Advantage Golf Schools today released two new golf school programs designed to offer Advantage’s popular one to one instruction programs for as little as $799!

You move at a pace that works best for you without the distraction of other students.   The Foundation program, includes  4 hours of instruction, also one to one, but added benefits of an on course playing lesson and more extensive V-1 Computer Video swing analysis. Foundation programs start at $6799

For more information visit AdvantageGolfSchool.com

Wondering what to give your favorite golfer? The person who has everything?  This holiday season consider a golf school gift certificate for them.  Many schools offer gift certificates that can be for a specific dollar amount or for a certain school program.  Advantage Golf School for example offers two ways to purchase a gift. You can buy a $1000 to 10,000 gift certificate that can be used on any date at any of their locations, this offers great flexibility for the student and makes it easier for you to know they are getting exactly what they want.  The second route is to buy a specific program, i.e. a 3 day school at Las Vegas, or wherever you choose.  This allows you to be more specific and it covers the exact cost of the school. Either method offers you to give the perfect gift to that special golfer!  For more info on Advantage Golf School gift certificates, visit their website at www.advantagegolfschool.com

We recently polled several golf schools about the upcoming golf season.  While not a scientific poll, we feel the golf school vacation market is definitely on the upswing.  Here’s some of the data

1. Advance bookings are up over 20% on average
2. Hotels have been less aggressive in discounts offered to the schools, because they are seeing increased reservations
3. Florida seems to have the largest uptick in reservations, followed by Arizona and Las Vegas
4. Prime winter and fall dates around holidays are filling fastest, with many over 90% occupancy already
5. The corporate group market is still dead, but some company exec’s are taking small groups on their own without company support.

What do these stats mean for the consumer?  Great values still abound, you should just secure your preferred dates as early as possible.  With the increase in business you’ll have more choices from more schools.  

Advantage Golf School is offering its newest game improvement program, The Foundation Program, in Las Vegas, under the watchful eye of GOLF Magazine Top 100 instructor Mike Davis, you will learn how to play better and how to continue your improvement when you get back home. Call Advantage at 1-877-239-6609 or visit the website at www.advantagegolfschool.com

Fall is almost upon us. School is back in session and if you’re thinking about improving your golf game, you should start thinking about school too, golf school that is.  Here’s our lineup of great Fall golf school getaways.

Las Vegas- From late September to Mid November Las Vegas is hard to beat, mild temps in the 70s to low 80s, sunny, almost never rain.  Our sources tell us that major hotels reported more upcoming sold out dates in September and October than in the last two years, a sign the cold economy is starting to thaw.

Florida- From Mid October to Mid November you’ll find Florida has temps in the low 80s, lower humidity, and less people!  It’s really an ideal time to work on your game.  You’ll have fewer crowds, open golf courses, and usually some pretty cool shoulder season pricing.

Many golf schools include instruction on the golf course with your professional.  Many students feel the emphasis of on course playing lessons is to improve course management, in reality thats only half of the objective.  Equally important is learning how to take your “new swing” to the golf course, learning how to try new shots in an on course situation lets you (and your instructor) see if you have learned enough to take that new swing to the course.  For your instructor the on course lesson lets him see if your swing is different on the course from what he is seeing on the practice tee (it usually is!) and then lets him or her make adjustments when you go back to the practice tee.

One other note, many instructors don’t play much when they go with you to the course, they are mainly watching and instructing you, they may play some shots so that you can see the proper way to execute certain shots, but you shouldn’t feel they are there to play every shot and shoot a score.

In summary, your goal in a playing lesson should be

1. Learn to take new swing changes and adjustments to the golf course, to understand how to execute these new swings and shots in a “real” situation
2. How to manage your game, when to lay up, when to hit three wood, how to plan your shot strategy for each holel
3. To have your professional demonstrate to you how to play certain shots in an actual golf course situation

Arizona Golf Schools fared well in GOLF Magazine’s latest ranking of Top Golf schools.  The GOLF Magazine rankings were determined by the magazine’s editors and included some of the following criteria in making its choices.

• Student/Teacher Ratio-The lower the better
• Breadth of Programs – Schools must offer a total instruction package as opposed to “specialty”
• Technology-Use of video and computer swing analysis
• Facilities/Accommodations- Quality and proximity to school
• Hours Per Day of Instruction-The more the better

Those are just a few of the criteria used to make the selections.  Here are Arizona schools that are part of the GOLF magazine rankings.

1. Vison 54- Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott-Located at the Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix, from their website “The origin of VISION54 emanates from a core belief in possibilities, and by embracing the notion that every individual has unlimited and unique potential. ” Category selected-Top 25 Golf School
2. John Jacobs Golf Schools- Longtime Arizona based Jacobs didn’t make the top 25 category but was selected as best national school in the specialty category. Multiple locations in Arizona
   
3. Advantage Golf Schools-First time inclusion for Advantage, with locations at Troon North and McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale the school focuses on one to one instruction combined with the latest computer analysis. Selected as one of 20 “Recommended” top schools by the magazine.
4. Golf School of Scottsdale- Dropped from the top 25 list this year after inclusion in 2001 and 2005, the Orange Tree Resort based school was included in the 20 “Recommended” category for 2008
5. PGA Tour Academy- Located at the TPC Scottsdale was listed in the 20 “Recommended” category

It’s important to set some realistic goals when beginning any golf improvement program.  To do this we have to look at what are real motivations are to improve at golf.  Is it to win the club championship? To finally beat your hot putting neighbor? Or possibly to just enjoy the experience a bit more when you play.  Each of these objectives carries with it a different path.  If you can only practice a few time a month and play only on weekends, the club championship probably isn’t going to happen, however if you only play once a month and a few times a year on vacation, it’s realistic to think that with some type of intensive instruction for a few days (golf school) and once a week practice, you’ll find you improve and enjoy the game more.  To be the club champ you’d better be ready to practice 4 to 5 times a week and play at least 3 days as well as playing in some tournaments in your local area, if your schedule doesn’t allow that its time to rethink you goal.  You may be saying, I don’t know how to set my golf objectives, this is where seeing a PGA professional can help, your instructor can help you set realistic goals and plan a practice routine that fits into your schedule.  He or she will help you get the most from your game.

In the last few years the advance of swing analysis software has
created the opportunity to view golf swings as well as the subsequent
ball flight with amazing detail. One swing can produce 3 different
video views as well as data about the length of the shot, the launch
angle from the clubhead, the angle of the face at impact and several
other stats. Video of your swing can be slowed down to 3000 frames per
second (fps) which allows you to even see the ball flatten at impact on
the clubface. All incredible information right? Yes it is amazing the
advances of technology, however, keep in mind there are also some
pitfalls to all this data. Here are some things to consider when
looking at these technologies.

The benefit of seeing one’s swing on video varies from player to
player- for some video is an amazing tool. By seeing just a few swings
in slow motion, freeze frame, and in comparison to another swing the
student can more rapidly understand and change improper actions within
his swing. However as many as a third of all golfers may actually find
that video is more of a hindrance than a help. In golf some learn best
by feel, some by hearing, and some by seeing, all students use all of
these functions to learn but usually one of the senses is predominant.
For a “feel” learner, video may provide conflicting messages which
cause them to doubt their instincts. For an “auditory” learner, the
video may not provide enough information for them to understand
corrections they need to make. Finally, the most common pitfall for
some with video is paralysis by analysis, the student gets more
information than they can process and as a result they have a hard time
making a swing. Here is our short and simple take on computer video
swing analysis.

1. Embrace technology it can speed the learning process greatly,
IF you use it as a Part of the learning process, but only a part

2. The best software can’t replace a good instructor, always place
the most emphasis on choosing a good instructor, don’t choose a school
or teacher based soley on their technology. Make your choice based on
the quality of their teaching staff, because even the best software
can’t undo the damage done by a poor instructor

3. Beware of schools or teachers who “over hype” technology, the
best teachers feel technology is just one of many tools to help you
learn the game. If it’s the primary tool they promote, it may be a
marketing “crutch” for a ineffectual instructor.

4. Find out what type of “learner” you are. Do you learn by
seeing, hearing, feeling, work with your instructor to define your
“type” If you’re not a visual learner, don’t place much emphasis on
video

5. Technology also helps your instructor see things that will
allow him to better help you with your game. Video isn’t solely for you
to watch, often your instructor can pick up things he missed during
your swing, so even if you aren’t a visual learner, you’ll still
benefit from having your swing videoed.