Should they actually be good at golf or just know how to teach? The reason I ask is I was given a gift card for xmas to a GolfTec for 3 lessons. I started googling the instructors at the Golftec closest to me and I couldnt find much on their playing experiences but here's what i did find: One of the instructors shot an 88-89 in some random tournament finishing last. The other instructor that I googled shot a 96 in the US open local qualify last year. And the other one that I googled played didn't play in college but did make it state in high school his Jr and Sr. years. All of them are PGA members. There's another instructor that's a pga apprentice but when I googled him, i couldn't find anything.

My handicap index is a 7.3. Are these guys all clowns and do I need to go look somewhere else? How do I pick the best instructor?

 

Originally Posted by businessclass

Should they actually be good at golf or just know how to teach? The reason I ask is I was given a gift card for xmas to a GolfTec for 3 lessons. I started googling the instructors at the Golftec closest to me and I couldnt find much on their playing experiences but here's what i did find: One of the instructors shot an 88-89 in some random tournament finishing last. The other instructor that I googled shot a 96 in the US open local qualify last year. And the other one that I googled played didn't play in college but did make it state in high school his Jr and Sr. years. All of them are PGA members. There's another instructor that's a pga apprentice but when I googled him, i couldn't find anything.

My handicap index is a 7.3. Are these guys all clowns and do I need to go look somewhere else? How do I pick the best instructor?

Not all good teachers are good golfers. I would stay away from getting lessons indoors look for a PGA pro that has the v system or something like it.

I know I've said this on here before but if you want to get better spend 90% of you time practicing from 100 yards and in.

Scratch golfer = 40 shots from 100 yards in
Average PGA Tour Pro=36 shots from 100 yards in

result=if you were truely a scratch golfer and I mean scratch(not a guy that shoots par at the local muni on saturdays) then u would lose to an average tour player by 16 shots in a 4 day tourney...from 100 yards and in regardless of anything else

With enough practice, eveyone can have a "scratch short game"

Most instructors can't play very well. They are either wannabe tour pros who are fooling themselves that they have a shot, or they just don't have enough time to practice. Most club pros work too much to find time to practice. There are some teachers that are good players, but not many.

 

Originally Posted by SCTrojans

 

Originally Posted by playatwork

I know I've said this on here before but if you want to get better spend 90% of you time practicing from 100 yards and in.

Scratch golfer = 40 shots from 100 yards in
Average PGA Tour Pro=36 shots from 100 yards in

result=if you were truely a scratch golfer and I mean scratch(not a guy that shoots par at the local muni on saturdays) then u would lose to an average tour player by 16 shots in a 4 day tourney...from 100 yards and in regardless of anything else

With enough practice, eveyone can have a "scratch short game"

Literally lol at that statement... there are so many of these guys. Like local par 67 like 5,000 from the tips and people brag about their scratch game when they shoot even par on a course with the avg par3 being 120 yards and avg par4 being 300 yards lol.

Exactly...these courses that are a par 70, but have a course rating of 67. If you shoot even par every day you are still a 3 handicap. I've met so many people who can shoot even par on their home piece of shit course, but couldn't break 90 when you get them on a course that is somewhat challenging.

LOL perfect example:

I just finished up a 2 day weekend tournament.

Shot 73, 76 for a +5 finish and I'm a +1 handicap.

The course had a slope of 146 and a 75.7 rating...so I was -2.7 and +0.3.

I go to my home course today and get almost laughed at by my playing partners about the score, they ask "I thought you were a +1 handicap, no +1 I know shoots 76 on non PGA Tour courses"

I hate guys that don't understand what slope and rating are and how they use that to find your handicap.

All PGA Members know the golf swing and can teach it. Even if they cant break 90. You need to find out what level the apprentice is and what he scored on his teaching part of level 1(if he is a level 2 or 3). If he didnt get a 92 or higher, you probably want to stay away because he just winged it through the teaching part and didnt actually study up on it.

The thing about you is you are in a small minority of golfers. You are taking lessons to go from around a 8 or a 9 to a 3-4. You need the teacher with the most experience teaching lower handicaps. If they teach ladies and seniors all day, you probably want to stay away. If they teach high school kids, find out what high school and what the kids name is. Like another person said, give these guys a quick interview and ask them what their advice is of who to go to. Most teachers are busy and do not mind sending students elsewhere.

ETA: me personally if I were in your shoes would find a club teaching pro at a private or semi private club. They will have the best experience teaching lower handicappers.