Trying to become an instrutor, any tips?

[iacas]

It depends, though, who he expects to teach? Someone who can't break 100? Someone who has picked up a club once?

You need to be a pretty good player, because nobody can come close to making a living teaching people that can't break 100. Players who can't break 100 don't take lessons. Not enough, I'm saying, to make a living.

I don't always agree with Lee Trevino when he said "I'll use an instructor when I find one that can beat me" (or whatever he said - pretty sure Tiger could beat Butch and Hank's best ball just about every day), but there are limits to how "bad" you can be at golf and still be an instructor. A good instructor has to be a pretty darn good player if for no other reason than you have to be able to demonstrate the things you're trying to get your students to do. Even a guy who can't break 90 isn't going to take lessons from an instructor who tries to demonstrate something and blades two 6-irons and hits the third 135 yards with a 20-yard slice. There's a certain language, a certain ability to mimic, a certain ability to understand the various "feelings" that tend to come along with being a good player.

[clubchamp]

I don't think you will make a great living being a teaching pro no matter who you teach. I'm not saying you can't make a decent living but most of the people that go into that profession are not doing it for the money.

[shankapotamus]

Oh, I agree completely with you there...but I'm saying I don't think it's an issue unless this guy plans on trying to give lessons to top players.

It is an issue because you're not going to make as much money. Lets say instructor A is scratch, and instructor B is a fifteen handicap. Who is going to make more money. You go get a lesson from instructor B, and when trying to tell you how to swing, he decides to show you how to do what he is talking about. He slices the first one, blades the second, and duffs the third. Are you going to think this guy is credible.

I hope my wall of text got through to you what I am saying.

[sonomajake]

You guys are crazy. Anyhow they do say, "Those that can...do. Those that can't....teach."

[Zeph]

So, those that can't play golf and really haven't learned how to do it properly should teach others? Sounds great!

[timtim]

Lets say instructor A is scratch, and instructor B is a fifteen handicap. Who is going to make more money?

The guy with reputation for the better playing students.

But I do not agree with a teacher needing to be scratch. Single digit yes, scratch, no. That said, I have taken LOTS of lessons from LOTS of teachers over the past 12 years, and I NEVER asked about the handicap of the teacher. But yes, they were all able to demonstrate what they were teaching the first time every time. And if one teacher was a 5 yo 9, and I found out that there was another teacher that was a 0 to 1.5, I would never switch to that better playing teacher just because of the handicap. I would only switch if I learned that they taught better or taught what I needed better.

[flopdarock]

as for the original question... i say do alot of research... google is your friend...
look into different kinds of certs... schools... qualifications... etc etc...

as far as your handicap factoring in the teaching process... i say it all depends...
you should at least have a rock solid grasp on fundamentals and can demonstrate proper technique on a few of the basics... especially with shortgame

[2bGood]

It is an issue because you're not going to make as much money. Lets say instructor A is scratch, and instructor B is a fifteen handicap. Who is going to make more money. You go get a lesson from instructor B, and when trying to tell you how to swing, he decides to show you how to do what he is talking about. He slices the first one, blades the second, and duffs the third. Are you going to think this guy is credible.

Yes but how many 15 handicaps would slice, blade and duff three range shots in a row? As 18 handicap I don't even preform that bad