by Mike Kelly
Chris:
Have you ever been to a chiropractor or golf pro? Both help people with problems and are well respected in the community. Both also have passed test and are licensed professionals. Why not list your qualifications. Obviously research is not one of your strong points. The chiropractor can fix your back and the golf pro your swing, but only you can fix that attitude.

by Ceri Rees
Forget about the problems you have with taking lessons from a pro. Think about the duty you have to the other people who play this wonderful sport.
When you play another sport such as tennis people who are better than you stay clear and play with people of equal standards. This effects no one but you and your mates. This is the same with a football team, if you are an average Jo you will not get invited to play a game with semi pros or pros. But you can play with other average Jo's on one pitch. Again no problem to anyone else playing the game.
At golf you can avoid playing with good golfers but unfortunately good golfers can not avoid you duffers because you hold the course up looking for balls and taking provisionals. OK so we all started somewhere but it is your duty to all the others around you to try to get better if you wish to play on the same course as 100 players behind you who don't know you.
Just because you are a hack doesn't mean you should accept being a hacker.

by Bob DeStefano
I"m sorry you feel that way about golf instruction. If you are ever on the east end of Long Island, I will be happy to give you an hour of my time at no charge. I have been teaching golf for almost 50 years and have found it to be a rewarding way to spend my life. Give me a call!

by Sue Kaffenburgh
Hey Chris,
Have I been to some bad chiropractors in my life!!!! youbetcha! And you know what....I have to AGREE with you that there ARE bad golf lessons out there too, some for many $$$$. Now, it's not so much that these are given by bad people, although there are some snake oil salesmen dressed in matching golf clothes. So, what's a hacker to do?? INVESTIGATE and INTERROGATE YOUR PRO. It's your money, you're ENTITLED! Find out what they have changed in their teaching in the last year, 5 years or 10. If they answer "not very much"....FIND THE DOOR! Arthur Godfrey said it>>>>.. Even if you're on the right track you'll get run over if you just sit there!
(FYI..Putting your swing up on video next to Ernie, Tiger, or Annika is a waste of time unless you're THEM!)
Sadly, I'd say 80% of golf pros, (chiropractors,or any other profession you want to add) think they learned "all" in "Golf 101"..... and then they were DONE. They hang their teaching sign and feel they are ready. Truth is,they may be sincere, but they don't know that they don't know!!
BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS>>>
There is a small percentage of PGA and LPGA Teaching Professionals who NEVER cease to wonder about their craft. These are the ones who constantly question what they believe... in the name of finding a better way! These are the folks who teach people to PLAY the GAME of golf not play golf swing positions. And they have VITAL INFORMATION that WILL make you play BETTER! And you should pay them lot$$$ for that because it just might get you to live longer and enjoy the pursuit of happiness on the golf course and in life. Finding someone to help you is like finding a good therapist. The best ones want you to become independent and learn to help and coach yourself.
MAY is FREE 10 MINUTE LESSON MONTH. Tell all your readers about it. I think the list of participating teachers and facilities is in this month's GOLF DIGEST. What a perfect opportunity for finding that 1 Golf Professional who is right for YOU..at zero financing!!!! I know I'll be out on my lesson tee @Hyannis Golf Course on Cape Cod on MAY 15 takin' on all takers!!! And I can't wait!!! Come on over...It's a bit of a flight...but 10 minutes can change a life!!
Sue Kaffenburgh
PGA and LPGA Teaching Professional
NewEngland PGATeacher of the Year2000
Cape Cod Teacher of the Year, 1998
Northeast LPGA Teacher of the Year,1997

by andrew burns
Chris- You must have had a deadline to meet and didn't have any material. This doesn't suprise me because the context of this article doesn't make any sense. I have no idea why they would let you write for them. Please refer back to your high school journalism notes and come up with a better story.

by Ray Starr
By following the brilliant advice of Mr Baldwin, and just practice, usually the only thing that happens is, is that the individual practices doing the WRONG THING with improper technique. In all areas of life proper instruction is essential to improve performance. Proper technique almost always leads to better results. Maybe if Mr Baldwin studied journalism, he would be writing for a real publication and not some obscure travel website. Regarding his remarks about chiropractors, in this area, he just shows total ignorance. Please be sure never to send me your ignorant rantings again.

by Mark Blakemore
Obviously, the MO of your publication is controversy (I’m not a subscriber; I received it as spam), so I hesitated to respond, as I was loathe to feed an unchecked fire. But you have “kicked my hornet nest,” so to speak. I’m a PGA Professional, a golf instructor, and proud of it.
As a general rule, the most successful golfers in the world (touring professionals) take more lessons than anyone else. Also as a general rule, golfers of higher skill levels have had golf lessons. It is an exception to find self-taught golfers that excel at the game. Golf is too complex to learn without significant input -- the more qualified and authoritative the input the better. Learning to play golf well is not a simple thing -- like kicking hornet nests, for instance.
Of course it is fair to say that you can enjoy playing golf at any level of skill without instruction or improvement. But it is unreasonable to suggest that golf instruction will not improve one’s level of skill and subsequent enjoyment of the game.
One’s level of interest is an important determining factor as to whether golf instruction is necessary or not. You certainly can play golf with a “just give it a whack and keep trying to give it better whacks by trial and error” approach, and if you enjoy it that way that’s great. I took that approach with skiing, myself, and enjoyed it tremendously for a short while, managed to hurt myself a couple times, and don’t ski anymore. But to improve and/or excel at something relatively complex it is far more efficient to get professional instruction. I took this more interested approach in learning to play the piano, can honestly say that there is not the slightest chance that I would have achieved my current level of ability without instruction, and still enjoy playing and continue to practice and get instruction regularly to date.
One of the costs of email is spam, I guess, and similarly one of the costs of free speech is “editorials” like this one that you “wrote” – and this reply of mine, for that matter. But even after the insult I’d be happy to help you with your game -- unless you’re only interested enough to “give it a whack” -- as my MO is helping interested golfers develop and improve their games so that they will get more reward and enjoyment from playing.
Mark Blakemore
www.PGAProfessional.com
P.S. I suppose it is possible that you may find my rates objectionable, though the last I checked they were approximately one-fourth of my family physician’s rates and one-fifth that of the only lawyer I’ve ever had experience with. Of course it is also possible that I would balk at the rate that you are paid for what you do.

by Steve Burch
After reading your article, I was neither offended nor suprised. People play golf for as many different reasons as there are golfers. Some enjoy being outside and hacking around, others want to get better for there own reasons. We, as PGA Professionals, have the job of encouraging personal development within a golfer's desire. 90 percent of the game is self-discovered. I would never want to take that away from you or anyone else.
Steve Burch
Director of Instruction
The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club

by John
I do not know if I could state any better than my fellow professionals stated. Your comments on Golf Professional's and Chiropractor's is probably as true as stating that all journalist are simply High School drop-outs that could find no other employment. Unfortunatly, I was drawn to this article only to realize why I don't care to read more articles. If your having trouble writing, why not try something factual. It might just bring out a good article.

by Casey Ciere
Yeah some of the teaching professionals are morons !! So are some lawyers, congressmen and coaches. However having said that if I had a coach of any kind who made my golf game even a little better it would probably be worth it !!
Now writing the article does accomplish one thing. It generates debate and feedback. It gets people thinking. Make sure I get good value for my money and seek out caring teaching professionals.
Thanks for thinking outside of the box.
Casey

by Jeff Diehl
Who do you think you are calling me a snake oil salesmen. I am dedicated to teach the masses the fundamentals of the game and the swing. Your ignorance in this subject does not justify anymore words from me. Stick to something you know....fiction.

by Art
Chris, I can't believe you begin your article by writing "Golf instructors always struck me as the modern-day equivalent of snake-oil salesmen or chiropractors." How insulting. There are many professional golfers with bad backs who couldn't continue their careers without assistance from their Doctors of Chiropractic. Further, you won't have much of a writing career insulting professionals. Your articles have now been "downgraded to spam" as far as I am concerned.
--Dr. Art Adams

by MK Bridwell
Mr. Burke,
You are obviously not a true journalist, or you would not use sweeping generalizations which you are unable to back up in your story. My husband is not only a Chiropractor, but an avid golfer who has used golf lessons to improve his game.
Please unsuscribe us immediately from this service. It's the loss of the company who posts your column. We have used your service to book many a package. We will no longer do so, and recommend to our friends that they do the same.
MK Bridwell

by FRED SELTMAN
THERE ARE INSTRUCTORS AND THERE ARE INSTRUCTORS.
I AM A CLUB MAKER AND GOLF INSTRUCTOR.
HAVE DONE THIS FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.
HAVE HELPED PEOPLE FROM 8 TO 80 YEARS OLD. I AM NOT PGA. HAVE ALWAYS HAD GOOD RESULTS. PEOPLE ARE INDIVIDUALS AND MUST BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY. I KEEP IT SIMPLE AND FIX ONLY WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I MAY FIX THE SAME THING FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE BUT MAY USE DIFFERENT WORDS AND DRILLS. WHAT WORKS FOR A 12 YEAR OLD DOES NOT WORK FOR A 52 YEAR OLD. I HAVE NEVER ADVERTISED AND RELY ON WORD OF MOUTH. I TELL YOU THIS TO ASSURE YOU THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
COME ON--GIVE ME A TRY. I DARE YOU.
FRED SELTMAN

by Steve Nelson ; P.G.A. Member
Took up golf as a hangover cure. Aspires to remain an uninstructed player. Insults the people at the core of the game. Writes for a golf publication. Please don't come play our course. If you think the problem is golf pro's, you should look in the mirror.