Playing lessons / Course management

[NICK S]

Hey guys,

I'm looking for some feedback on playing lessons. I firmly believe that they can help your game so long as the instructor has a good knowledge base and has some playing experience.

Course management is a difficult thing to help players with on the range, in an office, or by reading a book, so I'd like to hear what you guys think about this.

I have a couple 9 hole playing lessons each week and my students find it very helpful because they learn to play within their own game, we refine pre-shot and post-shot routines, and we get build on course scenarios so that when they come across this in a round/tournament, they are prepared for it.

Just some initial thoughts to get the ball rolling....

Do you think that its not important?
That no one could really help you because you think your faults are swing flaws?
Cost?
Finding the right advisor?

Thanks.....

[Albatross]

I think that course management lessons would be huge........after the swing is developed. I personally know that i've gotten into situations where I know what i should have done afterwards. Having a lesson on the course is the way golf should be taught, however certain restrictions impede this route, ie cost, time, slows course play down etc.

[laxgolf]

I think that course management lessons would be huge........after the swing is developed. I personally know that i've gotten into situations where I know what i should have done afterwards. Having a lesson on the course is the way golf should be taught, however certain restrictions impede this route, ie cost, time, slows course play down etc.

A few easy ones....

When in the second cut of rough and 200+ out, your first thought should be to get back to the fairway.

Lay up to a comfortable wedge distance.

Aim for the centre of the green.

Now if I could only follow my own advice.

Playing Lessons from the Pros on TGC offers pretty good insight on course management. I've got about 30 hours worth on my PVR that I watch all the time!!!

[Albatross]

watching is one thing, now would you rather watch rocco mediate give on course lessons, or have him right behind you ? would make a huge difference

[goshawk]

I think the playing lessons on TGC are good for lower handicap players for the most part. Not many of the pros address problems experienced by high handicap players, and not many high handicap players can pinpoint a 9-iron from 155 yards.
I do lots of 9-hole playing lessons. I start the session with a discussion about the particular course we're on and what to expect on each hole (course management). During the lesson, we discuss the choice of clubs, but not until after the shot is made. I do this so the student can understand the reasons why certain things went right and others went wrong. After the 9th hole, we sit and "debrief" what happened on each hole, shot for shot (by the way, I don't play during the lessons). I've found that this debriefing re-enforces all of the correct management choices made, and encourages the student to better think their way around the course rather than just bomb away and try to recover later.

[landlord]

No doubt course management (CM) is important, but arguably even more important is what I'd call RISK management (RM). CM to me involves thinking through a short series of hypothetical good shots that eventually get you into the hole. That's all well and good and necessary, but what about when some of those shots aren't good (i.e., very often)?

Enter RM -- what to do when the good shots don't happen and Plan A has to be scuttled. How much do you risk and when? How much time do you want to spend practising trouble shots? If you think you can pull off a shot 5/10 times, is that an acceptable risk to you? How about 2/10 or 7/10?

If you miss what is already only a 5/10 proposition (in your own estimation), where might you expect the ball to end up? Did you just go from bogey at best to triple bogey at best?

That's the stuff I'd be teaching. The psychology of dealing with the self.

[Mule56]

Do you think that its not important?
Cost?
Finding the right advisor?Thanks.....


Playing lesson are extremely valuable. I have done several with the pro at my home club.
They charge $75.00 dollars for one person or $65.00 per person for two people.
I trust my pro very much in three years he has done miracles with my golf game. The playing lessons were as important as any range lesson I have taken. I do 1 range lesson per month and two playing lessons per golf season.Mule

[TourIQ]

When my son was taking lessons it was always range work with the pro.
I thought something is missing??? Why doesn't he recommend a playing lesson?
Some kids play way different on the range vs. the actual game.

He never did get a playing lesson, as he learned it on his own.

[The Troll]

The cost of a playing lesson is, usually, quite extreme. Rates I've seen quoted over the years you're talking $300-400 for 18 holes.

I would urge anyone to read Dave Pelz's comments about the margin of error that pros have on their longer irons....most of us are likely to hit a six iron the same distance from the hole as a three iron....with fewer dire blow ups.

[NICK S]

Thanks guys. Lots of good stuff.

I like the post about CM and RM. I think that assessing RM is an essential part of CM in that I wouldn't want a player to try a shot that's not in their arsenal. In the event that the "newly attempted" shot has minimal trouble around the green, then I think its a great time to try it, but trying to draw a 3 iron to a back pin on 18 at Glen Abbey when the miss is a high fade, wouldn't be the best time to do that.

I always play with my students during playing lessons for 2 reasons: with juniors, I can give them some competition and they try to step up their game. This backfires more times than not because I'll shoot 72 and get beat. I also play because the most common comment I get is that I'm so deliberate over each shot, because I take the same preshot and postshot process for every shot. Most players don't get to play with their professional very much so they get to see first hand if I 'walk the walk'.

The playing lesson is also a great opportunity for players to dial on yardages for a club or 2. I ask my better players to drop 3 balls at the 200 marker and ask them to hit 1/2 and 3/4 wedge shots and we pace them off to find their numbers... as per Pelz 3 yardages with each club approach. We can usually get 1 club dialed in by the end of the 9 holes. I try to avoid hitting them on the green so they can feel their particular 3/4 swing and not be intimidated by the flag or reaching the green. They develop much better feel this way.

After course debriefing is huge. Players retain most what they learn first, and second most what they learn last. Reinforcement is key to taking new information home with them.

[laps]

I took a playing lesson with a younger acquaintance who is a qualified CPGA instructor. All it cost me was his green fee at a nice course.

I find that the advice he gave me during this round has been invaluable. He was able to assess my swing in not ideal conditions and when I was getting tired at the end of our round. Its not the time or place for a major overhaul, but its ideal for subtle improvements.

For course strategy a playing lesson would also be of great help. It would be most valuable with someone who knows your game. The strategy will vary depending on your skill level and on your strength and weakness profile( good driver, bad in sand or vice versa).

I have also found that a good video game like Links or Tiger Woods golf can help you with on course strategy.

[laxgolf]

I have also found that a good video game like Links or Tiger Woods golf can help you with on course strategy.

I was just going to post the same thing. The games out there today provide enough realism to make you have to strategize your way around the course. What's funny is that gamers are so focused on their scores that they really pick their spots when they decide to go for it or lay up. Why isn't it the same on the golf course where you're more likely to miss by a bigger margin than in the game? I remember reading that Sergio Garcia uses Links to brush up on courses before tournaments. He'd hit shots all over the course just to see what kind of look he'd have at the green. I believe it was in an article for a new Links game.