As a young man, my introduction to golf involved a few rudimentary tips on golf course etiquette, what the different clubs were for and what ‘fore’ was for.

Beyond that, I learned a lot of the bad habits of my buddies (both on and off of the links). As to the golf swing, I could have used a lot of help. All right, I could STILL use a lot of help, but frankly getting my mind full of do’s and don’ts only confuses me and gives me ‘tee jitters’.

So, what to do and where to go to get good golf instruction? If I do find a good instructor, how can I get the most out of the money and time that I spend?

Well, for starters, if I were in high school again (Yes, it was after wooden club shafts) then I would chuck the glory of the football stadium and get into the relatively sedate envrons of the golf clubhouse.

Joining a golf team could provide any young man or woman the right instruction of how to swing properly. This would lay a solid foundation for this ideal lifetime sport from a qualified golf instructor.

That being said, most of us will learn golf at a later stage in life from much less qualified individuals. When we do finally decide to take a few golf lessons from a qualified instructor, we might find it initially frustrating to have to unlearn a lot of bad habits. Moreover, we may find that our bodies just are not able to do what the golf swing instructor advises.

Here are some thoughts about choosing the right instructor.

First of all, have some goals in mind for your game. These could range from learning the basics to advanced course management. As with all goals, make them specific, measurable and timed.

For instance, rather than a broad goal such as ‘I want to lower my handicap to… “. Narrow it down to something like: “I want to eliminate my slice with my driver on 4 out of 5 drives within the next 6 weeks.”

This will at least give the instructors that you interview, an idea of what they can help you with and set up a specific plan.

Secondly, look for an instructor with patience and knowledge of golf swing body mechanics. If you can find a TPI certified instructor, he or she will have the knowledge to perform a simple movement screen to help identify your body’s current limitations.

There is nothing more frustrating than being asked to do something that your body is incapable of. Often, some simple stretching and stability exercises can do wonders for improving your ability to control your golf swing.

Lastly, find a golf instructor that you can have fun with. You should be able to play a round of golf with him or her and not feel pressured to perform or made to feel that you must kiss their clubhead covers.

There are a lot of other things to look for in a golf instructor of course and it may take you a while to find the right golf instructor to help you with your goals. Keep trying because you will always be able to learn something new.