Golf is a growing game that is fast becoming a mainstream sport in many countries. More and more championship-standard golf courses are being designed, not just in the United States but all over Europe and Asia. It follows that there is a proliferation of golf schools and academies where golf instruction is given by certified professional golf instructors. Golf instructors work at schools, universities and golf courses. Many clubs have a structured Junior Golf Program where children as young as 6 years old begin golf lessons.
A professional golfer begins with the basics of the game starting with the swing. One of the most important skills a beginner has to learn is a good swing – the foundation of almost every stroke on the course. Golf instructors conduct sessions, typically half an hour, where they observe the student, guiding and correcting him/her through a proper grip, alignment and positioning for a perfect, rhythmical swing. The student is then left to practice till a swing becomes automatic, or the student establishes muscle memory which enables a good swing to be repeated time and again. The instructor takes the student through the use of long, medium and short irons and the finer techniques in using each club. Considerable time is spent on chipping, pitching and putting which are the strokes where games are won or lost. Bunker play is equally important, a facet of the game that many golfers dread, even after years of play.
While a golf instructor spends most of the time at the range on giving golf lessons and coaching golf teams, the instructor also advises clients on proper club selection and fittings. It is important that the clubs suit the golfer in terms of his/her height and physique. The flex of the shafts too, should match the golfer’s individual swing speed, strength and timing for the best effect.
