Before you play your first 18 this spring, consider attending a golf school or taking a few lessons. Here are a few keys from GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teachers Gerald McCullagh, Mike McGetrick, Patti McGowan, Dana Rader, and Scott Sackett to help you prepare for both.

• Find an instructor who creates a positive mental attitude to help you through the ups and downs of your lesson.
• Before your first lesson, sit down and analyze your game from the year before. Determine your strengths and weaknesses (problem shots) so you can put together a game plan for the coming season.
• Don't take just one. If you do, you may overdo the instruction and create even more problems. Take four to five lessons at the start and follow up every four to six weeks afterward to stay tuned up.
• Ask questions. If an instructor recommends a swing change, be sure to ask why. "Because I said so" is not a good answer. Get to the root of the problem. Also, if you're not familiar with golf terminology, pick up a Golf 101 book. The more you know, the better your experience will be.
• Work on the fundamentals -- posture, set-up, grip -- in front of a mirror. Cut out a photo of a Tour player at address and paste it to your mirror, then try to emulate his or her position.

• Start swinging a club and hitting balls. During school, you will hit a lot of balls; so, at the very least, make sure you've been hitting them before you go.
• Stretch. If you don't stretch prior to your arrival, you're asking your body to play golf with an added handicap.
• Empty your mind of all swing thoughts you have built up over the winter. If you have too many swing thoughts, it will be difficult to process more information.
• Come with the following: at least two gloves, sun block, two dozen golf balls, salt tablets, ibuprofen (because you will be bending over to tee up a lot of balls), hat or visor, and warm clothes (mornings can be cool, especially in the desert).
• Determine the one thing you'd like to gain by attending school, and the one thing you'd like to get rid of. For example, your goal may be to add 20 yards over the next three months and get rid of a wicked slice.

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