Playing lesson

SaintHacker

SaintHacker

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Just off up the club for a 9 hole playing lesson with my 2 sons and our pro. Anyone else done one of these, was it worth it? Not too worried about myself today, its more about the boys, although if he can get me hitting my irons a bit sweeter I will be happy! Also looking forward to finding out how a pro approaches the course, as opposed to my usual hit it as far as I can, find it, hack out, repeat...:rolleyes:
 
I've never had a playing lesson but have 5 lessons coming as part of my new membership...

Its a tough decision as to what I need to work on. As the HC states, I need to work on all aspects.. But want to get the most out of the lessons.

I wonder if he will do a playing lesson. Need to go in and chat with him....
 
I've done a couple of playing lessons. The main things I got from them are:

Alignment: easy on a mat, harder on the course. Pro took an ipad, I addressed the ball and we looked at photo he took 'down the line' - that's why I always miss the 13th green left!

Clubbing - (stereotype alert!) typically amateurs under-club - how many times have you come up sort of the green or in a front bunker compared with going over the back where there can be less trouble. I know for me it is probably 75:25 at best - why do I do it that way round and make things difficult!

Couple of shot making tips / thoughts - 5w chip around greens, a open faced 5i for a sliced chip when stuck behind tree, club choice around green (LW or SW out of lush grass) etc etc.

Overall really useful. Don't expect too much comment / focus on your swing per-se but lots around turning whatever swing you have into your best score.

Simon
 
Had one last Friday. Been hitting well in lesson and on the range but not transferring that to good scores on the course. He wanted to see what I did. Some good pointers, especially about my putting set up. Hit it well (aside from several dumped in the lake on the par 3) and so just a few things needed to work on. He said I need to stand and trust it. We'll see what occurs on Friday then. Definitely worth doing
 
I and 2 friends had an 18 hole playing lesson at Thetford last year with a guy from Northern Ireland called Barry Trainor who a few weeks later, competed in the PGA at Wentworth, although he didn't make the cut. Really enjoyed the first 9 holes until the heavens opened with thunder and lightnening combined with lack of waterproofs and wet weather gloves meant the last few holes were a chore rather than a pleasure. It was great seeeing up close a professional golfer and the quality of his shots and decision making around the course. On a par 3 we had a nearest the pin comp with the caveat that he had to play his shot 1 handed. Of course he won, but only just. As well as the technical advice he gave, he had some great anecdotes and stories about previous tournaments that he'd been in around Europe. Think he's back in NI now as a pro but despite the awful weather for the last 6-7 holes, it was well worth it and i'd recommend it to anyone.
 
I'm arranging one with our pro after easter as despite him fitting me for the new Wilsons I literally can't hit a barn door from the inside on the course!!" N/rs on last 2 medals(thank goodness they were cancelled due to atrocious weather)Am suffering severe 'crisis of confidence',reckon that the way round this may well be to address this on the course--where the shots aint happening.The horrible thing is that up at the range things could not be any better using the 'new' upright swing rather than the more round the body one that I had developed!
Weird or what,anyone see the logic in trying to tame the demons this way?
Jimbo :confused:
 
I had one a while back now, was really interesting... Although no big swing tips, I'd say that is better left for the range. To me the most interesting thing was to see someone really good at close quarters. The really surprising thing was to see how our long games were fairly comparable (at least at that time as I was generally on good form), however the short games were a world apart... showed me where I need to improve... Just need to find the time to do it!
 
My family booked one at Gleneagles last year on the Kings Course with a PGA pro, it cost a small fortune!

He asked if I wanted to do a Matchplay off the back tees and he'd help me round. He certainly clubbed me for most shots and giving me 12 shots, I was 5 up at the turn and he got it level with 3 to play. I then won the 16th and 17th for a 2 and 1 win and he didn't really give me any technical advice,in fact, I probably could have helped him!
 
Reading all the above, seems to make a big difference whether the said Pro is playing or not.

It seems, if he is then the feel is more of a Pro-Am type day, where as if not the focus is more on your game and coaching. Fair or have I mis-understood?

Either way, the different experiences underline the need for a frank conversation beforehand to ensure you (OP) get what you want for your money!
 
I don't believe a playing lesson should be about swing mechanics per se, but about how to get the ball around the course.
I've had two so far, and intend to have one at my new course with the club pro, to get some advice on how to play the course a bit better.
In the two I've had we discussed:
- what do you visualise on the tee?
- where to tee it up
- go for it or lay up?
- shot shaping
- choice of shot - chip/lob, high/low etc
- green reading.
- some technique re: chip/bunker shots

Basically more about course management than how to hit a ball.
 
i used to play 9 holes with a local pro every SUNDAY for over 6 months until he moved back to the states,and i learned more about golf,life and everything else known to man in that time than the 30 years of playing before,its worlds better than just aimlessly hitting ball after ball into a net or range and everyone should have at least one a year just to hone your management skills if nothing else.
 
Well it was a good afternoon out. Chris (pro) didn't play but spent a good amount of time with the boys over each of their shots, gave them a bit of swing coaching when the basics went wrong but it was more about thought processes and course management. He also got me thinking a bit more aggressively round the greens on a couple of shots where I might have bottled it and taken the safe route he was of the opinion I would be better off being positive and going for the higher risk, but better reward shot, and suggested trying to visualise the ball flight and landing area for various chip shots. It made a lot of sense so I will be hopefully putting it into practice tomorrow. The main thing though was the kids enjoyed it, and hopefully learned something with the advice coming from someone who knows what they are talking about, rather than Dad!
 
great to hear you and your boys enjoyed it. Hopefully this is the beginning of their love affair with the sport, which means they will always be keen to play golf with their dad even when spending time with your parents is no longer 'cool'
 
I've got one in the bank with my pro thanks to a mate who got it me a a bday present..... Not had it yet, been waiting till the weather improves so should be arranging it in the next couple of weeks...

I'm hoping for more of course management and shot suggestions...... It's easy to hit balls on the range and the odd tweak here and there but he never gets to see how the ball performs as it lands on the green etc etc...

I'm looking forward to it, even more now I read the positives on here....
 
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