Golf Schools: Should you go and where?

I have been invited to be an instructor at an all women’s 3-day golf school. There will be 35 students and 7 instructors at one facility. Whew! Sounds like a zoo, doesn’t it? Thank goodness the lead instructor is very organized. Read my blog on “Teaching women … a bit like herding cats” and you’ll see that during these 3 days, we will have “herded them!” What they do when they go back to their home course will then be totally out of our control “Heaven only knows” what will happen to the students then…this is when the “scattering of cats” takes place. (OK guys, you need to be “herded” as well sometimes, too!)

Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing if there was some follow-up instruction after you got home from an intensive 3 days of learning to improve your golf game? But what if the local pro doesn’t know what you learned in the school and he/she goes off in a different direction … making you feel like you have to start all over again? (By the way, make sure you tell your pro what you learned at the school so he/she can help you continue improving.)

I am often asked, “Beverly, if I wanted to go to a golf school, which one should I go to?” My reply is always the same, “It depends on what your motivation is for going to a golf school.” Most people want to go to a golf school because they want to immerse themselves in the learning and improving process in a short amount of time. “Maybe if I receive instruction, cram a million thoughts into my head, and hit balls until my hands are numb, it will stick and I’ll find my magic swing and I’ll be a better golfer!” Hummmm ….

What is your motivation for wanting to attend a golf school? Let’s take a look at how to approach attending a golf school and “stretching your money’s worth!” First of all, ask yourself this question: do you REALLY … no, I mean REALLY want to lower your scores? If you do, take that $1500 -$5000 per school and spend it on private lessons with an experienced instructor. Work on small improvements at a time and stay on a regularly scheduled routine of lessons with the same instructor. THAT is how you will improve your scores.

NOW, what about golf schools? I think they have a wonderful purpose and a student can get a lot out of them IF the motivation is correct in choosing to go. If your motivation is to travel to a beautiful location, meet new people, eat great food and get away from all thoughts of work/home, and learn some new thoughts or tips to help your game, then your motivation is “spot on!” Go do it! Realize however, that there may be all levels of players in your class. Instructors try to group you into levels but sometimes, it’s not possible to even out the levels. You may be the only 12 handicap out of 10 others who have 20 handicaps +. Just be prepared.

If you choose to go to a school and want to know which one to attend, ask around to find out about ones your friends may have been to. Make it an adventure. Go to a place where the golf courses are different, the culture is interesting, and the scenery is inspiring. Why would you want to spend that kind of money and stay at home!? I personally do a Traveling Golf School so my students and their friends can go on a beautiful trip, take their teacher with them, AND have follow-up when they return. Now it’s gotten to a point where we have so much fun that others want to go and they want to know where we are going next! (Shhhh…..I’m working them up to taking a golf trip to Portugal!)

Know your motivation and what you want for your game, know where you’d like to visit, and check out golf schools in that area. There are many you can find online. Most golf resorts have a school. Take friends with you … you’ll need their memory for what to work on when you go home!