A great golf instructor understands that the quality of his or her workspace has a major impact on the student’s experience, and on their lesson business in general. For most of us, the workspace is either an indoor golf academy setting, or an area on the practice range, or both.
Much like an office worker arranges their tools in and on their desk, a good instructor should have available all the tools that they need to conduct a lesson, school, or clinic. These tools may include:
- Good supply of clean, good condition practice balls. I like to setup stations for pre and post lesson areas, as well as my primary teaching area.
- Rope, boards, or other alignment aids
- Training aids for every possible scenario. I get a lot of comments on my “Rodney Dangerfield” bags that I have on the tee. They look like a who’s who of late night Golf Channel infomercials. I like to point out that each training aid has a specific use…we won’t be going through all of them.
- Bandaids for the occasional blister
- Video equipment - a tripod, camera, laptop, etc.
- Food and drinks
- Chairs and a table
- Yardage sign or distance measurement device
- Notepad or clipboard for making notes
- Clubfitting supplies and/ or carts
I make a point to separate my teaching area from the member’s hitting area. If the facility has a tee at each end, it’s great to use the opposite end. A bit of privacy goes a long way in making the experience better for student and instructor. There’s nothing worse than a lesson in the middle of a crowded tee. Half the folks will be trying to listen in for a freebie, and the student may feel the weight of lots of eyeballs checking out their session.
It should be obvious that the lesson will take place in an area that has been set aside for instruction. I like to get things setup 1 hour before my first student, and have a setting that is very conducive to learning.
Ask to see the instructional area, whether it’s a structure, or a section of the tee. A good instructor will have taken the time to create a great environment for you.