As the stock market has tumbled over the past couple of years, so has the golf-school business. Unrest about our nation's economy, events overseas, and lingering fears about traveling have many schools feeling the pinch.

Some have even shut down. But amid the gloom is a wonderfully undeniable fact: There has never been a better time to go to golf school. Chances are good that programs right for you have plenty of openings, and many are available at the lowest prices in years.

It truly is a buyers' market, which makes the timing perfect for our third biennial list of GOLF MAGAZINE's Top 25 Golf Schools in the U.S.

Just the Facts

To make finding the right golf school as easy as slicing into the woods, we teamed up with ShawGuides, a leader in education and career guides, to create the most comprehensive golf-school database ever. More than 4,500 golf school alumni completed online surveys to tell us about their experiences, good and bad. We focused on their comments about instruction -- we assumed that would be your focus at golf school. For that reason, remarks about the courses and accommodations didn't figure into our final selections.

Third Time's Still a Charm
Twelve schools have stayed on our list since it first appeared in 1999. They are:
• Academy of Golf Dynamics	• McGetrick Golf Academy
• Craft-Zavichas Golf School	• Natural Golf School
• Dave Pelz Scoring Game Schools	• Pinehurst Golf Advantage School
• Doral Golf Academy with Jim McLean	• Pine Needles Learning Center
• Grand Cypress Academy of Golf	• Resort Golf School
• John Jacobs Golf School	• Phil Ritson-Mel Sole Golf School

Then we donned our tweed hats, grabbed our magnifying glasses, and scoured questionnaires completed by more than 200 schools. After studying the reviews and statistics, it became clear which schools would make up our Top 25. Along with some perennial favorites, six are making their debut: Dana Rader Golf School, ESPN Resort Schools with Jim Flick, Kapalua Golf Academy, Martin Green Golf Academy, Todd Sones Impact Golf School, and Tradition Golf School.

Why Golf Schools Can Be Better Than Private Lessons
The debate is not new: Which is better, taking private lessons or attending a golf school? Here are some comparison points:
BIGGEST BENEFIT	Golf School: You'll practice everything Private Lessons: You are the star attraction
PRICE	Golf School: $1,108 (average for three days at a Top 25 school) Private Lessons: $1,108 (a weekly $50 lesson for five and a half months)
PERSONAL ATTENTION	Golf School: One quarter of the pro's focus is on you Private Lessons: You and your game take center stage
FAMOUS TEACHERS	Golf School: You may pay extra if a big name teaches your class or leads the program Private Lessons: If you can get on their schedule, be ready to hand over a mortgage payment
PRACTICE FACILITIES	Golf School: Practice greens, bunkers, driving ranges, and video analysis areas Private Lessons: A separate area of the same range you warm up on before you play
FOR A QUICK FIX	Golf School: Three days to pick apart your swing and game Private Lessons: It's your hour -- you decide
WHEN YOUR NEW SWING BREAKS DOWN	Golf School: Call or e-mail the pro for help, or spend another $1,108 and go again Private Lessons: Next week's lesson will get you back on track
QUALITY OF INSTRUCTORS	Golf School: All golf-school pros do is give lessons to people like you Private Lessons: The best teachers are usually the busiest, so you may have to settle for less than the best

A Players' Market

It's Economics 101. Lots of golf schools opened in the 1990s, when demand was high. With golf-related travel down, schools have had to drop their prices, so you can get a great school experience for less money.

"Anything over the $2,000 price point has just dried up," says Resort Golf President John Fecter. "In tough economic times like these, one of the main laws of the golf-school business really kicks in: Brand is subservient to price."

The lowest prices for three-day packages offered by our Top 25 Golf Schools in 1999 averaged $993. That leaped 15.5 percent to $1,147 in 2001. Today, the average lowest price has dropped to $1,108, down 3.4 percent.

Pros at top schools confirm that their students are driving more and flying less. Industry consensus is that regional schools marketing themselves within select areas are weathering the current downturn better than high-end, national schools.

Student's Bill of Rights
While attending a golf school, you have the right to:
• 4:1 Student-Teacher ratio. At a time when many schools have empty seats, there is no excuse for crowded group lessons. If the ratio will be higher than 4:1, consider another school -- the amount of personal instruction is a key component to how much you are likely to improve.
• Video analysis. No longer a gimmick, seeing your swing on tape should be part of every school experience. The school should include a copy for you to take home.
• At least one on-course lesson. Just as important as practicing on the range, playing under the watchful eye of a good instructor will help lower scores quickly.
• At least nine holes per day. Maybe you'll opt for non-golf activities in the afternoons, but if you want to play, you should be able to get on the course for little or no charge.

Is It Worth the Trip?

Though you've heard all the cliches about golf being a journey, deep down you hope there really is a shortcut that will transform your game.

But until David Copperfield opens a golf academy, improvement will take more than smoke and mirrors. For three to five hours a day, a school instructor can refine your fundamentals, diagnose the faults in your swing, and supervise your practice. Few players ever work this hard on their game, but intensity is the heart of every golf school experience. By graduation, you should have a clear idea of what you need to do to get better.

Kip Puterbaugh, a GOLF MAGAZINE Top 100 Teacher and director of instruction at the Aviara Golf Academy in Carlsbad, California, says, "We talk about change -- and the process of change -- starting on the very first morning" so people realize it will take more than one day to perfect new skills.

Here's the reality: A few days at golf school is only the beginning. You are not going to show up a 20-handicapper and leave as a 10, or even a 15. But, after any school is over, you should understand the strengths and weaknesses of your game, have a personalized plan for improvement, and know how to fix your most troublesome faults.

What to Pack
Don't leave any of these items behind when going to golf school.
• Comfortable, broken-in golf shoes	• At least two golf gloves
• Two pairs of socks per day of school	• Sunglasses
• Sun block	• Pain reliever
• Insect repellent	• Bandages
• Hat	• Dozen golf balls

Time and Place

If you decide you can benefit from golf school, a little due diligence is in order. Here are some things to consider:

Where: This article contains detailed information on each of the Top 25 schools. Additional information can be found at each school's Web site. You should be able to find plenty of information about programs that meet your needs in locations convenient to you. Don't be afraid to call a school and ask specific questions about their programs.

When: According to Mike McGetrick, another GOLF MAGAZINE Top 100 Teacher and McGetrick Golf Academy founder, "The beginning of the season is the best time to go to golf school because you'll have the rest of the season to work on what you learn."

But if you can be flexible, attending school during the "shoulder season" -- when the weather may not be ideal -- can save money. Schools in the Southwest and Southeast often cost less during the summer than during the winter, and schools in the North will be less expensive in the early spring and late fall.

For example, a three-day clinic at Advantage Golf School at Pinehurst Resort in peak spring and fall seasons runs $1,820 (double occupancy). During Pinehurst's warm and muggy summer season, the price drops to $1,420.

Future Stars
While these schools did not make this year's Top 25 list because of minimal alumni feedback, those who did rate them gave high marks.
• America's Mind Power Golf School San Diego (760-736-3126, www.mindpowergolf.com) Students appreciated the opportunity to request extra help in certain areas. The short-game clinics received very positive reviews.
• Kiawah Island Golf Academy Kiawah Island, S.C. (800-654-2924, www.kiawahresort.com) Students gave the instructors very high marks for their full-swing help. Small classes were also a hit.
• Golf54 Phoenix (602-482-8983, www.coachingforthefuture.com) This school, with GOLF MAGAZINE Top 100 Teachers Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson, uses a unique, creative curriculum that focuses equally on how to practice and how to balance body and mind.
• The Greenbrier Sam Snead Golf Academy White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. (800-793-3254, www.greenbrier.com) Staffed entirely by PGA and LPGA Class A professionals. Students reported that the atmosphere for learning is excellent, especially for beginners and high-handicap players.
• Tom Patri Golf Schools Naples, Fla. (239-455-9179, www.tompatri.com) Patri, a GOLF MAGAZINE Top 100 Teacher, runs this school, which boasts a 3:1 student-teacher ratio. The short-game instruction got very high marks.

Commuting vs. Staying

Nothing is more convenient than rolling out of bed, sliding into your spikes, and walking to breakfast before hitting the range. Because many golf schools are affiliated with a hotel, accommodations are often included in the price.

However, you might want to consider finding a hotel nearby and commuting. If the school is located near a major city, you'll likely have plenty of options. For example, the three half-days at the Game Development School at the Grand Cypress Academy of Golf in Orlando, Florida, which includes three breakfasts and lunches along with two dinners, costs $1,775 in June, based on double occupancy. If you commute to the school, you'll get the same instruction, the same lunches, and save $535. Find a nearby budget hotel and a good pasta place, and you can come out a few hundred bucks ahead.

After You Leave
On the last day of school, it's not uncommon to feel a little confused. "We want people to get better right away, but sometimes players get overwhelmed," says GOLF MAGAZINE Top 100 Teacher Mike McGetrick. Here are some things you should ask about before heading home:
• Personalized instruction notebook. Many schools give written evaluations. This notebook should describe exactly what you need to work on and include a detailed practice plan.
• Swing video. If a video was taken, reviewing it at home can be invaluable.
• Future contact. Find out about follow-up help. Calling or e-mailing an instructor can help you stay focused and improve key areas.
• Follow-up video analysis. Sending the instructors a video of your progress is a great way to make sure you're on track.

Bring Buddies, Get a Deal

The Internet may lead you to a good deal on air travel, hotels, and rental cars, but picking up the phone might get you a discount, too. If you travel in a group and your dates are flexible, many schools are willing to bargain.

We called a few, anonymously, to try for a better deal than advertised. When calling as a husband and wife, both of whom wanted to participate in a three-day program, none of the three schools we contacted was willing to come down in price. Then we called the same schools about the same programs, but as a foursome -- bingo! The operator at the first school directed our call to the sales office, which was happy to tell us we qualified for a nonadvertised, $150 discount per person if we booked by the end of the month. The second school offered a 15 percent discount; the third, 10 percent. The idea of getting a deal for a group is nothing new, but "group" usually meant more than four.

We found that you may not always get a break on the tuition, but the school may upgrade your accommodations, throw in an extra round of golf, or find some other way to entice you.

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