Need Help: Newbie - what to work on

[zeg]

As someone just getting past where it sounds like you are, I respectfully disagree with the advice to leave the short game alone. Your comments about chipping over the green and back stuck out --- I found the game a lot less frustrating after I spent enough time practicing chipping and pitching enough that I can virtually guarantee I leave the ball on the green from any decent lie within about 30 yards. If this isn't true, I think you need to work on the short game until it is true. I found that this took a lot of pressure off at the end of each hole, and finishing a hole reasonably well makes it easier to relax on the next tee. So I'd suggest working on chips until you can make consistent contact with decent distance control, then move to full swings. Fortunately, it doesn't take a whole lot of time to improve to that point, so just put some time in on the chipping green before or after a range session.

Signing up for lessons is a good idea, though, so good move. He'll be able to objectively evaluate what you need based on your current skills better than anyone here (or you yourself) can do.