Golf lessons are meant to equip and train a golfer to get better at the sport. When you are just starting out, you need a couple of lessons to set you on the right track. These lessons can be very beneficial not only for beginners, but for intermediate players, as it will help with breaking some of their bad habits, increase endurance and improve overall consistency.
Getting started with golf is going to cost you some money and some people want to know if golf lessons are worth it? If you are a beginner, then you should certainly take a few classes. You need to know the fundamentals of the game which will prevent you from developing bad habits, such as bad posture, stance, and incorrect grip.
With that said, let us find out how much money you will need to spend on these lessons.
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How Much Do Golf Lessons Cost?
The cost you will be paying depends on the amount of hours of lessons and what you hope to accomplish. For example, you can expect to pay between $50 to $60 for a 30 minute private lesson, if you want to prepare for a competitive round of golf or learn some advanced skills.
On the other hand, a beginner who simply wants to know how to play the basics of the game will spend less money, usually $25 for a 30 minute lesson, as these are simpler to teach. Golf lessons that last a hour long or more can go up to $100.
You should also note that these costs vary according to the location, years of teaching by the instructor, as well as his or her knowledge and expertise in the sport.
For some people, these lessons can be quite expensive especially if you take them regularly. The expense is largely influenced by the experience of the instructor and the amount of students they have to teach.
Nevertheless, if you are beginner, then I highly recommend that you take one or two golf lessons before hitting the golf course. Five lessons should be enough to learn all the fundamentals of the game. It’s also good to have at least 2-4 practice sessions in between the lessons.
You can increase the number of lessons if you have time to practice and play more often as this will yield positive results in your matches.
Another factor that impacts the cost of the golf lessons is whether you are taking them in group or individual. The individual golf lessons are the optimal choice because the instructor can tailor a golf package or plan for you to fit your skill level and goal.
This is why it’s important to know your goal when looking for golf lessons, as the teacher can plan the necessary steps to get you there. This could include steps to improve your swing or even to help you get a spot on the PGA.
Apart from individual lessons, group lessons come at different rates which will lower the cost per person. The drawback is that you wont get as much attention as the instructor focuses on the group as a whole.
How Do I Choose The Right Golf Coach
It’s important to vet for the right golf coach that will give you the best teaching experience. You should always choose a golf instructor that has a good reputation, likely PGA certified or have competed in national PGA professional championships.
Apart from credentials, you should know what their personality and teaching philosophy is like. You may end up not liking the experience because the coach forces a swing method or swing type down your throat.
If you are a difficult learner, will the coach have patience with you during the session? These are all important things to be aware of when choosing the right instructor. The coach should be able to guide you along your golf journey and correct you on your mistakes. You also don’t want to choose a coach that has no certification to his or her name.
There are typically 3 ways to find the right instructor that will teach you golf lessons:
1.) You can search online
Google is the perfect place to go to search for local golf instructors. I cant tell you what golf instructor to choose because I do not know where you live. Google on the other hand will show you all the local courses and instructors near you.
You just simply type in “Golf instructors near me” or ” Golf courses near me”. If you want to be specific, you can type in the name of your city or town.
Once you do this, you will see their exact location, when they are available and also their ratings, feedback and reviews from existing or past customers. This data will help you to choose the right coach and golf course to play on.
Call the number that you see on the search results of google, and ask them if they have golf pro or teaching pro that will give you lessons.
2.) Ask Your Golf Friends
This is one of the easiest and convenient method of finding out the best coach. If you have any friends or acquaintances who also play golf, then they may have information on certain golf instructors that may help you. Asking your friends, family or golf buddies wont hurt a bit as word of mouth is still effective in this digital world we live in.
3.) Search Via PGA
PGA also known as Professional Golf Association has their own website that you can go to and search for a coach. These coaches specialize in different experiences and needs, whether that be for improvement, beginners, youth, groups etc.
Most of these coaches are situated in America though. You can click this link to search for an accredited golf instructor in your area: https://www.pga.com/coach
Online Lessons Vs In Person Golf Lessons
The cost of taking online lessons ends up more affordable than in person. I should point out that nothing beats learning in person as the coach is there to guide you every step of the way and correct your mistakes.
However, if you are confident and believe in your learning abilities by watching lessons online and applying what you’ve learned onto the course, then you ought to consider buying an online course.
Most of the online courses are subscription based. Meaning, you will have pay every 30 days to get access to a library of informative videos and support for a month.
Some of them offer deals where you can save money by purchasing on a yearly basis rather than every month. For example, golf lessons online can cost you $60 for their monthly package, but you can get incredible deals at $150 for a full year. One online course I found to be helpful is https://golfcoachonline.com.au/ by Gary Edwin who he is one the most highly acclaimed and sought after golf coaches. He has coached many golfers who have went on to win professional tours. Click the link to check it out.
At this point, you may be asking which is better, online or in person? Personally, I’d have to go with both as they offer their own advantages.
You have a better shot of learning from the best of the best when you opt for online courses. They will teach you things you never knew like special shots, and advanced techniques. They tend to be more refined, comprehensive, and thorough than in person coaching.
On the other hand, they won’t be there to guide you step by step and the onus is on you to correct your own mistakes. In person golf lessons and coaching is different, because your instructor can fix the mistakes you make like during your swing.
When you take online lessons, you will have a lot of knowledge beforehand and that will set you ahead of your in person lessons. It will be easier go through the in person lesson and the coach will be very impressed with you.
Due to the comprehensiveness of online lessons, they are not only great for beginners, but for intermediate and advanced golfers. It is definitely worth it.
Final Verdict
Golf lessons can help knock the rust off your your skills or help fix your weaknesses. Even advanced players need golf lessons once in a while. An accredited golf instructor is the best to learn from unlike a friend or family member. Friends and family may not teach you all the fundamentals of the game and that can negatively impact your performance going forward.
You are never too good to seek professional advice to improve you game. Even Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest golfer of all time, seeks helps from his coaches Hank Haney and Chris Cuomo to help him swing better.
In person golf lessons, especially those that are private for individuals, are worth the money. The coach will help identify faults in your swing and correct them. This could be anywhere from your grip, backswing, downswing and follow through.
By taking lessons from the right coach, you will lay a solid foundation for a good golf swing.