Golf schools
 

Hi all, <BR> <BR>Have any of you attended a multi-day/one week golf school anywhere in the US? Would you recommend it? What was the daily/weekly routine (e.g., hours of lessons per day; whether video was used; ...)? What was the quality of lodging and meals, if they were included? <BR> <BR>I don't really care where in the US it is located -- could even be overseas. Just looking for a nice place to stay and focus on learning and playing golf (starter-medium range players). As I'd like to go in the next month or two, places outside of Florida or the Southwest would be of particular interest, as it should be cooler. But, if you have had a good experience in Florida or the Southwest, I'd certainly like to hear about it. <BR> <BR>Thanks in advance for your help. <BR> <BR>John

John, I've been to two different ones in the south/southwest part of the country. I haven't done one up North, so I can't give you any help there. Since you asked to hear about southern schools, here are my observations. Good luck in your choice. Both courses really helped my game and helped me to enjoy the game more, so I'd recommend a multiday course for starter-medium range players. The two schools I've attended are the Academy of Golf at PGA National near West Palm Beach in Florida and the Byron Nelson school just outside of Las Colinas, Texas. Both were three day programs. PGA was an intensive course - start at 7 am and end formal instruction around 2:30 pm for the first two days. The final day was a 1/2 day of instruction. Afterwards, you could go out & play on the courses until sundown (usually good for at least 9 holes). The program started with a lot of diagnostics on your existing game, including a before and after video of your basic golf swing and putting stroke. Their approach is to match one of three basic swing patterns to each golfer - in other words, one size doesn't fit all when it comes to a primary golf swing. They had modules on several different parts of the game - full swing, chipping, putting, sand shots, course strategy, etc. They would demonstrate, then break you into smaller groups to work with instructors on an individual skill. If I remember correctly, we covered 3-4 skills each day, and repeated several of them over the course of the three days. It averaged 4-6 students per instructor. The Byron Nelson school was somewhat different - no videos, lunch with Byron (a real highlight), only 1/2 day instruction and then the whole afternoon on course (one day with an instructor), no formalized approach to the three basic swing patterns. Instead, they picked out the one thing that was holding your game back the most, and worked with you on it until you mastered the change. Then and only then did they start to work with you on the next most important swing correction. As a result, students got 2-6 different coaching sessions on how to improve their game. PGA gave you the option of staying at their resort in a package deal or arranging your own lodging elsewhere. Byron nelson included lodging at the Four Seasons. The Byron Nelson program was more super-deluxe (and a lot more expensive); the PGA resort specializes in standard menu items along with fresh, healthy cuisine alternatives. My take? I got more out of the Byron Nelson course, but I liked PGA National so well I bought a condo down there for a part-time vacation/part-time rental property.

Thanks very much Anne for your very helpful, detailed response. <BR> <BR>john

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Hi John! <BR>Can't give you nearly the details given above, but my husband (he's a pro) and I were at Doral in October, and toured the school- really a fabulous facility, and a truly beautiful setting. We were lucky enough to get a "mini- lesson" from one of the instructors- Really tuned us both up!