I am interested in finding out whether you had help developing your swing / game, or not!
I had 5 lessons by a driving-range pro when I started, but they didn't do much for me, so I stopped, and I have been learning on my own ever since. So even though I had some lessons, I consider myself self-taught. This is probably not the fastest route to a good swing / game, but I very much enjoy the process.
How about you? Self-taught, or Not? The teacher needn't be a golf-pro, to consider yourself not self-taught. Fathers, mothers, golf-friends etc. all count as teachers (whether on the range, or on the course), if appropriate to your situation! For the purpose of the poll, I consider the active teaching by another person as a Not. I consider the self-study of teachings in magazine articles, tips from TV, golf instruction books, DVDs etc. to be in the catagory Self-Taught. I deliberately left out a Both option, because no Poll is complete without a missing option! I am making you pick one: Feel free to set the record straight in your replies!
I was taught the rules, and etiquette. The swing, I developed on my own.
It made sense to me that if opening your stance made a slice worse, closing the stance would prevent you from being able to swing outside-in, and eliminate the slice altogether. It worked. The problem is, now it doesn't matter how far I open my stance, I can't hit a fade.
I have recently discovered that by moving the ball back to the middle of my stance, I've found a fade when I need one. I just can't get it high.
Self-taught, and still learning... Ain't golf wonderful?
I went to a free clinic at the local club where I was living, but didn't get much out of it. So, I read books and magazines anything I could get my hands on and eventually started to develop something that resembles a golf game
oops, i clicked "Not" but im a self-taught player. I started 3 1/2 years ago and have shot 1-under for 9 and even par for 18. I still have days where i just lose my swing completely but then i just go through magazines and do a lot of mirror work.
I was self taught and learned from watching others (I stared playing at age 8). I read a lot of golf books and loved one that I keep reviewing from over 50 years ago: "How To Play Your Best Golf All the Time," by Tommy Armour, Sr. It's still in print although you will probably have to order it from your local bookstore.
I was self-tought. I started messing around swinging clubs and then was addicted. I started to really want to improve on my game and I was the only one there. I learned from watching others at the range, watching golf on TV, TGC, and websites like this. For being self-tought, I think I've done really well. Theres still room for improvement but theres still time.
I've had a couple of lessons here or there, but most of my swing is self-taught. The lessons I've had have been more reminders of what I've already figured out.
At the end of the day, your swing needs to fit you and you are the best determiner of what feels best to you. Lessons are invaluable, but they can only guide you. You need to learn and teach yourself what works best for you.
Definately self-taught. I am a little too stubborn to go "by the book". I have to do what feels right for me. For instance, I refuse to link my fingers because it feels so incredibly unnatural and makes my shots less consistent
Played in the pouring rain at the age of 14 for the first time and shot a 105. Came out the next day and shot 95 and have never shot above 100 again. My full swing has always been very natural. I have learned over the last 4 years how to putt (with out wrist action) and chip and run and have taken my handicap from 15 to 4. Never had a lesson.
I had a few lessons when I was 12 years old. I then worked at Dean Reinmuth's golf academy for one summer in high school, where I got some free lessons. Other than that, I've developed the swing I have now on my own. I'm a 7 handicap, but have been as low as 4 and have shot several even par rounds, so I'm pretty happy with my self-taughtness. I'd say I'm due for a lesson, so I set one up with my club's pro this past weekend.
I took a group of lessons with my dad when I was seven. I have taken quite a few lessons since especially in the past several years. I like to take at least one lesson every season.