A Quick Fix

Some golfers who sign up for golf school subconsciously believe that the mere act of blocking off a week from their busy schedules will translate into a better golf game. Clearly, that's a bit short-sighted. Putting in the time is important, but only a small part of the battle. The old cliché fits here -- you'll probably get worse before you get better. As Flick notes, "The toughest habits to break are the ones you've had the longest." So be patient and do what they tell you -- even if it doesn't work right away. Just about every school will send you home with a narrated video of what you need to work on. This isn't just something to pull out when company comes over. Replay it often and gauge your progress. In reality, golf school is just the beginning -- an opportunity, not a guarantee, to play better golf.

A Private Instructor All the Time

If you're one of those people who thinks, "Hey, I paid my two grand, I want a pro at my beck and call," you'll be disappointed. Most schools alternate between full-class sessions and smaller-group instruction, with a teacher drifting among several students. The truth is, that's more than enough hands-on instruction for most golfers. If you want someone to ooh and aah at your every swing, sign up for private lessons at your home course. According to Donald Crawley, director of instruction for John Jacobs' Golf Schools, "The shift is away from large-group instruction and toward more personal attention. We feel the small, break-out group works best." That formula is pretty standard, and pretty effective.

WHAT TO BRING Courtesy of the Pine Needles Learning Center, here are some packing suggestions for what you should bring with the usual complement of pants, socks, and so on. Golf Equipment golf clubs with name labels on each shaft 3-4 golf gloves 2 pairs of comfortable golf shoes (Reminder: non-metal spikes may be mandatory) Clothing golf shirts (light colors in summer) turtleneck light sweater light jacket visor or hat rain jacket rain pants waterproof hat Miscellaneous Band-Aids Ibuprofen (or some kind of pain reliever) Bug repellent Sunglasses Sun screen Wrist watch

Lots of Golf Time

If you're really in need of a golf vacation, call a travel agent -- golf school will probably be too intense for you. Sure, you may play a round (at least nine holes) in the afternoons, but the first half of your days will be spent listening to presentations, hitting balls, and grinding over your short game. You could sign up for a "playing school," where most of your time is spent on the course, but even then, the idea is to make you think better and play smarter. In other words, they're not like casual rounds with your buddies back home.

Your Swing on Display

Instructors know most people don't want a gaggle of onlookers watching them hit 40-yard slices, so that's not going to happen. Most sessions provide each student with an individual practice station. In addition, schools typically group golfers by skill level. As Crawley puts it, "High handicappers aren't going to be paired up with the guys who want to talk Tour technique and learn to fade 2-irons." It's a comfort factor -- at both ends of the talent spectrum. And don't worry about impressing your instructors: They've seen better and worse than anything you can muster up. Play the way you play -- that's what needs the work.

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