Many courses and golf schools will offer a one-day course of instruction, which may start in the morning or afternoon, and cover nine holes of their course. Some people prefer being out in the actual environment of the golf course, and for them, this session may provide both tips on their game, and a chance to enjoy the outdoors.

Depending on how the school has structured these sessions, you may be able to take a private lesson, as a group, or as couples. Ideally, if you need more focus on some aspects of your game, either the private or couples lesson is best, as there will be fewer distractions for both you and the instructor.

Just as in 'full' school programs that last several weeks of lessons and practice, youll cover golf basics such as the type of clubs a bag includes, what they are used for, and how to get the most out of them.

Lessons start as soon as you step up to the tee, with instruction on how to approach the ball, position your body, estimate the impact required for a good drive, and body positioning on both the upswing and follow through.

Once youre onto the fairway, youll be dealing with the change from woods to irons, and the situations in which each should be used. This is also the area where inexperienced golfers, and even the experts, sometimes find themselves in trouble with the sand traps and roughs. Your instructor will provide the strategies, stance, and proper swings to chipping yourself out of bad spots, as well as how to get the most distance out of a shot off the rough.

Onto the green, and youll learn how to make the most of your putter, taking into consideration the angle of the shot, rises or dips in the ground, the grass around the cup, and how to properly estimate the amount of power needed to get the ball to the flag and not beyond it.

Along with the practical lessons on your clubs, shots and strategies, most instructors will also touch on the mental aspect of the game. Its not something just for PGA players, and even the weekend duffer will benefit from learning to focus and tune out the world around them.

Peter Faulkner has been a keen golfer for many years. On day at the 19th hole he decided to relate his experiences in a series of articles…

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1. Validity. Simply put, does this device do what it is advertised to do? 2. Reliability. Does it give consistent results for golfers of different abilities? 3. Durability. Is it constructed of quality material? 4. Simplicity. Is the device so complicated that the average golfer cant operate it? 5. Conformity. Does the product conform to the rules set forth by the USGA and R&A? Most training aids cannot be used during a tournament round of golf, but if the device manipulates the golfer in some bizarre fashion, I would steer clear. Does a scene from the movie Tin Cup come to mind?

There are hundreds of very fine golf training aids that meet most, if not all, of these criteria. The funny thing is that many people fall into a trap that I like to refer to the silver bullet trap. What is the silver bullet trap you may be asking? No, its not a new golf training aid developed for bunker play. What Im referring to when I use the term silver bullet trap is that many people think that simply purchasing the product cures their problem! The fact remains that golf is a difficult game for most people and there are certain things that require attention for improvement. Golf requires physical skills and mental skills. Specific golf training aids can develop certain physical skills, when used in the manner in which they are intended. As your physical skills improve chances are your confidence will improve as well. Mental skills are greatly increased as your confidence increases, so the mental game and the physical game go hand in hand.

The golf training aids that I personally prefer are ones that help the average weekend amateur golfer with the most common problems such as slicing, poor chipping and pitching as well as putting problems. I personally believe that the average weekend amateur golfer can dramatically improve their scores by concentrating on three key elements. 1. Reducing or eliminating their slice to cut down on penalty shots. Also, playing from the fairway is always better than playing from behind a tree in the rough. 2. Improving chipping and pitching near the green. 3. Improve putting by distance control of their lag putts. A tap-in second putt is nothing to be ashamed of, but a tap-in three putt can destroy a good score quickly.

Straighter shots from the tee, chip shots that roll close to the pin and improved putting are just a couple of the things you can look forward to this season as you find the right golf training aid to improve your game and increase your enjoyment on the golf course.

Dana Buttenhoff is an amateur golfer who after 20 years of struggle on the golf course called upon seven game improvement experts to assist him in taking his game back. Visit http://www.GolfGuruSecrets.com and discover what may be keeping you from playing to your true potential.

Tags: golf club, Golf weight training, Golf, Golf Training, golf course