Golf Lessons

What is a golf lesson with a pro?

A golf lesson is a session during which a professional instructor observes the player, identifies what is holding back their game, and suggests appropriate corrections and exercises. In golf, this instructor is commonly referred to as the “pro”, even though he doesn't play on a professional tour.

In France, teaching golf for pay is a regulated activity: instructors must hold a recognized certification, such as the BPJEPS or the DEJEPS with a golf specialization, and possess a professional sports instructor license issued by the prefecture. This serves as a guarantee of competence that should be verified, particularly when working with an independent instructor.

What are the different formats?

• The One-on-One Lesson: The pro devotes his or her full attention to a single player. This is the most effective format for correcting a specific flaw or preparing for a competition.
• Small-Group Lessons: Two to a few players of similar skill levels share the session. It's more social and less expensive per person, but allows less time for each player.
• The Internship: several sessions held over a few days, often during school breaks, to make rapid progress on a specific topic (short games, large-group games, preparation for the Carte Verte).
• The Lesson on the Course: The pro works with the player on a few holes to help them practice strategy, club selection, handling difficult situations, and the rules.
• The Golf School: a year-long program that is very popular among children and teenagers.

What happens during a lesson?

The most common duration is thirty minutes to one hour. A typical session often follows this outline:

1. An Initial Exchange: level, handicap (if applicable), frequency of play, what the problem is, and the goal of the session.
2. Observation: The player hits a few balls while the pro watches, often filming the swing, and sometimes using a radar device that measures speed, trajectory, and distance.
3. The Diagnosis: The pro identifies one or two main causes, often related to the fundamentals (grip, posture, alignment, ball position).
4. The Correction: one or two changes, accompanied by an exercise or a simple image.
5. Consolidation: The player repeats the adjustment until they feel it.
6. The Results: What to work on on your own between now and the next session.

A good pro doesn't try to fix everything at once. He looks for the cause of a flaw rather than its symptom: a slice, for example, is often caused by grip or alignment rather than the swing itself.

What do we work on during a lesson?

• The Big Game: driver, wood, irons.
• The Short Game: chips, pitches, bunker shots. That's often where progress shows up fastest on the scorecard.
• Putting: reading the greens, speed control, pre-shot routine.
• Strategy and Mentality, rather than on the course.
• Rules and Etiquette, especially for beginners.

Private or group lessons: Which should you choose?

• To Learn About Golf, the introductory sessions and group golf lessons offered by the clubs are a great way to get started, and they often provide equipment on loan.
• To correct a specific defect Or to take things to the next level, one-on-one lessons are more effective.
• To Make Progress Over Time, a few regular sessions, interspersed with personal training, are better than a single long session.

How can you get the most out of a lesson?

• Make sure you're warmed up and have a clear goal in mind.
• Ask the instructor for a specific exercise to do on your own, and write it down after the session.
• Record the session or ask for the video so you can compare one session to another.
• Accept that the new movement may seem less effective at first: this is normal for the first few training sessions.
• Keep the same teacher for a period of time so that the corrections follow a consistent thread.

The cost of a golf lesson varies greatly depending on the region, the club, the lesson format, and the instructor: check directly with the golf club's front desk or the pro.