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Answer my be obivious but its a slow day...

I am trying to get lessons and currently talking to a couple of different instructors at two local courses. One is a PGA pro and one is currently enrolled in the PGA apprentice program. I am trying to ask a few questions of each before making a decision but as in most things experience is important but in something like this may not necessarily be a guarantee. Any thoughts/experience?

Don't pick one just because he has a PGA card....That doesn't necessarily make him a good teacher. Ask around.

Definitely with mike here, simply owning a card doesn't make you a good teacher, any more than obtaining a teaching degree and license makes you a good school teacher -- we've all had 100% fully qualified but honest-to-goodness terrible teacher.

I'd get a mini-lesson for anyone you are considering. Ask them for a 5 minute lesson. Ask them about their thoughts on the swing. Ask them if they think that there is one perfect model swing or if they are willing to work with the swing you have to make it better (not make any major changes unless it is really hurting you). If they don't want to give you 5, 10, 15 minutes of your time to answer these questions, then you don't want them as an instructor anyway.

Lots of questions, you can probably think of more yourself. Just like anything else, shop around.

I also am with these guys, But I would most likely go with the Apprentice guy. for a few reasons, 1. I plan on doing it and have researched tons about it.
2. To go along with one, these people WANT to teach, and if they are not yet a full instructor, they will most definitely be very patient, and try to be as simple and careful with you as possible. They are still trying to earn their teaching card.

If you have the opportunity, watch each one of them for a few minutes while they are giving lessons. Their body language and the communications exchange with their students should give you a good feel about how comfortable you'd be with them.

Lots of my young buddies have their PGA teaching card. From what I gather from them, they have to shoot better than a certain score on a certain course when the PGA has a qualifier.

The score is nothing grand, high 70's, close to 80 from what I've heard. I've played lot's of golf with 3 or 4 guys who have these cards, most of which for money and straight up (no strokes) in better ball games and don't have worse than a 50% winning percentage against them.

Anyway, the moral of my tangent filled story is... (good advice, I promise)

#1. A person teaching you needs to cater to your objectives or goals.

#2. The person needs (can't stress this enough) to be able to identify flaws and have a good knowledge of the golf swing, cause and effect of different movements and positions.

#3. Be a good communicator.

Teaching golf isn't smoke and mirrors, even if the whole concept seems a little hazy to you. If the guy can't meet the criteria above, he/she is no good. Tiger Woods doesn't work with Hank Haney because Hank can shoot 59's on US Open courses, or because Hank is affordable, or because of any reason but the above mentioned 3.

Great tips guys. The younger guy advertises a 5 lesson set for a fixed price while the older guys seems a bit more inclined to work on what I want to work on; my swing. While I would love to get 5 lessons covering all aspects of golf, I first want to fix my swing flaw. I understand the importance and basic approach to chipping/putting et al but also understand you will only be as good in these areas as you have time to dedicate to practice. Something I don't have much of as I still work full time and have other interests besides golf. I just want a better chance to hit a good full shot whether it be from the tee or fairway. That, to me, will add much more enjoyment to the game.

Supplement your lessons with some videos, especially in areas like short game where a second set of eyes might not be as important. It's harder for a person to self-diagnose problems in their full swing than their chipping and putting because there's more going on at a faster rate in the full swing.

I agree, being a PGA Pro means nothing, it certainly does not mean the individual is a good golfer or teacher.

The best way is to try the instructor and see if he or she is a good fit for you. The best instructors will work with your style rather than a one size fits all approach.

Maybe it's just my persnickety nature here, but this statement is awfully harsh. It isn't nothing. It's not like you just have to pay a fee to get a certificate. It's not like you just have to watch some videos or something. There are tests to pass, and they aren't cakewalks. Being a PGA Pro means something.

It just doesn't guarantee that the instructor will be really good or will be good for you and your swing. Bad instructors can get PGA certifications, just like bad school teachers can get their licenses, but neither means "nothing", because there is some achievement in fulfilling the requirement to earn those credentials.

PGA Apprentice:

1. Meet Eligible Employment requirements which means you have work in the golf feild for at least 6 months which is very broad from being a sales rep at your local Golf Smith Store to a guy who mows a course.

2. Satisfy PAT requirement. Which means you have to shoot +15 or less in 36 back-to-back holes

3. Fill out the application form Professional Readiness Orientation.

4. Pay the fee and you are an apprentice.

PGA Member

From there you have two years go to Level 1. followed if you wish to advance to level , 2, or 3. To my knowledge there is no requirement to go above level 1.

For Level 1 you pay a fee, attend a 5-day seminar which covers:
Knowledge Tests
�� PGA Constitution
�� Rules of Golf
�� Tournament Operations
�� Career Enhancement
�� Golf Car Fleet Management
�� Introduction to Teaching / Golfer Development
Simulation Tests
�� Golf Club Design & Repair Simulation
�� Rules of Golf Simulation
�� Tournament Operations – Computer Simulation
�� Work Experience Interview

• Must be 18 or older
• US Citizens
• A total of 36 work experience credits must be earned in addition to fulfilling the PGA/PGMTM Program. (One credit per month while eligibly employed full time.) 12 credits are awarded for a four year college degree and six credits for a two year college degree.

Right, which just goes to show my pint that it isn't just a cakewalk. There are not a lot of people who can shoot +15 over 36 consecutive holes. You have to work for 6 months just to start the program and then for years to continue.

My point is that is NOT just "nothing" there are requirements to fulfill. If it were "nothing" I could declare myself a PGA pro right now. But, I can't, because I would most likely get sued. I can declare myself a teaching pro right now, just not a PGA pro.

I am not a PGA card holder nor am I an apprentice, but I give quite a few lessons. Most people are extremely happy with what they learn from me.

The most telling reason why I know I am a good teacher is because I get repeat customers about once a month and I have an open policy of payment. You only pay me what you think the lesson is worth to you. No one has ever not paid me... so everyone has gotten something out of it.

I believe the most important part of being a good instructor is knowing how to communicate to your student. I pride myself in this aspect. I teach to their perspective and not mine or the cameras. When you stand over the golf ball, YOU need to know what YOU need to do from WHERE YOU ARE.

don't mean to threadjack, but you do have to advance in the program. you have 2 years to complete each of the levels, and it's a lot harder than it sounds. and then once you become a class A pga pro you have to fulfill a certain number of obligations ranging from playing in events to attending seminars and taking pga classes every couple of years. i agree that there are some pros out there who arent very good at what they do, it's their fault. and the pat is a lot tougher than it sounds. i was lucky and passed on my first attempt, but the 3 guys i was playing with didn't and 2 of them had played division 1 golf in college. it's very draining mentally to know that you have to shoot a certain number especially if you drop a few shots right away. also, the target score is the course rating X2 + 15. meaning if the course rating is 68, you have to shoot rounds of 75-76.