting to fix a hook rather than a slice. Any truth to that?

[SpacklersEdge]

Ya, I wouldn't even know where to find a good one around here. The Trump National Golf Course is semi-near my city (would take around 30 mins from my house and it's all surface streets due to location), but I'm not even sure what they charge there. The course itself is up to $365 a round depending on the time you go, so I would think the lessons would be more expensive as well.

I am sure Trump National will be $$$$$.

Let me try and help you... http://www.golfthelakes.com/lessons/ -- offers video!! http://www.pvgc.com/lessons.htm -- is this close to you? I did a quick search on yahoo local. GOOD GOD are there a lot of shops, driving ranges and courses in CA!!!! I need to move!!!

[timastyle]

I am sure Trump National will be $$$$$.

OK, so The Lakes (first link) is the one I actually went to and got my lesson. There are around 6 instructors (4 men and 2 women, i think) there. I have been to the range quite often lately and not once have I seen any instructor using video.

On a side note, there is a flyer up there that oftens a free 15 minute video swing analysis, but I don't think it's from any of the pros there. There is a different number that I plan to call. The second link is semi close to me. It is about 30 minutes from my place and fairly close to the Trump. The problem with Trump and Los Verdes is that there is no way to get to the course from where I live by freeway. You can only get there by street. Another side note - the drive is beautiful to get to these (along the coast). You are absolutely correct that there are a ton of courses, ranges, and stores, but CA is also a very large state, so it's not like they're a hop skip and jump away. A 10 mile drive here in Los Angeles can easily take around an hour to get to.

[SpacklersEdge]

OK, so The Lakes (first link) is the one I actually went to and got my lesson. There are around 6 instructors (4 men and 2 women, i think) there. I have been to the range quite often lately and not once have I seen any instructor using video.

I understand what you're saying about traffic etc. If I were you though, if you felt even a little uncomfortable, or it wasn't what you expected, find someone else. Maybe ask your golfing buddies if they suggest anyone, ask around at work, neighbors? I left my last lesson so happy, it's like a breakthrough everytime I go, and I just know it is helping me to get better.

Maybe this will help? http://www.playgolfamerica.com/index...arch&zip;=90254

[timastyle]

I understand what you're saying about traffic etc. If I were you though, if you felt even a little uncomfortable, or it wasn't what you expected, find someone else. Maybe ask your golfing buddies if they suggest anyone, ask around at work, neighbors? I left my last lesson so happy, it's like a breakthrough everytime I go, and I just know it is helping me to get better.

Well to be honest, I didn't know what to expect. That's why I started this thread in the first place. The thing is that I don't know anyone that's taken lessons and definately not where I live. The only person I know that's taken a lesson around where I live is my boss and he did it as a beginner and wouldn't know either way to judge. I also did feel I made some progress with my grip yesterday with what he showed me, but I am a little lost today when trying to duplicate it.

[TN94z]

I drive every bit of an hour to get to my teacher. I didn't have any reputable teachers in my area that used video so I went to a bigger city. For me, it's worth it.

[timastyle]

Well here is what I am going to try and do. I will call the same guy to make one more appointment for a lesson with him. When I do, I will ask him about the video and whether or not he has one to use. From the link that Spacklers sent, they are supposed to have video. I figure it can't hurt.

[TN94z]

Well here is what I am going to try and do. I will call the same guy to make one more appointment for a lesson with him. When I do, I will ask him about the video and whether or not he has one to use. From the link that Spacklers sent, they are supposed to have video. I figure it can't hurt.

That is a good idea. Just don't let him talk you into thinking that video isn't that big of a deal. You will want video lessons....trust me! It was an eye opener for me

[SpacklersEdge]

That is a good idea. Just don't let him talk you into thinking that video isn't that big of a deal. You will want video lessons....trust me! It was an eye opener for me

Timastyle, for sure mention the video. Like TNZ says, it's a big help, at least for me. If you are anything like me, what you "feel" when you swing, or what you think you are doing is many times not right. With the video, you will know what you want it to look like, or what it should look like. So, you keep trying until you see one that is correct, and you are then able to remember what is ACTUALLY feels like to do that motion or thought.

[timastyle]

So I'm going to play a round at Westchester Golf Course tomorrow (only 15 holes. Had to give up holes 16-18 to LAX airport) and it close to where I live and even closer to where I work. I will be looking to see if they have lessons there and if any of the pros there instruct with video. I think you guys did a great job of selling me on that.