How long did you play before you took a lesson?

Well, first off, to start, if your interested in taking a lesson, simply ask in the clubhouse of your course.  I'm sure someone in there will point you to who would welcome giving a lesson.  I've been playing golf since I was 21'ish and I've never had a lesson from a pro.  I played baseball when I was younger and had intentions to play and a small scholarship to play in college.  Life has changes and a wife and son by the age of 20 put an end to baseball.  My dad has always done both, but to me, in high school, golf just wasn't cool or I just didn't give it a chance with baseball around.  I bought a cheap set, less than 150$ for everything when I was 21 and headed to the local course and began hitting on the range.  I knew how to grip a club, stance, aim, all of that from just watching my dad out there, and I had hit range balls before.  I only get small tips from those I play with regularly when they see me doing something I don't normally do and not playing to what I normally do.  My first year of golf I broke 100 a few times, and have been improving since.  I turned 40 this year and am currently a 6 hdcp and hit the ball better and farther now than I did when I was young and had a full healthy back ( spine surgery in '08 ).  I think lessons would help most everyone, as long as your willing to listen and make change if the Pro believes that is what is needed for improvement.  If your committed to improving and desire to do so, I fully recommend seeking a Pro to help with what you would like to improve upon.  Good luck.

I've been playing off and on since I was 18 (I'm 48 now). I always have wanted to, but I've always been worried about taking lessons from an off hand golfer. Being left-handed, I always thought the best instructor would be a southpaw too. I may not be 100% correct, but I can't afford the big time teachers on the tour, and I never could get a good answer from any of the Course Pros, or any of the big golf outlets around my area. Until I find one I'll just keep watching Golf Channel in the mirror... Bazinga... :)

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I pretty much figured now with modern technology that this was the most viable option. The old school aspect still kind of rings true though. I true lefty might be able to tell you something that a lefty only feels, or have an old school lefty tradition that would work. If I can find anyone, I may end up going that route. The call lefties "crafty" for a reason, I was just hoping there was a "crafty" one out in my area somewhere...

I waited much too long before taking my first lesson.  Try 30 plus years.  I truly wish I started out taking lessons early on in my career.  Problem with waiting too long is you learn tons of bad habits.  My advice, start as soon as you can.  My son who is 23 is just started to pick up the game.  He is going to start with lessons this coming spring.  In my opinion, its never too early.

Our caddy master was the assistant pro so about a year.  I gained 20 yards with what he showed (having the hands slightly ahead of the ball).  Also consider golf instruction in 1972 was a little different. They also taught you to look out of the corner of your left eye  (head tilt) at address.

Two bad habits I had were lifting the left foot on the backswing and an overly strong grip. 

I've also had a teaching pro watch a video of me hitting the driver, a fairway wood, a hybrid and an 8 iron.  Found out I was straightening my right leg on the backswing. I regained about 15 yards of lost distance.

I was a long ball hitter in my youth - consider hitting an old school (1967) 8 iron 150 yards.   I had a horrible short game until 2006 (when I took the game up again after not playing for 3 years).

I've also had a few tips along the way - one sand tip from an elderly man (the dollar bill drill). My dad has been a single digit about all his life and could have gone pro in the 1950s but joined the Navy instead.

I've broken 80 on a par 72 course and have shot even par twice on exec courses (I generally shoot about +2 or +3 for 9).

Ditto to that. It was 30 yrs. for me also as I never picked up a club until I was 21 and finished playing football. Being athletic I "figured" the game out and got down to a 6-8 handicap. Had to stop for approx. 10 yrs. to support my wife to raise our family. Took the game back up when they got into high school and voila.....I had to get lessons as my game disappeared. I will not make the same mistake for my grandchildren as I have already got them into clinics and lessons. Bought them clubs and take them with me when they can make it out. A valuable game to learn correctly when young as it has a lot of life lessons to learn from it. Wish I had started earlier. It would have been a lot less stressful. Also wish we had the technology today 30 years ago. I would be a legend in my own mind!

I finally broke down this past spring and took a lesson from a Pro recommended to me by a buddy.  Was it ever worth it!! He didn't try and change my whole game.  We worked on strengths and weakness's.  Showed me a few tips to accommodate my game and encouraged me to play as often as I can . I would encourage anyone to take at least one lesson.  

If you're naturally athletic, you may eventually figure it out. Taking a lesson can expedite the learning process. As others have mentioned here; it is another set of eyes - a professional eye. 

As long as you keep doing what you've been doing, you'll keep getting what you've been getting. - Martin Hall 

Play Golf! Play Well! Play Often! Play #Titleist ! 

It sounds like you are ready.  At the very least, a pro can help put you on the path to success.  I would suggest going for the lessons now before you develop too many bad habits that will be difficult to break.

Too long!  Getting lessons was the best thing I have done for my game.

Make sure to see a PGA Professional. 

 Chris S

Thanks to all of you who posted.  I appreciate the input.  I've fought myself to have at least a decent golf swing, but I I think I'm going to start working with someone over the winter to start next year off on the right foot and start setting some personal bests.  

I agree with Don on doing more with a used set of clubs and a good swing.  Too many people go out and buy a brand new $2000 set of golf clubs with a standard setup (1-3-5 woods, 3-PW, SW, LW and putter) and can't play golf with them at all. One can get a playable set of name brand irons for about $150 and it would cost about $40 to have the lie angles adjusted.  There is also less risk tweaking a $50 hybrid  or fairway vs a $250 club.

I live in Chicago. I'm 47 now. In my late 20's I met a guy at my local 9 that was a 3 or 4 handicapper. We got to be friends. During the winter, we went to the Golf Dome (An indoor bubble about a hundred yards long.), and I hit balls with his instruction all winter 3 times a week. When I came out in the spring, I couldn't miss a golf ball. I could play from any tee. But my short game sucked. My advice is take lesson with someone you like. He or she may suggest things that feel unnatural to you. Keep practicing, you'll get it. But along with full swing lessons take short game lessons, it will lower your score more dramatically. You need to be able to practice. Having a buddy practice with you will help both of you. I'm a 12 at the moment playing on and off for 20 years, 2 shoulder surgeries, marriage and child etc... I'll be taking lessons again this winter. My short game is decent now, but my swing needs work.

Took me 15+ years.

Spent the first large chunk of my golf life just playing a few times of year and being very casual about it.

Then my wife decided she wanted to learn the game.  Knowing she is easily frustrated I decided the best course of action is getting her a few lessons.  I figured at the same time that it wouldn't hurt to start working on redoing my horrible swing and actually making noticeable progress in my game.

Let me tell you, she adjusts far more quickly than I do.  I have so many ingrained habits and feels whereas she does not.

My answer is the sooner the better.  The harder part of this is usually finding a teacher that you "get".  You might meet the best instructor in the world, but it doesn't help you in the slightest because you don't "get" the way they teach. 

My story is similar to Tyson's.  I'm self taught (aided by an AP book) and currently playing to an 8 hdcp after 50 years. I've shot as low as 69 and regularly in the 70'S.  My advice?  Get help early.  A good teacher will get you started with the proper fundamentals and save you a lot of aggravation caused by bad habits and improper techniques.  Lots of "free" info out there nowadays . But a pro will help apply it to you, adapt them to you physically and to your natural swing tendencies. 

I have been playing since I was 18 months. For most of early playing I relied on my grandfather to teach me most of what I know, But once I hit about 12 years old I got first lesson and from then on I have been going to overnight camps and working with various pros. On the flip side to that, I like to self teach myself a lot because then when I am playing in my tournaments and something isn't going right I can self evaluate what could be going wrong and once I figure that out I can try and come up with solutions for myself to get back on track.

Hope that helped,

Sean F.

I would love to meet with a PGA professional once or twice a month to work on my game but with 2 boys it's tough..  I did go to golf school in VT earlier this summer for a weekend and had a blast..  The little things they point out are things I would've never even bothered looking at..  I'm hoping to do this again next year, pending my wife's approval of course...

If lessons aren't an option, then try recording yourself and then compare it to other golfers to see what you're doing wrong...  The video will also show your stance, posture, etc.   I do it sometimes with my buddies and it does help.... 

But IMO, I highly recommend getting some lessons..  It's never too early to start and it can only improve your game a little bit more...

Keeping swinging, relax and have fun!  It'll come around...

That's really encouraging.  I didn't pick up a golf club until the age of 27.  I'm hoping that I can get to where you are.  

I've been playing on and off since I was about 10 (27 now) and only started taking lessons last year - about a year or two after I decided to get serious about my golf game. Wish I would have done it sooner.

I played many years ago and was never any good. So when I decided to take the game up again, I had a lesson before I did anything.  I use to have a terrible slice and hated tee shots. 5-10 minutes and he eliminated it. My iron striking was also no good, used to hit the big green ball first.  He gave me some drills to work on to make sure I was making ball first contact. I still hit fat shots and or thin ones, but they are far less and not as often as they used to be (every shot!)

I still take lessons about every 3-4 weeks. In addition to the above, we have worked on pitching and chipping as well as putting. He did not like my old putting grip and said it was one of the main reasons i struggled in my putting. Still getting use to the new grip. He did let me keep my left hand low, just adjusted where and how Im holding the putter. I also now use a Scotty Futura X5 Dual Balance to keep my hands out of the putt as much as possible.

Very glad I started taking lessons right away. I have had MANY Firsts because of the lessons....

I started off with lessons and was on a pretty good trajectory, I stopped playing altogether for a year due to a medical issue. When i started to play again I was a mess and tried to fix it myself with practice and watching videos.

I was in a downward spiral and one day I was at the range during the day, and I saw two guys that were receiving lessons with beautiful swings and the other 2 dozen folks at the range looking awkward, Made the decision right there, since I'm only getting older.

I got lucky with my current coach, he's was a college coach at an engineering school so he knows how to communicate with engineers, so It's been going real quick. 

Years. I finally took lessons from a LPGA Pro, Jenny Park-Choi after seeing the great job she did with my wife's game. The image I had of my swing was completely different from the reality. The lessons made a huge difference in my game. In fact, I'm seeing her on 5/2/15 to have her check out my wedges and get fitted. 

I got the basics from my parents at a very young age.  Since then, it's been hit and miss.  Literally.  My philosophy is you can either spend time or spend money.  And since time is much more valuable than money, I prefer to spend time.  I used to hit endless range balls.  But I've finally found that just playing/practicing on the course it by far the greatest teacher ever.  We only learn from our mistakes.  I feel that the more that you're in your head (meaning a teacher's voice), the worst things are.  Golf is like comedy.  You get immediate feedback.  Play, play, play.  If you want it bad enough, you might figure out your own style, method, system.  I love Arnold Palmer's quote:  "SWING YOUR OWN SWING!"  Good luck, Duston!  Keep us posted.  Best to you, Vern