Last Updated on April 2, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
As a former golf teaching professional, I’ve always kept an eye on private lessons and their cost through the years. Some costs have gone up (hasn’t everything?), but there are still ways to get affordable golf training. I’ll break down exactly how much golf lessons cost and whether or not private golf lessons are a good idea for your game. I’ll be honest: the most important part of this process is finding the right golf instructors. A $150 lesson is well worth it for the right pro, but it could also be like throwing $150 in the lake off the third tee box!
What Do Golf Lessons Cost? (Average Pricing for Different Categories)
Your basic run-of-the-mill golf lesson is going to cost you $50 for a half hour and $100 for an hour. However, the cost of golf lessons changes based on who is teaching, the facility where you are taking the lesson, and the technology used in the lesson itself. Here are the average costs you should know.
- PGA Professionals: prices vary by location and number of years in the business; expect $80 to $300 per hour
- Golf Top 100 Teachers: any professionals with distinctions like this usually start closer to $200 an hour and go as high or higher than $500 an hour
- PGA Apprentice: usually the assistant golf professional aspiring to be a Class A PGA Professional, one hour lessons start at around $60
- Indoor Golf Lesson: pricing is typically the same, with the start at around $60 increasing to $200+ per hour
- Playing Lessons: on-course instruction is a great way to improve your game and usually starts at around $100 per hour
- Group Lessons: learning with a group of peers can cost anywhere from $25 to $50 for a one hour session
- Junior Lessons: most junior golf lessons are 1/2 hour long, and they should be around $25 to $30 for the half hour session.
- Online Golf Lessons: can be a monthly fee with access to videos or a comprehensive package with Skype ranges from $50 to $1000+ per month
How Much Are Golf Lessons Worth?
Now that I’ve answered your question about the average price of golf lessons let’s look at how much these lessons are worth and what you may actually get from them if you are to invest. Golf lesson costs are not cheap for the average golfer, so here are some different factors to consider if you are on a quest to become a better player.
Who Is Teaching?
When I first became a golf teaching professional, I questioned my methods. I stayed up late studying, dove into a ton of information, and experimented with my own golf swing to see what results I could find.
In addition, I looked at training aids and video equipment to try and find any way I could make the game of golf easier for my students. I had been playing my whole life. I didn’t want that concept to blind me to how difficult this game is.
Even though I was young and new, I cared. My goal was to really shave strokes off golfers’ games.
I can’t tell you that the golf coach who has been in it the longest is the best.
I know that with any of my students at any given time, I cared about their game more than they even did! What you need to find is a golf instructor who cares about you playing a better golf game.
It’s not somebody with the most trophies. It’s an individual who understands the game, your learning style, and your physical capabilities. If they can combine those and get through to you, you’ll see strokes get knocked off your game.
Finding a great pro can take a little trial and error. However, it’s well worth it, regardless of the price.
Where Is The Lesson?
Golf lessons at really nice country clubs, with good quality golf balls off of a grass tee, are almost always more money. These lessons often use a Trackman or Foresight launch monitor to help you get data and information about your game. Expect the average cost to be higher, but in my opinion worth it.
Only the wealthy (or those with high discretionary income) can afford to have a golf professional analyze their swing each week. Most of us have to settle on a lesson once a month. Then add in some driving range work in between.
When you get some data from a launch monitor or video analysis that you can use as you practice over the next month, you are making a great investment in your game.
What Will You Do With It?
Finally, what are you going to do with the information you get from your lesson. Go ahead and get a premium golf lesson from David Leadbetter. You’ll get cutting-edge technology and data and the wisdom of one of the best players in the game. However, if you don’t plan to go and work on what you learned or make adjustments to your swing, you are just wasting your money.
If you are seeking dramatic improvement, it’s not about the cost you pay for the lessons or the golf professionals. You’ll have to invest some time.
My Best Advice
I was mostly self taught as a kid. I did take some lessons from some very talented professionals through the years. Then when I became a teaching professional I learned even more about golf lessons, the cost and what you really need to get better. Here’s my best advice.
- Start with a short game lesson when you meet a new professional, see how they approach this area of the game, and then decide if you want them touching your swing.
- Hour long sessions are great when you get to know a professional, but start with 1/2 hour for now.
- Take notes after your lesson so you have some things to work on when you head to the driving range or the golf course.
- Be very specific about your goals and ask what the professional thinks it will take to reach them (e.g., course lessons, short game, putting, chipping, etc.).
- If you find somebody you like, try to get a package deal! Package deals usually are something like six golf lessons for the price of five.
- The group setting is best for beginner golfers; if you have specific goals, go for individual lessons.
Final Thoughts
I also tell people to budget around $100 to $150 for 60-minute lessons. However, be aware that these costs can change based on the coach’s experience, the technology, and more. Don’t be afraid to ask about lesson costs before you sign up. Some famous instructors or accomplished professionals charge $300+ for hour-long sessions, and that is a bill you likely won’t want to be surprised by. For your first lesson, look for a PGA apprentice with a real passion for the game who knows how to play great golf. You’ll be rewarded with some great advice! How much do you pay for your golf lessons?
