An open letter to my golf pro

golfbluecustard

golfbluecustard

Head Pro
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Jan 28, 2011
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Had a few lessons last year and saw some progress.

2012 is the year i really knuckle under and get a series of lessons.

Know the Pro reasonably well now some am asking for the following:-

1) Work on the following components of the game breaks which as i see it breaks down into the following parts.

Driver

Long Irons / Rescue

Short Irons

Pitching

Chipping

Putting

2) Look for a lesson Plan for the year

3) Need a Purposeful Practice schedule - rather than just mindlessly hitting balls - work on around 7 hours a week but will aim for it to be more - some will be off turf / some off mats / some can be putting at home - buy a putting mat.

4) Who has the 'perfect' swing that I can watch on Youtube on a loop?

5) Course management.

The first lesson of the year is Saturday is there any thing else i should be asking for aside from a bigger overdraft to pay for all of this.

Thanks boys

GBC
 
i think you could word 4 far better, there is no such thing as the pertfect swing, however there is a preferable swing that you could compare yours to. Also ask what they do right that you are currently not doing
 
I would start the lessons with putting, then chipping, then pitching and so on.
Start with the small stuff and work backwards. And dont forget bunkers ;)

Ask if he does video lessons and does it cost more?
Take a note pad and write down the points covered in each lesson for later reference.
And dont forget to ask lots of questions.
 
i would look at what parts of your game on the strongest and what parts are the weakest. Then decide what you need to spend more time working at and then say to your pro " i really need to improve on ....".

I would just take 1 part at a time rather than trying to perfect them all together.

A guy i play with who plays off single figures gave me prob best advice ive heard.. Get yourself a consistent swing and the rest will fall into place!
 
You might want to add something along the lines of mental preparation/physical fitness and flexibility.

Or not.

(Yes I have been reading Rotellas book this winter !)
 
Good luck with the work .. couple of things IMO ..

2) Look for a lesson Plan for the year...........Is this too long for a lesson plan , surely as your year & lessons progress your game will also .. so lessons will vary . a year is a long time to stick to one plan .. Bob what is your opinion on that please ??

4) Who has the 'perfect' swing that I can watch on Youtube on a loop? ... I think you might be aiming a bit high here , work on your own swing & practice what your pro shows you , watching & trying to copy a swing of someone who could be any of older, younger , taller, fitter, more flexable, longer or shorter or different strenght shafts etc than you & who probably has practiced this swing for years might not be a good idea , again Bob would be better help than me on this & i could be totaly wrong ..

Be good to hear his opinion even if he tells me im totaly wrong , he will never steer you wrong , at least il know ha ha


Improved Course management will save you a good few shots .. as i say just my opinion & good luck ..
 
Mungoscorner said:
This game is far more complicated than i realised,i play for fun,that sounds like a work schedule.
Click to expand...
Indeed. No offence to the OP, but that is a ridiculous list. If you intend getting dedicated lessons on all of that, you'll spend all year practising, and it will seriously take you into a 4 figure sum - remember you'll be paying for the pro to make up a "lesson plan" and your "course management" lesson, well that's a 4 hour+ 'lesson' right there on its own.

In fact the whole 'open letter' thing is ridiculously arrogant if you ask me, as if your pro has no idea what he's doing. If you want to improve everything, then fine, just say so to the pro, instead of this convoluted nonsense.

End of last year I went to my local range teacher who has a great rep, told him I had stuck at 5, and was susceptible under pressure, and what I wanted to change, and what I felt I couldn't change, and what my goal was. After just two lessons he had made massive changes, even to parts I tohught I couyldn't possibly change (a lifelong overswing being one such example).

If your pro is worth his salt, he'll listen to what you say (without the patronising open letter) and work on getting that done, maybe it'll be 3 lessons, maybe 33, but please, stop trying to make it into something akin to the planning for D-Day.
 
HughJars said:
Indeed. No offence to the OP, but that is a ridiculous list. If you intend getting dedicated lessons on all of that, you'll spend all year practising, and it will seriously take you into a 4 figure sum - remember you'll be paying for the pro to make up a "lesson plan" and your "course management" lesson, well that's a 4 hour+ 'lesson' right there on its own.

In fact the whole 'open letter' thing is ridiculously arrogant if you ask me, as if your pro has no idea what he's doing. If you want to improve everything, then fine, just say so to the pro, instead of this convoluted nonsense.

End of last year I went to my local range teacher who has a great rep, told him I had stuck at 5, and was susceptible under pressure, and what I wanted to change, and what I felt I couldn't change, and what my goal was. After just two lessons he had made massive changes, even to parts I tohught I couyldn't possibly change (a lifelong overswing being one such example).

If your pro is worth his salt, he'll listen to what you say (without the patronising open letter) and work on getting that done, maybe it'll be 3 lessons, maybe 33, but please, stop trying to make it into something akin to the planning for D-Day.
Click to expand...

Think the reply is a bit OTT too. I get what the OP is trying to do but agree its clumsily worded. I would take the points and narrow them down further and come up with 3 SMART objectives which will give you clearer direction, and a timeframe. To be honest though the best way is to speak with your pro, tell him where you want to go and ask him how to get there. It might be you need a major swing overhaul if you are dead set on a low handicap and coming from a swing with a lot of moving parts and flaws. You might also be pleasantly surprised and he may say you aren't too far off and with some tweaking you'll hit it better and consistently. After that its about saving shots and that is <100 yards, short game, bunker and putting.

I like Bobs approach an start at the green and work back. If you can't get it in the hole once you are in the vicinity then everything else becomes kind of mute anyway. Most pros are pretty clued up and will be honest if they think you are being way too optimistic. Nothing wrong with aiming big but keep a check on reality too
 
Confused in what way this is arrogant? thoughts on a golf forum website outlining what i'm looking to do in 2012
nothing more nothing less. Though do agree i'm over planning it all.

Thanks guys for the other posts and the constructive words of advice and support

Just want to get better at hitting a stupid white ball.


GBC
 
HughJars said:
Indeed. No offence to the OP, but that is a ridiculous list. If you intend getting dedicated lessons on all of that, you'll spend all year practising, and it will seriously take you into a 4 figure sum - remember you'll be paying for the pro to make up a "lesson plan" and your "course management" lesson, well that's a 4 hour+ 'lesson' right there on its own.

In fact the whole 'open letter' thing is ridiculously arrogant if you ask me, as if your pro has no idea what he's doing. If you want to improve everything, then fine, just say so to the pro, instead of this convoluted nonsense.

End of last year I went to my local range teacher who has a great rep, told him I had stuck at 5, and was susceptible under pressure, and what I wanted to change, and what I felt I couldn't change, and what my goal was. After just two lessons he had made massive changes, even to parts I tohught I couyldn't possibly change (a lifelong overswing being one such example).

If your pro is worth his salt, he'll listen to what you say (without the patronising open letter) and work on getting that done, maybe it'll be 3 lessons, maybe 33, but please, stop trying to make it into something akin to the planning for D-Day.
Click to expand...

crikey ... i seen it as, heres what im thinking of asking my pro help me with , whats your thoughts .. a golfer asking other golfers opinions .. i have read it over & must say i didnt sence any arrogance or patronising going on .. fair play for having a plan all be it & tad full of goals , ive decided im gona work hard at sharpening my game from Jan to April & be ready for the season proper , how much have i done in Jan .. none .
 
Thanks mate

Love the game - just know i'll love it even more with a handicap of 18 rather than a shaky unofficial 26 - if it means giving up 3 or 4 nights a week at the range, putting in front of QI / Mock the Week then that is something i'm prepared to do and know that my pro will help me to do that, just thought that it was nice to talk to him with a clear idea in my own mind of what i'm thinking.

GBC
 
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