Don’t Overlook The Playing Lesson

Andrew Penner

Posted 2004-11-18

There are, literally, hundreds of ways to waste shots on the golf course. A faulty golf swing is, for most amateur players, the most costly and, certainly, the most obvious. A reverse pivot, casting, a lateral slide, a straightened spine, you name it, you’ve seen it -and you know (perhaps first hand!) the types of numbers that are possible when golfers have major swing “issues.” Often overlooked, however, is a golfer’s ability to PLAY the game. In fact, nearly all amateur players (good and bad) fall victim – and lose a number of shots per round – to poor course management. The remedy? The playing lesson - one of the most underused tools in teaching the game of golf.

Unfortunately, as most teaching pros agree, there are some difficulties and drawbacks with playing lessons. Golf courses are often busy and getting the time and space to use a course for this purpose can be challenging. Understandably, most pros are limited to when and where a playing lesson can be done. Non-peak times – early mornings and late evenings – are often the only solution. “I give a couple of playing lessons a month,” says Calgary golf pro, Terry Carter. “I’ve found it works best to drive out to a quiet country course in the evening with the student. I’ve got one or two courses where arrangements can easily be made and the students always enjoy the outing. Plus, it’s a great way to build a long lasting relationship with a student.”

Other golf pros rarely give playing lessons. “Just three or four a year,” says pro Darren Gallagher. “With a busy lesson schedule, I simply don’t have time to do a lot of playing lessons. But I really enjoy them. When I do one, though, it’s almost always later in the evening when the course has cleared out.”

Obviously, the quieter the course, the better it will be for both instructor and student. “The purpose of a playing lesson is to work through situations, strategies, lies, and so on. You’ve simply got to have the space to work,” says Gallagher.

So when the time and space are there, what exactly should a playing lesson look like? What should be dealt with, talked about? What shouldn’t be dealt with? Not surprisingly, there are plenty of consistencies in how pros handle their playing lessons.

Almost every pro agrees that the number one priority of a playing lesson is to talk strategy. “I can’t believe how many times I see amateur players try shots that simply don’t make sense,” says Carter. “During a playing lesson (almost always 9 holes) I spend a fair amount of time talking to the student about how the architect has designed the hole to be played. Discussing things like good and bad angles, for example, is something most golfers never think of. But, clearly, golfers have to try shots that make sense, that are doable for players at their level.”

From there, Carter likes to discuss things like pre-shot routines, playing to percentages, wind analysis, club selection, and when it makes sense to gamble. Things like visualization, pin positions, where to “miss it,” rules and etiquette, how to use the teeing area to your advantage, and patience are also topics that often come up during a playing lesson.

As far as what not to teach, the resounding response from most pros is to stay away from dealing with swing mechanics during a playing lesson. “Power, swing tendencies, and the student’s natural ball flight are relevant to shot selection,” says Carter, “but, in my opinion, you really want to stay away from getting too involved in tinkering with golf swings. It really isn’t the time and place for that. The driving range is the place to work on specific swing issues.”

So why don’t golf pros give more playing lessons? Why don’t students request more of them? After all, for many of them, it could be the missing link that will take their game to the next level. “I think most golf pros would rather just stay on the lesson tee,” says Gallagher. “And, from what I’ve seen, many pros do little in the way of promoting playing lessons with their students.”

Clearly there is plenty of valuable insight that can be passed along to students during a playing lesson. And there are many pros who enjoy the challenge of giving compelling, thought-provoking playing lessons. “After all,” says Gallagher, “golf is a thinking game. And knowing how to really play is a way for golfers of any skill level to get more enjoyment out of the game.”